Tuesday, January 31, 2012

A NEW ASCP COLOR and a NEW GIVEAWAY!!

I know....I announce a new color and then I go "incommunicato". 
What's that all about???
Well, it's simple, we received our sample quart of Antoinette and I had visions.
Seriously, I just could not stop thinking of the projects that I could do with this color.  
I heard Annie's voice in my head "let the piece talk to you".  I have a chair that was speaking very loudly to me so I took the chair home and a quart of paint and listened to that voice.

I know you will all agree when you have the opportunity to create with this color -- AND that opportunity is sooner than later (read on).

It is inspiring.  
I love how Annie defined it.  "It's got just a hint of brown so it keeps the pink from going too sweet."  

It's a grown up girls' pink... 
You will be enchanted...
You will fall in love.

So, now MY big reveal.  It all started with this color - that's all it took and I went a little crazy.
We remade an entire room based on this color.  Let me know your thoughts....I hope you're inspired!

My gorgeous chair, Antoinette, a wash of Arles, both clear and dark wax and some Gold Leaf!

A close up of the detail

Honestly, don't you just want to move it!

Antoinette inspired accessories!

A closeup of some detail on the leg


 So what's this about a GIVEAWAY!

We have just been told that ANTOINETTE is on its way to
Robyn Story Designs!!
It has been released earlier than we all thought which is
GREAT news for YOU!!
We'll have our supply of paint to SHIP TO YOU as soon as FRIDAY.


I have been so inspired by this color that I decided why not give a little something to the
FIRST 50 people that order ANTOINETTE from 
Robyn Story Designs!!
We have assembled a beautiful collection of embellishments inspired by the color of Antoinette just for you to create with.

Ribbons
Lace
Fabrics
Buttons
Bows
Flowers

Each order will receive our wonderful inspired collection of embellishments with a minimum value of $20.00.  I want you to be just as inspired by this soft and beautiful color as I am and enjoy making your very own beautiful creation with your FREE GIFT!

So go to our ONLINE STORE and order your quart of ANTOINETTE quickly (and mention your FREE GIFT in the notes).  We have GREAT FLAT RATE SHIPPING RATES!!
And please, send us a picture of how you used your INSPIRED EMBELLISHMENTS!!

Do you need another reason to purchase a quart of ANTOINETTE?


$1.00 of each sale of ANTOINETTE is being donated to
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

OH, and
DON'T FORGET about ANNIE'S AMERICAN TOUR!!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT ANNOUNCES ANOTHER COLOR!!

We just received word that Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is going to be releasing her newest color
ANTOINETTE
"Old fashioned roses and the color of old plaster. This is a soft pale pink with a hint of brown in it so the pink is not too sweet."

I know I'm already thinking of projects for this beautifully soft color and what other colors will compliment it.  We will be getting a sample quart to play with and to show you soon, but it won't be released for sale until late March, early April.  If you want to secure your pot of Antoinette you can certainly pre-order it and we'll send it out as soon as we receive our supply! 

AND
DON'T FORGET 
ANNIE'S 2012 AMERICAN TOUR!!!
Register to meet and learn from the Creator of this Wonderful Paint!

The Fun we will have

    • Meet Annie Sloan
    • Hands-On Workshops
    • Authentic Chalk Paint and Soft Wax
    • Special Techniques and Effects
    • Meet other Artists and Designers
Cost of Attendance
  The cost to attend the workshop is $350. Breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and workshop materials will be provided. All venues were hand selected with an artisan eye for the needs of this event.

Schedule

8:30amBreakfast / Introductions
9:00amAnnie Sloan:
A demonstration of Chalk Paint
11:00amLunch
12:00pmHands-on Workshop - led by Annie Sloan and the Stockists
4:00pmBook-signing / Social
5:00pmConclusion

Check out when Annie's going to be in a town near you!!  She's an inspiring woman and it will be an amazing opportunity to hear her speak and to learn about this product that we're all so passionate about!

Monday, January 16, 2012

ANOTHER FABULOUS ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT PROJECT

I've been working hard today (just like every other day!!) and I just checked my email and one of our previous workshop attendees and a great customer sent over pictures of an amazing project that she just finished.

This was too pretty, I just had to take a minute from my day to share her pictures.

Thanks Lynne,  keep the pictures coming!!  We find all of you so inspiring!!
Look at this wonderful combination of Old Ochre and Provence
add some Clear Wax and Dark Wax
and a little Gold brushed on to enhance the detail
How sweet it is!! 

Friday, January 13, 2012

WHAT'S NEXT AT ROBYN STORY DESIGNS?! - GASPARILLA OF COURSE!!

