PEACE RIVER, Alta. (Staff) – Terry Naturkach and Jill Cairns of Peace River showed women at the farm women’s conference in Peace River how painting techniques can brighten a home at little cost.
Rag rolling can hide imperfections in floors and walls. Ragging color onto the wall makes dark colors translucent. The reverse technique, ragging off works well with a chamois to give a three-dimensional appearance. Cairns mixes two parts paint and 10 parts glaze to achieve the effect.
When sponging paint onto walls at least three colors are needed. A sea sponge moistened in water works well. It is a good way to use up old paint since very little is needed. Cairns used white and two shades of turquoise to achieve the brick look on floors. The paint is covered with three coats of varathane.
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Smooshing uses paint and a piece of plastic to get a marbled look. At least two similar colors are needed.
Karen Vreeling of Hawk Hills started her own wreath and craft making business to satisfy her creative needs.
The northern Alberta farmer said she was going broke doing her hobby so she started a business and hasn’t looked back.
Countree Wreath is a half-hour drive north of Manning. She sells crafts from the farm and offers Saturday classes on wreath making that are more of an afternoon outing for women.
During the farm women’s conference she showed women some crafts they can make by adding moss, sea-shells or dried flowers to a picture frame.
Vreeling grows her own flowers and collects moss, birch and interesting twigs from her farm to add to her wreaths.
Mary Grimm of Grimshaw believes color is an ally for home design, not an enemy. Grimm told women at the farm women’s conference “everybody is scared to go with what they like” and instead they often stick with white walls or what’s trendy.
Grimm said she had little money for decorating when she raised a large family, but she stressed there is no need to replace everything in the room.
When redecorating, start with one main piece and add complimentary colors.
“Strive for color, don’t settle for something else,” she said.
