Thursday, August 22, 2013

How (Not) to Make a Chalkboard Wall Inside Your House

Product I used: Krylon Chalkboard Paint in a spray can

Where I got it: Canadian Tire at Dundas St. W and Bay St. in Toronto. $6.99 per can.
Recommended for: Projects you can do outside and bring in once they are dry.
Why? The spray can format causes a fine dust of the product to settle on every surface.

Although I covered every surface, including the ceiling, about two feet around the wall to be chalkboarded, a fine black dust settled on everything in the vicinity. And I do mean EVERYTHING.  Once I noticed this happening, I covered the floor with newsprint, the furniture across the room with a drop cloth.  I have mopped the floor three times and I'm still getting black on the bottom of my feet. When I went to cook later in the day, I noticed black dust on my stove top, which is around the corner from the surface I applied the paint to.  I had to clean out the filter in my AC unit and the blades of my fan.  It took three hours to clean up.

Result: The Krylon Chalkboard Paint made a nice finish.  I used a can and a half to fully cover this 0.9m X 1.7m (3' X 5'6") surface.  This is consistent with the packaging which indicates each can covers 1.1 sq. metres (12 sqft).
Left: The Kylon Chalkboard Paint made a rich, velvety finish.
Right: I've used the surface now.  It erases well!

Since the finish is so nice, I do recommend it if you have a project which you can take outside. Just make sure there aren't any cars downwind. If you don't heed my advice and choose to do this indoors, please cover everything and wear a mask so you don't inhale the product. It says a to use it in a well ventilated area, which is good advice, but if you have fans going, it's just going to disperse the product even more.  Weigh your pros and cons.

In hindsight, I probably should have used something like Benjamin Moore Chalkboard Paint since you can apply it with a brush and avoid a big mess.  I can't vouch for the finish though.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Depeapa

Hi friends,

It's been quite a while since I've posted.  Almost a year in fact.  Life gets busy, doesn't it?

I'm very excited about a particular artist right now, as I get from time to time, so I'd like to spread the love for her.  Verónica de Arriba is the illustrator behind Depeapa.  Her designs are both kitsch and cute. Her palettes range from soft pastel to vibrant primary.  Although I was drawn to her fine art prints initially, she also has a number of accessories and textiles printed with her illustrations that look very tempting.  I first came across Depeapa in my beloved frankie magazine last spring. It must have been issue 47.  My partner saw a small thumbnail of Ref. Koala in frankie bits of issue 51 and he just had to have it.  We ended up ordering three other prints as well.  They did take quite a while to arrive, but definitely worth the wait.  The package was hand addressed by Verónica in her hallmark Depeapa lettering.  The prints are high quality and each is signed.  We had them all framed at Images on Bank and we couldn't be happier!

Ref. Koala

Monsieur Cock

Bon Voyage

Monday, March 26, 2012

Teen Years

I fell in love with being defiant
In a pick-up truck that roared like a lion

Thank you for expressing it for me Lissie - Cuckoo

Monday, December 19, 2011

Rock Me

Photo by Merrill Campbell Kost

So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me

- Old Crow Medicine Show

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Vertical Ribbed Cowl

Something I've been working on for my Etsy store.  I'm hoping to perfect the design with the next one I make.  This one didn't turn out exactly as planned and won't be for sale, but you can get the jist of what I was going for in the photos below.

The photos make the colour look very purple.  IRL it's more gray.
My beautiful friend Karine modelling.

How it will ship.
Me label.
 Happy Holidays everyone!


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Rav Stash

Uploaded my yarn stash to Ravelry today.  Pretty pleased with myself :)


Anyone want to buy/sell/trade?

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Framing for Etsy

Lovely new paintings are being framed for my Etsy shop!  See the progress:

Made from furniture grade pine.  It smells so nice going through the saw!



Checking our angles and making adjustments to get it just right.


Dad sent me this picture yesterday morning.  He's finished gluing and dowling.
This weekend we'll sand, paint high gloss black, craft paper the back and add the framing wire!  I'm very excited to have these ready for the store!
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