Chalk Paint Class Give-Away

We are so excited about our

First Give-Away!!!

Michelle at Wonderfaux Studio has is providing this give-away,

Faux Paint Technique Class at Wonderfaux Studios

They are located just south of Houston, in Stafford, Texas.  This give-away is for one person to attend the class; it is a $150 value.  If you can't make it, then maybe you know someone who could come, so be sure and get the word out.
This is a three hour deminar that will be held on June 11, 2011, from 9 to 12 noon.  The class is normally priced at $150, but the winner will be attending for free.  Participants try out several paint techniques themselves during the class.  They will be covering how to use Annie Sloan paints, so this should be a fantastic class.  For more information on the class or on Wonderfaux Studios, click here.

Photo: Wonderfaux Studio

Here are the rules:

- Leave a comment on this blog post saying that you want to enter your name in the give-away. 

- Like Wonderfaux Studio on Facebook, here
- Become a Google follower of Cedar Hill Ranch Blog
- In case you win, make sure that you either have an email addresss associated with your profile or send your email address to us in our contact form here.   

To be entered additonal times to win, 

- Cut and past this give-away to your Facebook page (one additional chance to win)
- Post this giveaway on your blog (one additional chance to win)
- Tweet this (one additional chance to win)
- Add my button to your blog (one additional chance to win)

If you do any of these extra things, leave a comment stating that you did so.



I will be taking comments on this post until 10:00p.m. on June 9, 2011, and will announce the winner on Friday June 10th.  I wish everyone could win this prize.  We will be using a random number generator to determine the winner. 

If you have any questions, you can leave a comment or contact me directly in the contact form.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - French Bistro Set





I finally made it to the paint store to purchase my Annie Sloan chalk paint (click here).  Many bloggers are already in love with it.  When I learned of this paint on Miss Mustard Seed's Blog and Southern Savvy Style,  I was very excited to try it. I did some research to determine where I could purchase the paint and wax, only to find that that it is sold in a very, few stores.  I was happy to locate Wonderfaux Studio in Stafford, Texas.  They were well stocked on the paint, wax and supplies.  I met Ricky and Michelle, the owner.  Both were very helpful and knowledgeable about how to use the paints.  Below are some photos from the studio. 

Annie Sloan waxes and brushes

Annie Sloan paints

Annie Sloan wax brush

I had so many projects; I couldn't wait to start.  I really did spend some time thinking about what I would do first, since I am pretty busy these days.  I decided on an old French bistro set I have.  Here is a BEFORE picture.

BEFORE PICTURE French Bistro Set

I selected Louis Blue for this project.

Louis Blue, Annie Sloan Paint

Below is a picture of the chair after I painted it with the Annie Sloan chalk paint in Louis Blue. 

Bistro Chair painted in Louis Blue



I know you are supposed to put on a solid layer of paint, but I am always looking for a LAZY MARTHA way of doing things, so I did a "sloppy" job, meaning I let the old paint show through in places, rather than completely covering every surface until none of the old paint showed through.  I thought this would allow me to use a little less paint, and save some time when I distressed the chairs and table.  Ricky told me that the chalk paint can be removed in places with a cheesecloth, but I preferred sandpaper.  Yes, when the paint is very wet, the cheesecloth will remove the paint, but in my case, it removed more paint that I wanted removed.  So, I used medium grade sandpaper.  As advertised, the paint stuck well, and sanded off well in places, without peeling. 

After the paint was dry, I applied a combination of dark and clear wax.  It may not mix well when the wax is in a solid state, but in the outdoor heat, it was liquefied to some extent.  It still went on fine.  The chair on the left below has the wax on it, and the one on the right is before the wax was applied.

You can see that it is a little bit darker after the wax in applied.  Below are some close-up photos of the chairs.  The paint underneath, if you remember was a dark green, but in the photos below, it looks like a dark blue.  I like it!!





Close-up of Annie Sloan Paint

More close-ups

Edge of seat

One more picture of the seat

And below, I have shown the set together with a pitcher of lemonade.  To see close-ups of the silver, click here. 

Lemonade in the garden





Bistro Set on my City Front porch

I did get some advice from Lady Butterbug from Feature Friday, who said it is not recommended to wax outdoor furniture, but she said that once the wax is hardened, it should be fine.  My set seems to be doing just fine on our front porch. 

MY VERDICT?  I love the paint and  the wax.  I have lots more projects, so come back to see more!! 

O taste and see that the LORD is good;How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

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Silver with a Past

Yes, I have been saying tarnished silver is in, but I think some of you didn't believe me.  Well, I took the advice of Carolyn at Leftovers (Click here) and got a tarnished piece of silver, that I don't plan to polish.  (Don't tell my mother-in-law!!)  I admit that I will still be polishing some of my silver but I think I will be letting some of it tarnish, you know, not because I am lazy, but because it is the new look. 

I also put a set of silver in my flatware drawer in the kitchen so that it is easy to get to and use.  From what I have read you can wash it in the dishwasher, so long as it is not next to stainless steel flatware.  I know that at my mother-in-law's, we put the silver in the dishwasher all of the time and it does just fine.  And often someone (and I think you know who you are) would put it in the dishwasher next to stainless, and it still looked great when it came out.  This same person washed my old crystal in boiling hot water and was shocked when it cracked in two.  'Nuff said. 

