I’m still plugging away on all things book right now and getting some things done on my house is a nice bonus. I had a chalkboard project I needed to finish for a freelance job and for the book (two birds with one stone), so I had some fun with it today. I have been admiring the amazing work of artist Dana Tanamachi around Pinterest for a while and then saw her work highlighted by The Nester. That was it. I decided I would try something like that in my kitchen and here’s what I did…
I don’t even PRETEND to be anywhere near as fabulous as Dana, but it was fun to give it a try and draw on the walls. I did a few other little doodles as well…
I also worked on the pharmacy cabinet I bought a couple of days ago. I liked the chippy paint, but it was almost beige and it was pretty nasty, so a fresh coat was definitely in order.
I painted it in ASCP Pure White with a mix of Provence and Duck Egg inside. I still need to wax it, but I thought I would share how it looks so far…
Every night I’ve been editing my book photos taken during the course of the day and I’m just bursting to show them all to you! I hate being so secretive about everything, but I don’t want you to see my book when it comes out and feel like it’s just a rehash of everything you’ve seen on the blog already. I hope you’ll tolerate my secrecy for a little longer.
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I LOVE your chalkboard art!!! It is wonderful!! I cannot wait for your book
cabinet has my name on it right? totally fab. and love your fun doodlages. xow.
Nice use of the chalkboard art. Walking around DC I’ve seen some amazing restaurant chalkboards on the sidewalk that just blew my mind for their artistic nature. It’s a pretty cool and challenging medium.
My wife and I do a lot of weekend hosting. Everyone pitches in to help cook, clean, etc, but I feel like my wife and I are always the ones to have to put the clean dishes away, lest we stand around waiting to answer the many questions of “where does this go?” as someone else gives it a try.
This isn’t complaining. I love that everyone pitches in and helps out. But you’re chalkboard idea is brilliant, (“plates,” “cups” and “bowls,” and really might solve our silly problem by helping people know where to put things. I love it.
I saw the post with Dana on the Nester blog also, and have been itching to try it, she does some pretty cool stuff with chalk, I will say, it is a lot harder then it looks. I love the cabinet!
her work is stunningly gorgeous. it’s iconic, really.
you did a GREAT job and now i want to go dig the chalk out of my junk drawer and try!
You did good! Now, i’m inspired to do some chalk art! or something inspired by it. hmmm…now, my mind is awhirl with graphics on dusty black.
Can’t wait for your book to be finished. Are you signing any copies?
Don’t mind you keeping all things book a secret….cant wait to have a copy in my hands!! Remind us again when that will be. Love the cute white cabinet. The blue inside is so pretty.
Marian,
I think your chalkboard art looks great! Very inspiring! Speaking of inspiring- way back when when you made your video tutorials for slipcovers, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. I finally finished mine today! I posted it on my blog if you have a chance to check it out. I’ll try to remember to add it to Furniture Feature Friday next week too. Thanks for the inspiration- can’t wait to see the book!
I love the chalkboard! You are an amazing artist! Can’t wait for the book….with all you do, I always find myself thinking “How does she do it??” Your an inspiration! Congrats on your success!
I hadn’t seen this chalk art before. Looks super fun…I’ll have to check out the link. I just painted my “chippy” cabinet, too. The old look was making me tired. LOVE that cupboard!!!
Love your wall writing!!
I painted a whole wall in my dining room with chalkboard paint!! It’s the best thing i’ve ever done:)
OK….maybe not the best thing….but I do love it:)
Oh, we understand! We can wait…. excited though, REAL EXCITED!!
Carol in GA
SO smart!! I LOVE a chalkboard! We have a large one in our foyer, and it’s so fun changing it up!!
Holly @ Lifeasathrifter.com
Love the cabinet and the beautiful blue inside. Great job on the chalk boards – my writing on chalk boards is awful.
Love your fun chalk board art and the blue inside the white cabinets is fabulous!
Morning Marian,
Love your chalkboard art…so cool! I have itching to create some framed chalkboards using ASCP. Wouldn’t an Old White chunky frame look great with a Provence or Duck Egg Blue chalkboard interior??
With white chalk writing…YUM! DARN….just gave away my idea to your 30,000 followers!!!
