Virgin chalkboard...

Aaaah...  A whole week home alone with nothing scheduled.  Nice.

I've been completely enjoying being a recluse, and doing a few (very few) chores around the house.  

Last night as I was heading to bed about midnight, I passed this blank wall and could stand it no longer.  I brought out the step ladder and chalk.  Yep...midnight.

I read somewhere that you need to 'prime' a new chalkboard by chalking over the whole thing, wipe it off with a damp cloth, and let it dry completely.  That is supposed to keep the initial art from being 'burned' onto the surface.  I kind of like the chalkboard-y nature of the result, but if I want it back to a nice crisp black, I'll wipe it down with a water/vinegar mixture.

The 'art' I put up is pretty rough...the result of going in without a real plan...no measuring...no leveling...just a wish.

I woke up this morning and was happy to see the chalk art done.  My wish did not come true, but I guess I'll have to put some backbone and elbow grease into that wish.  

And I'm still working on a plan that will camouflage that sore thumb of a thermostat.

In the land of chalk drawings...again...

Kasey's chalkboard that I love to play on is no longer in her dining room, but she hasn't had time to update it from a dining room motif.  (You can see its new home--in their new house--in the first photo.)

One of her best friends had a birthday today (a big one), so while Kasey was away from home at the party, I thought I'd surprise her by sneaking over and putting up some new chalk art for the new house.  I was inspired by the work of dirtsastudio in her Etsy shop...I first saw it on Pinterest.

This was definitely the most challenging chalk art I have attempted as I was doing it freehand while looking at the inspiration piece...and the audience (Beau) kept adding their two cents.

I like it with just the white chalk, but since I had ordered fancy colored chalk from Amazon, I added a little just for interest...the choice of states colored in has absolutely no significance other than I was totally copying the inspiration piece.

I added the heart in our part of Texas, and the 'Home is where the heart is' caption at the bottom.  I think I may go back and add a simple border around the edges.

I added a message in the corner at the last for Beau and anyone else who may think it's funny to point out its imperfection.  :)

Kasey called me after she got home to say that she really liked her surprise.  

I can mark another Pinterest project done on my 2014 goals list.  Now I need to put some chalk art on that section of wall I painted with chalkboard paint in my own house.

In the land of chalk drawings...

This is the result of my spending this afternoon in Kasey's dining room.  You might remember the Give Thanks that I put up here in November.  

The main part of this design is from a printable that I saw somewhere, but I printed it out with the intent of framing it, and I didn't save the source.  So big apologies to the original artist for the lack of attribution.  

The chalkboard art is so fun to do.  I had an audience this time who all had suggestions.  :)  The boys thought I needed to add a serrated edge to the knife...Oi!  Beau's suggestion was to add the grace around the border, and I decided that was actually a great idea.

I have a spot in my house that I think might be yearning to be painted black just so I can play.  

Give thanks...

I love Fridays!  Though I had a rather aggravating morning, it got better.  Then I went over to Kasey's to play on her dining room chalk board.  This is my chalk version of an Etsy find that I saw on Pinterest.  I wanted to redo the bottom herb-y scroll work, but Kasey wouldn't let me. 

This photo shows the size in more perspective...quite large.  It was a fun way to spend my afternoon.

So today I give thanks for: sweet nurses, good friends, 4-day work weeks, wonderful children who let me come hang out and artify their furnishings, and kisses from the kiddles.