Learn Faux at Donna's Design - Publication March 1996

Magnolias and wrought iron bring 'southern' charm to showhouse		Learn faux finishes at Roswell, Georgia design studio
		Custom Accents Art and Design Center in Roswell, Georgia specialize in faux finishing in all its diversity. Owner and master teacher, Rita Warner and her staff teach the fundamentals and the fabulous. Participants choose classes according to interest, ability and schedule. Intensive weekend workshops are available. Classes include marble, semi-precious stones, gold leafing, sponging, ragging, strie, glazing, dragging, parchment, leather, crackle, verdigris, faux stone and bricks, stucco and plaster, wood graining, tortoise shell, trompe l'oeil, stenciling, embellishment and airbrush spray techniques. Advanced level classes for the serious student who wants to take faux finishing a step further are also available. A weekend workshop on Decorative Embellishment has student working with motifs taken from archival art prints of the 19th century with variations creating French, Italian and English themes. Included are techniques on grisaille, cartouche and multiple stencil overlays. Rita has over 20 years of decorative painting and teaching experience. She is a Certified Decorative Painter with NSTDP and has passed the Master Floral certification. She began faux finishing ten years ago, has studied at The Finishing School in New York and is certified by Faux Effects of Florida. She uses only water-based non-toxic materials. The 4,000 square foot building redecorated entirely by Rita and her husband to display the many home decorating options available is a beehive of activity with classes almost every day of the week. "The trick to faux finishing," says Rita, "is to learn the rules then get creative." Students create 30 samples during a weekend class. For more details and complete class schedule call 770-518-3325 or write to 1217 Canton Street, Roswell, Georgia 30075.
This past fall, many Peachtree Chapter members donated their time and talents to the 1995 World Mission Showhouse in Atlanta, Georgia. Three homes were showcased featuring work from local designers and. artists. Donna Mabrey was invited to "faux finish the wall and make two floorcloths for the Magnolia Tea Room. The Tea Room was done in pale yellows and golds and soft greens, with an inviting southern flavor. Following the theme, Donna created a wrought iron and magnolia design on pale green faux marble. The verdi wrought iron was highlighted with metallic gold. Better Homes and Gardens magazine photographed the room and others for an up-coming issue.	About the artist-Donna Mabreyhas been working successfully as a professional stenciler and faux finisher since 1986. She has worked in the southeast and from Palm Beach to Baltimore. Donna began her career working as an apprentice for a friend who had an interior design shop in Atlanta, Georgia, and learned how to apply her blossoming decorative art skills to the interior design industry. More opportunities opened after Donna stenciled two historic bed and breakfast inns in Highland, North Carolina. Donna has up- graded her skills by taking classes all over the U.S. as well as teach- ing many classes at SALI conventions. She will be offering a complete faux finish and business work- shop in north Georgia.