“Florentine Plaster”

The incredible Florentine plaster is an easy, yet gorgeous faux finish technique. Still, after about twenty years, one of the best sellers. FP looks like a multi layer technique, but is not. Production is fast, easy and can not be compared to other textured techniques, due to inexpensive application. Contemporary, modern or electic, take your pick, Florentine Plaster will always be the "talk of the party"

“Croco”

An exquisite crocodile leather look alike faux finish. Designed and created for a famous baseball player. The king size bed, custom made to highlight this faux wall finish. Mediums used: Water Putty, Olive oil, gift-wrap etc.

“Grandeur”

(`granjər,`granˌdyo͝or/) noun: splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style. The dictionary says it all. This grandiose faux finish was created with MM metallic plaster, gold powder and assorted MM metallics.

“There's No Crying in Baseball”

An extremely fast and effective wall glazing finish resembling a baseball. Created with paint only.

“Tuscany”

I found this beautiful faux finish in Florence, Italy in the Orsini Palace.

Welcome to My Home

Hello and Welcome!! My name is Heidi and one of my passion is faux painting. However, there are otherpasions and I live them daily. Take your pick. Interior design, decorating on the shabby side, gardening, herbs, fashion, culture and and last but not least "Style". In my world, the day should have 48 hours and more.

I am here to share some of my adventures with you, because I love to share and teach. I hope that you come by often and stay a while. Thank you for sharing your time with me.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

With Love from the USA

Shabby Chic - Wie Denn????

Shabby Chic (schäbiger Chic) ist alles andere als "schäbig"! Für mich ist dieser bezaubernde Stil eine Lebenseinstellung. Weg mit steifer Eleganz und her mit der natürlichen Romantik. Shabby Chic ist ein Stil der Erinnerungen und Heirlooms. Natürlich passt Omas Schrank ganz wunderbar in die Ecke vom Schlafzimmer. Die Patina von yesteryear, besonders charakteristisch für den Shabby Chic, wird Sie immer wieder aufs Neue erfreuen.



Die Patina längst vergangener Tage können Sie auch mit fantasievollen Gebrauchsspuren künstlich selber herstellen. Abgeplatze Lacke, weiß gebeitztes – oder auch unbearbeitetes rohes Holz, antikes Leinen und Toile du Jour wird Ihr Shabby Chic Heim stilgerecht gestalten. Natürlich gehört auch das obligatorische Flohmarkt Schnäppchen als beliebtes Accessoire dazu.



Wenn Sie sich in diesen zauberhaften Stil verliebt haben, brauchen sie keine große Geldanlage, sondern Sie sollten sich erstmals nach Herzenslust in ihren eigenen vier Wänden umschauen. Da gibt es bestimmt viele Heirlooms und Gegenstände die Sie nicht vermissen wollen.
Mit diesen Accessoires können Sie sofort Ihr Heim in Shabby Chic verwandeln:
  • Hand beschriftete Kissen
Courtesy of Nancy Reid , La Maison Reid.
Vielleicht können Sie Nancy  besuchen und sie herzlichst begrüßen
Antikes Leinen, Spitzen und Chenille


    •  Weisse Hussen 
    •  


    Hier haben Sie einige kreative Ideen bekommen. Ich hoffe, daß es Ihnen gelingt Ihr Heim im Shabby Chic Stil zu gestalten. Sollten Sie noch zusätzlich Fragen haben, werde ich Ihnen nartürlich gerne helfen.

    Viel Erfolg!!!

    Tschüss













       

    Thursday, May 5, 2011

    At Large in the US - with Modern Masters


    Rust - I love it, maybe because I am a bit rusty already. Also  a faux finish  which is going to stick.

    I have tried many mediums to create rust and actually I have come up with my own creation. However, if you would like to have an easy  and no brainer way, you must choose The Modern Masters Rust Activator coupled wit their Iron Paint. Yes, they do actually make iron paint. 


