Ok. I am excited to announce that I've received the sample paint from Farmhouse Paint and have gone ahead and done a tester on my ceramic utensil holder. Yes that's correct...I said "ceramic". Sounds impossible if you're new to the calk paint world, where anything seems possible to paint. I remember the first time using the paint on surfaces, that to me were unheard of...and it felt a little wrong. I'm not going to lie, it still feels to me, as though I have my hand caught in the cookie jar, doing something I'm not suppose to. It's not a natural idea to think you can paint on certain things such as upholstery, glass, metals or ceramic.

So back to the reveal and review....like with any post of side tracking and rambling off... Here is my introduction to the paint line that I'm heavily considering carrying Farmhouse Paint. To start with this is what is posted directly from there site:

"Farmhouse Paint was developed out of the love for painting furniture and the desire to find a paint that is so easy and effortless that anyone can enjoy painting with professional results.

Susie Goldenberg Long, the creative force behind Farmhouse Paint, has been designing paint applications and creating painted finishes for the past 25 years. She has been producing decorative furnishings, painted finishes and products for every surface. Always maintaining the leading edge, always a step above. Her adrenaline and stimulation comes from creating and implementing what others have never thought of."

To add Farmhouse Paint has a beautiful selection of 28 chalky paint colors. Just as other chalky paint claims of not having to prime or sand a piece before use....However Farmhouse Paint is unique because they do not require any type of topcoat or wax coating for protection after applying. Which if you are familiar with using any type of chalk, mud or milk paint...the top wax coat can be a labor of love. To me personally a stage in painting I'm not a fan of. So the idea that I can have the best of both world to achieve my matte chalky finish is brilliant!

Onward with my review...Earlier this week I received my first 8 oz sampler in the mail. I was first excited that it had come but secondly excited about the color choice it had come in. The name is Gray Limoge. It's a nice medium gray tone with a warm hue. It's really a nice neutral color. The one thing I did notice is the nice selection of color choice. All very nice and very popular choices that you'd see on any furniture piece.

Now with ANY paint choice there are always Pros and Cons.

Here are the PROS:

It's adhesion is remarkable! This stuff, I think would stick to literally anything. It's not perfect...mind you nothing is, no matter what they say paint wise, when it is placed on glass or ceramic, nothing is going to completely scratch proof. I will tell you this...it has better adhesion than Zisser Primer that I used to paint my master bathroom tile and some of my kitchen tile. Using the primer alone on tile will stick but always will be pron to scratches. When I paint tile I always place a semi-gloss latex paint and then a water-based poly after applying a layer or two of primer first. The areas in my kitchen worked great by doing this but does require more than 3 coats. Usually 1-2 of the primer, 1-2 of the paint and then 1-2 of the poly. So that adds up to be a lot of coats. I can see here with this paint I can forgo the primer step and simply put on the paint as the first step and then a poly on top. I know what you're thinking...that goes against the paint claim to no top coat...but we are talking about a glassy ceramic finish not wood finishes. The extra protection is what you want to create a more scratch resistant surface. The stronger the better. Remember ANY paint will scratch...take a car...take porcelain and enamel it all scratches at some point depending on the amount of force and what is being used.

So as far ad glass and ceramic it beat my primer, paint and sealant process hands down. I quickly noticed I was able to coat my project with almost 1 coat...I followed up with a touch up for my second coat. As far as the application feel and use. It goes on thick without being thick. What I mean is it's consistency is the same as any regular chalky paint but it applies in the same matter of why I love my thick homemade DIY chalk paint recipe with out the bulky thick consistency. Which is part I'm assuming is part of the magic of it's adhesion ability. The finish while applying reminds me a lot of clay and my experience of working with clay even.

It makes for an excellent textile paint for wanted textures. Yes you will see brush strokes at least with the brushes that I used...but this is the idea behind the vintage shabby chic look...so in most cases this is a wanted feature believe it or not. If you do NOT want texture this is Not the paint for you. In that case most any acrylic or latex paints I would stray from if you aren't for brush strokes and textured look...stick with oil based. It's because of water based paint's fast drying nature that brush strokes dry as they are when paint is applied. Oil take much longer to dry so it has time to settle down and even out better. Mind you I also used a very cheap chippy brush...so I would on purpose achieve a textured look.

So once the piece was complete...I see it sitting next to another ceramic piece I did with Anne Sloan Paint and it gives off the same look with a waxed finish piece. The chalky warm texture look...I love. I went ahead and also lightly sanded the piece to soften the textured brush stokes that I made when applying the paint. I have to say I'm happy with how it turned out and very please with the application ability.

