Happy New Year!

Happy New Year y'all!  Lose weight, get in shape, eat better, work harder, stress less, go to church, what else ya got for a resolution?  Me, no thank you!  This will be the first year that I choose not to resolute the madness (I'm not sure if resolute is a word but it sounds so professional)!  Reflection though, seems likely!  It has been an amazing year.  Lot's of change, lot's of emotion, and lot's of personal and professional growth.  My plans?  I am just planning on growing, learning, developing, creating, and loving my family and friends... that's what will keep me healthy and happy this year.   Oh yeah.... I'm also going to paint my tail off!  I'm going to paint furniture, paint walls, paint canvases, just paint because that's what I love to do!

I would love to hear from you.  What are your plans for the new year?  Are you making resolutions?    

3 Months And It Feels Like Home!

Hi Friends!   So I thought I would write a blog post, just because I have  lot to share!  Warning... this is going to be picture heavy!  This is a great way for me to share with friends, family, and clients, about my crazy new life here in Texas... I appreciate your interest!  

So we have been here only for a short 3 months but it definitely feels like home.  It's funny how you learn what really makes a house feel like a home... surprising really that to me it has very little to do with the house.  Although, I love to decorate, and redecorate my digs... I've learned that's not it.  The decor of your house may help you feel at peace when you are in your home, but it's not what makes it home!  At any rate, I do agree that a cozy room helps.  This is a picture of my living room.  Bessie is my new piece of art I aquired from a local artist, now friend, Tracy Palmer.  She is amazing.

The last post I shared had lot's of pictures of the lake in my back yard, and the land around it.  While it was beautiful, it was brown.  Everything goes dormant in the Winter.  Watching the weather change brings back childhood memories.  Memories of home.  This next picture is the field right next to the lake and behind my house.  You can see it has sprung.  Growing up, I have fond memories of Black-Eyed Susan's sprouting up around the highways... you can imaging my delight when these beauties began sprouting!  No more brown... lot's of color and butterflies!

It's humid here on hot days, and other days it's windy.... guess what?  That reminds me of home.  I grew up in Ohio and Indiana, so the moment we had a fairly humid day here (and it's nothing like the mild humidity in CA), I had that wonderful recollection of my childhood... it felt like home.  Tornado warnings... yup!  They feel like home too!  LOL.  I love nature and animals... always have.  Here, I get to see horses, long horns, cows, donkeys, goats, chickens, and birds galore.  As a child, I always was rescuing animals... my husband is dreading the day I bring some half dead farm animal home to nurse back to health...LOL.  My neighbor saved a duck,  I have to admit, I was jealous!   I did help a turtle get across the road!   This next picture is 1 mile from my house.  I travel down this road several times a week and there are 3 mamma horses with their babies.  I saw this baby for the first time when it was only a few days old.  It layed on the ground sleeping while mamma looked over it.  Baby is doing great now, and you can see mamma is very protective.  

I feel so very lucky to be able to see this every day!!!!!

You are not home unless you have people to call friends.  I have made a few very special friends.  My next door neighbor Myra has been wonderful.  She helps me with everything from telling me where the best services and deals are, picking up farm fresh eggs, and just the daily chat that is so important.  I am so happy to have her for a neighbor and friend.   I've made another great friend named Sheila.  Sheila is the owner of Ruby Jean, a small boutique in Down Town Aubrey.  I happened into her store one day, and we hit it off.  She has introduced me to so many people... I am truly grateful to her.  Below is a picture of Sheila and I that was in the 380 Guide, a local magazine supporting businesses.  

Sheila and I getting ready for a Soy Candle class.

Home is never home, unless you have family to share it with.  During the month of March and April we had a great deal of visitors!  Our children, Pierce and Megan visited, My Mom and Mike came for a while too, and Susan, my friend, who is family to me also came and stayed with us. Now, that really made our house feel like home.  We were sad to see them go but look forward to more visits!

We took Mom and the Kids to Fortunata Winery... so much fun!

Mom hates this picture, but I think it's cute!   Sorry Mom!

Susan and I at Magnolia Market!  We love Jo Jo!

