Hi guys! I’m slowly getting back into the groove after relaxing at mom’s condo in Fort Myers but I have to tell you, it’s taking a while.

The 30 degree drop in temperature from Florida to Michigan was a rude awakening. I knew what we were returning home too so I tried to over sleep or misplace our boarding passes but my daughter was adamant about getting to her track meet that afternoon so there so onto the flight we went.

We got home just in time for her to check into an hour’s worth of school so she could take part in the meet.

That night was

THE World’s LONGEST

WINDIEST

COLDEST Bleacher

Track meet… eva!

Did I mention it was cold?

Our meteorologist joked today that we’ll most likely have a later than usual date for the last hard freeze. Typically it falls around the first weekend in May. I can’t believe Lake Michigan is still 30% covered in ice! It’s usually down to 1% by now, that’s 30 times more than normal! I shot this photo as we flew over the shoreline.

Ice breaking up on Lake Michigan Shoreline taken April 2014 after a brutal 2013-14 Winter

I’m sure a lot of you are anxious for Spring to arrive; hopefully it’s already arrived in your neck of the woods. I see pictures of other people’s flowers and I’m so jealous!!! If we can’t start planing for a few more weeks, at least we can enjoy brighten up the place with some paint.

Cathy did a super cool makeover on this antique vanity. When we got it, it looked like this.

It was one of those pieces that you look at and think “What the heck and I supposed to do with THAT?” We both had sentimental feelings about it since we had one exactly like it in our room growing up but seriously, the style??? How could we bring it into our era?? I shoved it back in the corner like a naughty little kid in a time-out but it hadn’t done anything wrong ~ lol. The veneer was also missing and coming off in various locations on the front so we had to address that.

Since it didn’t have any detail to play up, I suggested adding fabric. I’ve seen that done on other pieces of furniture, come to think of it ~ I’ve done it myself too on a buffet a few years back.

Soooo, off to the fabric store we went. I spocked the neatest print right off the bat but it wasn’t my project so I had to let Cath choose. I couldn’t believe it when she ended up with the one I liked. We almost always have different ideas for things so I was pretty geeked to see what she did with this.

She base coated the vanity in American Paint Company’s all natural chalk & clay paint using Bordello, a vibrant purple/fuscia that I absolutely love.

She applied all her paint in a messy, any-which-way style to build a lot of texture and interest, then layered over that with a wash of a fabulous new color from the Limited Edition Ellis Collection called Waistcoat. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this color!

Waistcoat over Bordello BEFORE Clear Wax

Waistcoat over Bordello AFTER Clear Wax

The stool was base coated with Beach Glass, one of my favorites (I may have kind of, sort of… planted the seeds by placing my favorite colors on top of her material 🙂 I was absolutely loving where this was headed but I what would she put over that???

American Paint Company’s Beach Glass

She went in the back and mixed up a dreamy yellow-orange. What a cool color! LOVE this!!!

After all the vibrant colors were applied, Cath sealed distressed everything and applied American Paint Company’s Clear Wax to everywhere except the drawer fronts. This is where the cool fabric comes into play. It was adhered with Modge Podge specifically designed for fabric then sealed with American Paint Company’s Topcoat.

She finished it just in time for the Women’s Expo that where we were featured presenters at DeVos Place & Performance Center.

whimsical retro vanity shizzle design west michigan decoupage waistcoat mirror vintage antique painted furniture — Shizzle Design Painted Furniture and American Paint Company’s Chalk and Clay paint at DeVos Place Grand Rapids MI

Cathy finished it all off with a pretty trim and is practically giving it away with the low price. It’s sitting pretty waiting for its next owner at our Shizzle Design booth within Not So Shabby in Holland. For location, click HERE.

Well…. What’cha think???

Upcoming Events…

May 3 Get Messy with me while trying out our Chalk and Clay Paint, Wax, Topcoat, Metallic Mica Powders, Glazes… during the Outdoor French Flea Market at Caledonia Vintage Marketplace, Caledonia, Michigan

May 16 and May 17 Transform Your Find with Shizzle Design Furniture Painting Workshop at our Shizzle Design Paint Studio, Jenison, Michigan

Our Transform Your Find with Shizzle Design Workshops on May 16 and 17th are quickly filling up. If you’d like to join us for one of those classes, grab an old piece of furniture and spend a fun day with us!! For more information on how to register, click HERE.

