From Furniture Flipping to Artist and Dream Come True #SPiTChallenge

When I first found Unicorn SPiT™, I was upcycling furniture under the name of FunkyFlipper. I'm a big fan of color, and wanted to upcycle worn furniture into more hip pieces with bright California colors and funky patterns. In this shabby chic world, I encountered resistance and people telling me to “change my style” and create things that were more in line with this world. I am not one who colors inside the lines, so giving up color was not an option.

I was however, willing to explore alternatives to color. This is when I came across Unicorn SPiT™.





I saw a post in my newsfeed about this new product and someone asking if anyone had tried it. When I looked at the product, and realized that it was vibrant colorful stain, I knew this was for me. I immediately ordered the full set that was offered. I'm proud to say that I am one of the first few to have ordered this product!





When I got my stain, I thought the best thing to do initially was to practice on a scrap piece of wood. This is my very first attempt at using this marvelous stain. I knew at that moment that I was hooked. I can't begin to tell you the excitement I felt!!





I began to apply the stain to furniture that I had planned to paint. I did a lion’s paw drum table that belonged to my mother, I did a small side table that belonged to my grandfather, then an array of small tables, a coffee table, coat racks and various other pieces of glass and metal.





I even did my own dining room table! Yep, sanded, stained and poly’d IN MY HOUSE (A certified mess for sure… but I was on a mission!).





All of these pieces I truly love! However, the marketplace where I was retailing my stained items is a "shabby chic" marketplace, and I don't believe their patrons were looking for this vibrant furniture. Consequently, I was not having much success there. I kept creating but started to focus on creating abstract art with the stain on solid wood boards. I am probably the only person doing this with Unicorn SPiT™. What I quickly realized, was that this was my true calling. I made the decision to do abstract art on wood and only abstract art on wood and sell it in art shows, art galleries and other similar venues.
I find true joy, peace and excitement when I am creating my art with Unicorn SPiT™ on my carefully chosen wood boards. I look for a gorgeous grain in poplar, oak, birch or even pine. The wood does what it needs to do and enhances this art through its natural grace. My husband laughs as I work in my "garage-a-studio" or my “sunroom-a-studio” listening to my favorite tunes and singing along while I revel in this process that is now my greatest passion. My art got noticed by the RAWartist community and I was invited to join the community and exhibit my art in one of their upcoming shows. I am also now a member of the artfinders.com community. Here are just a few of pieces of my wood art that have all been stained using just my hands, or in some cases, perhaps using a small brush for detail.





I am 62 years old. I have reinvented myself several times. I have always been creative. I am a redhead (mutant as they say). I have been searching for my “niche” for many years. The best part of my story is that I have launched a new chapter in my life. Second Touch Art exists because I truly feel that I have been given a “second touch” by God to do this work because it is my best work. None of this would have ever happened or would have been possible without the blessing of Michelle Nicole and Unicorn SPiT™. This product and the friends and community that surround it have truly not only enlightened my world but have greatly enhanced it. There are not enough good words to describe this product or the creator of this product, Michele Nicole. It has given me something that I look forward to every single day. After a lengthy career in technology and design, I now have something that I “aspire to retire” to. I am in a challenge for myself to create something new each day for 100 days. Two of my favorite sayings are “If you’re gonna run with the big dogs, you have to get off the porch” and “Go big or stay home”. So that’s what I say to you - Go Big. Don’t stay home. Challenge yourself - you just never know what spark you may ignite.






Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/10764582/from-furniture-flipping-to-artist-and-dream-come-true-spitchallenge site