Life lately-lessons on buying paint, etc.

I wish I could be typing that I am putting my house on the market next week but, alas, it is not so. We are still stuck on painting doors. Still left to go is painting vast expanses of wall, mini master bath redo, new kitchen counters, sink and floors and a dozen other tiny things not worth mention. Hopefully Mr. Designdumonde will get the position he just interviewed for that is 7 miles from home as opposed to the 50 he currently travels 6 or 7 days a week.

We are using this Valspar color for all of the interior doors in our house. It is the story of a lesson learned for the umpteenth time. Don't buy cheap paint! The Valspar type that we got is not all that cheap but it is not the greatest going on the doors. It, in fact, prompted my husband to make me promise that I would never, ever let him try to pinch a penny on paint. 

This week I plan to start painting or at least choose a color for the large, interconnected part of our house. I think SW Repose Gray will be right but I might have it mixed at 50%.

Working from home is a wonderful blessing and a challenge beyond what I thought it would be. The tug of household chores and choosing whether or not to make dinner at all is huge. I knew when my family started asking "if" I was making dinner and not "what" there had been a shift. 

My son went back to college but not until he ate us out of house and home (food bill more than doubles when he is here) and hit a car (at the DMV!) 

My youngest has her first loose tooth and I must say I was not expecting that just yet, so it made me a  little sad.

Spending enough time in the studio has been a challenge but I have spent time reshooting work that I was not happy with images of, like these ink and gouache prints on Hosho paper.

My hope this week is to begin painting walls, spend time in my studio and finish organizing my closet. Oh yeah and squeeze in a dinner or two.

Prints coming soon! Opinions wanted.

I have had a few folks interested in less expensive giclee prints of my originals. Mostly of this piece which I retitled "Into Elan".

I found one printer locally that does giclees and surprisingly it is not terribly expensive as long as I order multiples.

My question to you is what size would you want and how much would you pay?

Are there any others in my portfolio that you would purchase a giclee of?

Also, there are prints available through Saatchi online of a few of my paintings. I hope to add more soon.

Oh how fickle I am

I am feeling a little under the weather and I have a "to do" list a mile long. I thought I might sneakily recycle a Christmas post from my old blog, GoodtasteGoodtasting but instead I found a opinion of mine that I forgot all about.

It is about 2011 Pantone color of the year, Honeysuckle Pink.

Read this and be sure to see the last photo--funny.

Are they serious?

Pantone announced their 2011 color of the year to be Honeysuckle or in lay terms... pink.

I think it is rather odd and perhaps a bit juvenile in its feel. Personally I adore pink dresses, shoes and accessories as a part of my summer attire but not my house.

Here is how Pantone describes its applications in interiors.

" Home Interiors

Honeysuckle is upbeat and dynamic when used on large areas like the entry area of a house or an apartment. It is an appetite and conversation stimulant when used on the dining room walls. In the kitchen, it adds a fun touch on the table in placemats and other linens (patterned or solid), colored glassware, candles and small appliances. Honeysuckle is a great color to cover up shabby kitchen cabinets, or, if that’s too much of a color statement for you, try repainting knobs and drawer pulls. But be warned – once you try this arresting shade, it can become addictive."

It just feels too unsophisticated to me. Maybe for outdoor furniture or something in a cabbage rose chintz.

I just think it is limited in its appeal because it is so feminine.

Agree?

Ok, I am back in the present. Check out my first floor bathroom.

Its not the best photo, I know, but it illustrates my point--and with out a toilet!

I am in love with 2012's color. More about that in the future.

What do you think?

Don't forget to enter my giveaways HERE and HERE for these...

both end Tuesday December 20th.

Dutch master still lifes and another GIVEAWAY!

In the 17th century, prosperous Holland experienced a "Golden Age" in painting.

There were several genres, not the least of which was the still life.

The painting were an opportunity for the artist to showcase his skill in recreating textures and realistic lighting.

They often contained everyday items and sometimes depicted lavish, if not over-styled to look casual, tablescapes.

The items were meant as a reminder of the shortness of life, a message that was more clear in early examples containing simpler items.

Later in the 1600s more ornate vessels were depicted.

These are just a sampling of the greatest of the 17th century.

I chose them as a prelude to the giveaway of this antique print from my Etsy shop.

I think it would be great over a bar, in a kitchen, or in any grouping of like prints.

The print depicts various ornate vessels that were often seen in the still life paintings of the Dutch masters.

This is an antique and not a copy.

It is matted in a dark gray 9 x 12 inch mat.

My Etsy shop sells antique prints and my original artwork.

I never sell reproduction, mass-produced art.

Please note that this print is matted in a common size for easy framing on a budget.

Custom framing is expensive and I think everyone should have wonderful pieces of art regardless of their budget.
In addition to the giveaway I am offering readers a 10 % discount in my Etsy store.
Just use the code DUMONDE1 at checkout.

To enter just:

1.become a follower of Design Du Monde 

2. then hop on over to my Etsy store or my Saatchi Gallery page and pick a favorite. Then come back here and leave me a comment telling me about your favorite.

3. Extra entries can be had by liking this post on Facebook or linking to it on your site. Just leave an extra comment for each.

Please be sure to leave an email if you do not have a Google account.

Open to US residents only.

Winner picked at random on Tuesday, December 20th at 10am EST.

 Good Luck!