Did you know…

Shizzle Design is a small family owned business in Jenison, Michigan. My sister Cathy and I work, paint, ship and teach our chalk and clay paint workshops out of the same space where we paint all our furniture. We are truly humbled to be known as a leader in the world of chalk and clay paints.
Instead of hoarding our knowledge, we empower DIY’ers by sharing our years of experience. Stop in for paint and we’ll offer you honest and knowledgeable answers for all your chalk and clay paint needs.
We are so blessed to have taught people from all over the United States and Canada. Join us for one of our super fun hands-on chalk and clay paint workshops. Learn in our casual & relaxed environment. Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
Subscribe to Shizzle Design for tips, tutorials, ideas, pictures, videos for our furniture painted in all natural chalk and clay based mineral paints.
Did you know that you can get these sent directly to your inbox and that it’s FREE? It is ~ what are you waiting for? Enter your email in the right hand column of our blog to stay in the loop.
We have a Shizzle Design Facebook Page. We share all sorts tips, ideas, photos EVERY DAY and offer special deals (which you’ll only know about if you’ve Liked our Facebook Page).
Pin our posts on Pinterest ~ Find all sorts of inspiration here.
We sell our painted furniture in our Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI 49428 and at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan
Shizzle Design is an Authorized Retailer for American Paint Company Paints. We offer a large inventory of chalk and clay paint and supplies at our Shizzle Design Paint Shop /Studio, 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI 49428. We also stock several other shops in the greater Grand Rapid’s area, to find out where, click LOCATIONS. Not from Michigan? No worries, we ship paint and paint supplies worldwide through our Online Shizzle Shop.

Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers

Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s

Click here to see Funky Finishes

Linking up to these GREAT Parties!

Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday

Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday

Redoux – Friday Link Up Party

Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend

Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special

Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays

Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday

a hui hou ~ Shelly

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not a “blue” person, but when I picked up this antique highboy a while back, I kept imagining it in shades of turquoise blues and greens.

The original finish on the piece was an antique white which looked pretty in and of itself until you got a closer look. It definitely needed a little sprucing up. I started out by painting a quick layer of gray.

Her personality was bursting at the seams so I decided to give her an cute little outfit to match. I grabbed all my leftover cans of paint and started slapping them on with no real rhyme or reason.

Cuz that’s how I roll!

I just kept working in the colors as I went along; the next few shots are showing the raw paint before I waxed it.

The color looks pale before it’s waxed but I knew the wax would kick it up a notch.

Here comes the wax!

This piece sold right away and I was fortunate enough to meet the gal when she came in to pick it up.

This piece sold immediately and I was fortunate enough to meet the gal when she came in to pick it up. She’s building a new hair salon on Lake Macatawa and this will serve as her new coffee station! How COOL is that?

She had a piece of glass cut for the top where she’ll have her coffee pot… and the coffee, tea, sugar, cups… will be stored underneath in the drawers.

I’m tickled pink over the whole idea of it!

I often don’t get to meet the people who buy my furniture at the store since I’m home painting, so this was pretty cool.

Did you know that…

We’ve opened up a Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, Michigan 49428? This is where Cathy and I paint our furniture but we want our customers to know that we’re here for you. We encourage everyone to stop in any time to buy paint or to get your questions answered.
We’ve taught people from all over the United States and Canada how to paint furniture Shizzle Style using chalk and clay paints? Join us for a fun and relaxing workshop. Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
You can Subscribe to Shizzle Design for tips, tutorials, ideas, pictures, videos for our furniture painted in all natural chalk and clay based mineral paints?
Did you know that you can get these sent directly to your inbox and that it’s FREE? It is ~ so what are you waiting for? Enter your email in the right hand column of our blog to stay in the loop.
We have a Shizzle Design Facebook Page? We share all sorts of additional tips, ideas, photos EVERY DAY and offer special deals (which you’ll only know about if you’ve Liked our Facebook Page?).
We have numerous Pinterest Boards? Stop in and check out our extensive portfolio ~ Pin us on Pinterest
We sell our painted furniture at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan 49424?
We are Authorized Retailers for American Paint Company’s Chalk/Clay/Mineral Paints in several places West Michigan locations and sell both domestically and international online? Click LOCATIONS or ONLINE SHIZZLE SHOP.