BUFFET || painted with MMS MILK PAINT

I found this beautiful, but worn out and damaged, buffet a few weeks ago and I couldn't wait to start painting it!  I like painting pieces at home, instead of at the shop.  At home I can paint in the garage/studio and the girls can play outside.  Much better than dragging them to the shop while I paint for a few hours at a time ;-)

This piece is a newer piece, but it had a lot of damage.  I sanded and used wood filler to fix most of the cosmetic problems.  I decide to paint this piece with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint.  I used one of her European colors, 'Schloss'.  It's a beautiful gray/brown and I just love it with the dark top!!

The top is a wood veneer but the veneer was so thin, it wouldn't stand up to me sanding out all of the water marks and rings.  I decided to use Milk Paint on the top too, I used 'Curio' to give the look of a heavily stained wood top.  I sealed the entire piece with MMS Tough Coat and then I added two coats of MMS antiquing wax on the top.  

We had the perfect spot for it at the shop!  Dimensions are at the shop so please feel free to call or email if you are interested!  It's a biggie (and a heavy one!) and for sale at the shop for $595.

Hope you have a great week!!!!

free demo || ANNIE SLOAN SOFT WAX

I would say the number one product we receive the most questions about, is Annie Sloan's soft wax.  It is such a fantastic product!  However, it can cause frustration if it's not applied properly.  Next Saturday, I am going to offer two {free} demonstrations on applying soft wax.  A little way to help customers who are struggling with the soft wax and for whatever reason can't attend a BASICS painting class.  Here are the details for you local peeps!

W H E N:  Saturday, April 29th, 2017

T I M E: 10:30am and 11:00am

W H A T: demo on applying Annie Sloan soft wax, 10% off your purchase of a wax brush, coffee + muffins

C O S T: free

Each demo is limited to 12 people.  Although there is no cost, you do need to sign up at the shop.  You can sign up by calling, emailing or stopping by the shop!

painted dresser || Chalk Paint® + MMS Milk Paint

About a month ago I picked up this cutie of a dresser at Habitat.  I thought it had darling lines and it was in good shape, it just needed some paint!

I kept the original brass hardware and I painted this dresser with 3 coats of Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint, MARZIPAN.  I painted the sweet trim pieces with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®, OLD WHITE.  I lighting sanded, just to distress the edges.  I sealed the entire piece with two light coats of Annie Sloan Clear Wax.

This cutie is for sale at the shop for $285.

before + after || upstairs offices and workshop area at the shop

Last week Matt finished the upstairs office + workshop space!

We bought this old house turned retail building just over a year ago.  We wanted to have the upstairs finished before our grand opening (March 27th, 2016) but we just ran out of time....and money was running out too!  I am so glad we waited!  After being at the shop, we figured exactly how we would use the space, and that is different from how we originally thought we would use the space!

Here are some BEFORE pictures....the upstairs space was originally 3 bedrooms.  It had three layers of wallpaper, over drywall.  The floors were yucky, the windows were rotting, the lighting was bad, and it was hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

We removed all of the wallpaper and drywall.  Under all of those layers, we found shiplap!  We sanded it and sprayed it white.  Matt spent a lot of time sanding and spraying those walls...they really look amazing!

We sprayed all of the doors with a pure black satin paint.  The doors and hardware are original!

We added can lights and two sconces in the workshop area.  We also added new engineered hard wood flooring, the same that we have downstairs.  The HVAC was updated to make the space comfortable and we replaced the windows with new wood windows.  Can you believe these darling built-ins?  I love, love, love the character of old homes!

My Christmas present from my sweet hubby, was this amazing table!  He used white oak for the top, which matches my downstairs shelving, and he welded the base, which also matches my shelving.  They had to bring it up in two pieces because it is so big and heavy!  It's perfect for classes and workshops!  I am one lucky girl!!

It's a blank canvas at this point!  I still need to fill the office spaces, but I am not in a huge rush.  I love it simple and clean so I am just enjoying it as it is!

xoxo

Darci

a creative weekend with new and old friends

Would you believe that I did not get one picture of any of us ladies?  We had some incredible talented ladies in town this weekend and the only (and very few) photos I snapped were of spaces or things...no people!  Geesh!

