My latest project has been this little guy, which I adopted 2 weeks ago. He is 13 weeks, so I basicly have two toddlers at the moment, a 2 year old and a 2 1/2 month old pup. My hands are full at the moment but having fun with the two of them! k

after © creativebleed

So here it is my little black dresser (a.k.a caretto dresser), which was once a beat-up dresser formally used to store sewing supplies by it's previous owner. Initially I thought I would try and do an image transfer on to the wood, then I considered stenciling a design. In the end this humble dresser needed to be more about the hardware and less about the surface.

before © creativebleed

So on went the black paint, some light distressing and I finished it off with a clear coat. I did use the milk paint which I loved because it dries super fast and doesn't have that tackiness that latex paint has. For this project I used the General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint which is ready to go and not in powder form. For the clear coat I used Minwax water based polyacrylic in satin and brushed it on. I did get some little air bubbles which I found very annoying because they don't necessarily dissolve once the finish has dried.

knobs © creativebleed

For the hardware I purchased 2 small knobs from anthropologie. These knobs reminded me of an old door knob I had picked up at an estate sale last spring. Which I realized would make perfect knobs for the dresser. This was fairly easy, I just purchased a carriage bolt, drilled out a bigger hole in the dresser drawer and screwed it in. It really makes the dresser.

open drawer © creativebleed

Of course it still needed a little something, a little flair, the wild side hidden with in so I gave the inside cabinet and drawers a quick once over with some aqua paint I had left over from my laundry room. It makes for a nice little surprising touch.

top detail © creativebleed

There was just something about those little flowers that I couldn't completely remove while prepping. When distressing I went over the flowers to bring up the pink and blue beneath. I am surprised by how well they  show up despite the sanding and 3 coats of black paint.

bottom detail © creativebleed

Like a little black dress that every woman should I have, I think every home should have a little black dresser. A night stand or end table will do. K

Abstract: Rain (iphone processed instagram inkwell) Healdsburg, 2012 © kristin chapman, creativebleed

rust comes down © kristin chapman, creativebleed
My adventure took me to Healdsburg, California where I stayed at the H2 Hotel, (a little Christmas gift from my love). Yep, it’s one of those “eco-chic” hotels backed up by a LEED gold certification for new construction. And I must say it’s pretty impressive with it’s cradle to cradle design. The hotel has a living roof, solar panels and much of the materials and construction debris were recycled, salvaged and locally sourced. The rooms featured low flow showers, duel flushed toilets, balconies in every room, a ceiling fan,  and filtered water with glasses made from recycled wine bottles, nice touch! What impressed me the most about these rooms was the modern and simplistic decor pulled from natural elements. The walls white, the ceiling a tint of blue, a botanical line drawing that is timeless and an appreciation for wood grain and rust, my kind of people! When I came in from the pouring rain, my room was airy and filled with light, it was instant comfort.

H2 Hotel Healdsburg, CA © creativebleed
I spent a few hours after lunch browsing through Healdsburg’s antique stores, oh how I just love old things. I stopped in a few galleries like Studio Barndiva and Healdsburg Center for the Arts which currently has an elementary school exhibit up which is really fun and worth checking out.

Moustache Bakery, Healdsburg, Ca © creativebleed
On Sunday, it poured but it didn't stop me from taking a walk through town in the pouring rain and stopping off at the Moustache Bakery for some yummy treats to take home. I was hoping to go on a little bike ride, since the hotel offers complimentary bicycles but with the rain, well that wasn’t happening. And sadly I didn't get much of an opportunity to shoot, which was also a bit disappointing because it’s rare I get to take a walk or drive with my camera like that any more. But I did find comfort and left Healdsburg feeling refreshed and rested and very well hydrated, if I might add! k

Crab and Artichoke dip from the Spoon Bar, Healdsburg, Ca © creativebleed

Learn more about the H2 Hotel sustainable design, here.

Some other cool places in Healdsburg, California:

Cafe Gratitude

Mill Street Antiques Plaza

Copperfield's Books

Oakville Grocery Co.