    I have worked with Modern Masters products since 30 year and I absolutely love their line. 
    The quality of their products is unsurpassed, especially the metallic line . Although I still miss the metallic powders they used to offer. Do yourself a favor and hop over to a truly a great product line. You will also find lots of inspiration and best of all recipe cards. So go on over..... I dont mind.


    Here are a few examples I have created with Modern Masters

    From PVC Pipes to Fireplaces


    Mediterranean Slate Backsplash




    Before

    After

    Ceiling Medallion





    A Golden-Bronze Foyer. Spetecular

    Shimmer stone mixed with burnishing gold and Activator 

    If you any question please feel free to call their customer service and again unsurpassed help will be available.


    Happy painting,


    Wednesday, May 4, 2011

    At large Europe - Grüne Soße - Green Sauce



    Wow - I promised and I deliver!!! There are little wonders in this world.

    Grüne Soße - Green Sauce - sounds like these slimy things kids  play with. Not really, it is a really healthy summer herb concoction which is refreshing and engerizing; and...... it's all good and healthy.

    So lets roll up our sleves, get the apron on and let's brew some green sauce, a typical summer dish from the Frankfurt, Germany area.

    Let's do something for our stress ridden bodies and give it some "Health"

    Here is what you need:
    Sour Cream
    yogurt
    Lots of hard boiled eggs
    Optional: Mayonaise   and the following herbs.

    Mix sour cream and yogurt and stir in the chopped herbs. Fold the cut up eggs into the sauce and let rest overnight. Season to taste with salt and pepper. You might also add a shot of Vinegar.

    This delicious dish is served with boilded yukon Potatoes or with a beef brisket. Absolutely positively heavenly. Enjoy and

    Guten Appetit!

    BTW I have been growing these herbs since years in my heavenly herb garden.


    Borage


    Red Veined Sorrel



    Salad Burnett



    Chevril 

    Dill


    Chives

    Parsley

    Lemon Balm

    With our current unpredictable economy, you may chose to use also Lovage, Daisy leaves , spinach  leaves and or Plantain( white man's foot) and dandelion leaves.

    Sunday, May 1, 2011

    At Large In Europe - "Her Majesty requests ....

    Her Majesty Requests.....
    London, England-Imagine, you are in your PJ's, suited up with your favorite colored curlers, coffee in hand and.... making your way to the mail box. In it you find  this
    The Queen is calling ......





    Embossed with Welsh gold and adorned with the EIIR insignia, this invitation maintains the tradition that began in 1860 with Queen Victoria. Every year Elisabeth II, Queen of England, opens the private gardens at Buckingham Palace hosting her famous tea parties.
    For me, this Tea Party is both exciting and a bit intimidating. I want to prepare myself to meet Her Majesty .

     
    Naturally, my first thought is which hat I should wear. I love to wear hats and have many of them starting with vintage pill boxes




    Next, I will concentrate on a suitable garment. Alas, you can't go wrong with black and white

    Now I am set and I and 7999 other invites can relax and have some tea, cucumber sandwiches, scones, slices of cake and last but not least meet Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II.



    We will be having.....
    •   Butter drop scones

      • Butter cake fingers
      • Bridge Rolls
      • Fruit tartlets
      • Slices of various cakes






      and of course the obligatory "Maison Lyons" tea,

      a special blend exclusively produced for the Royal household and its famous tea parties.


      At three o'clock the gates open and 8,000 people will be  making their way into the garden. "Garden" is a understatement. The royal garden is a green, manicured Oasis. Replete with century old fauna and wild life. I would suggest that you do not land your helicopter on the grass, as President George Bush did. The deep "H" impression the incident left, was probably not very much appreciated by he royal household. The old English proverb " Manners maketh the man" comes to mind.


      At four o'clock  Her Majesty enters. The Queen is known for her kindness and can carry on quite a funny and humorous conversation. She is very easy to talk to.


      I know I  that I am going  lots of fun and it will be a memory dear to my heart. Hope to see you there. 


      Take care and be safe.