A lot of my silverplated flatware was purchased on eBay, and I typically paid about $1 per piece, including the CH silver shown below. (click here).  In case you missed the post, I found this silver on eBay, and purchased it because of the "CH" for Cedar Hill.  The "CH" is actually meant to be "HC" for Harmonie Club, but that doesn't matter to me.  For $50 to have a complete set of service for 8 "custom" monogramed silverplaste is a great deal.  And FYI, if you look for silverplate on eBay, you can get an even better deal on it if it is monogramed.  The unmonogramed is worth more and therefore sells for more. If it has been monogramed, the people that want it are pretty much only the ones with that particular monogram.




Cedar Hill silver


Most of the French pieces were more, but that is a pretty good deal, I think.  I love silver and I feel so pampered when I use it, even if I have to wash it later myself.  But I think I will try washing some (not my favorites though) in the dishwasher.  If you have silver then why not use it?  If you aren't going to use it, then why not sell it so that you can get something else that you will like and use?




Silver creamer from Round Top




The pitcher and tray I got at The Guild Shop and the other things are from eBay and the Round Top Antique Show.  I think my neighbor Sue's garden is just beautiful, so I took many of these photos there, and yes, I asked for permission first.   



The Crystal is handed down from my mother-in-law





Butter keeper and butter knife found on eBay




My newest silver-love is French silver.  It is usually more expensive than American, and it is harder to find, but it just has a certain elegance that I adore.  Below is a set of small, delicate French pastry forks I purchased on eBay.  



French silver from eBay


I also purchased a few more sets of French silver, and below are a few photos.  The French silver has the most ornate part of the design on what we would call the back of the forks and spoons, while the maker hallmarks are on what we would call the front or top. 

Hallmark on top of French fork

The French spoon and knife below are shown next to a hand-painted French plate. 




More French silver from eBay



If you want to purchase silverplate,  then in my opinion, the best prices and selection are on eBay.  But if you are one of those shoppers who likes to examine everything closely in person, then the next best place would be an antique show, local auction, or resale shop.  Do you use your silverware and if so which pieces? 

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First Friday Feature - Lady Butterbug

I am very excited about our first Friday Feature and today's we are featuring Lady Butterbug at Karla at Hone.  

Karla has a wonderful eye for details and you can take a tour of her home and garden on her blog.  I love her green house, shown below.  And just look at the outdoor table there as well.

Karla has a wonderful tutorial on how to use the Annie Sloan paints on outdoor furniture,
Chalk Paint Tutorial for Outdoor Furniture.  I love the old glider that she painted; it looks so fabulous. 

This really makes me want to go out and do some gardening.  One of her previous posts that I really enjoyed was the slipcover she made for a leather chair, click here.  Wow, just beautiful! I even have one of those ruffler attachments for my sewing machine, so I need to get that out.  And then she stenciled the feed sack motif on it.

Please check out her blog, Lady Butterbug, and leave her a comment.  Just note that the URL is http://www.karlaathome.com/



All photos in this post are from Lady Butterbug.

Roarin' Good Pie at Royers

Driving through the Texas countryside on our way to Royer's, it was a beautiful day.  The sun was setting, and we saw the sign for Rachel Ashwell's new B&B, The Prairie. 




Rachel Ashwell's The Prairie, Photo:Rachel Ashwell





I really want to see her new place, but we were on a mission, AND we were hungry, AND we were headed to Royer's. 

As we arrived, a blessed cool front was coming through and I thought I might need a sweater before the evening was over.  (Now that the temperatures here are firmly in the 90's, I am still savoring those three days of cool we had with overnights in the 50's.)  Royer's is on the square in Round Top, right in the middle of all the action.  Well, it is amazing how much goes on here in such a small town.  I know the sign says "Population 77", but I have my doubts.  I suspect it is over 100 now.  I blame it on urban sprawl.   

Royer's



Since it was a Friday night, the wait for a table was pretty short; Saturdays and Sundays are their busy days.  We enjoyed a few minutes on the porch wating for our table. 



Glider at Royer's

I have seen the sign below many, many times, but it just never gets old.  I always point to it so that Mr. CH can enjoy it again, and again.  Apparently he can't be trusted.  It says, "Beer and wine on the honor system, 'cept bankers and attorneys which are cash only!"



Sign at Royers

And the sign below is for my teenage daughter, not that she would ever whine, oh no, never!!



No Whining Sign

Glider on the front porch at Royer's

Our server, Lindsey, has been featured on the cover of Texas Coop Power, holding those famous Royer's pies.  You may not have heard of the magazine, but we have a subscription that apparently we get, since we use an electricity coop service.  I love the magazine, since it is a slice of rural life. 

Lindsey says it is not a good picture of her, and I do agree that she is much more adorable in person, but that is because you get to enjoy her bubbly personality. 

Photo: Texas Coop Power

The food was delicious as always.  The girls had the Funky chicken, Mr. CH had the beef tenderloin plate, and I had a burger on a salad, no bun.  And Lindsey didn't even flinch at my bizarre request. 

You can visit Royers online here.  Below you can see the pies they had ready to go at a moment's notice.  Our pie came to the table warm, with a scoop of ice cream.  Man it was good.

Pies, pies, pies

We selected Bud's chocolate chip pie, shown below.

Bud's chocolate chip pie, Photo: Royer's

Lindsey and Miss Pinkpalooza



A drive through the Texas country-side, a stroll in the Square in Round Top, and dinner at Royer's; that's my happy place.    



"Then they took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought us back a report and said, 'It is a good land which the LORD our God is about to give us.'  Deuteronomy 1:25