Fabulous Furniture Friday Feature Paula Blankenship

Today for fabulous furniture Friday feature, I am sharing an amazing and inspirational person Paula Blankenship, and a paint that changed my life!

I have had many ask me how I was introduced to Heirloom Traditions paint.

Back in in October or November of last year I received a message from Paula Blankenship in my FB messages asking if I wanted to try a sample of paint.

I said, why of course, I would love to!

The sample was sent, and I fell in love with the paint.

My first post sharing this amazing paint went viral, How to distress paint using vinegar.

From that day on, I was hooked!

I love how creamy this paint is, and how easy it is to work with.

It distresses with ease, I love the color selection, the waxes and all the new products that have recently came out.

This wonderful paint  adhere’s to practically everything.

But the paint is not the only amazing part of this story.

Oh yes, the paint is wonderful.

But today I wanted to talk about Paula Blankenship.

Paula is the creative director of Heirloom Traditions Paint.

This excerpt was taken from Paula’s book, “ Furniture Painting For Profits“.

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I’ve been involved in the business of design for the past 35 years.

I started my design career in the fashion design business and began making leather stage wear for several country music entertainers in Nashville,Tn.

All while attending design school at O’more School Of Design in Franklin, Tn.

After returning to my home town in Onieda Tn, I found myself in the very familiar, furniture and floor covering business.

I have grown up around my parent’s furniture business all my life and have always been exposed to an entrepreneurial way of life.

Both my Mother and Father always worked for themselves, and instilled a great work ethic in both my sister and myself.

They gave us room to try things and taught us how to get back up again after failing.

I learned very early that failing was not the end of my dream,yet it was the means to get my dreams.

I have tried many things and have experienced many failures, but most have had success.

During my business tenure, I have owned and operated several furniture retail stores as well as a paint and floor covering store.

Most recently, I have worked in New York City as a commercial designer, working on several multi-million dollar projects in the North East.

I truly enjoy the practice of design, rather it be in furniture, clothing or interiors.

I find they all have one common element, the use of color!

Color has always played a major role in my design experience and I feel my gift for this business is my sensibility and eye for color.

Applying certain rules for using the right colors in a room or on a project is what will either make or break a good design scheme.

Color evokes an emotional response in humans and by choosing  the right colors, we get a positive response.

Scale and balance also figure into the human response to surroundings and environments.

All of these elements cause us to feel comfortable or make us uncomfortable in a room setting.

Good design is imperative and helping others achieve that in their own space is a rewarding venture.

I have always considered myself a painter and do enjoy all types of mediums.

I just love paint in general!

I also enjoy taking something that has been thrown to the trash and making it live again.

Breathing new life into a tired, old piece of furniture just feels good to me.

My most recent paint endeavor was creating and developing Heirloom Traditions Paint Company here in Louisville, Ky.

We produce a superb line of decorative paint finishes ranging from a full line of Chalk type paints in 50 beautiful colors and our wonderful wax finishes offered in 13 lovely colors.

These products are and deliver a quality finish for your projects as well.

If you have not had a chance to try them I encourage you to.

Here is a video you will enjoy.

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Thank you so much Paula for sharing your story.

You truly inspire me!

Another reason I love this company so much is that they are giving back.

Meet Kramer, isn’t he sweet!

“From now until 8/31/15, Heirloom Traditions will donate $0.60 from the purchase of every jar of Fab! to the ASPCA to sponsor a shelter animal for the day. Please share this post and help us reach our goal of sponsoring 300 shelter animals by the end of August. You can support this great cause by purchasing a jar of Fab! from any of our wonderful retailers throughout the US and Canada, purchasing it though the retailer’s online store or purchasing it from Heirloom Tradition’s website. A furniture makeover with a great cause, what could be better!  Use our Find a Retailer to find a retailer near you.”

**Click on the Heirloom Traditions link on my sidebar to purchase FAB**