      At Large In Europe - Farmers Market

      Recently I spent 4 months in Europe. Many moons ago, I immigrated to the USA. Since then, America has become my home away from home. I love the American way. However, I did not realize how much I really missed some of the European ways. Things, I was not aware of. Something I did not realize on my previous six week visits.


      One thing I really miss and missed are the European " Wochenmarkt"
      ( Open air Farmers Markets). One possibly can't imagine the abundance of fresh and pesticide free flowers, veggies, breads, cheese etc.
      I miss my obligatory early Saturday morning drive in my little Porsche Cabrio 356, to the local farmers market. Truth be told, I did not miss many Saturdays. Even at that tender young age, Saturdays never came early enough. Nowadays, me and my lil' red truck have to be satisfied with the local nurseries or flower row for fresh flowers. I miss the happy, colorful abundance of the open air market.

      The market is alive.
      • You meet friends and acquaintances.
      • You sample the goodies being offered at almost every stand.
      • It's fun it energizes me.
      • The wares are pesticide free.
      • Most of all the the food is fresh.









      Come spring, the number one offering, the Grüne Soße, a delicious summer dish said to be the favorite of German favorite of German playwright "Goethe",(Green Sauce), is also my favorite spring and summer meal, even so it's not Austrian.


      Well, I must go and fix some Grüne Soße. C'om on over and have some.
      Stay tune, I will give you the recipe in my next post. PROMISE!

      Guten Appetit!




      Thursday, April 28, 2011

      Grüße aus Amerika

      Hallo,
      Sheraton Hotel  On Market Street
      Herzliche Grüße aus St. Louis!!!






      Ich lebe hier in St.Louis und arbeite als Malerin und Innenarchitektin. 


      In Kürze werde ich einen speziell deutschen Blog für meine Leser herstellen. Bis dahin bitte ich um Geduld.. Ihr wisst ja.... was lange dauert, wird endlich gut.


      Ich bitte Euch auch mir meinen amerikanischen Akzent zu vergeben. Ich lebe seit 34 Jahren hier in St. Louis und habe zwischenzeitlch mich mit dem Satz  "Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache " abgefunden.
      Hollywood Reporter







      Hier habe ich ein Wandgemälde für ein Spa angefertig. Man kann wunderbare Motive auf eine Leinwand malen und diese Leinwand  auf die Wand kleben. Ganz einfach. So könnt Ihr das Bild immer wieder abmachen. Schaut wie dieses Wand fertig aussieht. Auch meine Sassie (Hund) wurde mit eingemalt. Natürlich mit ihrem Cartier Halsband, es musste ja Glitz und Klimmer sein.




      Projekt Sheraton Hotel in St. Louis. Diese Art von Malerei nennt man  Trompe L'oeil ( tromp leu) " ("das Auge betrügen") Wir haben den Begriff von den Franzsosen übernommen. Das Gemälde muß so echt aussehen, dass man an Wirklichkeit glaubt. Bei Euch sagt man auch " Illusionsmalerei". Erfolg heisst hier, den Betrachter zu täuschen.


      So wird es gemacht.

      •   Motive mit einem Tintenstift  maßstabgerecht malen. Ich ziehe Tinte vor, da man eine qualitative gute Zeichnung anfertigen kann. 
      • Wenn Ihr nicht malen könnt, könnt Ihr auch ein Projektor nehmen, um das Bild auf die Wand zu projektieren.




      •  Das Motiv/Gemälde bei einer Druckerei  maßstabgerecht vergrößen lassen.


      Copy....
      1. ....mit einem Nährad durchlöchern. Ihr könnt auch eine Nähmaschine ohne  Faden benutzen.






      2. ....auf die Leinwand legen und befestigen. Im Projekt "Sheraton haben ich es direkt auf die Wand befestigt.




      3. ....mit Kohlenstaub heftig betupfen.


       
      4.....abmachen.


      5.....nun hast Du Dein Motiv auf der Leinwand.  .... jetzt wird gemalt.

      Nächstes Mal lasse ich Euch alles über "Shabby Chic" wissen. 

      Bis dahin alles Gute und eine gutes Wochende.


      Heidi