February 27th, 2011

Best of Barcelona

I am so excited to announce that I am leading yet another travel/painting adventure-this time to beautiful Barcelona June 16-28.  I have already partially prefilled spots on this tour with friends from past travels, but there are still a few spots left on this intimate tour for 8.

Barcelona Painting Trip

I think that Barcelona is my favorite European city so far, because it is so “alive” and forward leaning, yet posesses an amazingly rich history and fabulous architecture from Gothic to Modernista. Barcelona seems to have a little bit of everything to offer, and we will be exploring all the highlights!

Our adventure will begin in the Eixample district of Barcelona, in the heart of Antoni Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces, where we will stay (and play!) for the first part of our trip. Day trips out of town to the seaside town of Tarragona and nearby Montserrat will provide a broader experience of this Catalunya region of Spain.

Our painting class and projects will begin when we transfer to the peaceful and inspiring monastery Sant Jeroni de la Murtra, just outside of Barcelona and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Here, we will work on guided painting projects for several days, as well as enjoy some solitude and hiking in the surrounding hills.

On all of my painting trips I strive to plan a really good balance of art and creativity with diving into the local culture, enjoying excellent food and wine, shopping and sightseeing, relaxing and exploring. I think that this trip totally hits the mark! Look for the link at the end of the video to download all the details, and don’t forget there are just a few spots left!

February 25th, 2011

Get a New Look

One of the great things about having businesses that focus on creating awesome patterns for decorating  just about any surface is that there are so many opportunities to work with different companies who have awesome PRODUCTS that can be used with our designs! Modello Designs has recently joined forces with New Look to see what kind of magic can be created with our Modello stencils and their easy-to-use, water-based concrete stains and environmentally friendly etching gel.

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I popped in to the recent World of Concrete show in Las Vegas to visit with Jacob Webb, and the nice people from New Look at their booth there.

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The simple process starts with 2 coats of their Solid Color Stain, (not shown) which comes in a ton of great colors and is easily broomed on. Then, one or more of their Translucent Designer Enhancer colors is applied with a spray gun through the Modello stencil pattern.

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To soften the effect, a complimentary color can then be applied overall, after removing the Modello stencil.

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Above are two examples of easy Marquetry effects that can be achieved by applying layers of color after different areas of the design are removed, one layer at a time.

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The light “airbrushing” technique used with the Designer Enhancer Stains gives a nice, crisp edge to the patterns.

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I was really excited about their QuickEtch etching gel! This is a water-based, biodegradable, non-corrosive  surface etching solution that etches concrete surfaces WITHOUT acid. I have used acid-based etching gels in the past, and this works just as well without the hazard and worry of using a dangerous chemical. You can find more information on concrete etching with Modello patterns here and an example of a finished project here. I love the organic look of etched concrete, especially with  the addition of Modello stencils! ;)  New Look has training and distribution throughout the country, and provides a great alternative to acid staining and etching! You can find more information about our New Look collaboration here on our website, as well as links to more information and some instructional videos.

February 23rd, 2011

Stencil Patterned Porches

You’ve seen the amazing work of Gracie Reed, of Grace Designs Dallas here before. Her work is on the cover of our Modello by Design, Vol. II book and also featured in the whole first chapter. Gracie continues to inspire and amaze me with her talent and she recently sent along these juicy, colorful photos of some fabulous porch projects she did recently with some custom-fit Modello  masking stencil patterns. And so, to brighten up your day…..He-e-e-e-r’s Gracie!

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Porch before: yaaaaawn.

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Porch after: YEAH!

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I think you’ll agree with me that these are really exceptional uses of some of our Modello Concrete Carpet patterns, adapted to fit the projects perfectly. For these projects, Gracie used a polymer-based concrete overlay product called RSCrete from Faux Effects, International. Like the products featured in the last post, this is an easy to use, integrally colored overlay that gets thinly troweled over an existing concrete slab. It’s kind of like a Venetian Plaster type material-for floors-and works wonderfully in combination with our masking stencils! Wouldn’t you love to walk up to either one of these houses and be surprised to see this?!?!

