Paint to me is part of story telling, whether brush strokes on canvas, transforming walls or giving a new lease on life to a vintage beauty. My mum was an artist, as well as our “in house” home painter, for both walls and hodge podge found furniture. Brushes soaking in the sink were a common sight. I have always loved an artist’s studio. The visual process of storytelling creates a comfort for me. The paints, brushes, vessels of water, all with remnants of past projects by way of drips and drops. Shabby Chic & I are of course known for a hundred shades of white, & to this day a large mass of white is my biggest AHHHH moment. Always angelic and heavenly, never seemingly cold. But where my full palette sits best is nestled within the world of vintage furniture. Texas flea markets has for years now been where I am most successful at finding my beloved palette, shades of white, blue, pink, greys and taupes. I love the history that layers of paint portrays, especially within molding and cracks of vintage furniture, & and how overtime even though the most recently applied layer of paint has the intention of erasing a past life, eventually the past will find its way of revealing itself. And that is often when the real magic unfolds. I love nothing more than finding a piece of vintage furniture with layers of my shabby palette peaking its way in. As I journey through life, I appreciate coming across inspiration for painting ideas. For many years I have been pretty stubborn about only selling authentic painted pieces in my world. However with the scarcity of my palette out in the flea market world I am thrilled to have developed a curated line of paints that can support my aesthetic with the process of painting wood furniture. The Shabby Chic by Rachel Ashwell Chalk & Clay paint has a dry hand due to the clay and chalk ingredients. I chose the palette based on my dream vintage finds over the years of all of the colours I wish I could find a never ending supply of. The paints can be used on their own or they are also designed to layer so the magic of mulit colours can be created through the process of painting furniture. There is of course an art to the process, which may take a little time and practice but is totally achievable. Newly painted pieces can never replace the soul of authentic vintage history, for with that comes love and life. But never the less this special little paint collection is the start to a new history, in a Shabby Chic way. The Shabby Chic by Rachel Ashwell Chalk & Clay paint can be purchased on our website or if you are a retailer and would like to carry the collection please visit: http://rachelashwellshabbychicpaint.com/become-a-retailer/