Learning Chalk Paint Techniques and Beach Fun

I like nothing better than learning new painting techniques, and spending time with family. I got to do both tonight when Janae and I took a class at Camas Antiques on Annie Sloan chalk paint with Amanda from Girl in Pink.

I have followed Amanda's blog for quite some time and I knew I love her style. When Janae and I went to Camas Antiques the other day we saw she was having a class with a discount when 2 signed up at the same time. It turned out it was on a day Janae had off so we thought it was meant to be. (Janae works a lot). Janae paid for my class as an early birthday for my upcoming 50th birthday. It was a wonderful present!

It turned out we were the only ones who signed up for the class and Amanda was so sweet to still hold the class. I think this time of year there are so many vacations being taken and that sort of thing that people are not in the taking classes mode. Janae and I could not think of a better thing to do on a hot summer night!

Amanda knew what colors we like from what she has seen on our blogs and she made the class just perfect for us! Janae did a beautiful job on her stencil board--and I think this was one of her first time stenciling.

I have stenciled quite a bit--but never with chalk paint so that was fun. The chalk paint dries so fast it makes stenciling so much easier than with other kinds of paint! Janae did a lot better layering her stencils than I did--I need to work on that technique! Though I do love how my board turned out.

We both love the paint and loved learning how to do the baby wipe wet distressing method. I have been reading a lot on the internet about different techniques but it is so much better to actually get to try it out with someone telling you how to do it. I have always wondered how to do a wash and we learned that too. The more knowledge you have the more creative you can be! We learned how to use the Artisan Enhancement Pearl Plaster and that is a new favorite product for both of us now.

Amanda has so many beautiful pieces in her booth at Camas Antiques. If I didn't want to paint myself I would buy her pieces!

I love the colors and techniques she uses.

Thank you Janae for a great birthday present!

It has been a fun week...have to share a few photos from our recent trip to the Oregon Coast.

As usual Janae took great photos of her dogs, and I got some of her and her dogs. We didn't bring our dogs because we have discovered you need to have 1 person per dog and more than that can be overwhelming :) Especially when posing them for photos.

It was so gorgeous--at home it was 90 degrees and an hour drive to the beach and it was 70 degrees.

The forecast this week is for over 90 degrees everyday with next Tuesday over 100 degrees. That very rarely happens in Oregon! My plants aren't loving it. I am watering 2x a day just to keep them alive and some of them are actually getting burnt. Yes, us Oregonians, human, plant, and animal, are not used to this heat!

Sounds to me like a good reason to make another run to the beach...

Thanks for visiting!