Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Making Changes - Very Busy - Somewhat Tired



This week, again, has been very busy here at the ole homestead. We are currently having our painting (studio) room sheetrocked and finished so we can provide a space for classes. Just having that done has put me out of my painting area for the past two weeks. So I have been painting at my desk where all my computers are located. I have to keep getting up going to my room to pick up paints, tracing paper, varnish, etc. What a pain but I know in the end the room will be much nicer after completion. Then I will do all my painting there. Talk about painting. Even though the room is a mess because of all the construction, I have spent most of the time this week painting as you can see from the pictures above. I did not include pictures of two other pieces that I have started. One is a David Jansen seminar floral piece (just have the piece basecoated) and my pattern that I have designed and am painting on a surface. I am just surprised that I have completed as many pieces that I did over the past week. I am now working on the floral piece from the training manual where I have marbelized the surface (pictured above). I know that my piece appears to be more marbelized than the instructional photos but I preferred a darker/stronger marbelizing. Now, when I am finished with the project, lets see if I still think the same as now. But for now, I like the stronger look.

Now on top of all the construction mess, we have been very busy with all the new supplies and surfaces that are arriving daily. I have had Mark busy putting together new shelving to hold all the new goodies. We are getting some very different items for our area. We are looking to be more of a boutique where we will bring in those surfaces that painters would not normally find in our area. As of this morning, we have over 305 different items in stocke that we carry a minimum of 3 each. Many of the items we carry at least 6 and have each item systematically displayed. We are very orderly and neat when it comes to displaying our stock and of course this takes time to maintain. It is exciting to watch our inventory grow along with our other items of our business like our FaceBook friends. Now that is an area that has just taking off. As of this morning we have over 1032 friends that are connected to us on FaceBook. We post finished pieces, progression pictures, new product news, decorative painting techniques and news, etc. on FaceBook and are getting very positive comments back. We are really quite surprised at how quickly that part of our outreach program has grown. So FaceBook, Twitter, Pampered Palette Blog, Website and Store, keeps us very busy. In the future months, when we get most of our inventory in place (and we definitely expect that to grow quickly) we think things will calm down a little so that we can focus on the business and our classes. But for now, it is busy, busy, busy. Which reminds me, I need to get back to work. I have to paint today on two pieces that I would like to have completed by the weekend. So, back to work for me. Until the next post, Happy Painting.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Shirts Arrive - Very Busy Getting Ready For Next Year!


Again this week has been very busy as we have consistently received supply orders from all over the country. It has been daily that we have had FEDEX and UPS delivering boxes at our place so that has really kept me very busy. With all the boxes comes things like setting up new storage shelving, which we did, entering all the items into the computer (my job), pricing the items, updating the online store and the list just seems to go on. In between unpacking all the boxes, I did a little painting this week. I worked some more on my pattern that I will be releasing after the first of year, painted two Heritage lessons, started a third lesson and when I was painting, I was chatting on Skype with someone from the Heritage team. In all a very busy but exciting week.

Most of you guys know that Mark and I will be having a Pampered Palette booth at the SDP convention next year. Well we ordered shirts for the booth which was delivered this week as well. The pictures above are of Mark modeling one of the new shirts and a close up of the left pocket area. I think they turned out great. Now just in case someone could not figure it out from all the pictures I have posted, our booth colors will be a combination of Red, Black and White. The shirts and table cover will be red and black while all the signage will be red and white. We are really trying to have a very consistent look throughout the booth. We still have not figured out what we will display in the booth but at the moment it looks like we have have items from the Global Art and Jansen Art. We know for sure the Heritage paints will be in the booth and probably Jansen patterns, brushes, books, etc. Anyway, we are still working on the contents of the booth. Right now we are pleased that we have settled on the look and feel.

Now if you have not visited the Pampered Palette website or the online store in a while, stop by, and take a look at all the changes. We have made some major changes to both the website and the store. Visit http://www.pamperedpalette.com and http://store.pamperedpalette.com. Lots of changes and lots of items added to both sites.