One World Fair Trade

Bear Republic Brewery

A Simple Touch Spa

antique door knob (iphone photo processed in snapseed) © creativebleed

The Caretto dresser is almost complete! I began painting it last week when I was so rudely interrupted by the stomach flu, yay! So things came to a screeching halt as I curled up on the couch with the little one, a bucket, some saltines and Finding Nemo.

painted drawers (iphone photo processed in snapseed) © creativebleedAlthough the dresser has been slow going, I did manage to get some more work done on the web site, as you can see things are looking a little different. My goal is to merge my old portfolio site with creative bleed. I have a new portfolio that I have been working on over the last several months, so I am excited to get things back up and running. Til next time. K

WIP: Caretto Dresser © creativebleed

Now that the holidays over and I have had some time to relax, I started working on the Caretto Dresser I posted about back in November. Today I finished sanding and filling up indentations in the wood with a wood filler. I get the impression that this is a piece that must of been sold unfinished and the consumer gets to finish it. Things start to look pretty sloppy once you start peeling back those layers. The wood is beat up pretty good which I do like but think it would be best to paint it. So I have decided to try milk paint. I am really excited about it!

Besides the dresser I have started to redesign the site and finally get my portfolio up again. It has been down for over a year, so I started working on it over the weekend and I hope to launch it by the end of the month. Most likely sooner. So if the site starts looking a little wonky that is why. Even though I am working from a disabled template, it still alters the live site, damn you Squarespace! With that being said,  pardon my dust while I sand, paint and move things around. K

Kitchen Playset after© creativebleed

Wow, this week went by super fast! Even though we started this set a few weeks ago and most of it was done, it was all the little touches that ended up coming down to the wire. The sink got the biggest make over, we decided to paint the whole thing white to give it that apron sink feel. We removed the cabinet door and made a curtain instead. The original faucet was missing so my husband used a plastic "J" pipe for the faucet and bathroom replacement knobs. He even drilled a hole in the bottom of the sink. How cute is that?

Sink After © creativebleed

While installing the faucet, the top accidently got cracked, so we thought it best to tile it to cover our bad. It was suprisingly easy. We got a sample sheet of small white tile from a local tile store and grouted that sucker in. It came out surprisingly well.

© creativebleedThe stove didn't need much just some new paint. The tea towel was screen printed by our friend Jennifer J, who also made some little menu cards to go with. We added a Green Toy pot and frying pan and stocked the fridge with some empty food packages.

© creativebleed

For the used set and materials we probably spent around $140, which is a little over budget, mainly because of that darn magnetic paint. Sure we probably could have purchased a new set for the price, but what fun is that? Plus, we kept the money within our community and gave our daughter something custom for Christmas. And I am happy to say it's been a big hit we have been cooking all morning! K

Materials:

Used play kitchen from Valley Care Thrift, Tile from Western Tile Design Center, Fabric from In Between Stitches, Cherry Blossom Montana Gold Paint from Richards, Hardware and paint from OSH and Lowes.

 See before pics here.

Play fridge before © creativebleed

Santa's elves have been slaving away during nap time the last week to get one special girl's kitchen play set tricked out in time for Christmas! We have removed handles and doors and begun painting. But before I get into the remodeling process, I must back up to the day we found the set. As we were configuring how to fit the two piece set into my car (along with the jogging stroller already taking up most of the trunk), the clerk came out and said, "the guy just dropped off the fridge, do you want it?"

"Of course!" So now our two piece set is a three piece set. One elf drives the sleigh with a fridge and a stove while the other runs through town with a jogging stroller and a sink, Merry Christmas!

Prep to paint © creativebleed

So lets get to work! We started by cleaning the set up and removing all the handles, small parts and doors. We chose to leave the set white and repaint the doors magenta with silver hardware. 