I met Holly last summer when I headed down to Texas to take one of her creative classes.  I have followed Holly for years and it was so inspiring, and such an honor to meet her!  Well, we became buddies and lots of emails and texts later, she decided to come up and offer one of her creative classes in McMinnville!

My job was to take care of flowers and food and to have a place to host her.....

I planted this huge and really cool tray with a combination of fake hyacinth bulbs and live primroses and daffodils.  We sell the hyacinth bulbs at the shop-they look so realistic!  They will last for years and they don't have the scent, which can be a bit overwhelming for some.  The primroses and daffodils were purchased at the grocery store.  I nestled the bulbs in, just where I wanted them (still in the pots) and topped everything with moss.  Easy peasy!

Of course I didn't snap any photos of the food because I never seem to have enough time to get things prepared and take pictures!

My dear hubby built this beautiful table, just for our workshop space.  I absolutely love it!! It comfortable seats 12 and it has extra meaning to me because he built it!  He also finished the upstairs space at 2:30am the night before we were setting everything up!  He is a keeper I tell ya!  I will do another post soon on the details of the upstairs space ;-)

Melaine of My Sweet Savannah joined Holly in Portland and those two talented ladies stayed at the cottage.  It was such a treat to meet Melaine, she is a sweet one Holly and I were already scheming as to how we could get Melaine to host a sign making workshop and we would come help her!

Truly a treat and a blessing to meet so many fantastic and talented ladies!  Most of these photos are from Melaine, she was kind enough to share as I never seem to make the time to take pictures!

Have a great week and I will be back soon with more pictures and details of the upstairs workshop space!

xoxo

Darci

painted furniture || ANTIBES GREEN CHALK PAINT®

A dear friend of mine is giving herself a beautiful home office.  She has switched some rooms around and is making a space that is absolutely bold and beautiful, just like her!  She had a solid hutch that she wanted painted, it's going to be her pop of color in the new office.  We settled on Annie Sloan's ANTIBES GREEN.....

It is a beautiful piece of furniture.  Solid, well built and has some really great storage.  It was a lovely piece to paint!

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, ANTIBES GREEN, Annie Sloan lacquer and Annie Sloan Clear Wax.

The hutch was originally intentionally distressed.  It had manufactured worm holes, gouges and was made to look old.  She wanted the new look to be shiny and crisp, no sanded edges or distressing the paint.  This piece took four coats of paint (I watered down each coat, I wanted it smooth!) two coats of Annie Sloan Lacquer and one coat of Clear Wax.  I can't wait to see this beauty in her new office space!  I hope this has inspired you to paint something....maybe something bright and bold!

xoxo

HOLLY MATHIS INTERIORS || creative class

I am so excited that Holly Mathis is coming to our little shop to teach one of her Creative Classes!  I had the pleasure of visiting Holly in Texas and attending this class.  Holly is so very inspiring and extremely talented.  Truly.  I have followed her for years and loved her authentic decorating style, as well as her beautiful heart.  It's going to be a joy to have her!

The class will be all about how to FRESHEN YOUR HOME FOR A FRESH NEW YEAR! Topics and discussion will focus on finding your style, mixing patterns, favorite paint colors and materials and the basics related to decorating your home in a “Pinterest, perfect world” while remaining authentic and true to yourself and your budget and lifestyle! I will be doing a little guest speaking as well explaining a bit about MMS Milk Paint and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

When I left Texas this summer, Holly had inspired me in so many ways.  I hope you can attend this class.  It's going to be such a fantastic day!  We are going to take a break from learning and go tour the cottage too.

I can't wait to show Holly how fantastic our little community is.  One of the many things I love about this area is the variety of things to do!  Definitely shopping on historic 3rd Street.......

some good eating.......

and maybe some wine tasting....

