A day of Creating and Competing

I have been in a zone all day...
1. Implementing some new Ideas for Fine Art Canvases (Pics Later)
2. Making Samples to prove that my product is far superior to wallpaper.



Your honest opinion : My client had a wallpaper sales man tell him that a fine finish (2 samples below) would be too busy in comparison. ... without even seeing my samples!!!
Truth: Hiring a professional artist... you get to CHOOSE how busy... that's the joy of custom!




A Case for Paint:
No seams
Custom color.. not choice of 5, more like 5000!
No stripping, you can paint over it!..
Probably more cost effective....
Patchable, more durable
And... a good artist can recreate ANY wallpaper!

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News Year: Trying to do better

This year, instead of trying to cut bad habits out of my life and diet; I decided to focus on 2 things that I want to do and get better at.
The first of my challenges to myself is to try and get up earlier on a regular basis. Probably hard to relate to if you're not in my exact position. I have been building relationships, laying the foundations for referrals, working on my own house and volunteering my time here and there. However in my postion being a self-employed non-morning-person, this has become a problem and I have to work on it. So far since New Years, I have made little improvement... maybe I need to schedule some morning things to make me accountable. (Please don't put me in a category of Lazy people because I wake up late, I DO work hard.)
The second of my challenges is to be Bolder for God this year than last. What I want to do is take that next uncomfortable step of faith and set myself apart as a lover of God and a Christ Follower more so than last year or the year before. As I have mentioned before, committing to do this once is not enough, we need to re-commit our hearts to God everyday. In this journey, we realize there is always room for improvement, and more we can do.
I don't want to miss out on opportunities to share the Love of God with someone who is thirsty and a complete stranger to it. I fail all of the time: sometimes, I am just a coward and choose to blend in with the rest of the world, sometimes I am focused on myself and don't realize I missed someone screaming for help until it's too late. I want to do that less this year.
I also am open to suggestions on how to approach people who use God's name in vain. How do you go about this without sounding self-righteous?

"You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name"
Deut 4:11

This being the 3nd commandment... God is clearly saying this is equal to if not worse than Murder, Lies, Stealing and Adultery. In my commitment to being bold for God, this is something that I don't want to look the other way at any longer.

"Blessed are those who hear the word... and obey"
Lk 11:28

Find the blessings in your day!



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Adorable Nursery!

Today and yesterday I painted a nursery for an expecting couple in Bixby, Oklahoma. I had lots of fun with this project... I love paisleys, and pink and green is probably my favorite color combination! Here are a couple pics...



We used 3 base-coat colors, and then added iridescent paisleys and a few bands of srtipes in varying widths... some metallic, some just pretty colors!
I think this is my favorite type of project to do... combine colors, and patterns and materials for a delicious effect!

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Sunshine and Seeds

Today is January 19th, it is beautiifully sunny outside! I went a little nuts on saturday and bought some seeds for my garden so today, when I am done preparing for tomorrow's job, I plan get some seeds started.
Here's what I got:
Chives, Basil, Catnip, Cauliflour, Carrots, Alussum, Thyme, Celosia, Pansy, Impatiens, Wave Petunia, Morning Glory, Sunflower, Mesclun, Verbena, Dill Peas, Lettuce, Green Onion, Green Beans, Broccoli, Cucumber, Corn

I am thinking this is probably going to need to be a big garden! The question is... I have limited space inside.. so which do I start now... and which do I start outside? I have some planning to do!


I can't wait! It should start warming up soon!

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Ceiling Fan Face Lift

As you may have figured, I am slowly (it's my winter project) updating my kitchen with paint. I'm leaning towards a more contemporary style... I noticed this week that the ceiling fan was totally out of place... so I changed out the fan blades for white, and the glass...& painted the metal a pewter/nickel metallic today.
About a $25 project that took about an hour start to finish. It fits the space much better now :)
Before:


After:


Me waxing another section of cabinetry after painting white.

(The wallpaper you see is now gone, and below the white remains the last of the cabinets to be updated... for finished cabinets see older posts)

Look Professional?? It Is! For more Ideas........
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Random Short Post

#1 Painting Myth: Don't size behind refridgerator when applying wallpaper. Had to bring it up because I have run into this more than once!

I am convinced that there was a big scotch tape CRAZE in the 70's... the last 2 homes we moved into had it ALL OVER the place. Good thing is that it comes off pretty easily, even after all this time... NEWS FLASH! It is not strong enough to hold a refridgerator together :)



I think Peacocks are beautiful... God is Awesome!

Okay, no more wasting time, I have a proposal to work up and a kitchen to paint!