Well it is Christmas Eve and we have lots of things to do before tomorrow. We will actually be having Christmas dinner with my daughter and grandson so have to finish all my items wrapped today. So, I guess I best get off the computer and get with it. Until the next post, Happy Painting.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Snow Finally Stopped - Waiting For Spring


Well the snow finally stopped and I could not have been happy that it did. You see, I am not a cold weather type of person. I much prefer the warm or hot weather but have always lived in the DC area so here I sit, still. I spent yesterday working on my computer (order more supplies), baking bread, and I actually painted. I am working on four (4) pieces currently at the same time. Two of the pieces are from the Heritage Educational Program and the other two pieces are of my pattern packet that I will be releasing (using the Heritage paints and Fusion brushes). You may ask how I can work on four pieces at the same time. Well, I work a little on one piece and the switch to the next when I want to do something else. While I am painting the pieces used in the photos for my pattern packet, I paint a little, document, and then I take photos of the progress of the piece. I am hoping to get some of the pieces completed today (Sunday) as I need to move on to the next pieces. There just does not seem to be enough time in the day to get everything done that I would like to accomplish. Well, I should have plenty of time now because of the snow because I will not leave the house until it melts.............lol.

I bet you are wondering about the pictures posted above? Well, those are more of my shameless marketing of the David Jansen Empire, just kidding David. The pictures are actually oversized postcards that I had printed to promote David's new DVD (4011). I scanned them into my computer so I could post the pictures. That is why the card with the shelf is sideways. You actually look at that l card lengthwise (top to bottom) not left to right. I think the cards turned out very sharp. I now have tons or so it seems of marketing material. I think I am all ready for the trade shows or local association meetings.

It has been really busy here this week. Not only have I been fighting with FEDEX for losing a box of wood/metal surfaces, which they have never found, I have had multiple boxes arriving each day. I am getting my shelves stocked and ready for the new year. Need a new brush? Well I now stock the complete Global Art brush line, along with almost all of David Jansen's pattern packets, new wood, new metal/tin, and artist supplies. I could probably outfit a complete college art department............lol. With all of those items arriving, that meant I needed to spend lots of time of time on the computer updating inventory and the online store. Hey, check it out. To bypass the website and go directly to the store to view everything new, navigate to http://store.pamperedpalette.com. I am just stunned at all the new things we have added and guess what? There is more on the way. Take a look. I think you will be surprised.

Well, I guess I should get my act together as I have lots to do. Today we are putting together additional shelving to hold all the new items and I want to paint. I cannot get things done if I continue to sit here typing on the computer. So, I am off to paint and work. Until the next post, Happy Painting.


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

David Wins Big!!!!!


We have had a lot happening here at Pampered Palette (and our house) this past week. The weekend we had contractors in hanging sheetrock in the only unfinished space in the house. That space is where I usually paint as I have it set up as my painting studio. Well, next year we will move into teaching classes from here so I am having that area of the house finished. Not only the walls but we are having additional lighting and we plan to hang monitors (at least 42") from the ceiling to assist students with viewing demonstrations. So, there is a lot of work going on at the moment.

Now I am sure everyone is wondering about the above picture? Well, the Potomac View Decorative Artists were having a raffle as part of the year end Christmas party to raise funds. Well, I bought some tickets to support the organization and received an email Saturday evening from the organization's President letting me know that I had won the piece. It is a seasons trunk and the front panel can be changed as the seasons change. I have five panels to choose from and each panel was painted by a member of the organization. Now how lucky was that? A very pleasant surprise.

The rest of the week as not been that great as I am dealing with a lost shipment of metalware that has been misplaced by FEDEX (a 34lb. box). It is kind of funny, as their website tracking says the box has been delivered but I do not know where they left it because they certainly did not leave it at our shop. So, I am waiting for FEDEX to try and determine where they have left the box and hopefully I will get it delivered some time this week. I have two additional shipments coming this week and they are both being delivered by FEDEX. Now ask me if I am concerned whether or not they will show up? We will see.