Of course, if any of you ladies are coming from out of town, the cottage will be available....you can see details and photos as well as book online here.  You can reserve your spot in the class here or here.  I sure think this could be a fantastic Christmas gift too, you might want to let Santa know  ;-)  I know we will have more details to post, but put it on your calendar.....it's going to be such a fun and inspiring day!!

a little fall decorating || at the cottage

I haven't been in the mood yet for Fall decorating. I think it hit me as September approached, that my baby was going to be in school all.day.long.  Of course I have my moments of frustration and exhaustion, but I really enjoy spending time with my girls.  I just wasn't ready for school to start, and in my book that meant not being ready for Fall decorating!  Now we are in the swing of our school schedule and my kindergartener loves school!  Savanna and I are having so much fun, just the two of us!  The weather is starting to change, as are the leaves, and I am finally feeling ready to add a few Fall touches.

After dropping Addilyn off at school, Savanna and I headed to the cottage to do a little Fall decorating.  We just added things that we took from the shop....pillows, faux pumpkins and mums.

This was happening the entire time I was taking pictures.  This child is so full of life, energy and just pure crazy!  She was fluffing pillows, re-arranging pumpkins, moving flowers like she was the boss.

We took a few pictures inside too, I will post those soon.  In the mean time, here are a few details......

-Twig Wreath  | available at the shop, $75

-Faux Pumpkins, various sizes | available at the shop, ranging from $16-$30

-Les Indiennes Pillows | available at the shop

-The wood porch was painted 4 years ago with Chalk Paint®.  It has weathered and aged just perfectly!  We used the color GRAPHITE and COUNTRY GREY.

The andiron deck chairs were purchased 'raw' and we used Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint (color TROPHY) to make a wash.  They look naturally grayed out and have held up perfectly!

opening the shop || MD HANEY & CO. H O M E

My sweet hubby has been working his tail off to get the new shop space ready for business!  You may remember the BEFORE pictures, the space was dated, dirty and dark.  Now it's light, bright and airy with a lot of really fun features.  I will post soon on some of the work that we did! Anyways, last week was L O N G and we worked H A R D but come Saturday morning, all of the hard work paid off.  I was so incredibly blessed by everyone who came to support us!!!  A sweet friend from church snapped some photos shortly after we opened on Wednesday morning and I think she did a fabulous job!

We installed new hard wood flooring and Matt added moldings, beams and some really fun architectural features!

My sweet hubby also built these fabulous shelves!  We didn't want to block off the windows, the natural lighting in this part of the shop is amazing.  He built these shelves so the view is not blocked from the inside or outside, and I can pile high the inventory!

Can you believe these walls?!?  That wood is original to the house!  The guys started removing drywall and found this wood.  It's really amazing!  We found it throughout the house.  Again, I will do another post soon on what we did to the building.  We still have a lot to do, but we were able to get enough done to open our doors last weekend.

Thanks again for all of the encouragement and support!  Such a blessing!!  God is good and His timing is always perfect!  The new shop hours are WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY, 10am-5pm.  The address is 636 NE Baker Street, McMinnville.

Valentine's Day and a BEFORE video

Hello and Happy New Year!!  I hope you enjoyed your holiday season.  Ours was filled with family, friends, fun and some good doses of rest too! Last week, we closed escrow on a commercial building in downtown McMinnville.  We are super excited to move the studio downtown and expand the retail side of the business!!  I will share more as the shop space progresses, but I shot this little video right after we picked up the keys.  As you can see, the building needs a little help, but we love a good Fixer Upper!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcgjxYT2c_Q&feature=share[/embed]

The girls are at such a fun age.  I have enjoyed every season, but I am really enjoying all of the activities that we can do together!!  Yesterday we baked some brownies and decided to cut them into heart shapes and decorate them for Valentine's Day.  Such a simple activity but we had so much fun....then of course we had a little 'milk and brownie' movie night and enjoyed our sweets.

The brownies were a box mix, my favorite!  So easy, and so good!  Once the brownies cooled, we just used a heart shaped cookie cutter, sprayed it with oil and cute our hearts.  We sprinkled on a little powdered sugar and the girl decorated their hearts with these sweet little heart shaped candies.  Cold milk with cute straws and we were ready to cozy in and watch a few episodes of Madeline ;-)

And that cute tea towel in photo, that's one of the many cute tea towels I will have for sale at the new shop.  I just received my shipment and they are all DARLING.   I now have one of each color in my kitchen ;-)

Have a lovely weekend, and go bake some brownies!!!  Your family will love you (even more) for it!!!