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My Latest Saga

I probably shouldn't even discuss the situation... because in some ways I feel like it reflects on me as either oblivious, or a bad house-keeper. However, most of my two readers are either on twitter or facebook and know anyways, so I would like to share a part of the story. I have no idea how my indoor cats got fleas for the first time in their 10yr life, in a house with carpeting that no one has ever lived on before us... but they did.
Anyways THEY have been treated and will continue to be. I have stripped every pillow and mattress down to the bones, and vaccumed and laundered. They can't go in the bedrooms now because I will be doing laundry like it's my job for a month 'til the problem iis completely handled.
Mike was kind and picked up the carpet powder however I read the container and absolutely NOT comfortable using it. It is a pesticide, there is a great chance for sickness [us or cats] or death [cats], (I've been googling) especially after losing my father to a disease most likely caused by environmental toxins, and being a painter for 10 years... I have had enough chemicals... especially if I want this body to house a baby someday!
So I did some research... the vet did not even reccomend anything but vaccum often... she also said that soap and water will kill fleas... that is a fact. So google articles I found recomend sprinkle salt on carpet and vaccum up 24 hrs later. I think I will do that and then rent the carpet cleaner and soap the carpets in a couple days too. It sounds safe and effective... however I am open to any other safe and natural options.

As a side note, my meeting at panera went well today.... I met a couple business owners with unique skills and services to offer as they thought of some great referrals for me! We'll see... just keep pluggin :)
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New Painting

Here is a picture I found in our Oklahoma Living magazine put out by the Electrical Company (co-op) I can't tell if it's a photograph or painting. There is an artist's name (Brent Stovall)It's of Beaver's Bend State Park in OK. Pretty huh?

I started painting it this week... hopefully I can keep working on it!




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Kitchen Progress...

After

Before



Another wall complete... before and after... slowly taking this kitchen out of the 70's!! Still to do... one more wall of cabinets... take wallpaper down and remove and tile backsplashes...

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Habitat for Humanity Pays it Forward

Yesterday the Women Build home of Tulsa Habitat For Humanity was dedicated to a deserving young family. The homeowners worked 500 hours on the house, taking money management classes, and all kinds of homeowner-ship courses from doing your own repairs to cooking.
Being part of helping people in such a big way is more rewarding any size paycheck could give. As we finished up the project all the women (and their husbands) came up with great ideas help insure a smooth transition. By the end of the day so many people in the Tulsa community worked to pay it forward by stocking thier pantry, and getting things like cleaning supplies and garbage cans, and donating gently used furniture. As every homeowner knows, taking on a mortgage, (which this family will do: Habitat is not a hand-out, it's a hand up.) is not the only financial obligation, all of those little things (like wastebaskets and hoses etc)add up quick!
Whereever you are, if you are looking to get involved and help people simply because you want to or because you know you're blessed, Habitat is a great organization and has 'chapters' all around the world. And who knows, you might be touched in a way like never before... or make some pretty great friends :)
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New Year, New Attitude

I am very excited to see what 2009 brings. Right now I am thinking particularly for Kustom Kate! I truely believe I have a fresh new and clean looking perspective on Decorative Paint! Hopefully I will have an opportunity to share that with some new clients here in the Tulsa Area.
Although the "Old World" and "Distressed" looks are still hanging on (barely in my opinion... but I have my own preferences), I look forward to communicating that there are still ways to incorporate decorative painting techniques keeping a traditional style and clean lines. Which is where I believe the trends are going!
I have laid some ground work in the past 6 months, and I have to remind myself that it takes time to not only introduce myself to a new market, but that I am also ultimately trying to inrtoduce a progressive style to a slower-to-change market.

Anyways... the last couple months have been challenging... but I now find myself full of anticipation to see what God has in store for me professionally and personally for 2009!

I have a creative bug today that is making my skin itch! Don't worry Mike, I have to finish the Kitchen Cabinets before II start something new :)

Here is a picture of one of my favorite 2008 projects:
Paisley Bathroom (I also applied a Chocolate Brown Metallic Plaster to the Ceiling)




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Christmas and After

Our first Christmas on the road was busy!!! We started a bit stressed not knowing what lay ahead... in the end everything workied out just fine... actually we had a really nice time!
We left the house at 3pm on tuesday the 23rd... got about 7 mins away and had to turn back for Mike's glasses... not too bad considering our history of having to go back 3 times for EVERY road trip...we were on the road by 3:30.
We passed St Louis around 10 or 10:30 pm. That's when it got icy. We decided to stop for the night and finish up the last 3 hrs in the morning. Smart.. it was REALLY slick!
We did our best to divvy up the time between mine and Mike's families, and I think we did a pretty good job. It's not easy... but it wasn't stress-free before we moved out of state either.
We enjoyed quality time with siblings, parents, and our 9 nieces and nephews. We were also lucky to sneak in a visit to Grandma's, hang with aunts uncles and cousins, and a handful of friends!
Not bad for such a short trip! Yesterday we went to service at Stone and went to Portillos for lunch with Lonna Erik bethany and Amber then hit the Road by 2pm.



We pretty much drove like it was our job making only short necessary stops. Arrived at our home a little after Midnight. So it basically took 10 hrs from I80 and Harlem Ave of(purely) driving at an avg speed of 80mph. (5 over on most roads)
Mike had to work today and is fighting a cold and cough. The following picture illustrates how tired he was tonight.... he just went to bed!



We had a great time and it was great to see everyone that we did!

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