I was able to take a quick trip down to Franklin, TN this past Monday to participate in the Annie Sloan American Tour.
Some of you have probably heard of Annie Sloan before and some of you haven’t.
Annie Sloan is from England and is the creator of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
Annie Sloan chalk paint has become quite a big hit in blogland over the past year. Especially with the help of prominent paint bloggers like Marian from Miss Mustard Seed.
I have always been intrigued by ASCP, and I have wanted to try it out. I am especially interested in the fact that you do not have to sand or prime a piece of furniture before painting with using ASCP!
Doesn’t that sound awesome?!
Well, Annie was coming all the way over from England for an American tour, and I was fortunate enough to get a free ticket from a blog reader, Liz.
Liz is an Annie Sloan stockist in Lexington, Kentucky. She has a studio called Liz Douglas Designs that I am so excited about going and visiting SOON! She is an absolute sweetheart.
The first part of the day, we got to listen to Annie Sloan talk about the versatility and quality of her amazing paint. She was very entertaining to listen to, and I just loved her English accent!
The second half of the day, we got to go into separate workshop rooms to practice using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Wax for ourselves.
(This was my favorite part.)
I was lucky enough to get in Liz’s workshop! There she is in the hot pink shirt, and her husband is to the right.
We had supplies set out as our seat…
We listened to Liz tell us how to use the paints…
Then we got busy working with different paints and different techniques on the pieces of wood that were given to us.
I was like a kid in a candy shop. I am so in my “element” when I am painting or creating. It was sooo much fun!
Those paint colors in the bowls make it look like I was dying Easter eggs, doesn’t it?! 
Well, we just go to practice on little pieces of wood, but Annie’s paint is capable of creating the most beautiful pieces of furniture.
Just look at these pictures all of which are from the Annie Sloan website.
I am soooo very excited about using Annie Sloan chalk paint on a piece of furniture now.
It makes me want to run down to Goodwill and just buy the first piece of furniture I see, so I can paint it!!
Thank you so much, Liz, for allowing me the opportunity to attend this amazing day with Annie Sloan!
As a side note, I also got to spend time with two of my very favorite bloggers while in Tennessee.
I met Layla, from The Lettered Cottage, in Franklin on Sunday night. We ate dinner at The Loveless Café, and it was amazing!!!
We had fried chicken, hash brown casserole, amazing homemade biscuits and jam, AND coconut cream pie for dessert! HELLO!!
We were stuffed!
Then we went back to our hotel and our sweet blog buddy, Myra, from My Blessed Life, joined us. It was such a blessing to hang out with those girls for a night. Of course, we talked all about blogging and sat on the bed with our laptops while we talked. It was a little blog slumber party and my cup runneth over with gratefulness for my blog friends.
God is so good!!
Lastly, I wanted to announce the winner of the
$50 American Express Gift Card from Rentals.com!
Thank you to everyone who entered!
The winner is…..
Andrea Watts
Congratulations! I will be contacting you soon!
I just did a post on a dresser I painted with Annie Sloan paint. I bought it from Liz! She’s a hoot! I’m sure you guys had a great time.
Is this paint only sold in special stores or does Lowe’s carry it? Also, do you know how much it costs?
I live in Nashville and was so sad I didn’t get to go to this workshop. Sounds amazing!
And I looove Loveless Cafe too! Their biscuits are to die for :)
I am not familiar with the paint, just from the info on blogs. So my queston is , does everything have to look distressed and old? Does thepaint go on ok just looking nondistressed? And old?
I wonder the same thing. I would love to try it but I don’t want the distressed look. I’ve never seen it any other way.
I will always remember our “date night” at Loveless, and our slumber party with Myra! :-D
I have a really silly question!!! Why is it called chalk paint? It’s obviously not for writing on or it wouldn’t be going onto furniture.
Wow….lucky you! I think I’m more jealous that you got to eat dinner with Layla and have a slumber party with her and Myra than I am about the ASCP seminar! How fun you got to do both! Did Annie Sloan happen to discuss painting kitchen cabinets with her paint? Someone wants my husband, who is a paint contractor, to paint hers with ASCP.
Hi Traci!
Thanks for the information and the pics. I am actually attending the seminar in Leesburg, VA this Saturday, and didn’t know what to expect, so thanks for the explanation! I am so excited about going!
Glad you were able to attend, Traci. I just ordered my first chalk paint TODAY and I can’t wait to use it!! I’ve been wanting to try it for a year now and finally had the funds to purchase some.
Ohhhh! I live near Clarksville…wonder where you are?
I’ve been to the Loveless and have just bought a can of this paint…so… :) Ha!
But I only have three sons, you win!
I have never seen this paint anywhere. Where can i buy it? I live in Toledo Ohio. Thanks.
Hi ladies! Annie Sloan Chalk Paint has its name because once applied and dried, it has a “chalky” feel. No, you do not have to distress it. If applied in a smooth fashion, once waxed, it can give you a beautiful modern finish! For a list of retailers, please visit http://www.anniesloanunfolded.com.
BTW…….It was great to get to speak with you and Myra in person Traci!! Liz was excited that you were able to make it.
I used Olive Chalk Paint on a very large, pine cabinet (that I got for $20 thankyouverymuch) and did not distress it. It looks great! I use it for all my crafting supplies. :) And, you CAN use chalk to write on it, which I did to mark each drawer with whatever is in it. Right now I’m using Graphite on a large built in bookcase in my family room. I will then use dark wax then an ebony wax to make it black, then I’ll buff it out to make it shiny. So far so good! I’m a HUGE HUGE fan of ASCP!
Hi Traci,
Did you know Annie Sloan shared your blog post on Facebook? :) I got to meet Annie on the Denver leg of the tour and she really is the nicest, most genuine, humble person I’ve ever met and I know that she personally checks and posts to her Facebook page. Congrats on being introduced to the product, welcome to my latest addiction, lol.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Annie-Sloan-Paint/238287625304
Oh – how fun is that?! I have been wanting to try that paint forever!
Great post! I’m actually going to the one in Boston on Monday and I’m so very excited. Looks like you had a great time and learned so much!
This is so neat to read! I love Annie’s Chalk Paint, first read of it on Miss Mustard Seeds blog. Knew I had to have it! Found Wallartistry in Dayton OH and bought 6 cans!
Since then, discovered Liz Brantley from Liz Douglas Designs in Lexington KY and went to her fabulous and fun and informative, and amazing, and awesome, (and….. well you get the idea) workshop! ;) Bought more paint then and had to go back and get some more from Liz last week.
Liz is a gem! Love her and Doug, great people!
Norma from Norma’s Kentiques
Your workshop sounded like so much fun, Traci. I haven’t tried ASCP yet, but did just discover there is a dealer in the Phoenix area. The price has always stalled me, too. I know everyone talks about how far it goes, but still…..I don’t know. What’s your take?
CAS
Sounds like a wonderful trip to TN! I have a chalk paint project coming up. . . just need to make some time!
The Loveless Motel was one of our favorite places to eat when we lived in Nashville. Then when we moved to Michigan, we would order their peach and blackberry preserves to give away at Christmastime. Folks in Michigan were thrilled to get those preserves! Makes my mouth water just to think about eating there! :)
Love you, girl. Take care!