EP!C Sustainable Living Festival

This weekend was EP!C. Greenworks Building Supply invited the patrons of the Epic Sustainable Living Festival (www.epicfest.ca) to take a load off and enjoy the sun. Located strategically between the moon bounce and the Sip and Savour Garden we met so many wonderful families! Our luxurious Gallant and Jones Sling Chairs were a welcome sight to parent and children alike.  These locally crafted white oak chairs are a perfect addition to any deck, patio or lawn for the glorious summer months in Vancouver. Historically, white oak has been used to make wine barrels and ships due to its water and rot resistance. Gallant and Jones finishes all of their exterior furniture with  Osmo Woodwax Finishes to create a truly superior eco-friendly  product. With every deck chair purchased, this local company donates to plant a tree through the Love Trees Program. Other products showcased at our relaxation station were Coyuchi Organic textiles, worm composters and beekeeping hives. We enjoyed learning new ways to effect positive change while making new friends in this rapidly developing industry. The music was incredible and so was the food! Keep checking back for new updates as we approach the best  months of the year!

Last week we created a new wall covering in our bedding section using Milk Paint on pine paneling. We did it in several steps to achieve a nice rustic look.
First, we stained all the pieces with Homestead House wood stain in the Sherwood brown colour.

Then we applied Hemp oil in some areas so the next layer wouldn't adhere to it, showing the previous finish.
That second layer was a mix of 2 Miss Mustard Seed milk paint colours (Ironstone & Grainsack). Once that was dry, we sanded lightly the areas that had Hemp oil.
After we painted spots as if they were natural mineral streaks with the colour Typewriter.
Again we put some Hemp oil, mostly where the knots were.
The final colour was a blend of Shutter Gray & Typewriter, painted uniformly and then again, we removed the paint where the oil was applied.

After we installed them, we put a protective/finishing coat with Furniture Wax.
The end result is just amazing, there's so much depth to it, the secret was those multi layers.
What I liked most in this project is how easy it is to work with Milk Paint, the drying time is so fast you can achieve so much in 1 day!

The Little Burro does Science World

On Saturday, Steven and I packed up the Little Burro and took it down the street to Science World.  The Burro had a rough time through the winter, and with the move last month she was looking a bit worse for wear; but we managed to fix her up to look as good as new for her first outing of the summer season.  April 18-May 17 is Green Month in Vancouver so Steven and I headed down to Science World to participate in the festivities as sponsored by VanCity (for more info about the events coming up this week and weekend click here).  There were booths set up, ranging from the Wilderness Committee, to the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, to GreenWorks.
 

All the art hanging to dry

 We had the Burro parked around the side and open for visitors, but the most fun was making the spin art at our booth.  One of the paint companies we work with, Yolo Colorhouse, lent us a spin art machine.  I had never seen a spin art machine before, but it’s basically a big barrel with a little motor and a clip that you use to fasten a piece of paper near the bottom.  The machine then spins the paper while you drop colors of paint in, creating dynamic and exciting (not to mention easy!) art.  Using Yolo’s Full Bloom Color Trend for Spring 2013 of Petal 01, Petal 02, Dream 05, with an off-white base of Imagine 04, (to see more beautiful colors click here) we plugged the machine in and created some awesome art.

Quarts of the Full Bloom Colors

The kids completely fell in love!  Okay, the adults did too.  It was a lot of fun waiting to see what your creation looked like when the motor stopped, which each one different, and unique.  The weather was perfect for the outdoor event hosted by Science World.  Steven and I had a lot of fun.  A big thanks to Science World for hosting us, VanCity for sponsoring us, and to Yolo Colorhouse for lending us the spin art machine!  We definitely don’t want to give it back.   

 

Spin Art, thanks to Yolo Colorhouse

Getting down and dirty!

Finished Sample Boards

 Stucco Italiano Fun!

On Friday April 26th, Greenworks Building Supply was pleased to host one of the first of many workshops in our new space on 3rd and Manitoba! Students from all walks of life gathered to learn from the Venetian plaster master Aaron Cohen. This two day intensive course covered techniques of application on a range of decorative finishes. Our instructor was attentive to each students' level of experience. From the at home do-it-yourself-er to the seasoned professional, the participants gained valuable knowledge and hands on skill. Having no experience with Venetian plaster, I enjoyed familiarizing myself with this incredibly diverse  medium. The process of plastering at first felt very awkward, but after an hour or so the trowel became an extension of my body. I enjoyed to organic flow, smell and texture of this ancient medium. It was fascinating to hear experienced journeymen share stories and converse with other tradesmen seeking to diversify their skill-sets. The students were Eager. The food was excellent. Its never too late or too early to learn something new!

From traditional...

To contemporary

:Testimonial from other Stucco Italiano Classes

David Gibson
Coeur D’alene, ID 
"Great class! A lot of hands on. Professional yet Personal."

Cassandra Wallstrum, Architectural Finishes
San Diego, California “I just wanted to thank you for the awesome class, and let you know I truly think you are one of the best teachers I have had… and I’ve had a few… You made every one feel very comfortable and at ease with the product… Teaching is truly an art and you’ve got it.”

Transforming space with Beautiful finishes