July 2006 Newsletter
Dear Painting Friends,
I hope you are finding time to paint outside during this fabulous summer weather. I can't believe that we are almost at the end of July and in a short time I will be heading down to Columbus Ohio for the Heart of Ohio Tole Convention. If you are planning on being there, please drop by to say hello. I will be demonstrating and chatting up a storm in the Painter's Paradise booth on opening day.
Please change my address in your address book to :
maureen@maureenmcnaughton.com
SUMMER SALE 
Looking for something new to paint - I've just released four new packets to keep you busy!
Shop Now
McNaughton Brushes used: Rounds #2, #4, #6 / Liner #0, #5/0 / Flat #10 / Mop #1/ old #6 round for fan stroke
Colour 8" X 11" picture, Colour photo and 9 pages thorough step by step instructions
Pattern Size: 11" X 6.5"
#684 White Orchids and Coral Bells $10.95
McNaughton Brushes used: Rounds #3, #4, #6, (#5 optional) / Flat #14 / Mop #1 / Liner #0, #5/0 liner optional / old #8 round for fan stroke
Colour 8" X 11" picture, Colour photo and 9 pages thorough step by step instructions.
Pattern Size: 8" X 10"
Shop Now
McNaughton Brushes used: Rounds #3, #5 / Liner #0, 5/0
Colour 8" X 11" picture, Colour photo and 7 pages thorough step by step instructions.
Pattern Size: 8.5" X 14"
Shop Now
Shop Now
#688 Quick and Easy Pansies #12.95 (Perfect for Beginners)
McNaughton Brushes used: Rounds #4, #6 / Liner #5/0, / Flat #6 / 1” basecoat/varnish / Pro-Round Series 200 #6, for burnishing the gold leaf
Two Colour photos, Colour 8" X 11" picture, Colour step by step worksheet and 7 pages thorough step by step instructions.
Two patterns 7.5" X 5.5" for lid and 7.5" X2.5" for the lamp shades
Mary and I have put together some fantastic bargains in these mixed brush kits. The brushes are excellent quality, but just have handles that differ in colour from the new silver handles. Wouldn't they make wonderful gifts for your painting friends too? Save over 60% on the retail price.
Mixed Kit # 1 - Sale Price of $17.99 US ($20.95 Cdn) This kit of ten brushes has a value of $47.36 US ($54.00 Cdn)
Contains #8 Series 100 Pro-Flat, #6 Philbert, #0 round. Then flats in sizes #12, 2 - #8, #4, 2- #2, #2/0
Mixed Kit # 2 - Sale Price of $8.95 US ($9.95 Cdn) This kit of 4 brushes has a value of $22.84 US ($26.05 Cdn)
Contains: #12 flat, #14 flat, #1 Scrubbie round, #3 Scrubbie flat
Mixed Kit #3 - Sale Price of $22.95 US ($26.95 Cdn) This kit of 11 brushes has a value of 59.73 US ($68.10 Cdn)
Contains: #18 Series 100 Pro-Flat, #12 Blender, 1/2" Wrake, Tolers in size #3 and #5, #10/0 liner. Then flats in sizes #10, 2 - #8, #2, #1
Mixed Kit #4 - Sale Price of $12.95 US ($14.95 Cdn) This kit of 8 brushes has a value of $33.46 US ($38.15 Cdn)
Contains: Deerfoot in sizes 1/2", 1/4", 1/8" Flats in sizes #12, #8, #2 #6 Philbert and a 3/0 Detail
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD
My new book "The Brushstroke Handbook" won the Product of the Year award at the SDP Nashville Tennessee Conference in June. You should have seen the look on my editor's face (Kathy Kipp from North Light) when I was given the honor of telling her. We jumped up and down - not an easy feat for me with a still tender back. But we were just so excited. The book was in competition with all new products. If you don't have the book yet - see why we are so proud of it.
MAUREEN'S CLASSES IN THE BELWOOD ONTARIO STUDIO
2006 BRUSHSTROKE CLINIC
August 25 - 27 / October 20 - 22
I think this Brushstroke Clinic may be the best one ever because of the diversity of the projects. I’ve used both light and dark backgrounds and different pattern sizes. The styles range from folk art to tropical. I hope you will be able to join us. (Some folks have actually signed up twice!)
DAFFODILS AND TRILLIUM AND POPPIES - OH MY!
September 22 - 24 / September 29, 30, October 1
We’ve added a repeat date. And thanks to folks switching to the repeat date, we now have a limited number of seats available in both seminars. There’s lots to learn and much fun to be had. I look forward to seeing you here.
GUEST TEACHER SEMINARS IN MAUREEN'S STUDIO
Ros Stallcup
We had an unbelievably fun time with Ros Stallcup last month and I had a front row seat. It was so great having someone telling me what to do. When I ran into trouble I could just yell "help" and Ros was right there to show me how to fix it.
I painted her roses on the doors to a small dresser that my grandfather made and now I am in the furniture painting mood! We begged Ros to come back, so please circle June 20 - 22 on your 2008 calendar. You can reserve your seat now with a deposit.
