Continue painting until your mirror has one coat.

Step 3
Once your paint is dry (approximately 2 hours) add another coat of paint. Be sure to follow steps outlined in step 2 to help avoid brushstrokes and paint pooling in the corners. It will take another 2 hours to dry, and 30 days to fully cure to a durable finish.

​

​With summer winding down, it’s time to start getting ready to head back to school. Whether you are heading to a new apartment, dorm room or need to create a workspace in your home, thrifting is an inexpensive way to furnish and decorate your space. Here are some great finds from my local Salvation Army to inspire you!

Office Chair

​This black faux leather office chair is on trend and will keep you extra comfortable while working on your assignments.

Artwork

​Make a statement by bringing in large scale artwork into your space.

Coffee Mug

​Need a quick pick me up the  next morning after a late night study session? Get the day started off right with the perfect coffee mug.

Decor

​You don’t have to be an art major to add this wooden mannequin to your decor. Place it on your desk or bookshelf for a bit of whimsy.

Furniture

​Thrift stores always have a great selection of furniture. If it needs an update, you can easily paint it in a fun colour with one of the many furniture paint brands on the market.

Dishware

​Thrifting for dishware is a great way to find colourful and unique dishes.

Bikes

Ride to class in style with a thrifted cruiser!

There are so many great finds to help you get ready for school. Head to your local Salvation Army thrift store to see what you can find. Happy thrifting!


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​📣Big announcement time! 📣 When I started my new life as a DIY coach and decor expert, I'd never have known how my life and my calling would evolve. I started this journey by opening my shop--Bluebird Upcycle--and I thought that was going to be the core of my work. At Bluebird, we have sold you the paint and tools to DIY your treasures for years now. Bluebird gave me the chance to showcase my skills and learn new ones. But what I didn't expect was that slowly, my work became less about the paint and more about sharing knowledge and expertise.
For months now, my team knew that the shop was becoming less important than the other work I do--that's why I launched Erin Rochon Design. Under my new brand, I have been guest-blogging on DIY sites, television, and in magazines. I have been busy with interior decor consultations. I've expanded my focus well beyond paint.
So we've made the exciting and bittersweet decision that it is time to say goodbye to the Bluebird Upcycle shop. As of September 30th, I'll be closing the doors on Bluebird, and focusing 110% on Erin Rochon Design. Erin Rochon Design will offer more content, workshops, consultations, and design planning; we'll be making more videos, articles, and tutorials for everyone. We'll still help you choose and find the best paint and tools for your DIY projects, by referring you to partnering shops and retailers. And as we phase out paint sales, we'll be offering DIY kits of all sorts through my website.
The next 60 days will be full of exciting announcements, workshop dates, new offerings and a big street sale; so click on the link in my bio to my website and join our mailing list to keep informed! Our new website is being built as we speak and we can't wait to share it with you.
Also: expect a big paint sale announcement tomorrow!

​August 5, 2021 by Julia Weaver


It’s no secret that our day-to-day life can be overwhelming and hectic, and sometimes it seems that there aren’t enough minutes in the day to get through our to-do lists. 


No matter where you live – be it Vancouver, CA, Tucson, AZ, or anywhere in between, life is busy. For some people, bringing inner peace and balance into their everyday life is just wishful thinking. However, small changes over time can make a big difference. Maybe it’s creating a calm and inviting home, spending 10 minutes each morning reading a novel, or dedicating a space in your home to find peace. Here are 9 tried-and-true ways to find inner peace and balance at home – straight from the experts themselves. 

​Transform your space into your very own meditation studio
Turn your home into a private meditation studio – no pillows, candles, or masks necessary. All you need to do is cast the Unplug Meditation app to your TV using Airplay. With highly curated video-based content on the big screen, you will instantly feel like an expert meditation teacher is inside your home, guiding you to feel peace, presence, and positivity. – Unplug Meditation


Create a warm and inviting environment to find inner peace
It can be hard to relax and let your mind settle if your decor clashes, or even something as simple as having the wrong temperature light bulb. Many people don’t realize that you can get different temperature light bulbs and end up with one space with a variety of tones or just the wrong tone for their intent. To create an environment of peace and comfort, you would want to go with light temperatures around 3200k giving you a warm honey-like tone. If you’re wanting a more sterile and cold feeling, then 5600k would be better. Don’t forget, all the lights in one area should be the same temperature. – Cory Simmon, owner of A Lamp and Fixture Corp.


