chalk Paint

…road to lucketts: do i need a truck?

May 16, 2013 By christen 5 Comments

YES! Well, technically no, but YES! Especially if you are shopping for furniture or bigger pieces OR you just like to shop! You will not be disappointed by the 200 vendors and will finds lots of treasure.

I found a picture of the line Saturday morning from last year.

I had people buy pieces from me, go home, rent a truck and come back the next day. This happens. And if I did not have my own UHaul that I was driving out there I would need one too!

So, if you can’t get a truck try to bring your SUV with the seats down and if you can’t do that, then bring rope to strap things to the roof of your sedan. I’m not kidding!

This is an idea of what you will see if you have not been.

Here’s what I ended up bringing home last year.

From The Luckett’s Blog: What do I do if I can’t take my purchase with me or my car is too small?
Items purchased at the Lucketts Spring Market must be picked up by Sunday, May 19th at 5pm. Items sold by fair vendors can’t be left at the Lucketts Store past Sunday – we just don’t have the capacity to store 170+ vendors-worth of purchases.

You really don’t need a truck, but if you know you are looking for bigger pieces then think about it

See you there! Blue Egg Brown Nest will be in the Field of Gold. Doesn’t that sound lovely? It is!

Luckett’s Spring Market

May 18, 19 10-5

Admission $7 (children under 12 free)

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blue egg brown nest, chalk Paint, diy, Fair, lucketts, Lucketts Spring Market, UHaul

…state of the union

April 24, 2013 By christen 10 Comments

Before taking my first job at The Reston Times, I lived in London for a bit. I must admit that I was a tad disappointed that I was not stepping into a Jane Austen novel, but recovered quickly after discovery the city for my own. I’ve had an affinity for England since I was a little girl and now that I’m thirty-something it still continues. How can you not love a country that has a real Queen, castles, cozy pubs, Guiness & those Beefeaters!

I painted my first Union Jack for my son’s room.

I love doing a twist on the classic colors with my favorite blues.

Since then, I’ve done about 7 custom blue Union Jack dressers for clients.

I don’t like the idea of being exacting in my chalk painting, but I don’t feel that way when I make these. It’s actually a very rewarding process when i get to peal the blue tape back and see the pattern. I also aim to make the flag look worn & weathered. I don’t want to see a new design, rather an old, storied one.

I had a sweet little console that I wanted to try doing a Union on the top of. I’m planning on bringing it to Luckett’s. I brought one last year and I felt like it was kinda my signature piece. Luckett’s has since graciously used it in many of their marketing posts for the Spring Market this May (18,19).

Here is a peek at the taping process. Yes, a tad complicated.

I always tell myself I’m going to try new colors, but seem to come back over and over to the blues.

Come say hi at The Luckett’s Spring Market, May 18th & 19th 10-5!

xoxo

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: annie sloan chalk paint, blue egg brown nest, chalk Paint, Lucketts Spring Market, Union Jack and paint

…building a business: when bad things happen to good people

April 16, 2013 By christen 3 Comments

When owning your own business often times it is ONLY YOU! Can I hear an amen? It’s alot of work and alot of responsibility. So when we do our very best and give our heart, it can be crushing when bad things just happen. This blue door was one of those moments in my Blue Egg Brown Nest life.

A super lovely & charming client, Rosemary, brought me those amazing doors to refinish for her. She was planning on putting them in her kitchen for her pantry doors. I love a creative lady! She picked Napoleonic Blue, a bold & beautiful choice.

As you can imagine, working on two doors about 10 ft tall was a bit of an effort for this gal at 4’11″. It involved a step stool and my DH flipping them over between coats.

I. Was. So. Careful.

I only worked on them when DH was there to help me. They were finally completed one bright, sunny Sunday and I had them propted against the garage to do a few touch ups. I went inside for a coffee and between sips, DH came up to me, laid a hand on my back and said “Whatever you do, don’t go outside.” I threw my hands up to my face, covering my eyes and hanging my head. Deep breath. Okay, fine, shallow breath and then ran to see what happend. And there she was, like a crime sceen she had fallen hard onto the driveway, glass shattered and scattered everywhere. I sat on the ground & cried. And once I was done, I went in and emailed Rosemary.

It happens. There are always going to be accidents & missteps. All that matters at the end of the day is how you deal with it. It can either become a funny anticdote years later or it can become a bruise on your business. Make sure it’s the former by communicating immediately. Then do everything you can to remedy the situation.

DH called about 5 glass places and finally found one that could find the exact, vintage glass. They picked up a sample from his office and within 2 days delivered an exact piece, cut to fit the door.

It had to have the right thickness and that greenish-blue color on the sides.

Oh DH! What would I do without you?!

And this…

After a few more touch ups, the doors headed to their home and are awaiting hanging.

If you are open, honest & communicate with your client they will be much more trusting of you and you will gain integrity & credibility. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever try to hide anything. Ever. If you’ve promised something and it just can’t be delivered, communicate it as soon as you are able. If you break something, communicate & then remedy. If you are super late on finishing up a project, update your client. If you are a creative business, everything you do is special & custom and doesn’t always come to completion on time. That fine. What is not fine is if you stay silent. Keep the client in the know. You will all breathe a bit easier.