In Brasov you can also learn painting techniques with Annie Sloan products

I told you after the fair that the stand Annie Sloan was, in my opinion, one of the winners of the fair. There were many interested visitors and that is because, in addition to the paints on display, interesting painting techniques were continually presented. What attracted was the enthusiasm and enjoyment with which these techniques were presented. I recognized this enthusiasm that I had seen in Bucharest, when I went to Annie Sloan workshop and had also discovered it at Ciceu and Târgu Mureș.

At the fair I met Tünde, the representative Annie Sloan in Brasov and I was captivated by her creativity, by the passion and emotion with which she talked about the paints, about her meetings with Annie Sloan from whom she learned all these special techniques. I promised her I would visit her when I got to Brasov. Last week we had a few meetings in Brasov and I was almost ready to leave for Târgu Mureș when I remembered the promise. So, totally unplanned, I paid a visit to Red Boutique Decor.

Just a glance in the shop was enough to recognize the spirit Annie Sloan. Because Annie Sloan is more than a paint, she is a spirit, and the stores that sell the paints are a place where Creativity is the defining word. Tünde wasn't there when I arrived and while waiting for her I could admire the shop at leisure. I saw the place where workshops are held 3 times a week (Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) where finishing techniques are taught. The washed and lined up brushes looked like they had been hard used the last time.

We saw pieces of furniture refinished with on-trend colors and wax patina. A flipchart showed how to mix basic colors to create an infinite number of other colors.

Soon Tünde showed up, very happy to visit and eager to tell us as much as she could about her passion. I was really curious to find out how she came to be involved in this activity, which was already clear to me that it is something close to her heart. She told me that as a construction graduate, right after college she taught finishing methods in a construction high school. Finishing methods covered everything that is involved in construction - tiles, tiling, paints etc - so she was involved in paints from the start. She left teaching and together with her husband started a building materials company. But then came the crisis with all its problems and she felt the need to detach herself from the problems of the company and do something for the soul. And so she was born Red Boutique Decor, a place with many nice things for the home.

The shop brought her peace, but at some point it was too much 🙂 During the week, especially in the mornings, with not many people in the shop, she had a lot of free time. She crocheted, she knitted, but thought she needed more than that. And so she came up with the idea of DIY paints with which to change the look of old furniture. She tried another brand first, finding Annie Sloan hard to reach. The chosen brand was slow to respond, so she decided to try her luck. She applied for stockist (distributor/representative) Annie Sloan and to her surprise got the answer within 2 weeks. Annie Sloan has been known to be very careful with those who sell her products, but she highly values creativity. And she saw it in spades at Tünde.

Thus began a beautiful journey that brings her satisfaction every day. Together with her two classmates, Ana and Beatrice, she attended Annie's classes at Oxford and they have been learning continuously. Then they started to hold workshops by levels of difficulty. There are 7 levels they teach, only one less than the Oxford levels. This year she had a very pleasant surprise. She was selected for Annie Sloan Mega Workshop 2017. She proudly tells me that she was one of 18 chosen from over 120 dealers who signed up for the 5-day course, which teaches great finishing techniques. In fact, it's a source of pride for all those who attend the Oxford workshops, and the photo of all three of them with Annie Sloan is prominently displayed in the shop.

As well as workshops, Tünde writes. On her shop blog she writes about paints, painting techniques, the steps involved in transforming pieces of furniture, shares personal experiences. She told me that she is very happy to see that many people read her posts and ask for her advice. She answers them all with pleasure and tries to guide them in their new hobby.

As usual, meeting an Annie Sloan representative turned out to be a joy. We enjoyed listening to stories, seeing reinvented furniture, talking about various techniques, exchanging experiences. Our time with Tünde was very enjoyable and we were glad that we were able to make this visit.