We started with a forlorn counter top in need of cosmetic improvements.
“The joy in life comes from doing your own thing.” — Bob Ross
Near Playa San Miguel/Pueblo Nuevo de Bejuco – Costa Rica.
A counter top makeover quickly morphed into a totally-different style for a guest house outdoor-style kitchen. The original was painted about six or seven years ago and had seen much use. It deserved a renaissance treatment with fresh paint! It was easy to spot the areas of heavy use, and we tossed around ideas for dodging similar problems in the future.
Hank and Marie have decided to put this part of their property on the market, and the counter top was one of few things that needed attention. See: “A Little Monkey Told Me” for a sneak peek.
We enjoyed passing many tranquil hours – in the zen of painting in harmony and at times making room for others to help as well. Thanks Patty and Wendy for your help!
With great teamwork, we nudged those painted pieces of ‘mosaic’ beneath the leaves – but the leaves looked lifeless…. ah, but shadows! Shadows would bring them to life!
On the final night, I worked late until a minor earthquake jolted me to a stopping point.
Sometimes even the artist is tricked.. I cannot remember if both of those sand dollars are painted – or if one is real and one is paint! I painted one; Marie painted one, and Wendy painted one. There were also several real ones on the counter for reference.
Only Marie could answer that question – which is real – or are both of these painted?
Several hours later we left for the airport, and I flew to Panama later that day. There was a large section of counter without improvements – on each side of the sink and beneath the area for the cook top.
“When you get a little challenge in your life you tend to enjoy it.” — Bob Ross
Marie, with training wheels off, soared past all self doubt and did an amazing job with the remainder! She emailed images several days later!
But that wasn’t enough – she also painted a terra-cotta piggy bank for a baby-shower gift!
How great it was to receive the images, but even greater was to read the excitement in Marie’s emails!
Well done, Marie! Your training wheels should be passed along to someone else, as you soared to the top of the class!
What’s next?!!
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
Most excellent — I’ll have to invite you for some counter renovation at some point. But only if you lead a sand dollar invasion.
A sand-dollar invasion renovation sounds like a very fun project! One of these days you’re going to surprise us all and announce a ‘hard copy’ of the cyber Piran Cafe!
Lisa, what an amazing job, True Teamwork, and such a joy to see the finished results.. And the Piggy-bank is an extra bonus! 🙂
Hope all is well, and I hope no more earth tremors.. xxxx 💛💛💛
Yes, Marie took off those training wheels and soared – especially with her unique style on that piggy bank! I think she could open a side business – just designing piggy banks!!!
I am certain she could.. 🙂
Love the makeover counter top!
Thank you so much! It was a fun project, especially watching it wean from my paint brush to theirs!
Lovely! I just wish one’s “own thing” always turned out so beautifully. Often it has very sad results (and I am not speaking about art at the moment!)
Thanks, Hugh! Yes, it’s nice when it evolves into a very positive experience, and this one definitely did just that! Marie and Hank are both very talented, and it’s a joy to work with them.
Delightful artwork Lisa – even the piggy-bank got a new face. Wonderful!
She did an amazing job on that piggy bank! They have put the protective finish on the counter, and now all of those great memories are sealed there as well! Am still thinking about that rose story!
Sealed in memories, that’s lovely. You seal them in paintings and I seal some in stories – like the 🌹 ☺
You guys rocked that counter top!
Thank you! It’s great when a project moves forward with such ease.
Hope your current painting is going well!
what a pleasure and an emotion to watch at Marie and Hank’s beautiful house being renewed with love and attention by the three of you !
So many memories…..
With love,
Helene! Seeing your comment gives us equal pleasure! It would be so great to have a reunion and a new project where the four – or five of us could work in harmony!
I’ve thought of you a lot w/the last Mexico earthquake as well as the hurricanes and wondered if you and your team are again helping with relief efforts… you for sure are one of the angels among us…
Wonderful!
thank you cindy! how’s the weather up there – still hot?
The counter is absolutely gorgeous! Well done you guys!
