Home & gardens  How to become a Sloan ranger!


There’s a whole new craze hitting households across the county. ‘Upcycling’ furniture has not only caught on as a craze, but also a means of making money out of a fairly simple home industry.


Annie’s recipe for success has been made complete by today’s enthusiasm for recycling, together with the thrift factor forced on some by the recession. Tory Garrett has been hooked on


Occasional tables, random chairs, old bookcases and a host of other pieces of furniture are flying out of charity shops at speed, as people look to grab a bargain and turn it in to treasure. Painted furniture has seen a phenomenal rise in popularity in recent years – much of it due to an artist by the name of Annie Sloan. When Annie’s children were younger,


she realised she needed paint that was quick and easy to apply, while juggling the family’s various demands. Annie’s chalk paints have seen a


meteoric rise in popularity thanks to makeover programmes.


painting furniture since she first discovered Annie Sloan paints three years ago. When she’s not teaching others the


tricks of turning out fabulous furniture at the Lilypie Café in Chart Sutton, she is busy painting silverware, ceramics – even glass – to sell or give as unique gifts to her family and friends. She will also take commissions for “paint jobs” if you don’t feel confident enough to tackle something yourself. There’s no need to sand down, prime or do all the (tedious) preparation work that generally goes with painting. You just get down to the fun bit – slapping on the paint! There are a wide range of colours to choose from – but you can easily mix and match your own unique


shade. And then there are


the special effects … to wax or not to wax, add a “crackle” finish – or create the signature Annie Sloan two-colour distressed finish. It sounds complicated but it’s not. The paints are water-based so wash


out easily (and perhaps can be thinned down with a splash of free H20); even the waxy brushes come up like new with a spot of washing up liquid. There are lots of books out there to


give you ideas – but you can’t beat a bit of hands-on tuition.


One-day courses in Annie Sloan techniques at LilyPie – cost £120 and include lunch and refreshments during the day.


Half day courses in essential techniques - cost £68 and also include lunch and refreshments.


Paint it, Cover it, Love it! z z z z


 











CCT Syste


CCT Sys emystems Intruder AlarIntruder Ala CCTV Systems TV Systems Intrude


de Alarms Access Contr arm Acc Acces


cess Cont ol


ontrolr £ 10 OFF OF Security.Improved y. .Improved


Lilypie Café, Georgian H lil


lilypiecafe om


n House, W, Warmlake R fe.com


Lilypie


* OFFOFFER


e Road, Chart Sutton, Maidstone, K, Kent M 17 3t ME17 3RP @l


lypieCafe fe @lilypiecafe fe Mid Kent Living 35


£


65


65


FRO p


FROM


pp


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48