Ros & Maureen
DAVID JANSEN - SEPTEMBER 8 - 10
We still have a few seats open for this fantastic seminar and hope that it may fit into your schedule. David teaches a relaxed class that focuses on learning, yet everyone has lots of fun too.
This Gudbrandsdal design will teach you so much about design and colour. David will also offer a traditional design using a center rosette instead of the winter scene, if you prefer. You will study traditional Gudbrandsdal palettes and backgrounds, so your painting will fit into your own personal decor.
CLAUDIA NICE OCTOBER 13 - 15
We’ve had Claudia here many times and our students rave about this fabulous teacher. Claudia delivers so much more than just painting a project. She is the respected expert on pen & ink and watercolour, and has authored many books with North Light. Claudia has perfected her technique and has made it so learner friendly. Any skill level will feel comfortable in Claudia’s classes.
All three projects can be framed in a standard size mat and frame. Everything will be supplied, surface, pen & ink, watercolour and brushes. I hope you will join us for a most rewarding experience.
SDP ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE
What an exciting conference this was. It was so well attended and the atmosphere was jubilant. Everyone was there to have great fun and to celebrate our joy in painting together. It touched my heart to see how many folks had painted my breast cancer rose painting on their badges. Wednesday evening was a wonderful get together with the Chapters Market Place. The room was all decorated with pink and white baloons, and it was packed. There were donations at the door for breast cancer, and I can't remember the exact amount but it was very impressive.
Our Canadian painters did very well in the CDA/MDA Certification Program and hope you will allow me to brag just a little.
Louise Scott Bushell from Ontario made us proud when she passed her CDA. Amy Hui-Mei Lin, who lives in British Columbia and Taiwan, not only received her CDA put she also carried in the flag for the first SDP Chapter in Taiwan. Amy and many other painters in Taiwan worked hard for this to happen and it just made me so happy to see her carry her country's flag.
Barb Jenkins from Ontario passed her Master Floral - just one more to go Barb! And (blow a little trumpet here please) congratulations to our first Canadian MDA Pat Laurin from British Columbia!!!!!!!!
SOCIETY OF DECORATIVE PAINTERS - TEACHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
As you know, I do not have a certification program for teachers of my technique. I do give out certificates for every five classes that a student has attended. Then I give hand painted pins when students reach the landmark of 50 classes with me. A new pin is given out every 25 classes thereafter.
I encourage any of you who wish to teach decorative painting to please invest your time in the Teacher Development Program offered by the Society of Decorative Painters. I was on the task force that wrote this program and I participate in the judging process whenever I can. Even if you only read the manual, you will walk away a better teacher.
I hope to see you all soon, but till then - please paint, paint, and paint some more!
Maureen
From Christine Schlager
Freezer Bag Breakfast Omelet
Have guests write their name on a quart-sized freezer bag with a permanent marker.
Crack 2 eggs (large or extra large) into the bag (not more than 2) and squish to combine them.
Put out a variety of ingredients such as: cheeses, chopped ham, onion, green pepper, tomato, mushrooms, etc.
Each guest adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and mixes by squishing. Make sure to squeeze as much air out of bag before sealing. Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes.
You can usually cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot. For more, make another pot of boiling water. Cut top off of bags and the omelet will roll out easily.
Be prepared for everyone to be amazed. Nice to serve with fresh fruit and coffee cake or a wonderful potato casserole.
Rhubarb Soup - serve cold or hot, as you wish.
Pick rhubarb stems (cut off leaves completely and wash well.) Cut into pieces about one inch/3cm and put pieces into a heavy pot. Add enough water to come almost to the top, but not to cover the top-most layer of rhubarb.
Bring to a boil and continue to cook until the rhubarb falls apart.
Remove from heat and add sugar to taste (this may be quite a bit, depending on your sweet tooth).
Note: For those of us who use Splenda or other sugar substitutes, cool first and then add the sugar substitute. This will prevent the sweetener from becoming bitter as it sometimes does during cooking. If you are using real sugar, it can be added at any time during the process.
Pistachio Soup
One large box of pistachio ice cream (I use the green kind. I like the color!)
2 Cups of cold skim milk
Mix in a blender until liquid. If you like a thinner soup, use a bit more milk until you get the consistency you like best.
You can do this with other flavors of ice cream too. This is a simple soup served in elegant restaurants. To garnish, consider grated chocolate, a few sliced almonds, or sprinkle some nutmeg on it. If you prefer it without the pieces of nuts in the soup, strain the soup before serving.
From Donna Montanari
"HEATH BARS"
From Liz Miller
Put a piece of black poster board under your white wax palette paper for a grey palette paper.
To Resize a Pattern
This was used in a past newsletter but our new readers will appreciate this great hint.
Simply divide the size of the piece that you want by the size of the pattern you have, then multiply by 100%. For example, to reduce a pattern that is 15" long to fit a piece that is 12" long, divide 12 X 15 then multiply by 100% (12 ÷ 15 X 100% + 80%) Scan the pattern at 80% and it should fit perfectly.