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.}
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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.
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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.
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::insert sexy whistle sound effect::
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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…
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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.
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Next up: Greetings at the welcome reception in the beautiful lobby,
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{Beth, Sarah and me with Traci}
then wining and dining at Bonterra {housed in a renovated 110-year-old church – so cool!},
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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!}
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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.
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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?)
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and Rhoda from Southern Hospitality…just as pretty and sweet as always (how about our matching leopard accents?)…
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Traci from Beneath my Heart and I always had our cameras on hand. I got this picture of her…
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…while she got the same one of me.
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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).
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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.
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{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.
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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.
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Here are all of the DIY bloggers in attendance:
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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.
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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?
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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!}
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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!
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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.