February 21st, 2011

Modello Concrete Carpets

Continuing a focus on patterned decorative concrete, I’d like to share some beautiful projects by Nancy Tomaski of Paint My World in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvannia, using our Modello decorative masking stencils. Nancy is a long-time customer of Modello Designs, and you can see some of her amazing projects in our inspirational book, Modello by Design, Volume II. Alas, these projects were done after that book went to press, but I am very proud to share some more of Nancy’s work here!

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This first project uses a custom Modello stencil pattern created from our one-time-use masking material. Nancy was able to create this original pattern with the help of Jillian from our design team. This photo shows the pattern all laid out and ready for color!

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Nancy used SkimStone for this project, applying different custom-mixed colors of this easy-to-use cementitious overlay directly onto the concrete slab.

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After the “concrete carpet” was completed, Nancy went back and created a realistic faux tile treatment using another concrete overlay system designed specifically for floors from Granicrete. Isn’t this an amazing transformation??

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This next porch project features a custom adaptation of our popular Chavall carpet design.

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Our specialty at Modello Designs is customizing our existing patterns to existing project parameters, and Natalie from our design team did a great job of recreating this design to fit the irregular shape. If it looks like this pattern was perfectly designed for this space, it’s because it WAS! :)

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This last concrete porch transformation features our Toldeo carpet pattern, and Nancy did this one for herself, perfectly copying the color scheme represented in our Concrete Carpet and Panel Catalog! Yeah Nancy!

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For this project, she used products from the iCoat concrete system to create both the faux carpet AND the faux wood and surrounding brick. Now, perhaps you are wondering how you can create some of these looks for yourself! All of the companies mentioned in this post offer hands-0n training and distribution of their products around the country. They can also recommend trained artisans in your area if you’d rather watch than do!

And a reminder…..I will be teaching a hands-on Modello/SkimStone class with Katrina Johnson from SkimStone at the upcoming Concrete Decor Show in Nashville. Go Girl Power! :)

February 18th, 2011

SkimStone Tag Team

I am going to be teaming up with Katrina Johnson from SkimStone/Rudd Company to teach a hands-0n SkimStone + Modello workshop at the upcoming Concrete Decor Show in Nashville, TN on March 17-18.

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The class is “officially” called  Masking Patterns and MicroToppings for Ultra Decorative Finishes if you want to check the schedule. For some reason, in the concrete world they don’t like to “name names”, but rest assured it will be all about SkimStone and Modellos. I have posted many times about SkimStone here before, because it is one of my favorite mediums to work in for decorative floor applications.

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Katrina is THE authority on SkimStone applications so this class will be full of great technical application information (the brains!) as well as instruction, inspiration, and sample making that features Modello patterns (the beauty!)

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In addition to the class samples, students will have the opportunity to view and participate in a whole decorative floor treatment that we will be completing at Rocketown.

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One of my favorite ways to incorporate SkimStone is with patterns from our Carpet and Panel Collection. We have recently updated the catalog with some beautiful new designs, like this new Bristol Carpet.

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Another thing I am quite excited about it that we are now offering the Carpet and Panel Collection catalog in both a beautiful high res printed version, as well as a free eCatalog-available here. I’d love to know what you think about this format!

February 15th, 2011

I’m Floored!

I didn’t even know that my Skylar’s Lace stencil from Royal Design Studio was being used in Better Homes and Gardens Do it Yourself magazine, but fortunately a kind customer alerted me! After striking out at several different stores, I finally came across the Spring 2011 issue at my local Barnes and Noble this past weekend.