Even with all the excitement of winning the trunk and the disappointment of FEDEX losing my shipment, I have been upbeat enough to paint. I did a little bit on 4 of the pieces that I am painting. I am hoping to get one of them completed today. I guess we will she how things go today. If I get one of the pieces completed, I will definitely post pictures. Until then, Happy Painting.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

New Table Cover Received


You know, there are days I feel like I just do not have enough hands to get everything done. I painted a little last even but I am receiving so many items for the online store that it requires me to lay down my brushes and do some data entry. I have been receiving brushes, paints, patterns, wood surfaces, tinware, and supplies. So, I have to enter each item into the inventory system then enter it into my online store so customers can view the information and hopefully order. All of this computer stuff can get a little overwhelming at times but so far I have able to keep up with all the data entry.
Today was a very good day as I received an order from Jansen Art Studio and I received my table cover that we will be using next year at the SDP convention. I think the cover looks great. Mark and I will have a booth at the convention so we had the above table cover made which will make our booth look more professional. We plan to have the Heritage Acrylics in the booth for display and sale along with some other goodies. All of that (booth displays/products) is in the planning stages. It is going to be really exciting as I have not had a booth at a convention in about 10-15 years. The last time I had a booth was when I ran my ceramics business. So, this could be really fun.
Anyway, lots of things going on here at Pampered Palette. I have another order of tinware arriving tomorrow and then I think I will sit down to paint a little. So, I should probably stop gabbing and get back to work. Until the next post, Happy Painting.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Sandy Scales Seminar this Past Weekend





This past weekend Mark and I traveled to Painter's Paradise in Delaware to attend the Sandy Scales seminar. Sandy provides seminars using Maureen McNaughton's patterns. We had an absolutely great time even though the first day we had to deal with rain and snow while traveling. The first day of seminar there was about 24 people in the class as we worked on the rose plaque pictured above. I did not get my piece finished but really made some great progress towards its completion. I found the design fun, somewhat easy, but a little time consuming. I guess that is why I did not get the project finished but it gives me something to do at home along with all the other projects I am painting. The second day was the round metal plate pictured above. That particular pattern I had selected and suggested for the seminar (surprised they picked it.......lol). Now that complete piece is totally painted using flat brushes and one little tiny philbert brush (#4). That was just a little challenging but fun and believe it or not, I almost completed that piece (the pattern portion). I now can add that piece to my project list as well. Mark and I are currently scheduled to go back to another Sandy Scales seminar the second week of January and the second week of February. The end of February we will be attending the Maureen McNaughton seminar at SDP headquarters in Wichita. Three days of painting with Maureen...............I bet it will be cold there..........
Since I am not on travel this week, I plan to do a little painting. I have to get back on all my projects and get some of them completed. Anyway, I just thought I would share this with everyone. I have to run so until the next post, HAPPY PAINTING>

Friday, December 4, 2009

Pampered Palette Adds the New Global Art Brushes To Their Online Store




We are very proud to announce that we have added the new Global Art Brush line to our online store along with many other items for the decorative artist. We seem to be growing by leaps and bounds. We have added wood surfaces, books, patterns, DVDs, etc. When you are typing all the items into the computer for inventory purposes, it seems like an endless list.......ha. Visit our online store at store.pamperedpalette.com (takes you directly to the store, no need to go through the website) and take a look at all the new items that we have added. Until the next time, Happy Painting.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Back From All The Travel




Well finally I have completed all my travel for a while so this evening I started the Heritage Core A & B lessons in the new program. I am beginning my journey to paint every project in the manual so have ordered lots of wood. I did not get a lot completed this evening but I did get at least something done as I am painting both projects at the same time. My plan is to paint a little more of both pieces tomorrow evening after work. Who knows, I may even get them finished.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL COLORS USED ARE THE NEW HERITAGE MULTIMEDIA ACRYLICS.
This weekend I have a seminar scheduled for Painter's Paradise in Delaware to complete two pieces over the weekend. I think both projects will be fun and really informative. I will tell everyone about it and post pictures.
You know, I just realized something. I am getting as bad as Paul. I have 5 unfinished projects that I am working on at the moment. I work on one of the for a while then lay it aside and pick up the next one. I feel that is giving me a little variety so I do not get bored with any one piece. I know, it does sound a little weird but it is working for me. Well that is it from the home front for this evening. I will post more, with pictures, after tomorrow evening. Until the next time, Happy Painting.


Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Our Trip to the Jansen Art Studio


Just a short note to update everyone on what has been happening here at Pampered Palette. Well, this past weekend Mark and I drove up to David Jansen's (Jansen Art Studio) to pick up the new Heritage Acrylics (supplies for the online store) and other supplies. I guess we spent about 3 hours there at the Jansens talking, laughing, looking at paintings and taking pictures. I the above pictures we took with an iPhone which really turned out great. The first picture is David J and myself displaying the new Heritage 12 color set and we brought back a bunch of those to stock our shelves. The next picture is of me standing next to David's door that he just finished painting. I was stunned at how big the door actually is and how stunning it is in person. Thus the purpose of the picture. Everyone can get an idea how big the door is with me standing right next to it (or does it show just how big I am........hmmmm). The final picture is of Mark, David J and myself standing in David and Martha's new studio which is under construction. We we returned home, we realized that Martha is not in any of the pictures. In fact, she took most of the pictures. How could we have let that happen. Martha the next trip up we need to make sure you are in all the pictures.
Anyway, this week I am in Las Vegas and get home on Sunday. NO TRAVEL SCHEDULED AFTER THIS TRIP. And you know what that means? I will have more time to paint. I used the plane trip to read the Heritage Educational Manual as I will be offering classes after the first of the year. I actually loaded the complete manual on my Sony eBook reader and was able to read through the manual while flying. The only thin I could not do was paint. It was perfect. I will post more when I return to the DC area. Until then, Happy Painting.




Saturday, November 21, 2009

Busy, Busy, Busy - New Supplies and New Paints




Well the above pictures are as far as I have gone with my Dewey Roses project. I have been on travel now for two weeks to Pasadena CA and San Antonio Texas. I am only home for a short time as next week I leave for Las Vegas. So I have not had a lot of time to paint. This weekend, before the next airplane trip, I want to do a little painting. However, it will not be today as I will be getting in the car for a trip up to the Jansen Art Studio to pick up the New Heritage Acrylics. Yeppers, they have finally arrived so I am making a beeline to Pennsylvania to pick them up.

Along with the new paints, I have been really busy receiving new supplies, brushes, patterns, and wood surfaces into my inventory and updating all the computer stuff. It seems like there is never a dull moment when it comes to updating all the computer things that I have to do. My FaceBook site now has 761 friends so I really try to type something on that page everyday. The blog takes me a little longer to get that updated as I like to have at least painted on one of my projects so I can include progression pictures.

I wanted to give you an idea where I do all my computer stuff and yes there are five computers on my desk. Each computer is used for different portions of my work demo builds, paint and supply tracking and accounting. HEY! I think I know the person who painted those plaques on the wall (David Jansen painted the plaques). Maybe the next pictures I will post will be of my supply storage area that I have established. I am very well organized if I must say so myself........lol. As I have to get off this computer and get ready for my drive to David and Martha's, I will have to make this post a little short. Therefore, hopefully I will be able to post more pictures tomorrow after I do a little painting. So until then, happy painting...............

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Another Strawberry Plaque Completed



Well, this Tuesday I have to get on an airplane for Pasadena so this will probably be the last piece completed for at least a couple of weeks. As this week I am in Pasadena, the following week I am in San Antonio and then the third week I will be in Las Vegas. I guees painting during that time is a little out of the question. Therefore, I am been trying to get some pieces finished or at least to the point they are almost finished. The above piece I completed this morning with the final antiquing and the varnishing. I am actually pleased with how it turned out. As usual the strawberries look pretty good. I joke with Georgia that I will be known worldwide for my strawberries.......lol. I seem to do a lot of strawberries. Anyway, I heard yesterday that the new Heritage paints will be here by next week, which is really exciting. This week again I spent a lot of time, when I was not painting, stocking my shelves with new items like patterns, books, brushes, and wood surfaces. I also received what seems to be tons of marketing materials for the new paints so I had to get all of that put away or as they say on the airplanes, stowed. So I guess you get the point that setting up a business takes a little bit of time. Hmmmmmmm.......it sounded so easy when I watched Paul and Cathy's DVD on how to start a business. I guess I missed the part about how much time it consumes.......lol.