RUSTED LETTERS || new to the shop

A couple of months ago I purchased a few boxes of rusted letters.  All different sizes and a few different fonts.  Once I move to a larger shop/studio space {hopefully really soon!!}  I plan on offering more letters.  They are so fun and versatile.

They start at just $2 for the 3" letters and go up from there.  I have been using them in my Milk Paint 101 Class.  We work on various techniques and then paint a reclaimed piece of wood, the wood becomes the base of our sign and we attach the rusted letters to the wood.  The signs can also make great (and personalized) gifts!

I have used them in my studio....

and in the little reading nook of the girls' playroom....and other little places 'here and there'.    If you would like to purchase the letters, you can pop into the studio any Friday, or if Fridays don't work, let me know and I can send you pictures and pricing.  They are so fun!

HAND MADE CHALK BOARDS

I bet most ladies love chalk boards as much as I do!

They are so fun and come in every shape, size and color.  Perfect for menus, quotes, directions….anything looks a little sweeter when written on a chalk board.  I love to make chalk boards!  If you haven't made one, here are a couple of easy tips to make your own chalkboard….on virtually any surface!

I usually use cabinet doors for my chalkboards (mostly because we always have a few extra lying around).  But, I have seen some darling chalkboards made on serving trays, platters, windows, walls and more.  Just use what you have (or find at Goodwill)!

I usually have 1-2 quarts of chalkboard paint on hand.  You never know when the inspiration might strike ;-)  I typically paint the frame of the cabinet door.  I use Chalk Paint® and wax.  It's super easy and I know it will cover beautifully.  I sand whatever I am painting, and then give it a good wipe down.  You don't want any dust in your paint!

After I have painted the frame, I tape the edges.  It's so hard to get a straight line without taping.  It usually takes 2-3 coats of the chalkboard paint.  Each brand of chalkboard paint has their specific directions, the brand I had requires 4 hours dry time before re-coating.

Once the chalkboard paint is completely dry, you will need to prime the chalkboard.  Rub the chalk in both directions to completely cover the chalkboard surface.  This ensures that the writing will not stay imprinted into the chalkboard.  Here is a picture of when I primed Savanna's chalkboard wall.

I have a lot of chalk boards scattered through out the house, and a few for sale at every event. I am out of 'extra' cabinet doors so I am going to have to start getting creative!  This one is for a customer's granddaughter's room….so fun for a little girl to have her own little space to create!

Have a great week!!

A NEW 'BASICS' CLASS || and a few projects

I hosted our first BASICS class this week and it seems to be a very popular class!

I had to turn a few ladies away {which I felt really bad about!} but I promised to host 1-2 BASICS class each month.

The next BASICS is Wednesday, May 14th, 7-8:30pm.  I have 4 spots left if you want to join!

The tuition is $45. At the class, we learn two different gorgeous finishes with chalk paint® and soft wax by annie sloan that you will use to transform your furniture, fixtures, cabinets and walls:  distressed and washed method.  You will leave armed with samples you’ve created of each finish, a notebook full of ideas,  and the confidence to tackle all your projects.  

And, in other news, I have A LOT of half finished projects going on around the house.  The girls have been sick, Matt still isn't healthy and back to himself, and it's been so rainy…..to say the least, I haven't been too motivated to work on projects!

While Matt was gone one day, I did paint the mantle. Matt loved the Cherry mantle.  It is beautiful!  But, I ordered darker furniture and I really want the room to feel light.  So I painted it ;-)  I think it looks really pretty, I will post pictures soon.  Matt actually likes it too!  There are some projects I just have to tackle when he is gone….then he can't stop me!  Ha….does anybody else have that problem?!?  I know there are other ladies out there who do the same thing ;-)

I also started painting in the entry way.  I am painting the railing to match our new, black, glossy doors.  I am thinking of wallpapering or hang in fabric on this big, blank wall leading to the basement.  Thoughts?  I have always wanted to hang wallpaper in my home.  I have chosen wallpapers for different clients, but never been able to commit for my own home.  I will let you know!

