You are Invited to The District in Bearden Open House...

The Back Porch Mercantile is happy to be located in Ironic in the Bearden district. I will be demonstrating Annie Sloan Chalk Paint techniques at Ironic during the District in Bearden open house, December 2, 2011 from 5 p.m.until close. Food provided by The Bistro and Aubrey's. Please come see how Annie Sloan Chalk Paint makes your furniture and other surfaces stand out from the crowd! We will be available to take custom gift basket orders for all the painters on your gift list. There will be special promotional prices on wax brushes (Wax brush:$ 36.00, Sale Price: $31.00) and pour spouts (Pour spouts: $5.00,Sale Price: $2.50) during the open house. And don't forget to register for the door prizes by both Ironic and The Back Porch Mercantile! The Back Porch Mercantile is excited to offer Cody Foster and Company houses and ornaments this holiday season.

Interested in learning more about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint? Want to learn a new technique? Please come join us for a special Annie Sloan Chalk Paint workshop. Spaces are still available for December 9 and 10 from 10:30 to 12:00. We will be painting a fleur-de-lis iron hook from Ironic with a two color application and gilding wax.The chosen colors for the hook are Provence, Old White and Chateau Grey. One extra technique will be demonstrated as well. This is a fun project to give or to keep. Participants will receive a special coupon for ASCP products after the class. All workshops are held at Consign to Design in Knoxville. Please call 865.588.3131 to register. The class fee of $75.00 is required at registration to hold your place and includes all materials and instruction. If you would like to make an extra hook in class, it is an additional $25.00. Cancellations are non-refundable.

{Wax brushes on sale for the open house.}

{Cody Foster and Company houses and ornaments are available.}

{Upcycled 1930s Bow Front Buffet with French Linen, Duck Egg,
Old White, Clear Wax, Dark Wax and Gilding Wax. Buffet top is done
with the Annie Sloan dark wax and mineral spirits. For sale at Ironic.}

Cody Foster and Company for the Holidays

{Owl box-Perfect for a small gift!}

The Back Porch Mercantile is excited to offer Cody Foster and Company houses, ornaments and gifts for the holiday season at Ironic in Bearden. Cody Foster and Company products are perfect for special gift or to decorate your home for the holidays. Each piece is unique!

The Cody Foster & Co. Story

I learned craft-making from my grandmother Isa Foster, a loving yet no-
nonsense Midwestern woman with the spirit of a pioneer. Starting with holiday
ornaments—and with the support of my mom as my business partner—I started
our company while still in high school. One thing led to another, and before we
knew it we were wholesaling to retailers around the U.S. and in several foreign
countries.

Cody Foster & Co. has grown and prospered over the years but we remain a
small, family-run business and retain our small-town roots. We’re located in
Valentine, a rustic “frontier” town in the picturesque Sand Hills region of north-
central Nebraska. We’re proud of our little town (population 2,820)—and have
reason to be: thanks to its wide-open spaces, big sky, rolling grasslands,
tranquil lakes and secluded waterfalls, Valentine was voted one of the country’s
top ten wilderness locations by National Geographic’s “Adventure” magazine in
2007.

While we got our start in holiday ornaments, we now produce many lines and
collections of home décor items. When designing, I draw inspiration from many
sources but especially from offbeat vintage pieces and unconventional antiques.
Almost all our items are handmade, using honest materials and finishes. Our
products are meant to be joyful additions to the home that over time become
family collectibles that are passed down to the next generation. I hope you’ll
enjoy owning them as much as I enjoy creating them.
-from Cody Foster and Co.


{Large selection of houses and churches.}

{Antique Oak table and chairs just arrived!
The table is $250.00 and the set of chairs are $160.00
Perfect for your next ASCP project.}

{Ornaments and gifts. Lots of mercury glass ornaments!}

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Holiday Workshop

{Example of class project.}

Come join us for our first workshop!

The Back Porch Mercantile is hosting two
Annie Sloan Paint Workshops just in time for the holidays.

WORKSHOP: ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT FLEUR-DE-LIS WALL HOOK

TIME: December 9, Friday 10:30-12:00
December 10, Saturday 10:30-12:00

LOCATION: Consign To Design
Lovell Heights Center
10420 Kingston Pike, Suite D
Knoxville, TN 37922

DESCRIPTION: Would you like to make a beautiful handmade gift for someone special this holiday season? Or how about making it just for you? This short workshop format will cover a two color application technique with chalk paint and gilding on a beautiful fleur-de-lis hook you can take home with you. One extra technique will be demonstrated during the workshop. Option to purchase an extra hook will be available as well.

PRICE: $75.00. Workshop fee covers one fleur-de-lis hook, materials and instruction. Paint colors that will be used in this class are Provence, Old White and Chateau Grey. Option to purchase extra hook is available at $25.00. Please let us know when paying for workshop if you would like to paint one or two hooks.

Please call IRONIC-unique iron home decor and gifts at 865.588.3131 to reserve your place. Class size is limited to eight participants. Once these classes fill, a wait list will be started. No refunds given for cancellations.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Basic Techniques coming January 2012!

Cool Craft Find

I am passing this tutorial on. I just saw this and couldn't pass it up. How sweet would that be underneath the tree Christmas morning? I am going to pretend I can sew a nice straight line now. I need to improve on that! Read all the details here at Country Home UK. Maybe I should get Maddie at Fresh Thread to show me some skills. :)

Do you see that cute little end table too? Maybe it's Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite?

Happy Painting!

A Helpful Hint from Mom and My Excuse for a Short Post

{My new crafty fun project.}

Sometimes I wonder where the time goes. It's not like I am just sitting around knitting sweaters or eating bonbons (does Halloween candy count?). I had these fantastic plans to post my nice Christmas memory project and I am now out of time! Next week for sure I will have the details because it is really easy and a great way to remember December.

I do have a really helpful tip from my Mom. I could not get some drawers to work smoothly on a piece the other day and she suggested rubbing parafin on the bottom and the sides where it was sticking. IT WORKS! It slid much easier. I bought mine in the canning department in Food City for $3.22 with tax. That Mom, she does have some good tricks up her sleeve. :)

{Gulf Wax is awesome! Helps drawers slide better.}

{845 pounds of paint came today. That is my excuse! All colors and wax will be back in stock. }

{EXCITING NEWS IN THIS FOLDER! I can't wait to share}