Morning, folks!

We wound up doing quite a bit of waiting at the doctor’s office yesterday, so we’ll be skipping All Things Furniture this week.  I just couldn’t put this post off…I’m too excited about it!

One of my painting-everything friends, Patty from Classic Wall Finishes is an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Stockist…and she’s here to answer some questions!

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And yes….she covers the wax!

That sounds like something scary, but in reality, we’re just talking about furniture wax.

😉

Patty and her sister, Karen, are WONDERFUL to work with, and they are my go-to source for all things Chalk Paint.  LOVE those girls!  They pride themselves in customer service and connection…and man, you can tell.  Don’t hesitate to visit their website or contact them with any questions.  For other stockists in your area, check out this site!

I hope you’ll join me in welcoming Patty!

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Tell us about your store, Classic Wall Finishes.

Classic Wall Finishes is an Italian Plaster/Decorative wall finishing, furniture painting and restoration, and color consulting firm.  Our Internet Store can be found at www.bestfurniturepaint.com but we’ll soon be opening a retail location in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

How did you learn of Chalk Paint and what made you decide to become a stockist?

I had been reading Annie Sloan’s decorative painting books for years and had purchased Annie’s book, “Creating the French Look”.  I started reading and was blown away by the furniture finishes and thought they were gorgeous and not anything I had ever seen before. I was especially inspired by the mahogany dining table that was painted in Paris Grey and then edged with gold.  I did some investigating and found out that there was a new distributor in the United States looking for perspective stockists (retailers) of Annie Sloan Paint and Waxes.  I was one of the initial three stockists in the country and now we probably have close to 70 stockists and expanded into Canada.

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What’s your go-to chalk paint tip?

Don’t be afraid, just go for it.  Apply two coats of paint let dry, sand to distress-if you want that look, then apply your wax.  If you make a mistake just paint over it.  Have fun.  You can create an amazing finish with just a few steps.

(Remember this paint is just wonderful to work with, you just paint directly over your furniture, no sanding, priming or stripping.)

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Tell us about using wax.  Any tips?

Oh yes, the wax.  Okay, some basic rules.

After the Chalk Paint has completely dried (not cold to the touch or damp) you apply a thin layer of clear wax.  You can use the wonderful wax brush or a piece of cheese cloth or a rag.  Then, if you are choosing to tone with the dark wax you would apply your dark wax AFTER you have applied your first layer of clear wax.  You MUST always apply a layer of clear wax prior to applying the dark wax.  This will control the toning of the piece and you won’t stain the paint.  After you rub off the dark wax to where you want it to be then you let the wax dry at least overnight or longer.  You will know your piece is ready to buff when your buffing cloth moves smoothly on your furniture piece.  If you are not using the dark wax apply another layer of clear wax to seal and protect your piece.  Let your piece cure for a day or two before putting it into major action.  The finish will be very durable after this process.

Please also remember that if you attend a workshop near you,  you’ll learn all the tricks to create Annie’s signature finishes and I highly recommend doing that.  Especially learning to distress and working with the waxes.

 

*I sent Patty some of the questions I’ve gotten via email regarding any trouble with wax.  She was kind enough to answer them directly.

 painted (chalk paint) and waxed (clear) a nightstand and I thought I wiped it off good and was going to wait until it was bit ‘tacky’ to really buff it, I wanted a real nice shine. Maybe I started too soon or had to much wax, but it kind of got all bumpy, as if fiber from the cloth was stuck in it.  and it looks all ‘smudgy’ (is that a word)  The wax is kind of soft still and you can see fingerprints on it when I touch it.

Wondering what to do next.  Could i lightly sand it and wax again?

Wow, my guess is that you applied way too much wax.  The cloth is sticking to the excess wax.  You can see if the wax finally dries after a few days and try buffing it again.  You could try sanding with a very fine grit sandpaper 320 grit or finer and see if that works.  Otherwise, my stockist friend, Celeste at Catfish Creative Furnishings in Virginia, recommended that you do a quick wipe with no odor mineral spirits to remove the excess wax, let dry,  and start over again with a very thin layer of wax. Let dry at least overnight and buff.  Remember don’t buff if they cloth is not sliding across the surface.

Will the wax ever harden like minwax?  (this was the first time i used it)

I haven’t used  minwax.  I just love Annie’s wax, it is the Rolls Royce of wax and really it is part of the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Wax system that creates this beautiful finish.

Anyway, I finally bought the chalk paint and clear wax and got started. I did three coats of paint (with at least 24 hours of drying time in between) and yesterday I put on a coat of clear wax (with the uber-expensive wax brush).  

First of all you don’t have to wait that long between coats of paint.  Depending on humidity, an hour or two should be enough.

