An aged pastoral painting inside the piano and Reeve

My French Piano and a slice of life. 

 Last post I showed off how I painted the exterior of the piano with stamps and a pattern to give it a toile effect.  But I still was unsure how I wanted to finish the interior to give it even more of a French look.   I had a few days in a row off from watching baby Reeve, and I decided to tackle the piano.  The thought of putting a pastoral landscape for the interior came to me as I went to sleep that night, as often many creative ideas do.  The next morning I got up and took the piano lid off its hinges and started to paint a landscape similar to the few that I have been painting around our home.

This pastoral landscape, my largest, was painted on a big canvas.  

Searching for the landscapes that I have painted to show you, I realize I 

may not have posted on them at all, so look for that post shortly.

Back to the piano...

I unloaded the cans of Annie Sloan paint I had and started to paint a scene

 from my imagination.  After painting the landscape, I brushed white paint 

over the whole thing to give it a dreamy look.

The painting took me about four hours and I was thrilled with the results.

It was soft and elegant and old looking, something out of an old painting from

 the French countryside.  It is really pretty now that it is all finished! 

I wasn't sure if I should gild the edges, but for now I don't feel it....

and I always say: Doubt means Don't.  At least for now.

 My life is more balanced towards a family life these days, and when I get a chance

to do something creative its all the more enjoyable and special.

Reeve is nine months old and is such a JOY!

The weather has just started to creep into the fifties in Boston, and you can see the baby

carriage in the dining room all ready for afternoon walks with Piper.

 Piper and Reeve are such a great pair! 

 They both look forward to being together, and they are side by side most of the day. 

 Piper is so gentle, and its true that Goldens are great with kids!

Click HERE for how I painted the exterior of the Toile Piano.

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My Painted Toile Piano

Some of my most creative ideas come out of the blue like a thunderbolt,

like the random idea to paint my white piano with a toile pattern.

After watching some amazing makeovers using a stamp product line created by

Iron Orchid Designs, I was interested in trying it out, but wasn't sure where.

After repairing a leak in the ceiling and repainting the wall, I just thought to myself

I would use up more of the wall paint on the piano with the stamps from IOD.

 Stamping is a way to create a one of a kind personalized decor effect on

walls, furniture or fabrics.  I watched several of the videos from the IOD website

and found myself becoming so inspired to create something using a stamping method.

After purchasing two packages of different patterned stamps for IOD retailers (see below for links)

I created a toile pattern that fit the shape of the piano, kind of winging it as I went along.

 Because the paint is the color of the walls, the overall pattern is restful, instead

of busy.  I couldn't be happier with the result, and it only took me one day!

Mr. Maison Decor is away on a trip, wait til he gets back....

I actually don't think he will notice for a few weeks.  Then he will say

in a surprised voice, " When did you paint the piano!??"  

Our living room had been in disarray since the leaking ceiling, and tonight

he will get back and check the wall and ceiling that I finished up after his repairs.

And there will sit the Toile Piano, unnoticed.

But for me, she is a SUPERSTAR, and I am in LOVE with her!!

My son took a brief 15 second video of me applying one of the stamps

to the border of the piano.  Click the big arrow to watch.

Here is a photo showing the top a little bit better.

Is there a toile piano in your future?

Check out Iron Orchid Designs HERE

Retailers where I purchased my stamps:

Kathie Lee Jordan Designs (Canada) HERE

 Collette's Cottage (USA) HERE

Wall Paint used for Stamps: Ben Moore Woodlawn Blue

White Piano:  Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint

I used a combination of stamps from the Laurel package 

and the Pastoral Toile package, along with a large stamping block.

Due to the curved shape of the piano, I applied many of the stamps feehand,

and some of the prints were a bit muddy and not as clear.  But it didn't

effect the overall feeling, and after the paint dried, I sanded the entire paint job

with 220 grit paper to soften the overall look.  

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