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This is perfect timing because I wanted to spend a few posts sharing some other floor projects, new “carpet” designs, and other assorted info related to painting and decorating floors. The article, aptly entitled “Eye Candy”, features this fabulous lace pattern done in a bold turquoise and white color combo. As the article points out, you can stencil all KINDS of floors, whether they be wood, concrete, primed vinyl, or canvas floorcloths. This version was done using a gloss finish blue with the white paint added with a stencil roller. Easy peasy!

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There was actually a great DIY project done recently by fab artist and photographer Ashley Ann of Under the Sycamore that was INSPIRED by the original Skylar’s Lace stencil project that we completed in Marrakech. She details out the process for painting and stenciling on a plywood subfloor. Even though she was inspired by my floor :) , she didn’t use the stencil. :( . I actually love the stencil that she created herself, though, and of course it looks fabulous in gray and white!

Skylar’s lace continues to get a lot of attention (around the world!) and it will also be featured soon in some more magazines, YEAH! To celebrate all this Skylar’s Lace LUV we are doing a Facebook Fan Flash Sale for 24 hours only offering this very popular, intricate design at a very sweet price. Ready, set, and GO here to find out more!

February 14th, 2011

Day of LOVE

I am celebrating this LOVEly day by remembering the most romantic, happy day of this past year for me…..

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I did….

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he did….

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we did….

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….still do!

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8/22/2010

Beautiful heart photographs by A Creative Mint. Happy Valentines Day everyone! Wishing you all kinds of love…..

February 13th, 2011

Design Bloggers Conference

I am super excited that the upcoming Design Bloggers Conference will be held in Los Angeles (Feb28-March1)! It’s a quick drive up the coast from San Diego, which makes it affordable and POSSIBLE for me to go. I’m really looking forward to hearing and learning from the design blogging pros, networking, and socializing with some blogging friends!

They offered registered attendess a chance to guest post on their blog, and so I sent off a little bit about little old  me, and WOW  there I am!! Anyone else going??!

February 12th, 2011

Stencil Giveaway/MadebyGirl

WooHoo!! Royal Design Studio is sponsoring a stencil giveaway over on the lovely Made by Girl Blog!

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Head on over there and get all the details and follow the directions for the chance to win a FREE stencil of YOUR choice, valued up to $50. The drawing will be held February 18, so leave your entry comment SOON! Jen has featured some of our latest stencil designs, such as…..

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Our new Large Marrakech Trellis stencil,

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our modern, graphic Endless Circle Lattice stencil,

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and our new Uzbek Suzani allover stencil. You may recognize this last design, as it was first done here on my first painting adventure to Marrakesh at Peacock Pavilions. For that project, we used very large Modello masking stencils. My friend Debbie Hayes later used the same design in an elegant brown and gold bathroom shown here. This new mylar stencil is a bit scaled down from that but it’s still quite a grand size and makes a fabulous bold statement, I think!

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Besides running the very popular Made by Girl blog, Jen also has an online Made by Girl store where she sells her original (and very clever) artwork on posters, canvases, and cards.

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I particularly love the typography posters where she highlights letters to spell names and sayings. I would just like to say thank you to Jen for hooking us, and YOU, up with this fun giveaway. Good luck everyone!!!

February 11th, 2011

It’s Easy Being Green!

Besides my old friend Kermit, the color green reminds me of fresh cut Summer grass, the new buds of Spring (it WILL come eventually), verdant forests, and fresh beginnings.

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The color green is also featured as an interior design trend on this recent post from The Colour Lovers blog! Perfect timing, then, to share these new allover stencil designs imagined in inspiring shades of nature’s favorite color: green!

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This Moroccan-inspired stencil is called Chez Sheik-3071. It is available in two sizes (large shown here) and makes quite a statement on a “bed wall”, don’t you think?

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The allover Chain Link Stencil-3086 is super clean and contemporary. It keeps you “going around in circles” the best possible way! We’ve been busy creating a whole flurry of new stencil patterns over at Royal Design Studio. I’d love to know what you think about these new patterns! There are lots more in the works….