Give yourself time to have space in your mind and home
When we think of meditation, we may have the idea that we have to carve out hours of time and block out all of our thoughts. And then, when we still think during our meditation, when our mind becomes distracted, or we are not able to sit for hours (or even 40 minutes), we relegate our belief in ourselves as a meditator, that we are a failure. We might view our meditation practice in the same category as trying to clean up our junk drawer. Instead, set up one-minute meditation breaks for yourself. Start training your mind to embrace empty space. Begin with a minute and then extend it to five minutes, and then maybe 10. Recognize that if your mind wanders, that’s okay. Sometimes part of our meditation practice is to allow our mind to wander. Creative thoughts can be part of our meditation practice. You could even sit in a room, allow your gaze to soften, and see everything around you differently. You might recognize where you really want your plants to be, how to arrange your books on your bookshelf or other ideas. – LA Yoga


All you need is a space to call your own
Finding inner peace can be hard when you’re at home with others surrounding you or possibly limited space. Here are a few of our best tips to help create inner peace and comfort at home. Find a location or spot in your house that is just for you (it can even be your closet) and clear space so that you have room to lay down, sit on a cushion or practice some movement. Find a meditation cushion (or couch pillow), a soothing scented candle or incense to burn when you begin- this will help trigger your body and mind that you are entering your safe and calming space. Commit to 10 minutes a day (if you can) to spend time laying down or seated and just focus on your breath- 3 counts in, 5 counts out or pick a word (peace, calm, acceptance) to repeat as you breathe. Keep the mind on the breath and when it starts to wander, come back to the count. – Buka Yoga
Create a morning ritual that works for you
In the same way that you may turn inward during a yoga or meditation practice, your home can be a place of refuge. We’ve incorporated colors, designs, and decor that make us feel at ease in our space. Our homes are a place to retreat from the outside world. To find inner peace each morning, start the day with an inspirational book and a soothing beverage of your choice. A morning ritual can facilitate calm and peaceful feelings. – Pilgrimage of the Heart Yoga


Set up a reading nook
One of my favorite pastimes is curling up on my couch to a great book with a cup of tea or glass of wine. Globally diverse books have the power to transport us to the beaches of Cape Town, the mountains of the Himalayas, Parisian cafes, and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Set up a reading nook for you and your family with a comfy couch or bean bag complete with fluffy pillows and a cozy throw blanket. Add a snack basket with favorite treats or even a tea station just for you, then fill a small bookshelf or basket with books set in different parts of the world. -Bunmi Emenanjo, founder of Atlas Book Club, a book subscription box company focused on globally diverse children’s books.


Reconnect with everyday objects or sounds
At particular moments during the day, we can choose to give our undivided attention to what we are doing, this can be a great way to reconnect with our bodies and become more mindful. Choose an object or sound with which you come into contact every day. This might be a bunch of keys, a pen, a door handle, or the sound of your phone notifications. Whenever you hear the sound or encounter the object, stop for a moment and reconnect with your body. This involves noticing the breath as it enters the body and taking a moment just to be still. You’ll find inner peace in no time. – MindEasy


Immerse yourself in a book to find inner peace
The best way to find inner peace at home is to immerse yourself in a really good book. Reading is a peaceful activity for every season, whether you’re enjoying your favorite story lounging outdoors in the shade, or curled up by the fireplace. – Tattered Cover Book Store

​Relax and unwind with a creative DIY project for your home
Adding creativity into your life is not only a great way to relax, unwind but is also very therapeutic. Find a comfortable spot in your home, try out knitting or embroidery, paint a tired piece of furniture to transform it into a statement piece, or check out Pinterest to find a creative DIY. Once you have created your DIY make sure to find a great place to showcase your creation for your friends and family to see.  – Erin Rochon Design

​I found this vintage ceramic bust on one of my trips to my local Salvation Army Thrift store. I had a great DIY I wanted to try out to transform this find into an aged, faux cement bust.

​Here is what you need and how you can transform thrifted decor with this effect.

Materials

• Dixie Belle Paint Driftwood or grey acrylic paint
• Spray primer or Ultra Grip
• Dixie Belle Sea Spray; or another texture additive
• Paint brush
• Dixie Belle Clear wax and black wax
• Wax paper
• Shop rags

Step One
I cleaned the ceramic bust with dish soap to remove any dirt or residue.

Step Two
One dry, you can use either a spray primer or any other adhesion product. I used Ultra Grip since I had some on hand and applied it to the whole bust. This step will ensure the paint adheres. Make sure to follow instructions for drying time.

Step Three
Pour a small amount of grey paint onto your wax paper. I used approximately half a scoop of Sea Spray (texture additive) and mixed it until it had a peanut butter consistency. This will add texture to the paint, giving the bust a rustic, aged look. ​

Make sure to make lots of brushstrokes when painting the bust.

​

​Once it’s completely painted, let the paint dry.

​Step Four
To add some depth, I applied clear wax over the bust and then wiped away the excess. I then applied a small amount of black wax to add definition, working it into the cracks and details. I wiped off the excess wax with a shop rag.

​And that’s it! This was a quick and easy DIY transforming this vintage find into an aged, faux ceramic bust. Make sure to try this out on your next DIY project. Happy thrifting!