If you've had any home improvement renovations done by a professional, or attempted a DIY project or craft project, you know without a doubt that paint is expensive.
I've often mentioned that my late mother-in-law collected antiques and was a DIY enthusiast long, long before it became trendy. As a result, we were fortunate enough to inherit some lovely pieces. One of which was a milk paint blanket chest.
Milk paint was made from mixing lime with milk and was tinted with natural earth pigments such as onion skins, iron ore found in clay, and berries.
The Egyptians first used milk paint in their artwork and furniture. The paint was easy to make and didn't require any harsh chemicals. During the 1700s and 1800s in North America, milk paint was used mainly for practical purposes such as coating the exterior of barns, houses, and fences. Milk paint could also be used on furniture and was often used to paint Windsor chairs and other traditional furniture pieces.
One of the biggest advantages of milk paint was that it was cheap and easily made at home with readily available materials. Farmers who had cows could use the milk from their cows to make the paint, along with lime and natural dyes.
Following the War for Independence, immigrant artists brought their paints and a lime as they searched for inspiration in the New World. All they needed was to find a farmer willing to sell them milk to create their concoction.
During the Civil War, a patent was issued for a metal can with a firmly attached top for paints. This began the commercialization of paint making in the United States. Paint could now be made in large quantities for shipping around the country. This type of paint was oil based, causing a decrease in the use of milk paint. The protein in milk would spoil if store in metal containers and was not a good option for mass production.
One application of early milk paint is the iconic red barns that we all recognize. But I learned barns weren't originally red. In fact, they weren't painted at all. The early farmers that settled New England didn't have much extra money to spend on paint, so most of their barns remained unpainted. By the late 1700s, farmers looking to shield their barns' wood from the elements began experimenting with way to make their own protective paint.
A recipe consisting of skimmed milk, lime and red iron oxide created a rusty-colored mixture that became popular among farmers because it was cheap to make and lasted for years. Farmers were able to easily obtain iron oxide --from the compound that lends natural red clay its coppery color--from the soil. Linseed oil derived from flax plants was also used to seal bare wood against rotting, and it stained the wood a dark coral hue.
Farmers also noticed that painting heir barns with the homemade paint kept the buildings warmer during the wintertime, since the darker color absorbed the sun's rays more than plain, tan wood. So red paint spread in popularity due to its functionality and convenience, becoming an American tradition that continues to this day.
New Release - November 21st
He made a promise to a dying friend.
She vowed never to love again.
She vowed never to love again.
"You've become a recluse."
Linnea Nyland heard the concern in her sister-in-law's voice. Still filled with grief and missing her husband a year after his unexpected passing, she didn't have the inclination to disagree with the statement. Though she dearly missed working her magic in the family bakery, she liked her life on the farm just the way it was...solitary.
Especially after Deputy Finn McBride came calling with his ridiculous proposal of marriage!
In a moment of panic, Finn made a heart pledge to Erik Nyland to take care of Linnea, to marry her. He'd bungled his first attempt, and he's not sure his heart can endure the vow he made knowing he'd been in love with her from the day he came to Holly Springs.
Giving it one last try, he challenges her to a holiday baking competition. If he wins, she must agree to let him court...if she wins, he'll leave her alone...forever.
Throw in a matchmaking landlady, a Norwegian Buhund dog, and a missing special ingredient, the lonely deputy prays for a Christmas miracle.
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