WANT TO PLACE AN ON LINE ORDER WITH The Purple Painted Lady? Jan. 6th

Posted on 01/06/2014 by Tricia

WANT TO PLACE AN ORDER WITH The Purple Painted Lady?

We are implementing an amazing NEW shopping cart software on our website this week- with a GO LIVE of 1/13/14- during this transition period- if you have any difficulty with the old shopping cart- please, just CALL ME!

585-750-6056

I will take your order over the phone and & we are adding surprises to packages just as a consolation of this extra step!

OR – feel free to email your order of the items you would like, ship to address and your phone number – then when you call- I will have your total ready! Email me at takuntz@rochester.rr.com and label your email “Order to be placed!.” Thanks!!!!

French Gilding Wax – How I like to apply it (VIDEO)

Posted on 01/04/2014 by Tricia

I like to say that French Gilding Wax is a great way to “Ohh La La” with minimal “Mooh La La!” I know that is a bit cheeky, but it is true.

Are you impatient like me- skip reading my post and go straight to the GILDING WAX VIDEO – CLICK HERE

The Purple Painted Lady sells French Gilding Wax here on-line HERE and in our Macedon and Solvay locations.

French Gilding Wax adds sparkle to your projects. Gilding waxes are the closest thing to the look of real gold leaf but are infinitely easier to apply and come in 6 stunningly beautiful colors. We have Renaissance Gold, Empire Gold, King Gold, Copper, Silver, and Pewter/Tin available. You can mix the French Gilding Wax for a multitude of color variations like Platinum and Gold Leaf.

Here is my “HOW TO” to suing French Gilding Wax:

Most importantly- Gilding Wax is used LAST in the sense of project’s process.

I like to use the analogy of decorating a cake. You add the pretty roses to it after you are done frosting. You do not re-frost your cake after adding roses. This same example applies to the Gilding Wax. After you have painted, distressed, waxed- then add your Gilding!

Gilding Wax is easy and fun to use. It adds a little sparkle to any project, no matter if it is humble or grand. It is perfect to emphasis detail of a piece, especially if it is ornate. But even using it in a subtle way on a simple cabinet, cam really add a little drama!

HOW TO APPLY GILDING:
No fancy tool, I just literally opened the top of the 30 ml glass container and using my finger- lightly touched the creamy Gilding Wax. It has a smooth-silky feel to it! Very luscious. The reason I like to apply Gilding Wax using my pinkie or index finger is because I can gauge exactly where it is being placed. I have better control using my finger. I only put a VERY SMALL amount in a small spot on my finger since I do not want to be sloppy and get the Gilding Wax in an area- that I did not intend for it to be.

WHAT TO DO IF THE GILDING GETS ON A SPACE YOU DO NOT WANT?

However, if it does get on an area where it should not be use a little of Annie’s Clear Wax on a rag and wipe off the extra gilding- this works like a charm! OR…worse case scenario….use a very little amount of mineral spirits on a Q-tip and lightly touch the area and wipe. Note though- mineral spirits effects ALL wax so you want to make sure you have minimal on your Q-tip or it will effect your wax finish. (I hope that makes sense)

By dipping a small brush 1” or 2” brush into mineral spirits wiping the excess on a paper towel, then dipping into the wax you can create a beautiful metallic glaze for your entire piece.

Mixing the gilding waxes together allows you a larger range of colors in which to make your piece unique. Try mixing Silver and Brass or Empire for an exceptional platinum color.

Now – to contradict the “finger” application noted above – another great way to use the French Gilding Wax is by taking a a little mineral spirits, placing it in another container and add a little Mineral Spirits to it. By doing this, you create a metallic glaze that you can use a brush to gently apply to your painted pieces. Use the Gilding glaze strategically or all over- either way- you will love it!

I was playing around the other day with a sample board at the shop. First I painted it with Antoinette Chalk Paint™ Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan and then – while it was still wet- wiped a good amount of the Chalk Paint™ off. Not sure why I chose to do that- but I did.

Although the washed off sample board had a simple look- I still thought it was pretty. But then I realized how much nicer it would be by applying a little French Gilding Wax.

Immediately I realized how the French Gilding Wax transformed something that was simple & pretty- to something that was haute & exquisite.

French Gilding Wax is so easy to use!

Using my pointer finger, I rubbed some of the Empire Gold Gilding Wax to my sample board…and WOW! The areas I wanted to accentuate- danced with luster. The French Gilding Wax was incredibly easy to use and I immediately started to think of all the projects I plan on using this with.

Paint Deliveries During Cold Months (Baby, it’s cold outside!)

Posted on 12/09/2013 by Tricia

Do you get as excited as I do when I see that big brown UPS truck pull into your driveway? Or perhaps it is a white truck if having something delivered via FedX. But I know people who get especially excited when waiting for their Chalk Paint® order to arrive. And just like the Christmas decorations we are seeing at the mall….cold weather comes along with it!

The busiest shipping season is approaching!

In fact the busiest day of the year is less than a month a way. UPS, based in Atlanta, predicts that it will pick up more than 34 million packages on the busiest day, Monday, Dec. 16 and then deliveries will peak at 29 million the next day.