So, what is next? Other than working on my accounting system today a little, I have started the Dewey Roses piece. At the moment I only have the piece basecoated so will need to transfer the rose pattern and then basecoat that in white per David's instructions. Let's see if the roses look like strawberries when I get finished..........lol. Anyway, have to run as time is just ticking away. I have to get a lot of things completed or done before I leave for Pasadena. Until the time time, Happy Painting.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

NEW!!!! DOMED TRUNK - NEVER A DULL MOMENT!!!



It is never a dull moment here at my place. I am almost finished with my strawberry basket. Well at least the lid has been completed and the basket is base coated. I am still working on the blue coffee, the Ompir Fruit Tray and the Ompir Strawberry Plaque (Disc 3) but now I have another piece to start. Above are the pictures of the new Domed Trunk that I just received yesterday from Hall's Woodcrafts. It was delivered all crated in a wooden box. What a sight to see, me lugging this box to the garage. Anyway, my initial thought is to paint the Ompire Fruit Tray pattern on the top and maybe the front. The pattern is certainly big enough and I think would look super on the piece. I think this piece will take a lot of paint to basecoat it........lol. YA!! THINK!! I took the pictures under a 6 foot long table just so everyone could get an idea of its size. This trunk is fairly large and will take a little bit of time to complete. I guess the hardest part or better said the most time consuming part will be the basecoating. That is a lot of territory to cover with a basecoat. Going back to my ceramic days, this would be a perfect piece for airbrushing. Hey, has anyone ever tried to airbrush pieces? I was told it would not work but if anyone has succeeded in airbrushing a piece and it worked, then please drop me a line. Have to get back to painting, I just wanted to share this piece with everyone. Until next time.....Happy Painting.......
OH! Visit www.pamperedpalette.com online store and take a look at all the new stuff I have added. That is another time consuming activity, entering data into the online store........not enough time in a day.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

A Very Busy Week in Virginia




Wow! What a busy week here in Virginia. I am currently painting four different pieces. The above piece is my adaptation of David's Ompir strawberry plaque. The picture is actually the lid of a wicker basket. I have decided to not put anything around the edges of this piece so last night I went ahead and varnished the lid. I still have to finish the basket part and hopefully that will be done soon. Believe it or not, I am actually going to do this piece one more time. Of course, that will not occur until after the first of the year. There will be three weeks in November that I will be on business travel, so it is a little hard to paint when traveling. I am still working on the Coffee Pot, the Fruit Tray, and I started a new piece. Another strawberry plaque but this one is from Disc 3 of David's Ompir DVD set. So far I have basecoated the plaque, the strawberries and have antiqued the complete piece. Now I am ready to move to the next steps.
The week also brought some changes with Pampered Palette. I worked on the online store adding new products, updated the FaceBook page (currently have about 585 people connected on FaceBook), of course, I updated my blog. So there seemed to be a lot of typing this week. I have received a lot of comments from the FaceBook page. Comments concerning classes, about the pieces that I am painting (post pictures on FaceBook) and about promoting decorative painting. Seems some of the people stopped painting years ago and they are feeling inspired (by me?) to pick up the brushes again. Now isn't that scary......lol. Along with all the work, I had some excitement as well. I started receiving the promotional materials that I ordered including some mouse pads, new business cards, and vinyl booth banners. All of the items have the picture of the Heritage Acrylics and look absolutely great, if I must say so myself.
Well today will be no different than the rest of the week. I will be working in my store room installing some new shelving. I have to be ready when everything starts to show up (hint......paint). I hear we should be seeing the paint soon so am getting ready. As I am just about typed out for the week, I think I best get off this computer. Until next time, Happy Painting..........

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Pampered Palette will be at SDP Convention Next Year - Will You?



Well, other than working on my blue coffee pot a little yesterday, I spent a major portion of the day coming up with marketing ideas for the new Heritage Multi-Media Acrylics. Pictured above are some of the ideas I came up with. The first item is a banner to be used at shows/conventions (banner size is 4'x2.5'), next we have a Heritage mouse pad, then a Heritage postcard, and finally a went ahead and purchased another set of business cards with Heritage paint jar/tube pictures to hand out at shows and conventions. There were many other items as well but I do not believe I need any of those at this point.
Now here is the big news for the week. Pampered Palette will have a booth at next year's SDP convention in Wichita. We have not decided yet what we will demonstrate or what products other than the Heritage Multi-Media Acrylics that we will display but we have made the decision to at least have a presence. This will be my very first convention show with a booth since the 80's when I ran my ceramic business. Some people may ask why we would do a booth and I can only answer that we are doing it to promote the Heritage paint line. Anyway, we will see how that goes.
Anyway, have to run and paint (the blue coffee pot, the fruit tray, and the basket are waiting). Until next time, Happy Painting.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Silver to Blue - How About You?