Lastly, it would not feel like home without our work.  David is settling in to his new job at Cap One, and I as usual have my hands on several different projects.  I am painting like a mad woman!  I have a space at Doozies Corner in Down Town Mckinney in which I sell my painted furniture and hand made goods.  I am also teaching workshops and taking vendor space at the Southern Chapel Vintage Market.  Check them out!  southerchapelvintagemarket.com   I am also going to start teaching yoga again at the Chapel!  These are all things I love to do... so I am at home with this life.  

Lastly, I have been playing with essential oils a bit.  By accident really, I have noticed some great benefits to these oils.  In desperation, I put lavender oil on my dogs toy hoping to calm him down after a high anxiety moment... well he calmed an went to sleep!  I hadn't planned it, I just had the oil that I use in my dryer balls and thought, "Why not?".    People suffer from allergies in a big way out here, with the lush landscape and big wind... I have noticed that the oils really help to relieve that dry itchy feeling that comes along with the wind.  I use them in my candles, and have learned so much that I thought, why not look into this further.   I am looking for hormonal support, help with sleeping, and if there are any that will help me grow 4 inches that would be great...LOL!   I am excited to tell y'all that I ordered my first starter kit from Young Living and am anxiously waiting for it in the mail!  I will keep you posted and let you know what I think. 

I miss all of my old friends and family and can't wait to see you again.  I am so happy to have new friends, and can't wait to see you again!  If we haven't met yet, I look forward to meeting you!  Let's be friends!

We Made It!

A new year, a new life... that's been my featured hashtag on instagram for the last few months.  Well let me tell you, it is turning out to be a very true statement.  We made our move to the big State of Texas, really not knowing what life would be like for us.  As it unfolds, we are liking it more and more!  It's a big change, but the discovery has been incredible!  As of yet, I am still unpacking and organizing so have had no time to dive into my work, painting, and figuring out just who I am out here... but I have to say, that I am loving, my new, slower pace, the daily discoveries, and yes, I am loving (so far) the Texas weather.  Today I will share some pictures of Cross Roads Texas, the small community that we landed in.  We live in a newer home, but in a development that is surrounded by nature and farm land.  We are so blessed to be slightly removed from the hustle and bustle, but still have quick access to the fun and excitement that the Plano area has to offer.  

David had never seen our house in person, so this was a very exciting moment.... we just had to capture it with a selfie.  Most of the houses in this area are made of stone and brick... being a mid-westerner, I love me some brick!!! 

The very first thing that catches your eye when you walk into our house is the lake in the back.  It's called Tannery Lake, and is a true reservoir to Lake Lewisville.  It is said that it is the best bird watching lake in Northern Texas.  I have seen cranes, red-winged black birds, cardinals, pipers, and ducks... the little guys don't like to pose for pictures though.  LOL.

Ugh... no more make up, no more pretty smiles... just boxes, paper, and way too much stuff!

Blessed!!!  This is the reward after our first day of unpacking and cleaning.  I have always heard the Texas skies are amazing... after 10 days of this ever-changing view, I must say that I agree.  I am trying to promise myself never to take this for granted!  

There is a wonderful walking path all the way around the lake.  It's so fun!  Neighbors walking their dogs, joggers, kids playing.  Every now and then you'll find these wonderful little rest stops.  I had no idea how cool this was, as I had not seen this part of the lake when we purchased the house!

Just another view of the lake with our house in the background.  It's quite brown now, but in a month everything will start turning green!

Talk about discoveries!!!  When David and I were taking a stroll around the lake Saturday morning we saw this.  It appears to be an old horse hitch... now those of you who know me, know that I love old chippy paint.  It amazes me that this is just here in the midst of the trees, untouched for who knows how many years.  How rad is that?

This sign is right outside our neighborhood, across the street at the entrance to the cutest farm.  I sent this picture to David while he was working... he replied "Please Don't".  LOL!!!

The chick selling farm!

I went exploring down a street, right outside our development called Historic Lane.  This is what I found!

Some happy cows...

and some pretty cool farm houses!    I hope you enjoyed the Cross Roads Texas tour.  As we settle in, I will continue sharing my adventures, work, and play.  Until then, take good care!

The Road that Leads to Texas - I'll Be On It!

If I were to guess 5 years ago what I would be writing about right now, I would have never have guessed this truth.   I do believe that if we could predict our lives, there would be very little joy in living them.  My last five years have been a fabulous, yet torturous, beautiful, grueling roller coaster ride full of change, growth, and more change.  I have both endured and enjoyed this ride full of losses and gains.  With every loss I experienced a new beginning of sort.  Whether a loss of a friend, a job, income, or certainty, I've gained peace, joy, independence, and a new ability to allow myself to be vulnerable.  

