As I mentioned the other day, I had the fun opportunity to attend a Rust-Oleum Blogger Event. With a history and love of using Rust-Oleum products, I was super excited to accept! {and survived a touch of social anxiety too.}

I loved the opportunity to meet part of the creative team behind the innovative Rust-Oleum products, some sweet friends from Lowe’s, to see my blog friends face-to-face again and to meet a couple of blog friends in person for the first time, not to mention the chance to get hands-on with some awesome magic DIY materials and to be spoiled rotten in the process.

The event took place at the Duke Mansion in Charlotte, NC. Originally the residence of James Buchanan Duke also known as a US electric power industrialist and now a historic bed and breakfast. Think old money and lots of luxury.

::insert sexy whistle sound effect::

I was tempted to hide away in my suite. Forever. High ceilings, two sets of super tall French doors to a private screened porch, a huge bathroom filled with vintage charm. It’s by far the loveliest room I’ve ever stayed in. Mine was called the Harris Room…

But coming from snow and cold in the north, I had to just dump my overnight bag as I was lured outdoors, strolling the grounds and hanging out with pals (Sarah, Traci & Rhoda) in the 60-ish (heat wave!) degree sunny afternoon.

Next up: Greetings at the welcome reception in the beautiful lobby,

{Beth, Sarah and me with Traci}

then wining and dining at Bonterra {housed in a renovated 110-year-old church – so cool!},

dining on beef tenderloin and creme brulee, sipping wine, mingling with the others, laughing and hearing the book vs. blog experience from John & Sherry of Young House Love was a BLAST! {Also got another copy of their new book. Signed! Maybe a giveaway in the near future!}

Once we returned to the mansion after dinner, a group of us gathered in a cozy lounge and talked “shop”…er, “blog” for a while before retiring to our rooms where a bedtime snack of chilled milk and cookies awaited.

The next morning we congregated to the dining room for a delicious breakfast buffet. It’s so fun being around others who share a love of your same interests: DIY home improvement, decorating and blogging…time flies.

It was great to see Cassity from Remodelaholic again (remember the beautiful beach cottage room we designed together?)

and Rhoda from Southern Hospitality…just as pretty and sweet as always (how about our matching leopard accents?)…

Traci from Beneath my Heart and I always had our cameras on hand. I got this picture of her…

…while she got the same one of me.

After breakfast, Rust-Oleum shared a presentation of latest products, a demo using a new line fast-drying one-coat wood stains (SO many gorgeous colors).

I chose the colors weathered gray topped with ebony for a reclaimed barnwood-look. I applied one coat with a foam brush and wiped with a dry cloth, waited about 20 minutes and followed those same steps with the second color.

{Rust-Oleum Wood Care Stains are available at Lowe’s}

And polyurethanes (matte, satin and gloss finishes). Mark from Rust-Oleum shared a technique called water-popping (wiping down wood with a damp cloth to open up the pores for better stain absorption) and wood staining/sealing tips.

Then we had fun giving it a try ourselves by staining a block of oak {in the sun-drenched solarium} for attaching coat hooks. I’m saving mine for my girly dream bathroom makeover. Someday.

Here are all of the DIY bloggers in attendance:

Front Row: {Cassity} Remodelaholic, {Whitney} Shanty2Chic, {Jocie} OPC’s the Better Half. Back Row: {Kate} Centsational Girl, {Rhoda} Southern Hospitality, {Roeshel-me!} DIY Show Off, {Sarah} Thrifty Decor Chick, {Beth} Home Stories A to Z, {Ashley} Shanty2Chic, {Traci} Beneath My Heart, {Ethan} One Project Closer, {Kristi} Addicted2Decorating. 

We were even given embroidered Rust-Oleum aprons to protect our clothing. Isn’t that thoughtful? So sweet. My crazy-spelled name is misspelled {no ‘c’}, but it won’t stop me from wearing it while DIY-ing.

There was voting on the new colors of spray paint up for 2013: Emerald, Pink Punch, Mint and Sapphire. For me, it’s a toss up between pink punch and mint. How about you?

I’m familiar with Rust-Oleum’s Cabinet Transformations and Countertop Transformations kits from experience but did you know there is also a Tile Transformations kit? Hurray! An awesome way for transforming ugly tile!

More fun pics from my i-phone camera: {getting to meet bloggers Jocie, Kristi, Ashley and Whitney for the first time was so much fun!}

It’s the first time I’ve heard of another product that I see in my DIY future called Restore. It’s equivalent to 10 coats of paint for protecting wood decks and concrete outdoors. Our concrete patio has settled with a few hairline cracks {Restore seals those small cracks!} and I’m looking forward to giving the area we use for entertaining and relaxing a fresh new look (again, so many color choices – a DIY’ers dream!).

So fun hanging out with blog friends: 

Kate, Rhoda, Cassity, Me, Sarah, Traci & Beth

A HUGE thanks to the Rust-Oleum team for awesome opportunity to learn more about their awesome products and the super fun get-together!

ps. I was not paid or even asked to write this blog post. Just sharin’ my event experience/about the cool DIY products I love to use.