SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

done.

fireplace wall; earthy 2025

and a great joy! it's been to remove everything,  primer the entire wall..  primer bricks.. 

begin again.     -my beautiful MIL, (Mother-In-Law), asked me if i could duplicate it  -this very painting in someone else's house

"heavens no..    i might be able to 'approximate it..    "

but the way i paint is very spontaneous, very make-up-my-mind-as-i-go..

i do not keep track of time.  i do not keep track of how much paint or which ones i use in combination with what..

i just pour paints i like.. some of this, some of that..  stir; dont stir;  paint the wall; make several adjustments! along the way..

but i did watch some youtube videos on mottle painting..  and as a result, i used a lot more water on the top wall to create the orange mottle look.. tuscany..   i added water to the paint itself..  added water to the paintbrush..   and i sprayed water on the wall as i was painting, used a sponge to spread certain colors thinner or thicker..    

i must have painted the wall with a dozen colors, a dozen layers, a dozen times..  until, at last! i was pleased with the result.

i knew i wanted an abstracty green hills, earthy look on the bricks themselves, and knew in advance i would be painting some california poppies,   /i also watched many youtube videos how to paint poppies..

and when it came to the many-different-greens waving in the background...  i also must have painted using a dozen different greens, a dozen different layers, a dozen different times..

until, at last!  i was pleased with the result.

already mentioned how much i crazy love my 'floating' and 'invisble' book shelves; those are new, and i could not be more pleased..

i repainted all of my book storage crates brown, to contribute to earth color palette..

and changed the mantles from bright white to sand colors..

i repainted inside the fireplace itself.. earth tones..   many layers/many times;   placed some crates for risers, added a couple river rock sheet tiles from home depot  (designed for backsplash purposes, but i did not add grout, i used them for our pakistani dishes to sit on;  -love the result.

with my books in crates..  enjoyed getting to display the L.O.V.E. collaged letters fancy nancy gifted us for our wedding..    + family photo gift from our daughter for our wedding looks great on the upper wall..

lots of small things i enjoyed rearranging, displaying..    i don't keep track as i go, i just fidget, adjust, readjust..    stand back look..  make decisions..   fidget some more..

love every minute of it.   and a great feeling to be officially done!     /until the next one..  in 1 or 2 years from now..

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from memory..  this is the 5th fireplace wall re-do.

all white, when i met my husband..

1)  first creation included a crown, cross, stencils, mosaics..   

then; 2)  bright giant abstract shapes; color blocking    

then; 3) paper mosaic each individual brick

then 4)  purples; egg plant at farmers market inspired..  with a lot of extra 'funk'

then.. 5) current 'earthy' look.

i do not know now..  and won't even spend anytime thinking about the next creation/design..   when, how, what..

i'll just enjoy this one for a good long time.

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extra "Thank You!" to my sexy husband..   helps with prep, primer, organization, hanging/placement with leveler, measuring, rulers..

(i really only eye-balled place things, my entire life);   amazing results, his way..

 funky to earthy..    great fun!