THE STUIO || + a little giveaway

Have I mentioned how much I love having the design studio so close to home?  In Carlton, we lived about 3 blocks from my studio.  Not bad.  But here, it's a 10 second walk.  Awesome.

We do a lot of bike riding on Fridays.  It's fun for the little miss, and we can easily greet customers when they drive up!

I thought I would show you a few photos of the updated studio space.  I still have lots of projects, but at least the space is 'presentable'!

Remember the 'BEFORE'?

We started with new paint on the walls and ceilings and a new {laminate} floor.

The floors have a lot of variation in color which hides dust and dirt well.  And in a working studio, that is a big bonus!

We switched out a few of the lights.  Matt still has to hang a little chandelier in the entry…..always projects ;-)

We have a handful of cabinet doors painted in various Chalk Paint® colors.  I still need to paint 15 more doors!

Not to mention I need to paint another 18 to show all of the MILK PAINT colors!

I painted a few banners on the wall showing the different Chalk Paint® and MILK PAINT colors.

I also have trim pieces painted with each color.  It really helps to see the paint applied in different ways.

Matt was going to build shelves for the wall.  He mentioned using this old hutch top for a shelf instead!  Perfect!  I din't have a use for it, so, I painted/waxed/distressed and it saved him the time of having to build shelves.

Lots of Spring colors!

Do you see how dirty those daffodils are?  Do you know how to get the mud off of the petals??  Every time I try I rip the petals!

And just for fun I thought I would do a little Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint giveaway.  Trying saying that 10 times!!

A bar of spearmint and green tea soap to clean your hands and brush when you are done painting.

A sample size of MUSTARD SEED and KITCHEN SCALE Milk Paint.

Fun, right?  I am limiting this giveaway to local gals.  I want to be able to drop it off and give you tips on how to use Milk Paint {if you have never used it}.  Just leave a comment on the blog telling me what you think you will paint with Milk Paint!  I will draw a winner Sunday and deliver next week.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

PAINTING WITH CHALKBOARD PAINT || an addiction

Hello!  I hope you had a wonderful and restful weekend!!

I get a lot of emails and questions about painting with ChalkBoard Paint.  {Not to be confused with Chalk Paint}.  ChalkBoard Paint is the paint that turns almost anything into a chalk board.  It can be purchased at almost any hardware or big box store.  I always have a quart {or two or three} hanging around!  Chalk boards are so fun! I love that they can turn anything ordinary, into something fun and unique.

You have probably noticed I have a lot of chalk boards around my house….I guess it's my 'old house' now. ;-)

And chalk board walls {my old office}….

I love the look, and they are really fun for kids!

I have quite a few tucked in here and there at the shop too!

Here are a few tips and tricks I have learned from painting with ChalkBoard Paint…..

~ Cut in along walls and base, just like any other latex paint.  The consistency is a bit thicker than most latex, but treat it just like you are painting a wall or piece of furniture with a latex paint.

~ Always apply 2 coats, and be sure to wait 24 hours between coats, and then another 24 hours before priming the surface with chalk.

~ Most importantly, always 'prime' the painted surface.  By priming, I mean run chalk vertically and horizontally across the entire surface.  Then wipe it clean with a damp cloth.  If you don't prime your newly painted wall or furniture piece, your chalk writing will be etched into your new chalk board.  After it's been primed, you can write and draw to your heart's desire, then easily erase.  Make sure to prime, I learned this the hard way!!

I know chalk boards may just be a trend, but I have loved them for years and imagine I will love them for years to come!

CHALK PAINT® CLASSES :: what's the difference?

Hello and happy {rainy} Thursday!

This is what has been consuming my extra time lately….

Packing, cleaning, and organizing.  It feels so good to go through everything!