Painting fridge door with magnetic paint © creativebleed

Starting with the fridge, we thought it would be cool to have it actually be magnetic. I had some left over magnetic paint from a project last year so I started painting the front of the door. Of course after the second coat, I came to the conclusion that the paint was no longer good, there was not the slightest pull. My mind already set on a magnetic fridge we broke down and bought more paint (the stuff is not cheap). In the end the fridge got 6 coats of magnetic paint, then a thin layer of white paint before the magenta went on. Does it work? Of course! Although the darn thing chips easily and the surface is a little rough from the foam roller, it does work and is cohesive with the rest of the set.

Close-Up of dispenser on door. Note the texture and where the paint seeped through the mask. ©creativebleedFor the ice dispenser in the fridge door I painted the inside white and then masked around the levers and painted the levers silver to match the handles. One problem I encountered was the silver paint which caused the white paint beneath to bubble. I am afraid to know the answer to why that happened, but I ended up having to completely remove all the white paint from the levers before painting it silver. I still have some touch ups, but I think it came out ok, and the best part is you can stick magnets to it, just like a real fridge. K

Fridge after ©creativebleed

Too be continued.

© kristin chapman, creative bleed

The second batch of samples came in for the metal prints, they look even more awesome then the first. I had Hipsters Were Here printed on the aluminum. The sheer finish works perfect for this series. I'll be donating the other two for the Combat Bound Art Show this Saturday. Please stop by and check it out, the show starts at 2pm and the auction begins at 4pm. K

a killer play kitchen! Ever since I saw a homemade play kitchen made from a night stand, I have been dreaming of my own daughter's play kitchen. I loved mine when I was little, looking back it was straight up big 70's. Bright yellow appliances with a brick back splash! Yes! What's not to love? I spent hours playing in my "apartment", aka a walk-in closet cooking up all kinds of yummy treats. As soon as my little started serving me her freshly brewed crayon tea, I knew it was time to get that kitchen set I have been dreaming about going. So, I have had my eye out for a piece of furniture that would inspire me and was reasonably priced or better yet, free.

Stove Before © creativebleedSink Before © creativebleed

After Thanksgiving we had a little thrifting excursion in our local hood. As we were hopping from one shop to the next we were discussing the very subject of play kitchens when low and behold we walked in to the next shop only to discover a play kitchen set! There beneath a table of once loved stuffed animals was a sink and stove. A simple pink and white set with blue and yellow accent colors. The set itself was in great condition. The only thing it was missing was the faucet piece that went over the sink and a fridge (which is not a necessity). Of course we stood there looking at it, actually debating: making our own vs. buying this one. Despite the enormous amount of kids toys I have seen at yard sales and thrift shops I honestly don't ever recall seeing a kitchen play set (of course I was never really looking untill recently). It is sort of a rare kids item to see second hand. For one they are expensive toys, usually require assemblage and if it's a nice set they usually get passed down. I know my set did, it was given to a family friend. The poor girl must of hated it, the set was 10+ years older then her. Anyways, back to this decision which was obvious: the set was $40 and already assembled. To make one ourselves or purchase a new one it would more then likely run at least $100 bucks. Not to mention the time and arguments a couple would have configuring a homemade set or deciphering the pictographs aka instructions (ikea) for assembling a new set.  So yes, let's skip all that work and frustration and get to the fun part. Let's pimp this set out!!! Too be continued. k

 See more play kitchen's on my board here.

© kristin chapman, creative bleed

Since I took these shots back in September I knew metal would be a great medium, so I have been wanting to have these printed on aluminium for a few months now.

© kristin chapman, creative bleed

Now I need to make a decision on the finish. The sample pack comes in High Gloss, Satin, Sheer Gloss and Sheer Matte. I am leaning on the Sheer Gloss. They all look awesome but the sheer's really show the metal. Although some of the image details are lost I feel they are irrelevant and the look of metal adds a little something more. I'd like the whole series to be uniform so I have ordered another sample pack of a different image. We will see how it looks before having them printed larger.

Although this series is still a work in progress, I will be donate at least one of these metal prints for the Combat Bound Art Show and Fundraiser next week. K