SCORE! The MINI Bar Progress continues...

 LOOK WHAT I FOUND:
I am very excited to show you what I found for $3.99.  This is my cool art nouveau Ice Bucket for the MINI Bar.  It is beautiful in amber, but I am still toying with whether to paint it with mercury glass paint or not.... I think I may just leave it as is.  I also found this awesome towel holder, but I don't have it yet, so I won't reveal it.  This past winter I have searched and searched for all the missing parts that I need to complete this transformation and those two are all I have come up with.  So far, the casting of the handles I want is not perfect, so i will continue to try to master that skill, and to look for ones that already exist.  There also is no such thing as hinges with a 90 degree stay for downward opening shelves, so my shelves will not be suitable for holding drinks, as they have a slight downward tilt.  It is ever so slight, but enough for a top heavy glass of wine to go tumbling, so I cannot use the shelves for that purpose, but still working on that design. Also, it is decided that the glass rack that hangs from the top cannot be lucite or clear, due to limits on sizes, it must be wood, so since that will cover the sky ceiling, I am going to just go with the wood, but paint it to match the sky ceiling.
This is one of those projects that I very well may be still playing with when I am old, but the truth is that I am having fun even at this pace.
Until we meet again...

SWITCH: THE NEW LED LIGHT BULBS

Do you want to be energy conscious, but you can't deal with the bluish LED lights, and you have bought into the idea that Eco friendly bulbs lasts for years, but bought them only to have them blowout on you.  Want to iron your shirt, but you have to wait longer for the light to come on than the iron to warm up?   YEP, me too!

The solution:
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15ScE5sLofw

Introducing an LED light that can be used in dry or damp environments in nearly any fixture including recessed and enclosed applications to provide full warm, soft light wherever needed.  It works with most dimmers, bringing control to light and energy use in each space.

It produces beautiful glowing light, but even the bulb itself is a work of art!  It comes in 8, 12, and 18.5 watts, and 21 which are comparable to 40, 60, 75, and 100 watt incandescent.  You can choose between clear or frosted bulbs, and between 2700k and 4000k.  The difference is the 2700k make everything look great with a warm natural light, and the 4000k version brings white light to more functional spaces, but neither has that bluish cast that most LED's are known for.
The bulbs cost anywhere from $25-$50 a piece, but over the life of the bulb, which is on average 22 years, you will save about $150.00.  

This bulb is like something from the Jetsons, it is super cool, and I mean that literally.  You see, this little engineering feat of genius is ... Just that.... GENIUS.

It has a metal base that is shaped like an ice cream cone which drives heat up through the base and up to the top, then it comes back down through the bulb through liquid food-grade silicone, which then cools the bulb, so it doesn't burn out and thus saves energy.  This same liquid silicone is used in food products, cosmetics, and for cooling large machinery and power plant equipment.  It is electrically non conductive, non-toxic, and non-staining. If the bulb should break, it won't hurt you or your kids, or your pets, and it won't hurt the earth either.

If you ask HOW DID THEY DO THAT?
The answer is..... 86,000 hrs of research and development, 1600 FAILED experiments, dozens of consultants, 11 engineers working for over 3 years, 1100 cases of soda, 400 pizzas, 30,000 LED chips, and 26,000 cups of coffee (approximately:)

If you can't stomach replacing all of your bulbs at once, start with ONE, and MAKE THE SWITCH!

As always, if you need to know where to buy ask me and I will find out who sells them in your area.

Until we meet again...

Review on Cork... To choose or not to choose...

Cork is a natural material that is harvested from the bark on living cork trees, which store carbon, so they continually renew their bark.  No trees are harmed in the harvesting of cork.

Cork contains a naturally occurring substance called Suberin that repels bugs, mold, mites, and even termites. This waxy substance also prevents cork from rotting even when completely submerged in water for long periods of time. Suberin also makes Cork fire-resistant and also does not release any toxic gases upon combustion.

Cork is compressible and elastic and will retain its original shape even after being compressed for a long time just like a wine cork!

Cork is made up of millions of cellular compartments that hold air. These tiny compartments seal air in each one insulating each from the other with a moisture resistant waxy like substance.  This property of cork makes it a thermal insulator (reducing heat loss in a room & even body heat loss through feet), a  sound reducer (reducing impact sound as well as sound transmission), and makes it extremely durable.

If you were just looking for a product that was extremely durable, renewable, great for sound quality and thermal insulation, fire and water resistant, then I could stop right there and this would be the product for you hands down, but i have saved the BEST for last.

Cork is not just a floor product, it is great for walls, and ceilings, and even custom furniture applications.  It is great to use in recording studios, entertainment rooms, and any other space where sound reduction is needed.  The air contained in all those cells provides a cushioned feel underfoot and also helps the surface retain close to room temperature, so it feels warm on your feet.  This makes it a great choice for areas where people are standing for long periods of time.

The choices of colors and designs and sizes that are now available create limitless possibilities for unique color combinations and designs.  Almost any design that can be made with tile can be made with cork, which allows opportunities for logo creation in floors and walls, and way-finding and color coding along pathways in offices and commercial installations.

Cork is easy to install, comes in glue-down tiles, and also seamlessly interlocking floating floor planks. Cork is also very reasonably priced and affordable.  I would absolutely recommend this product above hardwood or tile.  These benefits listed here wouldn't mean much if it weren't a beautiful, long lasting product, but it IS.

My Cork Flooring Top Choice is Globus Cork  at www.corkfloor.com to find a dealer in your area.

Hope this review was helpful to you!
Until we meet again...