I am using the dining room as my packing and sorting room.  If I don't love it, or haven't used it in one year, it's donated or put in the garage sale pile.  It's hard to stick to my rule!!  I am always thinking 'someday I might use that'.  Yesterday,  I took six huge bags or little girl's clothing to the Blessing Room….and I still have two bags to give away and several outfits to sell at the garage sale! It feels soooo good to simplify!!

Speaking of simplifying, some areas of my home are looking pretty bare!  I am having a garage sale tomorrow, and the buyers are coming by to see if they want to purchase any of our furniture.  My goal is to hardly move anything…..either sell it or donate it!

So, the point of this post is not to talk about me, but to explain the different Chalk Paint® classes and workshops we offer.  I get quite a few customers asking about the differences.  Good question!  Below are descriptions for our most popular classes.

First Friday {which I am going to change to every Friday starting in March}!

The first Friday was something I started this year, and people seem to really love it.  As of March, I am going to offer this every Friday, instead of just the first Friday of the month.  I will be calling it OPEN WORKSHOP.

OPEN WORKSHOP is where you can bring your own project to paint, in our workshop.  We open our workshop from 1pm-5pm on Fridays.  

You bring your own paint and wax {or purchase when you arrive} and you can use our workshop space, brushes and tools.  I am happy to offer tips and advice, in between helping customers.  You can stay for the entire 4 hours, or just pop in for 45 minutes.  The goal is to provide an incentive {a fun and creative environment} for you to just start painting!

I have light refreshments and the cost is $10.  You don't need to rsvp, but just know we only have space for 5-6 people at a time.

BRING YOUR OWN PIECE

BYOP classes are offered once a month.  The class lasts 3 hours.  Here we guide you through the steps to paint and finish your own pice of furniture {a tray, box or shelf are great, nothing larger than 2 feet wide or 2 feet long.}  We teach tips and tricks and help to build your confidence.  We provide the paint, wax, brushes and tools.

Light refreshments, drinks and a tote are included.  The 3 hour class is $75.  You do need to rsvp for these classes, the maximum number of attendants is 6.

INTRODUCTORY TECHNIQUES

This is a fun class, meant to inspire your creativity and evoke confidence.  You will learn four techniques to understand the basics of this unique paint and proper wax application.  You will learn tips to achieving beautiful results on all of your painted projects.   You will paint and wax molding pieces that are yours to keep.

Light refreshments, drinks and a tote are included.  The 3 hour class is $75.  You do need to rsvp for these classes, the maximum number of attendants is 6.

To sign up for classes, you can call {503.857.8176} or send a note via our contact page.  I will send you detailed information about the class and add you to the list!

Happy Painting!

JANUARY GIVEAWAY :: a giveaway each month in 2014

Good Monday morning and Happy New Year!  I think with the new year right around the corner, it's a good excuse to start having monthly give aways!  Right?!?  I love to give gifts and I know we all like receiving them.    My customers and clients are the best.  Seriously, you guys are so supportive and I appreciate your business and the opportunity to get to know you!

Plus, it's an excuse to get more Chalk Paint® into the hands of my lovely customers!

DISCLAIMER ::  OK, I will work on my photography skills. Since I have very few, this may take a while!  I apologize for the lousy pictures that follow ;-}

1.  WARM AND COZY print from this darling website, and a red frame.

2. Chalk Paint® color card.  These sell for $5 at the shop and they are quite popular!

3. A cute little spiral notebook.  I have these little cuties stashed everywhere!  One for my ever growing grocery list, one for notes, one for little hands to color, etc.

4. a 4 oz. sample pot of LOUIS BLUE Chalk Paint®.  These little guys sell at the shop for $11.95.  They are perfect for painting picture frames, a little side table, lamps and so much more.

5. not pictured ::  home made fudge to enjoy as you paint your little project!

So, here it is.  A sweet little give away to get your creative juices flowing!

THE DETAILS ::

You have three ways to be entered!  You can do one, or all three!  If you already 'like' MD HANEY & CO. on Facebook and receive the blog posts via email, thank you!!!

1. If you are on the BLOG page of the website, at the top right hand corner you will see a spot to enter your email address.  When you fill that out, you will receive blog posts via email (2-3 times per week).

