Creative Expressions by Emily

Creative Expressions by Emily I live in Cary, NC with my amazing husband and have 2 adult children. I started refinishing furniture years ago and it quickly became a passion.

I consider myself a furniture artist and love to explore new techniques to create one of a kind pieces.

Did you know you can easily paint faux brick? My backsplash was done with Heirloom Traditions products and technique. Si...
05/29/2026

Did you know you can easily paint faux brick? My backsplash was done with Heirloom Traditions products and technique. Simple and fun project! Painted a base of the color Colosseum for the “mortar”. Then used their Weathered Wood and Whitewash antiquing gels with a mop head to stamp the “bricks”. There’s lots of other color combos you can do too. Comment if you’d like the link to the tutorials.

I love to take certain style pieces and try to push them another direction. This modern desk was painted with Heirloom T...
05/27/2026

I love to take certain style pieces and try to push them another direction. This modern desk was painted with Heirloom Traditions color Haven and I used their Antique White gel stain, thinned with mineral spirits, to give it almost a weathered look and add a nice touch of warmth.



What’s everybody working on??Sorry I haven’t been posting as much, life is getting in the way a bit right now. But happy...
05/26/2026

What’s everybody working on??

Sorry I haven’t been posting as much, life is getting in the way a bit right now. But happy to say this piece finally found its forever home this weekend 😊. Painted with a blend of Annie Sloan Duck Egg, Svenska Blue, and Old White over a base of French Linen and champagne highlights.

Stay tuned for finishing touches on the violet French Provincial set 😊.

It’s a happy day when your neighbor/realtor asks if you can restore these stunning antique tables she has from family in...
05/24/2026

It’s a happy day when your neighbor/realtor asks if you can restore these stunning antique tables she has from family in Italy. I cannot wait to get my hands on these though sanding the carvings not so much haha. She’d like a lighter stain on them and I’d plan to use a dark wax or glaze to accentuate the depth in those stunning details.

05/21/2026

This video shows the technique that works for me when gel staining, especially on a large surface. Mineral spirits are your friend and I like to use a sponge with my rag. On this piece, I’m using a mix of Heirloom Traditions Gray Mist and a little Espresso which perfectly compliments the blend of Annie Sloan paint. Stay tuned for the final reveal on this beautiful French Provincial set.

Throwback Thursday…I love pieces like this cause they’re so versatile and can be used in so many ways. She needed repair...
05/21/2026

Throwback Thursday…
I love pieces like this cause they’re so versatile and can be used in so many ways. She needed repair but fortunately I was able to strip/stain the top. I wanted to retain the vintage feel but chose a custom mixed midnight blue color and added the molding to give her just a touch of modern for today’s homes/styles.

This is hilarious and sooo true 🤣Do you tick all the boxes?? I’ll add that my whole world relates to paint colors so I c...
05/20/2026

This is hilarious and sooo true 🤣
Do you tick all the boxes?? I’ll add that my whole world relates to paint colors so I could be watching Law & Order with my husband and say “oh, don’t those cabinets in the background look like French Linen?” Husband has no idea what I’m talking about 🤣

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFY A FURNITURE ARTIST.
Although honestly… it’s not difficult.

1.We are a happy bunch.

2. Paint on their hands and completely unbothered by it.

3. A brush soaking in water since 2024.

4. Several pieces “waiting to be finished.”

5. Saying “trust the process” while internally panicking.

6. A cupboard full of stencils they “definitely needed.”

7. A deep love of old things… and I don’t mean Marty.

8. An inability to throw anything away “just in case.”

9. The only person at the party desperate to discuss paint colours.

10. They have openly admitted to dipping their paintbrush in their tea and still drinking it. Worse still… I once drank the paint water. I was extra thirsty.

11. Running to the loo because they needed a p*e three hours ago, but were too hyper-focused and in their happy place to notice.

12. Not particularly wealthy… but ridiculously happy.

13. Photographing random textures, doors, tiles, and p*eling walls “for inspiration”… which will absolutely never be used later.

14. Buying the same supplies twice because they forgot they already bought them.

15. Family and loved ones quietly fearing for their creative relative’s faculties.

16. Everything they own has paint on it. Even the “good clothes.”Who here has turned up to a special occasion wearing accidental Eau de Capri pink Chalk Paint?

Do you recognise yourself… or a creative friend? Which numbers?

What would you add to the list?







Made by Marley

Why buy wallpaper to line your drawers when you can do this with a stencil and metallic purple paints?
05/15/2026

Why buy wallpaper to line your drawers when you can do this with a stencil and metallic purple paints?

It may be a boring little bookcase right now, but wait till you see the glow up about to happen! Matching desk will be w...
05/13/2026

It may be a boring little bookcase right now, but wait till you see the glow up about to happen! Matching desk will be with it too

I have a tannins bleed nightmare on the top after a paint wash so I had to sand back to raw wood 😔. So it’s on with shel...
05/12/2026

I have a tannins bleed nightmare on the top after a paint wash so I had to sand back to raw wood 😔. So it’s on with shellac today.

But we’re “trying on” different hardware colors. Which is your fav?
1. Violet to match the paint finish
2. Champagne
3. Antique gold/Bronze

05/08/2026

Sneak p*ek of yep, you guessed it, more raised stenciling lol. Tricky stencil to work with on the tiny details and lines but putting it on really thick without too much pressure works for these kinds. Just sand a bit after it’s dry. Paint Couture Embossing Medium and a blend of Annie Sloan colors.

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Cary, NC
27513

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