So yes ma'm, shit howdy, some time in early 2016 my husband and I will be moving to Texas!  This is a big change and I know that big state is staring at me wondering what I might do with it!  Well, holy cow!  I don't know!  But I do know that I am going to wrangle it, rope it and tie it down!  This is the exciting part.  I am really not sure what life will look like in Texas.  What I do know, is that I am looking at this move as an opportunity to tune into what I love doing and focus on cultivating my creative spirit.  Opportunity... that's what this is.  If you know me well, you know I will be painting, creating, making, and hopefully teaching others to enjoy their creative spirits.  I would love to spend some time polishing up my building skills as well.  What I do know, is that I plan to take this OPPORTUNITY to grow, to follow faith, to live vulnerably, and to make new decisions.  This is my OPPORTUNITY to recreate a my path, my schedule, my vision, and my calling , and my love for my family. This is a BIG change, a BIG challenge, that will require BIG TIME BELIEVING, that my life in this BIG state is meant to be! 

So stick with me for the next few months as I wrap up my work here at Studio Vintage! I will be continuing working with Chalk Paint in Texas but will be selling all of my CeCe Caldwell's paints at a significant discount as the territory in Texas is already claimed.  

 Kim Kirker is the most amazing partner, and I just know this crazy wonderland of creativity will do just fine with her taking the lead!  Please support and encourage her, us, and Studio Vintage by visiting us for a class or two during the holidays!  

Love y'all!

Cara

How To Get the Crackled Look on Your Chalk Painted Furniture

So here we go... let's talk about aging.  While, we struggle to defy the aging process when it comes to our own personal beauty, why do we love, love, love aged crackly furniture?  BECAUSE IT HAS MORE CHARACTER!!!!  Funny, huh?  Guess what?  I do believe that when I look into an aged smiling face of a beautiful older woman, I see stories, I see character, and I see lot's of interest.  So let's face it ladies... Aging is rad!!  I know I am a heck of a lot more interesting now than I was 20 years ago!

So let's talk furniture.  Sometimes we are super lucky to find that piece of furniture with the perfect chippy, aged, crackled look.  But what I love most is finding a free piece of furniture.  My neighbors give me furniture often, but I dumpster dive for sport!  I have found, the best places to dumpster dive are apartment buildings (when people move they just stick unwanted pieces in the trash) and industrial parks.  See below for some of my dumpster dive finds!  

This amazing chest was found in an apartment dumpster... it looked gray when I found it... I put some CeCe Caldwell's Endurance on it and the dusty gray paint turned red!!!!  Wow!

So, now that we are clear... old is good, old is great, old is in!!!!  How do you get that look?  Well there are several ways!  Everyone can distress by sanding and pounding on painted pieces to make it look old.  With CeCe Caldwell's Chalk + Clay paint you can sand using sand paper (play with different grits to get different effects), or you can wet distress with a kitchen scrubbing sponge.  Simply dampen the sponge and use the rough side to rub off paint from pieces (before waxing or clearcoating) and then wipe dry with the sponge side!  Easy peasy!  The piece below looks natural, but it was actually distressed using this method... Gorgeous! 

CeCe Caldwell's Duck Blue with wet distressing

Another method, and my personal favorite, is crackling.  Furniture will sometimes crackle itself when exposed to the sun, heat, and lot's of cheap furniture wax.  I personally am over-joyed when a student in class paints a piece and the paint naturally starts to crackle.  But sometimes, only in the painting world, we want to speed up the aging process.  Creating your own crackle is easy!  Now you can go to your craft store and buy Crackle Medium for about $15, or a specialty paint store and pay $20- $30 for it.  Or you can do what I do and buy a big jug of generic school glue for $5, pour a little in a container... add a little water and wallah!  You have crackle medium.  How did I figure this out?  I smelled the medium that I bought for $30 and it smelled like kindergarten.... really!  Below are a few pictures of pieces that I have applied crackle, and one with a natural occurring crackle that happened in class!  

