With A Little Paint and Magic Brush, We Have the Solution to the Decorating Problem!

"Summer Time....And the living ain't easy! But, that's how it is when you own a business on Cape Cod within the height of the season. (And, we are thankful for that!) Streams of sunny people visit us at our shops. Some shop friends are new and some are people who care enough to come back year after year, to shop and catch up on "what's new". All in all, it's a "good tired" when we reach the end of the day.

Along with running the shop, I've been working on a custom order for someone with a home in....you guessed it....Chatham. She had a pine blanket chest, previously finished in a dark brown stain with a picture of the Chatham band stand painted on it, along with "Chatham, 1712". Since her room is done in yellow, blue and white, with a hydrangea theme, the dated dark brown just wasn't getting the decorating job done.

Below are pictures of the solution! (Remember to double-click on the pics!)

I apologize for being so bad at not starting my photos at the very beginning. Here we have the piece, which has already been sanded, primed, base coated in the chosen yellow, and striped. As you can see, I am starting to lay out my design with my trusty fan brush and sponge.

My client wanted the a free-form design.

She also wanted the Chatham band stand put back the way it was, along with the lettering. I was lucky enough to find a stencil the exact font and size that was previously on the trunk (probably, because the first decorative artist used the same one). The first band stand design was also free handed, but did not have the flowers and surrounding grasses.

So, here we have the basic design lay out and now we are ready to have some fun!

The above shows the lay out of the ribbon (which, when complete, will match the reverse side fabric of her comforter and window treatments). I've also hand painted the large leaves and added the shading and high light detail.

Here, I've added the vining and shadow leaves, along with the detailing on the ribbon and first of three layers for the hydrangea petals.

Close up of finished design.

More details within a flowing ribbon.

Signed, sealed, but not yet delivered. (Still in the barn workshop.)

I have another project due for the same client. When I deliver that one, her guests will be gone and she says I can take pictures of the pieces I have done for her on site.

Until then, it's back to visiting with shop customers and covering myself with paint, as I work on projects for reopening the back room of my shop.

I wish all of you out there in blog land and wonderful, wonderful week!

Pieces Of Dreams