A Sentiment

God knew what He was doing when He sent a gentle breeze and brought a lovely butterfly to set my heart at ease. The happiness of your friendship and the gentleness of your words have touched my life in special ways and now I feel assured. Thank you for your loyalty and for reading everyday. I only hope you find things to make a happy day.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Speaking of Windows....

Thought I'd share a project that I have just finished. My neighbor Kelly, had a lot of old peeling storm windows. She has an antique shop and goes to auctions often. She found these and thought that maybe an idea would pop in her head...about what she could do creatively with these things. We got together last winter and fiddled around with them and then they were put aside like so many projects that we start and never finish. She called and said that she was giving them up and wondered if I was interested in any of them. I told her that if she would give me 3...I would paint one for her and she would have it by Christmas. Giving her this date would assure that I would get to work on them and maybe finish one of them. Here is the process that I followed to complete just one. The picture below shows what they looked like when I got them.
I started by chipping away some of the old paint. I wanted it to look shabby and not polished. Talking to my daughter, I realized that this old paint could be lead based. That changed my approach to painting it. I work in a closed area in the basement with not much ventilation and didn't want to have to work with a mask on.I took it outside and sanded the loose paint.
I made a sketch of what I thought would look nice on the window. My mind was still working on what I would paint as I started out. I had trouble with the paint sticking...I didn't want to have to buy any special paint to use. So my attack changed again. I coated the glass with a medium that would stick. Then a thought came...black...I would paint the background black. Truth be told, I had a big bottle of green paint, so that's what I used on the frame.
What a bright green!!! I decided that I would antique the frame after it was dry...to tone it down. I painted it the long way, because I didn't know where she would hang it...or how much room she would have. The painting went beautifully after I put the black on. I did the border first, not knowing what would be the focal point for sure. I decided on big daisy like flowers...as you see here.
After they were completely dry, I put a coat of protective varnish on. The picture below is how it looked when Joe took it over to her.
I have two more to do. I learned a lot from this one. I would like one on my front porch...only painted the horizontal way. I can visualize big blousy geraniums. I have the whole winter to do these.
Balisha

14 comments:

marlu said...

You are so creative! What a great idea.

Lona said...

Oh how beautiful! I just love it. You are such a talented painter. I have trouble just signing my name let alone paint. LOL!

Sissy said...

Balisha! You've turned those useless windows into such beautiful works of art! I admire such creativity! Aren't you proud...!

Deb said...

Wow what great windows you are so creative, these are really lovely.

acorn hollow said...

a great idea and it looks wonderful!
Cathy

Diana LaMarre said...

Balisha, that is a gorgeous window. You have such talent.

Margie's Musings said...

You are so gifted, Balisha! Those are wonderful!

Jean said...

Those are beautimous!!! You are a very talented lady!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Oh Balisha, you are so talente.
Wish I could do something like this
If I lived near you I would have you make something for me to buy
Your work is beautiful...
I had one of these old windows that I used in the city garden.
Left it there - wish I had brought it to the country...

Unknown said...

OMGolly, sweetie! They are spectacular. I see roses & lilacs intermingled in one of your settings. So wish I could paint.

I did a similar thing by inserting pictures of ladies into the window panes ... 6 panes in one frame. So love them.

Just gorgeous!!
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon

Judy said...

you are so artistic!!! What great ideas you have--I would never have thought of it. Beautiful!!

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Simply beautiful, Balisha. You are such a talented woman, at so many different things. I've painted some..but they certainly did not turn out that good! :)
Wonderful. I can't wait to see the one you do for your front porch!!

Balisha said...

Thankyou all for your wonderful comments. I have said many times that anyone can paint. I took my first class in the 80's...a class full of many different people. Old, young, men and women. Some had dabbled a bit in paints...some with no experience at all. We all learned from these lessons and were able to paint a presentable project. We all continued on with more and more lessons with this same teacher. Everyone one of us learned the techniques and "tricks" that our instructor had up her sleeve. When she decided to paint full time...I started a class of my own. Saturday mornings around my dining room table were so much fun. We got together and painted...helping each other. Many are still painting...even though there are no more classes to keep them going. It's the most relaxing hobby...you can't think of worries or problems or aches or pains when you paint. The time flies by so fast...such a fun thing to do.
Balisha

Barbara said...

How wonderful Balisha you are so creative.