Reality Painting

05/29/2026

A new client reached out to me with a special project for a first-grade teacher finishing her very first year of teaching. She already had the white stool and wanted all of the students' names along with the teacher's name incorporated into a keepsake gift.
My first thought was to engrave the stool seat with my laser, but the stool was too thick to fit in the machine. That meant getting a little creative! With the help of a talented friend and some teamwork, we came up with a different way to bring the idea to life.
I've been holding onto these photos until the gift was presented because I didn't want to ruin the surprise. 😊
Ms. Riordan, congratulations on your first year of teaching first grade! I hope this one-of-a-kind piece serves as a reminder of the lives you've touched and is something you'll cherish for years to come. ❤️

05/26/2026

1 week post-op today… and even though I can’t be painting yet, I decided to give myself the next best therapy. 😅
Drove myself to Hobby Lobby for the first time and of course had to snap a quick selfie while I was there. Baby steps… but it felt good to get out for a little bit. ❤️

05/23/2026

Pretty sure I have the cutest little sidekick keeping an eye on me. ❤️

05/20/2026

No glam. No filter. Just real life over here 😅

Surgery #2 is officially done ✔️
Definitely not the look I was going for this summer, but thankful this one was more of a cleanup repair and that I only have to wear the brace for a couple days.
The nerve block is starting to wear off, so today should be interesting 😂 but I’m staying ahead of the pain meds and taking it easy for now.
Stitches come out on the 4th, so we’ll see then how recovery is looking 🤞

Thank you all so much for the prayers, messages, and support. ❤️

05/18/2026

Brushes are washed and hung up for a little while ❤️

Tomorrow is shoulder surgery day, so I wanted to do one last little studio walk through and show some of the pieces still available here in Ortonville before I take some time to recover.

Thank you all so much for the love, support, prayers, messages, shares, and purchases. I appreciate every one of you more than you know ❤️

05/16/2026

A little transformation magic ✨

This beautiful vintage table got a whole new life with this rich blue-green finish and subtle distressing to bring out all those gorgeous details. I love taking pieces like this and turning them into something fresh while still keeping their character and charm intact.
Available for purchase in my studio in Ortonville ❤️
Message me for details!

05/15/2026

If you know me well, then you know just how much this one meant to me to create. ❤️
And knowing it meant just as much to someone else made it a little easier to let it go.
Liz, thank you for giving this special piece its forever home. 🕊️✨

05/15/2026

05/14/2026

Dropped these off today at The Gilded Nest in Fenton !! ❤️😎

05/14/2026

These two special pieces got a whole new chance at life ❤️

My client brought me these tables she inherited from her mom and asked if I could help bring them back to life. Years of wear, scratches, and damage were carefully sanded away, then I restained them to let their beauty shine again.

Furniture with a story always means a little more. I hope you love them, Susan, and I hope your mom would be proud seeing them refreshed and loved again ❤️

05/13/2026

Some pieces are more than just furniture… they hold memories ❤️

A new client reached out to me after someone recommended my name on a Facebook post asking for a furniture refinisher. She shared the story behind this dresser, and I knew right away this one was special.
After her mom passed away, she inherited this piece — a dresser she had admired since she was a little girl. She originally planned to refinish it herself and spent countless hours stripping the stain, hoping to bring it back to life. But eventually she realized she needed help finishing the journey.
After hearing her story, I couldn’t make her wait on my waiting list. I told her to bring it over, and I squeezed it in right away ❤️

I hope you love it, Kat… and I hope your mom would be proud. ❤️