Epoisses, France visit on an old (1970's) diesel train

Yesterday we went on our annual outing on one of several old diesel trains that have been refurbished on a little used train line that has this year been extended to include Epoisses. Although we have often driven through the town of Epoisses we have never stopped to take a look around. this time we had about 1.5 hours between arriving and leaving so we saw enough to want to go again. This is just a collage to give you a flavour of the place and I just loved the artistry of the faces in various nooks and crannies. We left with, ofcourse, Epoisse cheese, smoked ham, filet mignon fume, bread and an Epoisse tart, all gorgeous.

Food storage cupboard - from orange pine to ASCP Cream.

 Not quite finished but nearly there!

 It has made a huge difference to the light and feel of the

kitchen.

 

I have not finished the stencilling yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More to come.

My Youngest Grandaughter at her ballet lessons.

My new Etsy shop - just the start!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FrenchWishes

A little bit of craft going on.

Well, once again I have been busy doing a few items for what is called a "Vide Grenier" here in France. It is much like the car boot sale in the UK but you can't do it from the car boot you have to set up a table and leave the car parked somewhere else. This makes for a bit of a scramble early in the morning when setting up but apart from that it is usually a very pleasant day as long as the weather remains decent!

I will be selling unwanted items as well as some of the following plaques with sayings on them. All in ASCP and waxed.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much.

Also gave a new life to a small wall cupboard in ASCP Cream, it was an orangey pine colour and looked great in it's new paint with a light distressing.

I am still working on a large kitchen larder cupboard also in cream it's had a first coat but as I like to sand between coats (not necessary but I like the feel of a smooth finish) I will need to empty it and do that outside. So it will have to wait for now.

At long last a post

It's been ages I know and I have missed this journal of achievements be they ever so small as well as the comments that make these projects so worth while.

 Life overtakes one's desires sometimes and you just have to go with it. Anyway, a couple of ASCP projects completed but inevitably there are more on the way.

French Linen and Original slightly distressed and waxed. However, the top I varnished as it will get all sorts of wet and bathroom products on it so thought it would be safer to do that. I was a little aprehensive as I know Annie Sloan prefers we use the wax but it is fine and I feel more confident that it will stay looking good for longer.

Also French Linen but looks different, I have noticed this with old oak furniture it is not such a clear colour but still nice although if you were trying to match items not of the same wood it could be a little annoying.

I have just finished my first piece in Emperor's Silk and it is a gorgeous colour but not the easiest one to get exactly right. Still it is only on a tray so no big deal. I think I should have watered it down first as it was very thick.

and on the back

Stencils from the book by Helen Morris of the Stencil Library a brilliant book containing ready to use stencils and lots of ideas as to how to personalise them.

Well, hopefully I will try to make time to come here more often. I have just ordered more ASCP paint from Les Couronnes Sauvage a lovely lady with lots of tips on how to use and mix this great paint.

We have had a lovely summers day today and it feels like it may stay for more than a day so keep fingers crossed. 



Mirrors and clocks and all things nice.

Take a look at my daughter's blog. Some lovely vintage items reinterpreted with decoupage.

She also has a lovely Etsy shop here.

Just lovely, don't you think?

Painted kitchen table Annie Sloan Chalk Paint of course

I wanted to use a stencil from the new stencil book by Helen Morris "Stencil It" but needed something to do it on! The obvious thing was a rather worn orange pine kitchen table. So, out comes the Cream, two coats. I was then going to make a green from Aubusson Blue and Cream but it came out like duck egg blue and it looked lovely and did match another colour I had in the kitchen. So on with the stencil and a couple of coats of clear wax and there you have it.

Now will have to do something with the chairs and the seat cushions! Does it never end?
Oh, yes there is another big cupboard in there as well which is still orange pine so that will have to be done too. Just as well I'm retired.

It has brought a much needed lightness into the kitchen on these grey winter days.

No particular panic to do the other pieces yet as I quite like to paint outside but the temperature needs to be a little warmer for that. Roll on Spring.

Speculoos Ice Cream Recipe - Delicious and Simple

Having been given this brilliant ice cream machine for Christmas from my lovely daughters I thought that it would be only fair to share this recipe!

This is the machine, simple and attractive. Just keep the bowl in the freezer and you are ready to go.

 What you need:-

3/4 of a jar of speculoos spread
250 cl of evaporated milk
300 ml of double cream
100 gr of icing sugar

Whisk the cream until floppy
mix the spread, icing sugar and evaporated milk until smooth
stir in the cream
chill
churn
eat!
Will try to get a picture before it all gets eaten next time.

Annie Sloan French Linen and Scandinavian Pink

Painted not waxed



Clear waxed




this has had to be taken with flash and looks darker here than in reality



Close up

A couple more projects finished with Annie Sloan paint

A slight improvement in the weather - we seem to have had constant rain for a couple of weeks now - so feel more inclined to get on with some stuff. Even Monsieur Minnou was wondering when the rain would stop and kept looking at me as if I might be able to do something about it!

So the first thing I did was a camel stool that we were given by Mum in law some years ago. It comes in handy for extra seating and fits nicely under a table. It was rather tatty so as I wanted to try out the Graphite colour and only had a sample pot I thought this would be the ideal thing.

Before painting







After Graphite and dark wax.



Next French Linen and Scandinavian Pink.

At last finished the furniture in the bedroom with Annie Sloan paint.

It has taken longer than anticipated but nearly there. Still have to decide what to do with the bed and then the curtains!

No before picture (as usual I forgot). Painted in Paris Grey with stencil in Old White and some light distressing. I think it looks much better. I now need to find some lovely paper to line the inside bottom.

I also received some Transfer Artist Paper from one of my lovely daughters for my birthday and have been experimenting with it although I'm not sure what it will end up being just yet. This is the picture I wanted to transfer to some calico cotton. It is a double page spread from a book. The instructions were easy to follow and after a few minutes printing out the pages on my printer and lining up the 2 pages I ironed it on and it came out like.......................

this. It looks excellent and the colours are vibrant. A little on the stiff side but that will apparently get better with washing. We will see and I will do another post if I eventually use this.