“A man’s got to know his limitations.”  Wiser words were never spoken (thanks to Clint Eastwood).  And this (wo)man’s limitations stop at crafts.  So I brought in some serious experts: the Briarwood Boys – our fantastic florists at Briarwood Florist – to help with my first DIY project: a framed chalkboard.

Gregory (one of the Briarwood Boys) gave me a list of the materials I would need for this project.  I shopped in town for the items and met them at their store around the corner from the Holladay House Bed and Breakfast.

Armed with gloves (because I happen to be a messy painter), a small roller brush and tray, black chalkboard paint (there are other colors, including clear), a stir stick, 220 grit sandpaper, a few tools, a cleaning agent and my junktiques framed picture find at D+J Thrift Shop, I set up shop behind-the-scenes at Briarwood Florist.

Gregory and Chris skillfully lead me through the steps of creating a framed chalkboard.  The project was so easy I was able to repeat the process at home (I mean, I have all this paint left – there’s no telling what I’ll paint over!)  Below I’ve detailed the steps – and great tips from Gregory and Chris – so you can create your very own framed chalkboard.

Gregory suggested painting the glass in a frame would be best for this project.  Cardboard backing just doesn’t work well.  So make sure when you pick out your frame, it’s easy to dismantle and pull out the glass.  And, of course, make sure the whole frame is able to be put back together.

Make sure your glass – or other surface – is clean and free of dust and glue.  Pour out the paint into a little tray and get ready to paint!  Don’t over-saturate your sponge roller.  Use long consistent strokes running the length of the project area.

Hint – don’t try this at home: Let the paint store shake the can by machine.  Chalkboard paint has metallic content that may heat up and cause the can to blow off the top making your whole room a chalkboard.

Let the surface fully dry.  Grab your 220 grit sandpaper and gently sand the whole painted surface.  Clean off the dust with a dry paper towel.  Appl a second coat and, again, let the surface fully dry.

Once the surface area has fully dried, insert the glass back into the frame with painted side facing down.  Reassemble the frame to secure the glass tightly.

 

Flip your framed chalkboard over for the last step. Take the long side of your white chalk and gently run it all over the project area.  Wipe the area down with a dry paper towel.

 

Congratulations, You’re Finished!

Our First Visit to Orange, VA

Travel back in time to 1996: Sam, the budding History, and English double-major were accepted in the July 1996 Montpelier Summer Archaeology Program at Montpelier. He stayed on Montpelier’s grounds with about a dozen other university students and wielded his trowel at the Mount Pleasant site on the property. Sam and Sharon, fellow students at James Madison University, had been dating for well over a year.  Sharon drove down from Northern VA on Saturdays to visit Sam. They would grab sandwiches at Sparks Deli (now Elmwood at Sparks) and have a picnic in Taylor Park (the park across the street from the inn.) Fast forward to September 15, 2006: Sam and Sharon just purchased the Holladay House Bed and Breakfast on Main Street. After a morning of directing the movers, they walked past Taylor Park to Elmwood at Sparks to grab lunch and take a moment to celebrate.  They met Randy Cooper, who opened Elmwood at Sparks just 6 months prior and joked about being the two new kids on the block. As Sam and Sharon exited Elmwood at Sparks, they ran into Sam’s summer archaeology director from Montpelier! She was still directing the archaeology program at Montpelier; and Sam pointed to the Holladay House Bed and Breakfast and said, “We just bought that today!” Over the last 10 years, Sam and Sharon have shared many meals with his archaeology director and still take lunch breaks at Elmwood at Sparks.