This piece was painted in CeCe Caldwell's Windsor Blue.  I used sand distressing, wet distressing and my magic crackle potion, and then added some aging cream.... yes, aging cream!!!  LOL

When using your crackle potion, simply put it on liberally in some spots and more generous in others.... this is key, because crackle usually doesn't happen all over a piece in the same pattern.  While the crackle is still wet, just lay the paint thickly over the crackle, resisting the urge to brush back and forth.  Step back, and watch the magic happens as the paint dries!

These wood samples where all completed with CeCe Caldwell's Paints and my crackle potion.  On the white board, I added a little crumbled up canning wax along with the crackly, do give it even more character.  After the paint dried, I scraped the wax lumps off and then added a dose of waxing cream.  This is Beauty to me!

This most beautiful crackle appeared naturally during a paint your own piece class.  We just added a little aging cream to highlight those beautiful wrinkles!!!  :-)  

Kim and I found this beautifully aged table in a dumpster... we use it today at Studio Vintage...It was just perfectly aged!  This is not trash!!

I hope you enjoyed this post!  I know I did... and I am starting to feel pretty good about the last year I am about to enjoy in my 40's.  If you have any questions please email me and I would be glad to talk with you!  

Cara

Finding Inspiration... No Need to Look For It!

I have been asked several times if I decorated my house to match my dog!!!  Well, that's just silly!  Really?  Isn't it?  Well, maybe not. You see, I have been thinking about that question... and laughing a lot about it.   If you look around my house you too may very well believe that I just took one look at my pup and began designing a whole new look.  Truth is, I guess, inspiration comes when you least expect it!  It's not like I said to myself, "Ooooh I want this whole place to look just like Shamus."  But... for years before Shamus became mine, I envisioned a pup with a dark charcoal coat, with white and brown markings.  When I found Shamus, I absolutely fell in love with his coloring!  Another truth to be told is, about that time, I began changing flooring, painting furniture, and doing my best to reupholster everything I could get my hands on!    And then, presto!  Matching Dog and House!  

So here is what I think... I love these colors... I wasn't looking for decor inspiration when I found this most delicious looking pup... it just happened.  Really, I think that's how it all works.  Inspiration, whether it be an ever important life decision, or what color socks to wear with your outfit, just pop up when you least expected, or even without you being aware that it is happening.  So here is what I have learned through this latest attempt to think deeply... No need to waste time looking for inspiration.  It will find me.  Hopefully when it does, I will have the consciousness to recognize it and make great things happen!   What inspires you?  Is it a favorite pet, a favorite season, the vivid colors at a farmers market, or more muted tones mimicking earthy nature... whatever it be,  I am positive that inspiration finds us through experiences laced in beauty and meaning... it's what I find beautiful that most reflects, what my next move is...not so much a pinterest board!  

A New Beginning - Setting Intentions

Starting this blog symbolizes a new beginning for me.   A new life, leaving the world of corporate education behind, to embark on a creative journey.  Being creative, doesn't come naturally to me... I have to work at it!  But what I have learned is that when my mind is creating, when I am playing with color and change, I am at peace.  Sharing my journey and encouraging you  to find and play in your own creative corner, place of peace and enlightenment, I know will bring great pleasure.  So to start my very first blog (really, I have no idea what I am doing) I want to set forth to the universe my own intention.

Deepok Chopra says,  "An INTENTION is a directed impulse of consciousness that contains the seed form of that which you aim to create.  Like real seeds, intentions can't grow if you hold on to them.  Only when you release your intentions into the fertile depths of your consciousness may they flourish."  

So sing to the world what you intend to create for yourself!  Let it be known, release it and live it!  I, Cara Lockwood, intend to manifest my inner light and creative spirit to blanket my life, and all that surround me with beauty.  I intend to seek beauty, finding it in all things and sharing it with my universe.

WHAT THE HECK DO I MEAN BY THAT???!!!.....  Well, I want to make things beautiful by creating.  Whether it's painting, building, crafting, drawing... I want to create beauty based on my own ideas of beauty.  I also, want to appreciate the simple beauties that gather around us each day.  Whether it's beautifully aged wood, new blooms on a tree, or the one good eye my dog, Shamus, has looking at me for approval... it's all beautiful to me!

Join me as I share beauty through my lens... maybe our ideas are similar, maybe very different, but I am sure we can all find beauty in everything that surrounds us!