Just a couple reminders…if you are starting to plan a purchase…… do it sooner versus later during the holiday season. The Purple Painted Lady ships same day- but with added demand in the whole UPS system- typical UPS shipping times are increased during December. So, please do not procrastinate if in a hurry or have an upcoming project or deadline.

Also- regarding outdoor temperatures:

Keep in mind- any time you use a product- be it paint, hairspray, perfume…temperature and humidity can impact its performance. With it starting to be so COLD right now across North America- I would caution you to not paint in your garage or outside.

Paint should be stored between 55 and 85 degrees – with 70 degrees being perfect!

And when it comes to paint deliveries, do not worry about the paint shipping to you. We are professionals at The Purple Painted Lady and have been shipping Chalk Paint® for the last 4 winters perfectly!

Most importantly- be on the look out for your delivered package! Try to not let it sit outside over night! If possible- have it shipped to your work address or to someone’s home that is home during the day.

If having it sent to your house and you will be at work till 5pm, as soon as you get home- if a box was left for you outside on a porch or garage………..get it in to room temperatures ASAP.

Now…..do NOT panic! Give your product a good 24 hours to get acclimated to room temperatures before opening or shaking. Patience is a virtue here and allow the product to truly get to room temperature on its own.

Heat and cold can effect products. For example- in heat- one of the components of Annie’s wax and Miss Mustard Seed’s wax is bee’s wax. Bee’s wax has a relatively LOW melting point range of 144 to 147 °F. I have never done a study- but the back of the big brown UPS trucks are not air conditioned and I am sure they can get pretty warm over summer! So, when it is hot- do not try to expedite the process of the wax by placing it in the freezer.

Or- now that it is cold….. do not try to expedite the process by heating up products somehow. Be patient and allow it to get to room temperature naturally!

When it comes to painting in extreme temperatures – it will effect your outcome. Make sure your paint products and the piece you are painting are at room temperature and are going to stay at that temperature through out your process! I will receive calls from customers saying that they have a heater in their garage and turned it on while painting. Then the next day when they looked at their piece there was an issue. I always ask- did you turn the heater off? They answer yes- meaning the temperature dropped back down – and so did the temperature of the piece of furniture they were painting.

When the temperatures are high, it causes the water in the paint to evaporate too quickly. This can lead to a “crackle” like finish on parts of your piece. That could be great, if you want your piece to have a crackle finish…but terrible, if that is not the end result you were looking for. Sometimes, crackle can happen if the paint was applied a little too thick. If that happens, try using a 400 grit sandpaper and lightly sand the dried paint. I have found that I can “polish” the paint and the fines cracks disappear.

TEMPERATURES TO PAINT IN:

You want to paint and wax your pieces in ambient temperature. Ideally- above 60 degrees and below 80! That range could vary between 55 – 85 degrees…BUT……at the lowest and highest end of that range- you still need to be cautious. If too cold- it can cause your paint to crack and peel….and with HOT temps, cracking can be an issue also- not to mention your paint drying to fast before you manipulated it.

Also, as you may be aware- Chalk Paint® is a bit thicker in comparison to some paints. You do not want your paint to become thicker in the quart due to it drying or water evaporating when hot outside. If for some reason – this does happen. Add a small amount of water and incorporate totally to determine if more is needed. You can always add more water, but if you add too much- you are stuck. : ) So keep this in mind when painting and the phone rings. Cover your paint before getting lost in a 30 minute phone conversation.

I like to share with my female customers in my NY store, if you leave hairspray in your car over night in the winter when we can have temperatures in the teen’s here, you would not expect it to perform. Paint and wax are no exception.

When waxing a piece of furniture- please do that in an area that the temperature will allow the wax to dry and harden.

I recently received this message via my business Facebook page from Marci Jo about Chalk Paint® freezing:

HELP! my five cans if chalk paint were inadvertently left in my bag porch while moving stuff around in my dining room. They froze last evening!!!!!!!! Will they be ok? I’m sure not….. I’m devastated….

My response to her was this:

Your paint SHOULD be ok…. The Chalk Paint® should be able to go through a couple freeze cycles- but there is NO guarantee on this and you want to avoid this if all possible. I suggest that you bring them inside- which I am sure you did already. Give them a few days to get back to room temperature on their own. (meaning do not try to heat them up to expedite the process) Then shake the can and open. Chalk Paint® can with stand some temperature abuse, but not repeated and there is no guarantee on performance long term when it is not kept or used at conditions required.

Thanks all and I hope you are staying warm!!!!!

Please visit our website if interested in ordering Chalk Paint®. We have it available for $34.95 per quart, we offer low/flat rate shipping and it always ships same day (as long as Pete, our UPS guy has not come already!)

In fact- there are many reasons we think buying through us is the best. Read THIS little post about what sets The Purple Painted Lady apart from the rest.

To visit our on-line store- click HERE.

Lastly, we share a lot more information to help you get the most functionality out of your Chalk Paint® on our Facebook page. Consider checking it out by clicking HERE. While there- kindly consider LIKING us.