Very much looking forward to the book….do you have a release date yet…or pre-order?
Have a productive and fun week
~Janet xox
The Empty Nest
I can’t hardly stand it either! LOL!
And I LOVE the chalkboard art! If I ever get to build a new house I hope my kitchen can be big enough to include a chalkboard area!
LOOOOVE your chalkboard art! I will have to go check out Dana’s work on Pinterest. I know I’ve seen some pretty ones on there, just not sure if they were hers. This could be a bad thing for me to do though…. ;^)
Marian, the waiting will be worth it, and I think the whole secretive thing is good. I think we will get classic MMS, mixed with fresh ideas that will amaze us all. I may be alone, but I am willing to wait..because I know I will not be disappointed!
That looks so cute. Love the idea.
Oh your cabinet is just like one I made last year. Very cute!
http://sharonathome.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-bookshelf-is-completed.html
Too cute! I wish I had thought of this myself. I am doing this in my pantry. Bonus – maybe my husband will put things back in the right place.
~ robin
I absolutely LOVE how your chalkboard “doodles” came out! I just had my first experience with chalkboard paint a few weeks ago (blogged about here: http://thecraftedcure.blogspot.com/2012/02/custom-color-chalkboard-paint-with.html), and I’m absolutely smitten with the treatment. I want to do it EVERYWHERE! Love the look on the inside of your cabinets, that might be my next project!
MMS,
When you paint the inside of a cabinet like this, do you wax the inside? Or leave as is?
Thx!
Erika
I just leave it as is. It’s really laziness more than anything, but I have found it doesn’t really need to be waxed. I take things in and out of the corner cabinets in my dining room and the paint has held up really well.
I love the cabinet. It came out lovely. The chalkboard is a great idea and looks really good. I don’t have place in my house for one or I would being doing it too.
I have a question about the painting of the cabinet. What kind of paint do you use, and what do you use to “wax” it. Haven’t heard of that before.
Thanks so much, and I enjoy your posts so much.
Wow, Marian-
Soooo close to the finish line…how exciting!
Will your avid followers be able to pre-order your
book? I’d love to purchase at least one ( autographed???)
Please let me and the rest of your oh-so-loyal fans know
if that will be an option…
Congrats again, on such an amazing milestone!
I have really loved reading about your journey through this book writing process. You are very inspiring! Did you use a brush or a roller for the chalkboard paint? I have read somewhere that you can sand it to removed some of the ridges. That is my problem. I painted a side of an upper kitchen cabinet for a grocery list, etc. and the lower for my children. I did several coats but it is still very ridgey(not sure that’s a word)
Just wanted to see if you had any suggestions. Continued blessings on your journey!
Sincerely,
Kayla
what a great idea. to put the chalkboard in the back of the cabinets. love it!
Marion,
Pretty cabinet.I really like that color.It is one I have not used yet.I need to give that one a try.So what are you going to put in it?Love that chalk board art.
Looking forward to seeing your book … will you have copies on hand for us to purchase and you to autograph at Haven?
That duck egg blue paint color is wonderful … and love your chalk fun in your kitchen!
Linda
Your chalkboard bakery sign is fabulous, but I am really coveting your pharmacy cabinet…your color choices are stunning as always!
Hi! Enjoyed your post on chalkboards. Was wondering if you were ever going to share my tips on effortlessly writing and drawing with chalk for those of us who are artistically challeged at freehand. I would do this myself, but I don’t have a blog and do not foresee getting one going. Let me know, because I’d like to pass this on to other favorite bloggers. I was just waiting for you to post something because you indicated to me that you thought my idea had merit. Remember, YOU are Awesome at free handing stuff. I know others who aren’t would really appreciate this trick!
Hi Marian – I am only seeing this now. I found Dana’s work about two years ago – she is truly unbelieveable. I started a Chalkboard Goodies board on Pinterest – perhaps you could take a look.
I would love to do chalkboard in my kitchen – on the walls – but I have hardly any walls! Oh well. Loved yours!
Linda
Hi! Is there a specific brand of chalkboard paint that you prefer? We’re painting one wall in the kids’ room and I wanted something good that the chalk will actually right on, like you have in this post. : )