I am just so excited. Above is a banner 4'x2.5' that I created this morning on the net (ordered it to) for use at upcoming shows. I did not even have to leave the house.

Well here we go again. Currently, I have three projects that I am working and trying to complete. I am working on my fruit tray, a wicker basket with the Ompir Strawberry and Daisy pattern on it and now I am working on the coffec pot. What I am doing other than spending a lot of time on eBay buying coffee pots is applying a very nice pattern by Rosemary West on this piece but using Traditions paints verses what the pattern calls. I would be using the new Heritage Multi-Media but as we all know, only HAZEL has those right now.......lol. Hi Hazel.

Anyway, I am now working all the pieces and really need to get my butt in order so that I can get some of the completed. November looks bad as I will be on business travel the first three weeks of the month. It is kind of hard to drag everything with you to paint especially when some of the pieces are so large but I know eventually I will get them done. Well, I have to as I have purchased 5 coffee pots..........lol. I guess I got a little carried away but you just could not beat the prices........ha. So this week I have to get my website updated to include this project.

Many of you know that I have a presence on FaceBook and as of this morning I have 361 people (friends) connected to my site. I have been posting video clips from Veronique and now I am posting my own projects with very good feedback/comments. In fact, I posted this blue coffee pot last night and already have 12 people that have made comments. I think I might be on to something here, a way to reach out to others and share decorative painting. Anyway, all these postings and the new online store (getting everything set up) is certainly keeping me busy. That is another reason why it is taking me so long to finish my projects. Oh well, hopefully soon I will at least complete one of them.

Have to run............exercises are waiting for me...........until the next post, Happy Painting..........

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Fruit Tray Next Steps



Well believe it or not, I worked on my fruit tray a little over the weekend. I added a little bit of color in between working on my new accounting system, setting up a FaceBook page, a Twitter page, updating the blog and going shopping. I never realized how much work it is putting everything together for my online business. It just seems that there is not enough time to get everything done. I am still waiting for the paints to arrive, which I am sure most of are but it has not stopped me for marketing the new Heritage classes and the paints. I am hoping that when the paints finally arrive, then I will have all the setup stuff behind me and then I can focus on actually building the business. I have run advertisements in two of the local association news letters and will place an advertisement in two additional associations next month. Those ads and the FaceBook presence, with over 275 followers, has increased dramatically the traffic to my website. I have over 5000 hits on my website with a recent 130 hits to the new store. I take that as a good sign as it is at least exposing individuals to the new paint line and the new classes. I also did an email blast across the country to various organization members announcing the online store along with the paints and supplies available. It just takes so much time. And remember, I have a full time job that keeps me travelling around the country. Boy, I am pooped.

Anyway, I want to work on the fruit tray again some more today as I am trying to get it finished before I receive the walnut trunk that I am having made to paint. I plan to do fruit on the trunk so want to get this one completed and out of the way before the delivery (October 31) of the new trunk. I guess if I set my mind to it, I can do it. Well, if I don't get off this computer, I will never do any painting. Therefore, until the next time, Happy Painting.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Working On My Fruit Tray


What an interesting week. I spent a lot of time working on my business, trying to get everything in order so when the paints arrive I will be ready to go. I have worked on marketing my website by running advertisements in the NCC of SDP and Shenandoah Valley Decorative Painters newsletters, as well as building a web presence on FaceBook and Twitter. All of this typing and updating of the different sites certainly will keep me busy.
Because of travel for work and getting all of the busy stuff in order, I have had very little time to sit down and paint. Yesterday I made it a priority working on my fruit tray pictured above. I did not get much done but I did work on it. Today I have to apply the all purpose sealer so that I can start working with a little color as all of the white base coating has finally been completed. You may notice a little difference in the pictures that I have posted. They appear to be a little sharper and they are missing the glare. I purchased a new professional camera and a photo tent. The camera I am just learning all the little clicks needed to make a decent photo shot, so hopefully you will patient with me while the learning takes place. I have not used the photo tent yet but will give that a try in soon. The tent is suppose to eliminate the flash glare on your pieces and provide you a more professional photo for posting. We will see about that as I am sure I can screw that up as well.....lol.
Anyway, I cannot stay on the computer this morning as I need to paint. That is my priority for today - sit down and paint. So, until next time, Happy Painting.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Pampered Palette Now on Facebook