Alison
it was a great project, and i can picture the two of you there painting with us…..
if wishes were horses……
YOU are such an inspiration, Lisa, it’s no wonder Marie just keep going.I would have loved to have joined you all. It’s a priceless piece – where else would you see a countertop like that? I love the sand dollars, the leaves, all of it. Bravo to all of you.
It would be such a joy to have you as accomplice on one of these painting projects! This one was really special.
Thank you for your genuine support and feedback!
This is as cool as it gets Lisa! Love the countertop and I had to seriously look at those sand dollars, the value treatments were brilliantly done. You constantly amaze me. This will be a huge hit when perspective buyers come to see the property.
Thank you, Mary! Yes, I understand about ‘seriously’ looking at the sand dollars.. the cast shadows are the easiest way to decipher which is painted and which is real.. I look forward to seeing it now that the finish has been applied.
Wow, that countertop is too lovely to work on. I’d get distracted by the ‘dollars’ and leaves! What a life you lead. Hurricanes, earthquakes, mosquitoes, typhoons….sheesh!
ha! you made me laugh! yes, hurricanes, earthquakes, mosquitoes, dengue, chikungunya — and hopefully now there’s a very calm period – after braving teh storms, the reward is a calm sea…
What a wonderful project….so much can be done with love, cooperation, and friendship.
working in harmony with others is a true gift.. i think that societies need to cultivate that practice….
Whoa! Amazing! Like Mary, I too had to look closely at the sand dollars, what impressive counter tops!
yes, it was a great project, and we all enjoyed working on it together.. some leaving to go cook or do other things while others sat in that zen-type painting fog….
are you still in ‘isolation’ mode? this morning i noticed a bit of ‘crust’ on my lower eye lid and i thought of you.. i hope that you’re soon with 20/15 vision!
That “new” counter is really taking form. And it looks so beautiful. And one just have to love the terracotta piggy with its colourful appearance. 🙂
yes, the counter project went really well, and they did a fantastic job after i left.. and that piggy bank – wow, she was so creative! thanks for your critique, which hank, marie and i all appreciate!
Look at the final thing! It’s amazing☺️And I love the opening quote.
Cheers, Charu
we had a great time painting and visiting, and having a few little art pointers as well… the end result makes everyone happy! thanks!
Wow! First of all, I absolutely love sand dollars – have a jar of about 100 of them from years of Kiawah beach walking, as well as an antique scale loaded with them in my kitchen. So your artwork absolutely caught my eye from the get-go! The counter looks wonderful, and so fun! Great job 😀
i would love to see that collection of sand dollars! wow! The original counter had one sand dollar, and when I suggested two more and then said, ‘ok, paint them- ‘ Marie and Wendy took the suggestion and soared! There were a few leaves I had painted that looked like tomato foliage, and I mentioned it.. After everyone had gone to bed, I painted cherry tomatoes in that cluster! Ha! There’s only one splash of red – right there, but it seems to work! Thanks, Tina!
Just to let you know Lisa, Eddie and his family are fine.. his home he said was barely affected, but in their is much to do in his gardens.. So thankfully he is ok. but he said it may be awhile before he posts.. I said you were sending thoughts and well wishes and were concerned.. So I am sure he will be in touch..
Love and Hugs.. xxx
Thank you so much for that update, which I read but did not reply to at that time.. it was good to see his update, and yes, he answered an early ‘are you all ok’ comment….
Wonderful 🙂 He is fine, these storms as you say are getting more ferocious xxx
The countertop is great, I wished people would do more their own things…..
Sometimes people are scared to follow what they like most, and choose instead what’s ‘accepted’ and norm… It’s always wonderful when someone like Marie, and her husband Hank, are open to all suggestions, and then they pitch in and help make it happen!
You are right, Lisa, most people do what’s accepted, especially in the homes.
I definitely agree with the Bob Ross quote Lisa and that joy shines out from that delightful bench top art and also from the happy piggy bank.
that piggy bank was so original! she did a great job!
She certainly did