Kate Hynes Originals

PAINTED FURNITURE & DECORATIVE WINDOWS

 Bring that old end table, out of date coffee table, beat up dresser or any other long forgotten, hidden away piece of furniture and give it new life as a Shabby Chic piece.  That's right, just the one you need to finish off that newly redecorated, living room, family room, bedroom or bath.

All of my Gourd Bird Houses are crafted by hand, from start to finish.  Some of the gourds are grown by me and some are acquired from special gourd growers here in Texas.  After the gourds are brought to my studio, they have to be prepared for painting by a short soaking in a weak bleach and water solution to loosen  the outer material that is the gourd's normal skin.  Once the outer skin is softened, it is then scrubbed away.  When the cleaned gourd is dry, I then determine where the entrance opening should be and cut a hole in the appropriate location, then begin cleaning the dried insides out of the gourd.  Depending on the type of gourd, this may take some time.  The gourd is now ready to decorate. 

I start with a  background color theme and determine what particular design I will use.  If I am decorating it to someone's specifications or swatch, I'll go from there.  If not, I just let my imagination guide me.  The gourd is allowed to dry between the many steps it takes to complete the decoration. 

Once the decoration is completed, the entire gourd is coated with a weather resistant coating and again is set to dry.  This last coating is what brings the gourd to life and really allows the colors to "pop".  I drill two more holes, one just below the entrance opening for the perch, which is selected and cut by hand and glued in with hot melt glue and one is drilled in the top to accept the hanger wire and decorative bow.  The Gourd Bird House is now ready for use and or display.

 And yes, birds really do make their nests in them, but only if they are outdoors.

CANVAS PAINTINGS

 
(PICTURE HERE)