no, we don’t need ryan seacrest for this…it’s the idal convention…the very best in every facet of decorative painting gathered right here for a week in memphis!  it was an inspiring, exhausting, thrilling few days.  tuesday kicked off with a great textures class led by gary lord of hg-tv renown.  my favorite finishes are the ones he’s dubbed ”champagne” and “luster-rust”:

(very cool looks for the right spot.)

wednesday, though, was life-changing for mrs. jones.  cynthia davis filled a day (and our portfolios) with incredible layered, stenciled finishes.  her brilliant line of wallover stencils, designed with the lovely rena paris, are one knockout pattern after another.  she is an excellent instructor: engaging, engergetic, and positive, giving non-stop practical advice and entertaining job-site tales from the front.  but more than anything, cynthia is super design-generous, willingly sharing every single experience, paint color, product tip and technique she knows.  she’s nothing short of amazing…truly, my idal idol.

(left: cynthia working the wallovers booth at the expo, which was, of course, the friendliest, most fun and inspiring space in the whole entire convention center.  right: my fave samples from her class.)

the week wrapped up with a great cabinets & mouldings session with wonderful julie zouzounis and a very  fun “print room” workshop taught by the stencil library’s  vivacious resident goddess herself, helen morris.  (more below on this.)  helen was the keynote speaker for the convention.  the topic of envious ladies-room chatter all week: her fabulous “speech skirt”. 

(i love my new samples from julie’s class!)