Upcoming Courses:

Kathy Carroll to teach at IDAL Convention

This year’s IDAL (International Decorative Artisans League) Convention in Memphis, Tennessee is right around the corner.  If you are like most artisans, you are wondering how to make the most out of your time at the convention.  Are looking for high quality, versatile finishes aimed at helping your margins in these tough times?  Then we have two courses for you!

Kathy’s “Banker’s Dozen” course takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday of the convention from 8:00 am – 5:30 pm.  The cost of the class is $695.00 and includes lunch.  In addition to the recommended basic supplies you will also need a trowel, sponge, chip brushes, and paper plates.  During this exciting intermediate class you will learn 12 top selling finishes geared to improve your profit margins.  The assortment finishes will utilize many mediums and even include a number of furniture finishes.

Banker's Dozen

The second of Kathy’s course offerings is the “Finest Nine”.  The “Finest Nine” course will be held on Thursday from 8:00 am – 5:30 pm and Friday from 8:00 am – noon.  The cost for the class is $525.00 and includes lunch.  In addition to the recommended basic supplies you will also need a trowel, sponge, chip brushes, and paper plates.  In this class you will create nine finishes aimed at helping you meet your client’s budget.  Using a variety of mediums, these finishes are sure to show off your talent and versatility and win over your clients.

Finest Nine

If you are unable to attend the IDAL convention or are interested in more learning opportunities, check our list of Upcoming Courses.  We are always adding new courses to our line up.  Don’t see something that fits your schedule?  Consider arranging for a Private Session, or learn at your own pace using our unique learnfauxnow.com courses.  Remember, your imagination is your only limitation.

Jenna DeFalco’s Antique Buffet

When the owner of a local antique store in Deer Park contacted Jenna for assistance in making an antique buffet table more marketable, she rose to the challenge.  Jenna DeFalco, the owner of Inspired Design Decorative Painting in South Elgin, Illinois, met the owner of the antique store at an open house that she participated in with an interior decorator.  At the open house she was showcasing items that demonstrated how decorative painting could be used as an option to reinvent existing furniture rather than purchasing new furnishings.  Her concepts won over this client, and she was contracted to transform the buffet’s worn finish into the work of art that is pictured here. 

She began working on the piece with the utmost care, cleaning it gently with a denatured alcohol.  She then followed that with a light sanding using 120-grit sandpaper.  Jenna expressed that sanding the piece before applying product is a very important step in the refinishing process. “When working with an antique piece you have to make sure that you remove any waxy build up that may be there from cleaning products that have been used.  Sanding also adds a tooth to allow the finish to adhere to.” 

Her goal when finishing the piece was to make it modern while still remaining true to the historical style of the piece.  When asked about her inspiration she replied, “I liked the hardware, that was the inspiration.”  The buffet is adorned with several finishes making it versatile enough to fit into any décor.  The reptile skin top was created using Perfetto Portofino, Golden Brand Smooth Transparent Glazing Texture, and a topcoat.  She says of Golden Brand’s product that it is “great for furniture pieces.” She also applied Bella Cera acrylic wax, tinted black, using a rubbing technique to the original finish so that the beauty of the original veneer was preserved and visible.  On the doors of the cabinet she applied a Modello using gold leaf and a tinted wax to provide a antique feel to the finish.  She also incorporated metallic elements into the stencil design to give it a more dimensional quality.  The feet of the piece were painted an antique gold and glazed to compliment the other elements of the piece as well as improve their heavily worn appearance.