Maggie O’Neill….  where might one begin when paying homage in written form to such an extraordinarily visual lady…First things first…You should probably peep her latest YOUTUBE Video…

Upon my travels with this saucy lady in Morocco I fell smitten and in love with her within seconds… From her studio’s annual Irish celebration parties, to her ‘Kiss me I’m an Artist’ t-shirts  the girl is the epitome of an ArtistE!

Once known as   ‘the dating artist’ ….(she had 30 dates, did 30 paintings…one about each)…I would have loved to have gone to THAT art opening.  Oh, I forgot to mention, she met her future husband on this arty dating adventure…but that’s a whole other story… (He had her when he did his kick ass WORM on the dance floor!) For those of you unfamiliar with the worm…recognize!

Maggie can also be found painting portraits of the seasons latest dresses for Neiman Marcus!  When she is not busy practicing her Wedding Worm routine she is busying her self by painting for the likes of this Falls Desperate Housewives of D.C. (Be sure to look for her on Bravo this Fall!).

The girl oozes talent and creativity, but mostly she SPARKLES and Glistens all things related to paint and positivity…  be on the look out for this classy color lover…something tells me she will be taking over the world just about any day now.

Oh yes and she also has the  most adorably high dimples and her signature ” paddles”  for thumbs that help her get all that painting done and swim really fast… Hey ladies, even cowgirls get the blues!

She does a whole slew of talented painty things out of her O’neill Studios in DC.  The girl is a vision…an inspiration…a HOOT and it should be in a textbook somewhere that  all artists, especially of the female kind should know her name!

For your stalking pleasure, here is a list of all things Maggie O’Neill….now do the worm and get down on it!

O”Neill Studios

Name

Email

Comments

Enter The Code Shown

cozy kitchen

Sometimes its long after its already grabbed so many others.  I know that the movie  500 Days of SUMMER has been out for a while now, but I really just can’t seem to get enough of all the eye, ear, and brain candy that is placed perfectly throughout this film.

Peep this chalkboard wall

lovely moments

The thing that most grabbed at me was  one of the main characters ‘Tom’s ‘ masculine chalkboard infused bedroom.  The beauty of this part of the film is that his room has one full wall that has been painted with chalkboard paint, but continues to change at various times throughout the film.  For you artsy folk out there, its worth watching just to take a ganders at this chalkboard wall.

Here are some other gems with chalk to get you all inspired…

I'm calling this the mustache look! & I love it

I feel like chalkboard paint is such a fun way to spice things up for the artistically minded DIYer or homeowner.  Give a sense of creative freedom to the owner.  How fun would it be to erase your doodles, or to let your kids run rampant fingers of chalk all over one of your walls?

kids can finally play!

I hope that you’ll watch it, and enjoy it just as much as I did.

Have a great day ya’ll! ~ lulu

Flower Power Wallovers Stencil

For those of you fabulous painters out there with busy lives and even busier schedules that could not make this years IDAL Memphis convention but really REALLY wanted to… NEVER FEAR…  LULU and her Patina Designs Painting Posse are hear to give you the scoop on all the hot happenings of this years convention…

Above is a new stencil from Wallovers … Its one of their latest creations and it was flying off their shelves like wild fire… I even bought one myself. If you feel like staying ahead of the game then pick one up yourself…They only cost $48.00!  At the convention Wallovers was having a special that if you spent $100 on stencils you would get their handy dandy Allover Brush for FREE!  I bet if you ask them nicely they will hook you up with the same special because those gals are so sweet and kind!

Foiling Around

Next up…Innovative Stencil Guru Melany Royals is delighting our senses through a new series of affordable Virtual Workshops.  YES folks… this means you can have Melany right there in your very own home now without having to travel to California!  Registration starts: 7/27/09  and for only $150 you can get 6 beautiful finishes that incorporate foils with Royal Design Studios Stencils and Modello Decorative Masking Patterns.  I am beyond thrilled that last night at the auction, one of my partners Terri Roberts one a FREE Virtual workshop so the three of us will be crowding around the computer to enjoy that on October 1st!

Architectural Enhancements

The artist  du jour was without a doubt Cindee from Minnesota’s own Architectural Enhancements.  Us Patina gals know Cindee quite well, and it brought the biggest smiles to our faces to see how well the decorative Industry was responding to Cindee’s booth at the Expo.  There were times when it felt like everyone in the expo center was huddled around Cindee’s booth watching in awe as she turned concrete into elaborate stone fireplaces or counter tops!  We have a whole library of finishes that we offer from training with Cindee in Annandale.  Decorative Concrete is on the up and up and as finishers we need to stay ahead of the trends.

Donna Phelps said something in class Tuesday that really struck a nerve with Terri and I.  She mentioned that the trends are leaning towards regular paint contractors doing simple plaster and glazing techniques.  As finishers we need to really show just how capable we are at the finer parts of the industry, the specialty finishes that no contractor with a trowel or sponge could replicate or dare to try.

Tribal Wall Tattoo

Next up:  everyone was in awe of  WALL TATTOOS… I wish I could find their website right now…but am having a heck of a time.  I’ll swing by their booth later today and more of the skinny for you!

Totem Coatings Marble

And last but certainly not least, if you have a hankering for hunky Italian Stallion men and lime based plasters TOTEM COATINGS is the place for you!  I had the pleasure of monitoring Joe Greco’s class on Tuesday and these Eco- lime plasters are Beautiful, easy to work with and most importantly Affordable!!!!  But here is the biggest and best secret of all that we at the convention were privy to know.  Joe has a talented finisher on his staff named Rose and she has perfected the craft of marbling using lime based plasters… YES, you heard that right.  I saw board after board of what this master painter has created and I am telling you now…. I have never, EVER, seen a marble board that even compares to hers EVER.  Want to be the best marble finisher in your neck of the woods?  Then go to Toronto and take a class with Rose at Totem Coatings!!!  I can’t wait to get up there and learn this brilliant technique myself!

There you have it folks…. I really hope to see all of you next year at Portland Oregon’s IDAL convention 2010!  and if not…you can always come back here and I’ll give you the skinny again!  MUAH painty people!  lulu