Tuesday, July 27, 2010

EXPRESS YOURSELF

I was going to title this blog post "Counting Flowers On The Wall", but after writing, I've changed my mind.

You may recall, a while back, I showed you a couple of my
window box ideas. Well, this year it was time for a new one and also for some new words of wisdom. My husband built this one for me and I painted it. I always make a pattern up on the computer of what I want to do. My preference - Illustrator. I print it out and tape it together. I paint on my base coat, and then on the back of my pattern I use the old pencil transfer technique. Just in case you're not familiar with that, it means I scribble with a pencil over the printed lines that are visible through the paper, then I tape my pattern onto my painted surface, and using a pencil or pen, I trace over my pattern, and voila! - the design magically appears. I chose a nice bright green (Folkart Spring Green). My house is a pretty neutral color - blueish gray or grayish blue - whatever you want to call it - with black shutters. So I like to "kick it up a notch" with splashes of bold, bright colors. For example, my front door is a very sunny yellow, and I like to add bits of red here and there. My terra cotta pots have all been painted, each in a different color, but I tie them altogether by painting each one with a black rim and white polka dots. I often wonder what the neighbors think, but as I drive around and look at other houses, I notice that most people "play it safe" - plain white doors, etc. Why not go out on a limb? Be a little daring. Go ahead - express yourself.

S.W.A.K.

Monday, July 12, 2010

BABY YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR

FESTIVAL ITALIANO 2010 - WESTPORT, CT
beep beep'm beep beep yeah
(Hello Kitty - Don't Leave Home Without Her)

S.W.A.K.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

MY LITTLE CHINA GIRL

Hello Kitty - Never Leave Home Without Her
She turns up in the most amazing places!

It may be 105 degrees in the shade and humid as all get out, but that doesn't mean we can't still look cute!

S.W.A.K.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

I'M NOT YOUR STEPPING STONE

I painted these stepping stones years ago, and considering all the shoes that have stepped on them, they're still in pretty good shape. You can probably tell that these are Mary Engelbreit designs, although not actual patterns. When I find a drawing I like, I simply enlarge it and use it for whatever purpose I have in mind. I'm pretty sure the paints I used for this were Folkart Outdoor Opaque by Plaid. The cement pavers were first covered with a primer suitable for concrete and then I traced on my design using graphite paper. Next, I simply painted in the outlines using the coloring book technique. There is no need for a sealer when using this type of paint. I added a little number three to the house because that is the number of our address although the rest of the design bears no other similarity.

S.W.A.K.