One thing I have to point out, that was new to me and only those that have done a lot of painting will know what I'm talking about...it's amazing at it's correction ability. I've not seen with any other paint. What I mean is while you are painting and as the paint dries and you on occasion (with me a LOT) end up accidentally applying over an area that isn't quiet dry...it ends up wiping off the original layer of paint and by nature because you want to immediately fix that spot you just undid decided to go over that area even more...to only make a bigger disaster and a bigger unpainted spot.

Another example when the paint coming off is an issue is the "touched and smudged" spots. Picking up a piece because you are too impatient to walk away from it to leave it alone to fully dry (again a scenario that has me written all over it). Either case are more common with smooth glassy surfaces. This paint is incredible in the fact that never was a problem only I was...the paint is very forgiving. For example, impatient me was working on the second coat when the first one hadn't completely finished drying...always a bad idea but I saw that I could keep going because the first paint layer wasn't going anywhere! Awesome stuff. I also want to mention I just did the pick up when it's not dry smudge move...yes paint came off but was able to immediately fix it without the issue of more paint coming off even though that area wasn't dry. Normally you'd want to wait for the area to dry...possibly sand and wipe off and then repaint the area. Otherwise you will have a very noticeable painted area of where there is only one layer of paint.

Pros Summary:

- It's made in the USA which I'm all about. (that isn't to say I'm against overseas but having USA products is always a bonus)

- Truly no Priming or Sanding Needed before hand

- Adhesion is remarkable - Especially on Ceramic!

- Made for great textured painted pieces

- Lovely chalky finish and easy to distress and sand

- Dries FAST

- No need to apply wax or top coat

- NO NEED TO APPLY WAX or TOPCOAT

- NO NEED TO APPLY WAX or TOP COAT ( that in my book deserves 3 very strong points)

- Saves you money on having to buy primer and a top coat and expensive brushes.

Ok now the Cons

Like I said there are ALWAYS Cons and it isn't a fair review to only have the positives.

One of the first things I noticed was that there is a distinct odor to the paint. For those that are sensitive to smells you'll want to make sure to paint in an open area and with windows open. I would say on a level of 1-10 it's a 4-5. I will say I was in my kitchen counter doing this first project with this paint with no open windows so those factors didn't help. However it's odor is stronger than most any of the paints I have used. I'm going to say it must have to do with whatever they place in the paint to make it adhere so well. So it goes with the territory.

The texture for me is something I like to add more character to my pieces however this could be a downside for those who like no brush strokes to show at all. This is also being said with me using not a good quality brush and will have to update as I plan on doing one with a standard brush I used for my larger pieces. I will say it's not any more textured then other chalky paints. So this could be a con stated for most all chalky paints.

One thing I have to add that has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of this paint is the labeling. Leave it to my Graphic Design background to even bring this up. It's not terrible but it's nothing fancy...very basic. It's something if I were to see on a shelf with many other kinds of paints would have most likely over looked. It's a great example of never judge a book by it's cover because it's abilities out shines its outer appearance.

Con Summary:

- Stronger odor than with most paints I use

- It's not green friendly like some other brands of paints I know. (to be honest this is a pretty new thing to me and I wasn't aware this was even possible until I discovered different types of furniture paint)

- Great for texture chalk paint finish...bad only if this isn't what you're going for.

That pretty much sums it up...to be honest for me it would only be the smell of the paint but I feel that it wasn't a deal breaker although for others that are sensitive to smells it very well could be. I think for the most part in fair assumption that the pros far out way the cons. I'll be excited to get my first large batch of paints and have decided I will most likely be a reseller of their products. They also have a metallic and foil line that I can't wait to get my hands on to test out.

It looks promising that you will be able to purchase this line in the near future...online and at our store once they are open for business. We will also be having classes using these paints and teaching different techniques to be able to try out. As you can see my much needed utensil holder for my kitchen was in much need of a do over. I then spruced it up with the cute vinyl decal that I created with my new Silhouette Cameo. What do you think?! I feel it's much improved. :) I also love the clay look to this piece because of the chalky Farmhouse Paint used on it. Oh So Lovely.

UPDATE: There is another line of paint that I'm wanting to try out before making my final decision. Just like with this line of paint it has the amazing no need to have a top coat quality only this is much more green.

Until then...