2.  Like MD HANEY & CO. on Facebook.

3.  Leave a comment at the end of this post, saying what you would paint with Chalk Paint®.

Easy-peasy and so fun!  The give away will be open for the entire month of January, the winner will be announced on the website and Facebook January 31st!

Have a great week and thank you for a wonderful 2013!!

CHOCOLATE OATMEAL NO BAKE BARS AND CHRISTMAS AT THE STUDIO

I started decorating the front porch of the design studio the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Of course I had my two little helpers, so I wanted to keep it really simple.

I had 3 objectives…..decorate quickly, use what I already have,  make it pretty!

I filled old buckets with various fresh cut greens.

I love using fresh greens!  They smell amazing, they are naturally beautiful, and most of the time they are free!

I made the wreath with fir and cedar branches from the back garden.

I love using Chalk Boards to decorate with!  A simple little Christmas message on the Chalk Board and we are set.

I forgot to turn on the market lights for the picture!  They are so fun at night.

Two freshly cut trees, boxes with burlap ribbon and pine cones and a few red ornaments….all things I had laying around.  Well, not the freshly cut trees, but you know what I mean ;-)  I bought the large basket from my dear neighbor a few months ago, it provided just the right amount of height for one of the trees.

It's simple but festive.

****

The other day I 'pinned' NO BAKE CHOCOLATE OATMEAL BARS.

I love 'no bake' because they hardly take any effort.

If you are in the mood for an easy chocolate treat, you have got to make these!

Best Ever Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Bars

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (you could also substitute butter)
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts, raisins, or dried cranberries
• 1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips (or regular semi-sweet chocolate chips, if you prefer)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt the peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil over medium-low heat in a saucepan on the stove. {Watch this closely. Mine started to burn!}

Remove from heat once it’s melted together and add in the oats, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, nuts/raisins, and vanilla. Stir together until the chocolate is completely melted.

Pour into a greased 9×13 pan and cool in the fridge. If you’d like thicker bars, you can pour the mixture into a smaller pan.

When the mixture is hardened, cut into bars and eat. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Recipe adapted slightly from I Hear Exercise Will Kill You.

Have a great day, and tomorrow I will show you a master bathroom design I am working on for a client!

FIRST FRIDAY :: bring your own furniture

A few weeks ago I was chatting with a sweet friend of mine.  {She paints furniture and re-purposes old pieces into little gems.  We met this Spring.....she buys Chalk Paint® from me, and she has become a dear friend! I am so happy our path's crossed!!!} Anyways, she threw out the idea of me opening up the work room to the public.  A space where local people can come create.  I loved it!  Below are the details.....

FIRST FRIDAY || the details

What :: bring your furniture/lamps/frames {whatever you want to paint} and use our work room to paint and create!

When :: the first friday of every month

Time :: 1pm-4pm, come and go as you please during that time period

Where :: the design studio, 543 west main street, carlton

Cost :: $10

Extra Details :: bring your own Chalk Paint® and wax, or purchase when you come.  The work room space, brushes, rags, and tools will be available for you to use.  I will also be around to answer questions!  Not to mention we will have hot drinks and tasty treats ;-)  No need to RSVP, just show up!

Hope to see you Friday!

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE & THE COOKIE EXCHANGE :: updates

Hello friends!

Below is an updated HOLIDAY SCHEDULE for happenings at the design studio.  I will be around this week and next week for appointments if you would like to stock up on Chalk Paint®!  The studio won't be open this Friday {11/22} or next Friday {11/28}, but just call/text/email and I will gladly meet you there!

So, the upcoming COOKIE EXCHANGE is going to be a lot of fun!!  I know the holidays can get busy, but I thought this would be a fun way to get together with friends and neighbors.

Here are the details ~

DATE ::  Sunday, December 8th, 2013

TIME ::  6:30-7:30

LOCATION  ::  543 West Main Street, Carlton {the design studio/cottage}

WHAT TO BRING  ::  3 dozen cookies ~ 1 dozen to share and 2 dozen to exchange

I will have drinks, appetizers, a packaging station for your sweet treats and a warm, cozy fire ;-)

Hope you can come!!