I watched yours and Miss Mustard Seed’s tutorials on waxing twice first, gathered all my confidence up and got started. As I waxed, it seemed as though the paint was looking “thinner?” – not as solid. Almost as if the wax was taking some paint off. I don’t know if my eyes were playing tricks on my or what. I am kind of freaking out. The wax is STILL kind of tacky in spots. I can wait to buff – I have no problem with waiting longer to buff… It’s just that – it doesn’t “look right”. The piece looks kind of splotchy to me know. I am SOOOO freaking out. Did I wreck it?

Again, sounds like you may have applied too much wax in spots, but not to fear it will all work out. Sounds like your wax has not had enough time to set. Don’t be afraid of this paint or the waxes.  If you decide you don’t like a look you can paint over it.  Annie wants us to have fun with the paint and not over worry about it.  Take a deep breath and as long as your cloth will move on the piece buff away.  Enjoy yourself.

 

I love your video on waxing, especially dark wax. Just got Annie Sloan paints and waxes, but having hard tiem with dark wax. Your video was perfect, feel more confident now using it. I have one question that was not reviewed in youtube video though (maybe it is obvious to others, but sorry still a novice), after using wax do you put a varnish on top as a finish? Or just use wax as your top coat? I bought Annie Sloan hard dull varnish and LOVE it (I decoupage all of my pieces) but didn’t know if you just use wax by itself. Thanks for information

You will have few problems working with the Dark Wax if you remember to ALWAYS apply a layer of clear wax prior to applying the layer of dark wax.

We don’t carry Annie Sloan’s Dull Varnish.  When you use her Chalk Paint the recommended and most wonderful finish is to use her waxes.  It gives the most wonderful hand feel.  If you are chalk painting floors or decoupaging, of course you need to use a varnish.

ME:  I will say something about furniture waxes.  As I told you guys before, I almost ruined my coffee table the first time…I applied way too much wax and it took weeks to fully cure.  I also put it back into action way too soon.  I’ve found that I prefer Annie Sloan’s clear wax above all the others….it truly is wonderful, and applies thinner and to me, dries a little harder and faster.

I also have better luck using the Italian Wax Brush, rather than a cloth to apply wax.  I’m really able to spread it thin, and have much more control than when I use a cloth.  This is just a personal preference, but it’s what has worked for me.

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Patty and Karen of Classic Wall Finishes are teaching a workshop soon!  I hope all those who can make it to NJ will attend…yours truly might even be there.  If not then, I’m dying to get up there and learn from these ladies!  Here are some details…

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Workshop on Friday, September 9th or Saturday, September 10th.  You choose the day. 

Location:  Sheraton Hotel Eatontown, New Jersey

This is a How to Paint Furniture and more with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint workshop.  You will learn 6 of Annie’s signature techniques including the Two Color, Rustic, Crackle, Limewash, Clouded Stipple, Colored Waxes and more.  All materials, sample boards and delicious Italian Buffet luncheon are included.

Please go to our website www.bestfurniturepaint.com for more information and to register.

Class size will be limited.

And again, to find other stockists and workshops in your area, head on over here.

Thanks so much, Patty, for taking the time to answer some of our questions and give us some wonderful tips!  I hope this helps some of you experiment more with chalk paint and wax.

They’ve changed my furniture painting world, I tell you.

*Edited to add….there were so many questions about wax that Patty contacted Annie directly to get her thoughts.  Here’s Annie’s answer (italics are Patty’s words):

“First of all she should NOT be using steel wool as that will leave stain marks!
I actually apply quite a lot of wax but then I take loads of it off!
You need to spread it all over making certain it really soaks into the
paint and the crevices.
(This is where Annie says we are making mistakes with the wax. We apply it, but are not taking the time to really smooth it into the paint and then wiping off the excess.)
After applying the wax then wipe it all off pressing into your paint
so it absorbs in. If I’m sanding it I use fine sand paper, even if I
don’t want to make it distressed, After sanding I wipe over with my
waxy rag again. I usually apply the wax with a brush and then wipe off
with a rag. I get my whole piece perfect before I leave it and then
buff the next day if I want to make it shiny.
(This is why we encourage customers to take an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Workshop  so you can you learn the proper application of the wax and the techniques for a perfect finish.)
Yes the wax does completely harden! It’s hard and is water repellent.
I have never known it to melt in the sun and I have had pieces in the
hot sun in the window of my shop – yes I know its England but with the
sun on it through glass it must hit pretty high temps and we have been
selling it in the South of Spain for years and years where it is more
or less tropical!
No a glass will not leave a water mark. Sometimes a coffee cup leaves
a ring and I just wipe it off with water or something like  Clorex
Wipes or at very worst a spray kitchen cleaner. You don’t want to use
anything too strong or the wax will come off too much. Once I left a
vase on a table and it leached water so when I took the vase away the
paint and wax had sort of lifted . I just left it and it all settled
back and was fine. when it dried I just wiped some wax over it.”
Annie