BE SURE AND VISIT WWW.PAMPEREDPALETTE.COM TO PRE-ORDER ALL YOU HERITAGE MULTIMEDIA ACRYLICS AND SUPPLIES...................................................

What a hectic week. I returned from New Orleans last weekend (90 degree weather down there) and had to start getting things done on the website and the new store. I have added some new products to the online store and then I have utilized the rest of my time working on my accounting system. I received notification that a new upgrade release was available so of course I had to bring that down to install. Hopefully, I will get everything together so that I can get back to painting a little. Oh, I did get to paint just a little bit on Wednesday. I am working on David's Ompir Fruit Tray. All I have completed to date is the white base coating of the fruit. I am hoping to find the time to paint a little this weekend so that I can move forward on the tray and work on my wicker basket piece as well. I just do not seem to find the time to get everything done.

Well this week I spent a lot of time building my Facebook presence. I do not know if I really understand all the ins and outs of Facebook yet but I do have a presence. As of this morning I have about 145 decorative painting friends. Some have sent some very nice comments about my website and my painting projects. Hopefully, we can use Facebook to promote decorative painting which in turn may bring new interested artist into the decorative art community. Well anyway that is the plan hopefully it works.

This week also included the new Pampered Palette advertisements in the NCC of SDP and the Shenandoah Valley Decorative Painters newsletters. This is my first time at advertising the online store in local newletters so hopefully that will pay off with lots of interest. The ad basically announces that Pampered Palette has established the online store providing the new Heritage MultiMedia Acrylics and assorted painting supplies for the Washington DC area decorative arts community. I have plans also to run the ad in the Old Dominion Decorative Painters association as well as the Potomac View Decorative Painters. I am just trying to get the word out there about the arcylics.

Upcoming events include the many seminars and classes. I am waiting for the New Heritage Educational Program (want to take all those classes), I have a seminar in December at Painter's Paradise with Sandy Scales, a three day seminar with Maureen McNaughton at SDP in February 2010, and David's Rosemaling seminar in July 2010. Now add to that seminars at the SDP Convention and HOOT, I would have say that I now have a very busy year. I guess that will keep me busy and out of trouble for a while. Other than everything going on with the new business (business cards, checking account, accounting system, etc) that is about it for this week. Until next time, Happy Painting.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

ONLINE STORE NOW OPEN



Well we are off and running. As of yesterday, Pampered Palette's online store is open for business. We can now accept pre-orders for the new Heritage MultiMedia Acrylics. So visit the Pampered Palette online store and take a look. We are still adding items to the site and will continue to do so over the next few weeks/months so make sure you come back often. The more you visit the more items (new items) you will see. Anyway, this is the first steps to bigger and better things. We are so excited to be offering the new Heriatage MultiMedia Acrylics for all the artists in the Washington DC area to use and enjoy. So please pay us a visit at http://www.pamperedpalette.com/. The excitement is at fever pitch so won't you join us in this new venture for the Decorative Artist? Until next time, HAPPY PAINTING.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

BIG NEWS IN VIRGINIA!!!!!! ONLINE STORE COMING SOON!!!!



We have been really busy this past week preparing for the opening of our new online store. The whole week has centered around getting tax numbers, establishing a computer/accounting system, entering data, developing advertisements, entering more data, changing the website, and on and on and on. It seems to never end as there is always something to do. You may be asking yourself, "What is with the new online store"? Well, we are very proud to announce that we, Pampered Palette, will be offering online for sale the complete Heritage MultiMedia Acrylics product line. Now how cool is that? For further information and updates, please visit our website at www.pamperedpalette.com. Until the next post, happy painting.