Thanks again,
Tricia Migliore Kuntz ~The Purple Painted Lady ~
Design/Consulting, Kitchen Cabinet Refurbishing, Custom Painted Furniture, Chalk Paint® & Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint Retailer & herRochester Blogger

PHONE: 585-750-6056

Come visit us:

At our MAIN STORE at 77 West Main Street in Macedon, NY 14502 OR

3200 West Ridge Road in Rochester, NY 14626 (The Shops On West Ridge) OR

Our Syracuse, NY location as of July 1, 2014 at 1 West Genesee Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027
Click HERE for Store hours and information.

Free Wax Clinics- What Our Customers Say Afterward

Posted on 10/31/2013 by Tricia

We host FREE Wax Clinics usually on a monthly basis. We do this to help our customers get the most of their purchased products. We want them know the best way to apply Clear Wax to their painted furniture.

Click HERE to view a little video snippet from one of our clinics.

Thanks to Kim from Dearly ReLoveIt and Mary who attended this one and for allowing me to video them! Note to viewers- Mary was really enjoying the waxing process and spent more time rubbing than necessary! Most importantly- listen to what they share regarding their lessons learned.

Lastly- here are some additional helpful thoughts we wanted to share from the day:

Again, The Purple Painted Lady offers the very best customer service. We host FREE clinics all the time- to share with our customers the best way to use the products that we sell. We want to help our customers get the most out of their products so they can create a beautiful finished piece the first time they use product! Hope you would consider being part of our customer base- you are not just an “order” when you purchase on line from The Purple Painted Lady. We always hand write a note to you and are here for you if you need us – once your package arrives! If interested in purchasing Clear Wax- click HERE.

Some Tips To Remember: (Feel free to add your suggestions below too!)

1. Wax in good light! (and in the correct temperature)
2. As for the temperature- as we approach winter- if you do your projects out in the garage- anything under 60 degrees creates a variable in your outcome. (I prefer 65 to 75 degrees)
3. Use your eyes to determine if you have good uniform coverage. When doing a large piece- take a few steps back periodically and look at it. The Chalk Paint® will appear a bit darker where the wax is- and lighter where the wax is not.
4. Use your hands to determine if you have good coverage or too much wax. Glide your fingers over the area you are waxing when you think you are done with the application in one spot. It will feel a little cool and there should not be any drag.
5. A light application of wax is all that is necessary when applying wax – you want it to be applied like hand moisturizer. Rub the wax in. You do not want your piece to feel greaser or feel slathered with wax. And always remove the residual wax immediately after applying it.
6. Don’t slather your wax- since you will be removing the excess. You only waste your wax that way.
7. If you feel you see differences with light and dark areas in your wax- you probably do not have enough wax on. Apply a little more per instructions and even out the area.
8. Always remove the residual wax immediately after applying it. We all felt that using Cheese Cloth to remove the wax- worked the best! HERE is a link to order the best grade Cheese Cloth for removing wax.

9. On pieces that get a lot of use- multiple layers of wax is best.
10. Always blend your wax sections if working on a large piece.
11. Have the right tools! We love to apply wax with a wax brush and remove wax using cheese cloth.
And take care of your tools. Clean them when done. HERE is a link to the Ultimate Wax Brush.
12. Hold your wax brush comfortably- you should not be gripping it tensely.

13. Have paper plates and plastic spoons available and then scoop some wax out of your tin. When waxing over Chalk Paint®, you will have a little chalky paint transfer back onto your wax brush. You do not want to contaminate all of the wax in the tin with that. (especially if working a bright colored piece)

14. In the future- you know when you may need to re-wax when you go to buff your piece, and no longer get the sheen you desire. Re-waxing is typically not something that needs to be done in a few months or even a year. A lot comes down to how much abuse your piece gets. A kitchen tabletop that gets washed daily is very different than a bedroom dresser.
15. Always clean waxed pieces with a damp cloth. If additional cleaning is necessary- use a gentle/mild soap that does NOT contain a degreaser!
16. Wax continues to cure and harden for a whole month- so please do not take your finger nail and try to scratch it as a test. (same goes for chalk paint®)
17. Alcohol and anything acidic is an enemy to wax! Do not peel a grapefruit on top of your waxed table.
18. Use place mats on a waxed table top and blotter pads on a waxed desk top.

It’s 10pm- Do You Know Where Your Stockist Is?

Posted on 10/30/2013 by Tricia

Hi all,

I just thought about all of you who called or emailed me today. I hope that the service we provide to you conveys are appreciation that you are a customer to us!

Then I thought I would share with you what I am doing. And that made me think of this:

“It is 10:00pm – do you know where your Chalk Paint® stockist is?” – which made me laugh!

So, just in case you are one of my customers- I wanted to share with you that I am at my shop waxing the “Mermaid” dresser that I painted a while ago.

I added a little wash of Pure White Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan first though.

See those little bottles on top of the dresser? I store my paint in them and think they are absolutely brilliant! If interested in learning more or would like to purchase one- just click HERE.

I hope you all have sweet dreams!