New Review on Paint

I am going to start reviewing Green Products.... One a week, so that anyone who reads this blog can know what is out there and available and can make good choices when they are entertaining a remodel, or new construction.  I think once you know the harm you are doing, you can never go back to unknowing it,and my hope is that you will be armed with good choices that will allow you to feel good about living in your space.

So the first one is MYTHIC PAINT, which I have included in my review on paint before, but now that I have been using it for over a year, I am even more convinced that it is the BEST paint on the market.  It has ZERO TOXINS which makes the health benefit for you, your kids, and our planet enormous, but that isn't even its best feature. 

History of the Paint:
It was created on a grant by the Polymer Research Laboratories at the University of Minnesota to come up with a paint that would be suitable to use in submarines, and would not have the chemicals or the off-gassing that traditional paints have, and it also had to be durable because of the humidity and exposure to water.  28 patents later Mythic Paint was born and is now owned by Southern Diversified products.  They are the only paint that can legally claim NO VOCs and there is not even a warning label required on the can because there are no TOXINS.  Traditional paints continue to off-gas and release carcinogenic chemicals into the air quality for up to 6 years, but Mythic Paint is totally safe for pets, babies, people, and can be disposed of easily because it is biodegradable.  I  am proud to give it 5 stars for that reason alone.

But like I said, there is more.    I have been painting decorative finishes, murals, and furniture, in spaces for 12 years professionally, and in that time, I have used every brand of paint there is.  I can tell you that Mythic Paint holds up in durability, quality, and ease of application, against Sherwin-Williams, and Benjamin Moore, which were my other two favorites.  I also think the coverage is even a little better per gallon.  I am so happy to be able to offer this to my clients who are doing kids rooms, or nurseries, because I know that they have thought of everything to prepare the room for their baby where they will be protected and safe and they have searched every crib and cabinet for safety, but now I can even offer them a beautiful room with clean air.

There are 2200 colors  to choose from, and it can be matched to formulas of all the competitors colors.  Mythic makes 3 different primers, and a black label option with primer and paint in one, too.  It is a great company to get behind, and I hope the next project you have, you will consider making the Mythic choice.

It is available at a retailer near you, or online.  You may go to the website to find the closest retailer.  

 http://www.mythicpaint.com

Artist for Hire

It has always been my intent to use my passion for art for good.  I started to develop it as a business because I thought I could make a living doing so.  While it has provided me a lot of opportunities to give of my time and talents, and make a little money, it has also taught me that a large majority of people do not have any understanding or appreciation for art or artists.  The people who understand the time involved and the sacrifice that an artist makes to live their craft are other artists.  I decided to posts this on my blog only to enlighten and educate.  DISCLAIMER:  If this sounds like a rant, that is because it is, so if you don't want to hear it, you can stop reading now.

REASONS TO HIRE AN ARTIST:
1. You LOVE their work.
2. You think their work would compliment your home or decor.
3. You trust them to create a quality piece of work.
4. You value them enough to pay them what you yourself would expect to be paid for the same amount of time away from your family working.
5. You think of buying their work as an investment.
6. You would buy their work whether you knew them or not.

REASONS NOT TO HIRE AN ARTIST:
1. You think they Will gladly give their services, ideas, and goods to you for pennies because it will be for a good cause. (I have a number of charities and groups of MY OWN CHOICE that I freely and regularly give to, so if I have not contacted you, you are not one of them!)

2. You Think that hiring a local artist will be cheaper than buying a manufactured item from china that has been made by slaves who are paid nothing.

3. If you have ADHD and have tendencies to constantly change your mind about what you want.

4. If you pity artists and only buy from them because you think they need the money, but know their artwork will end up in your garage sale or at goodwill.( please don't bother, this is the highest insult)

5. If you regularly order things that you do not have the money to pay for.

6. You want a piece of artwork that you have seen, but cannot afford, so you want to find an artist who seems more desperate and will do it for less.  It is unethical to copy another artists work and profit from it.

7. You think that because they are more talented than you, they can just "whip it out" in a moment and at a moment's notice for very little money. Artists by and large are not aloof and drugged up daydreamers like most sterotypes would have you believe.  Most artists spend a lot of time planning, measuring, and sketching, doing prep work, etc. before you ever see the final product.  There is literally no such thing as "whipping it out".

8. You think that your request will give them some good experience, therefore, they should not expect to be paid much.  ( I have more ideas of things I want to accomplish and do than I have years left to do them, so I don't need to spend time working for free to get that experience, I would rather be doing my own projects for free.)

That's all. 

GIve a Man A Home

 Send "Give A Man A Home" Ringtone to your Cell 

"Give A Man A Home" by Ben Harper 

Have you ever lost your way

have you ever feared another day

have you ever misplaced your mind

watching this world leave you behind

won't you 

won't you give

won't you give a man

give a man a home

have you ever worn thin

have you ever never known where to begin

have you ever lost your belief

watching your faith turn to grief

won't you 

won't you give

won't you give a man

give a man a home

in a world that is unwhole

you have got to fight to keep your soul

some would rather give than receive

some would rather give up before they believe

won't you 

won't you give

won't you give a man

give a man a home

My life on the street....UPDATE

Barbara toils on... We are blessed to have had a pleasantly warm December. I want to thank all of you who have supported this cause.  I still have a few paintings left and I have found some worthy charitable options if they don't sell.  However, my pursuit for Barbara beckons, so I am marking all the remaining paintings down to $25.00 plus shipping.  I DO accept Paypal for safe secure processing.  I leave you with the photos of what remains.  Until we meet again....