Most of you out there are probably wondering - what the heck is Gasparilla?!  
It's only one of the most celebrated holidays in Tampa Bay.  It's our answer to Mardi Gras, in the sense that it's a time in our area that parties are WILD, parades are plentiful and the people of Tampa Bay unite in their own Krewes.  Here's a brief explanation for your better understanding, (in a nutshell)

Just one example of a float for the parades

"The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is an annual celebration held in the city of Tampa, Florida. Held each year in late January and hosted by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and the City of Tampa, it celebrates the apocryphal legend of Jose' Gaspar (Gasparilla), supposedly a Spanish Pirate captain who operated in Southwest Florida.  The theme is an "invasion" by Gasparilla and his men, which begins when the "Krewe"(made up of residents of the city) arrives on a 165' long pirate ship, the Jose Gaspar, in Tampa Bay and land near downtown Tampa. The mayor of Tampa then lends the key of the city to the pirate captain and a parade ensues down Tampa's major streets. The Krewes throw beads, coins and other items while shooting blank pistols from floats during the parade. The average attendance for the event is over 400,000 people and has been tradition since 1955.  Krewe's have social events and parties throughout the year for members and hold philanthropic events for favored causes."


So what does that mean for Robyn Story Designs and Boutique?  It means that many Krewe members and celebrants come to our little boutique for many unique items.  We have a fabulous selection of BLING for accessorizing that perfect pirate outfit, festive centerpieces, swags/garland for doorways, many items to decorate the home - everything that has pirates and shines we have it!

We've spent the last several days putting away the few things of Christmas that we had left over and have brought out our Gaspy stuff!!  Our floral designers are creating magical little pieces for decorating.  We've gotten all our orders in and have GREAT t-shirts and hostess gifts, feathers and lots of pirate gear!!  I just thought you might like a sneak peak into our little "Gaspy Boutique"!!

Oh, and if you're local MENTION a 25% discount and we'll extend that to
ANY ONE ITEM at checkout!!  So come check out our bounty!!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

THANKS FOR THE SHOUT OUT!!

I just wanted to share a completely unsolicited opinion on 
Take a minute to check out VERY good friends of Robyn Story Design's!
Michele and Ken of STILTSKIN STUDIOS are regular customers of ours
and make the most gorgeous pieces to sell at local stores and on ETSY.
She took a moment out of her incredibly busy day to blog about ASCP.

Michele left this 'love letter' for ASCP at one of our workshops that she and Ken attended!
So let me take a minute to THANK them for being such great friends and a wonderful support to us.  They were there, skeptical in the beginning like so many!!  They came, they tried and they LOVED - just like most people that pick up a brush and a pot of paint!  They continue to come to the store for their supply of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and upon each visit they inspire us with their creativity.  They are both amazing at what they do and we're so lucky to count them as our friends!

I say, regularly, that this paint is just AWESOME and I mean that with every fiber of my being.  But what makes this paint so wonderful is not just those 'magical' ingredients that Annie put together but the friends that it has brought to my store.

I have bragged FOREVER that I have the best customers.  Well, this paint has brought a completely new group of people to our doorstep.  They come in for paint and leave with inspiration, their supply of paint and are armed with great information to go home and CREATE!!  We are happy to have met everyone that has come through our doors looking for our ANNIE ROOM and so many of you have become our friends.

So perhaps, this is were I thank ANNIE for being so creative, such an incredible inspiration, a mentor and an all around great gal!!  She continues to change our world...one color at a time!


Sunday, January 8, 2012

ROBYN STORY DESIGNS ANNOUNCES.......

Robyn Story Designs
ANNOUNCES
The "Studio-At-Large"
The Studio-At-Large at Robyn Story Designs is a multi-purpose studio featuring guest instructors presenting workshops on many different artistic disciplines.  Our goal is to help share the talents of many great artists from all over the country with our friends and valued customers!  These classes will be casual, comfortable, and will be geared towards students with a wide variety and level of creative skills.  From novice to expert, we're confident you'll find just the right one for you! 

In addition to our desire to share all the various decorative art mediums, we also want to share many different classes geared toward the DIY market including: simple upholstery, stenciling, floral design, table-scaping and many many more.  The sky is the limit! So if you are interested in presenting a class or taking a class, please read more below and please share this post with you friends and artists who may be interested! All classes will vary in length and price.  
So go ahead and... 


Unleash Your Inner Artist!

Robyn Story Designs Presents
Guest Instructor Series

Steve Wallis


Presenting The Techniques and Process of
Woodgraining and Marbling

 
When:  Saturday, February 4th, 2012
8am to 5pm
Where: The Studio at Robyn Story Designs
Cost:  $345.00/ Full Day Class

About the Class: 
- The class will be from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm 
 with 1/2 hour for lunch 
- 6 finishes will be taught (see sample image below)
- Sample boards, tools and paint materials will be provided
- The tools will be available for purchase after the class 
- Workbooks will be provided for students with the recipe 
 for each sample already in the book. This will allow the student
 more time to pay attention to the processes and techniques
- Students are encouraged to take notes on all 
 finish demonstrations and activities
 
 
About the Artist

Steve Wallis is the owner of Creative Painting Specialists of Jacksonville, Florida.  An artist from a young age, Steve has spent many years learning his craft and has excelled in multiple disciplines and artistic mediums.  His specialties are faux finishes in an old world tradition including Woodgrain, Marbling, Venetian Plaster, and many, many more.  He has completed projects from Florida to Hawaii and hopes that you will enjoy learning the techniques as much as he has enjoyed teaching them!

Click HERE to visit his website, check out the samples and you will be amazed!
Hurry... Spaces for this class are limited!!
 
Sign Up Online HERE

Or if you prefer...
Contact the Store at (813) 931-9307
for more information or to register by phone with your credit card