Blogeur d’ Invite, Danielle Partridge

Happy Thursday friends!  I can hardly wait to introduce you to Danielle Partridge. Danielle is a retailer for CeCe Caldwell’s paints in the Denver, Colorado area.

I LOVE interviewing and getting to know CeCe Caldwell’s amazing retailers.  Each person has such an inspiring story that led them to the CeCe Caldwell’s family.  I feel so blessed to be a part of sharing their story. Danielle is no exception, her story inspired me to do better in every area of my life. So without further adieu….

Danielle has a passion for redemption for all things, including furniture.  (My kind of gal!)

GTC:  Danielle, where are you originally from and what were you like as a child?

DANIELLE: I was born in the San Francisco Bay Area (found out Danielle was born in the same city my kids were born in!!).  As a kid, I loved playing Barbies.  I wouldn’t just play “Barbies”, I would actually design homes, draw up the architectural plans.  I loved any kind of creative process, but had no idea that pursuing a career in something creative was even an option.

As a teenager, I was very thrifty, and I learned to sew my own clothes.  I still sew home accessories and items for my business from time to time.  I truly believe the desire to create is a God given gift.  I believe we all create in our own way.  I love  being a part of helping others create beauty in their lives.

In college I was very passionate about improving the lives of people.  In my mid 20’s I honed in on a career in counseling, and went to graduate school in Colorado.  I was still involved with my own creative and artistic projects, but I put my energy into a church I dearly wanted to see get off the ground and I decided to stay in Colorado after I finished graduate school.  Through my work, I became involved in a Not for Profit organization called Asian Hope.   I am still very active with this program.   Coin Charms for Kids is one of the ways Asian Hope raises funds to help the Cambodian kids they serve.   I have known personally and have hosted in my home some of the amazing youth that benefit from this program.  This program gives promise of a better  future to children from Cambodia who may not have any other way out of a poverty cycle.   Some of the funding for this program comes from the sale of Asian Hope/Coin Charms for kids.  Asian Hope is a non profit organization that benefits not only the receiver, but also the donor.

As I  became more involved in helping others,  I found that I needed to pursue my artistic and creative sides more fully.  I took the next step and I began painting for clients.  I have always painted furniture, always loved garage sales, thrifting, improving and fixing up pieces.  Friends and acquaintances began asking me to help decorate/paint and transform their homes.

A year after I began painting for income, I began selling my things in stores.   This pursuit grew into my taking on a space to rent where I sell my pieces.  I also love doing occasional markets.  I love meeting new people, the energy and creativity at these events.  I love all of this.

GTC:  You were very involved in the furniture transformation and upcycling business, how did you hear about CeCe Caldwell’s paints?

DANIELLE: First, I believe that wherever we can be responsible to the planet and our health, I need to do this.  I have some chemical allergies.  Formaldehyde, and other products that combine to give an off gas that make Formaldehyde is very hard on my health.  I have always endeavored to use green products where I can.  When my husband and I remodeled our home, we searched for “green building products”, and it was challenging to find what I needed.

Whenever I painted, I always had to use a respirator mask. Sometimes I would even get nosebleeds, despite wearing the respirator mask.  I didn’t want to stop painting because I love it so much.  I started spending a great deal of time searching the paint community and the internet to find a Green Product that would work for me.

I love waxing my furniture, but I truly thought I was going to have to hire a chemist to come up with a furniture wax that would function the way I needed it too.  I was searching for a furniture wax  that was a natural product and wouldn’t aggravate my health.  Through research, I discovered CeCe Caldwell’s Paints.  I fell in love immediately and I wanted to share it with others through selling it as soon as I had tried it.

No one else in the Colorado area was using anything quite like CeCe Caldwell’s Chalk and Clay based paints.  I was so fortunate to be the first person to bring this green product to Colorado.

The paint is selling very, very well and continues to keep gaining momentum.

GTC:  What are some of the aspects of the CeCe Caldwell’s company you love?

DANIELLE:  I love the customers who purchase the paint.  I love to see the beautiful things that people are using it for.  I love the commitment CeCe Caldwell’s has to developing green products.  I love that the cans for the products are recyclable and all the ingredients are disclosed.  I love the commitment Cece Caldwell’s has to the users of the health and commitments to keeping the earth green.

The products are so easy to use.  The paint and products are for everyone, from the beginner, to the hobbyist, to the professional faux finisher and artist.

 Love the layered paints in this table!

With a background in therapy.  I believe painting is therapy.  It is my therapy.  It helps me feel grounded when I am painting. You can just focus on your task and the one thing you are doing, be very present in the moment.  It can truly quiet your mind.

I love retailing this product with my furniture and home decor business.  I can be very flexible, sell this product, and still pursue other passions and work.  I am still very involved with Asian Hope.  I love that I can be home with my daughter while she is doing her homework, and painting in the same room with her while she studies.  I love that my daughters can be involved in my business with me.  When I do my occasional markets, my children love to be involved.  They are learning good business skills and practices that will benefit them in so many areas of their lives.

My kids are my most important job, and I love that I can use this paint at home, inside with them, without worries of fumes, mess, etc.

GTC:  What are some of your favorite things to paint?

DANIELLE:  I love solid, older wood pieces that just are waiting for new life.  I especially love to transform chairs.  You can do so many different things with chairs.  Sometimes a new piece will just capture my imagination and I can’t wait to create.

Vintage White with Aging Cream (wax)

GTC: What are some of the things you have found surprising about the paint and products?

DANIELLE:   I love the freedom of creation that CeCe Caldwell’s paints give me.  The paints are so easy to work with, and so forgiving.  If I change my mind on a color I am  using, I can easily change direction.

Or you can just layer a bunch of them like this beautiful table!

GTC: What are some of your favorite CeCe Caldwell Colors?

DANIELLE: I love Pittsburg Grey.  It compliments so many of the other colors.  I love Pittsburg Grey and Vintage White together.Spring Hill Green is a very happy color to me.

This is a very happy Chair in Spring Hill Green!

Santa Fe Turquoise is one of my favorite colors to mix with the whites.  You can produce so many different shades with this color.

I love Destin Gulf Green straight.  Gorgeous, vibrant color.

GTC: You have accomplished so much already in your life, and with your creative endeavors.  What are your plans for growing your business?

DANIELLE:  I would love to expand the paint into more stores.  I am always interested in making products more assessable to more customers.  I have a slight shoulder injury right now that has prevented me from doing occasional markets.  When my shoulder heals, I would love to get back to doing more open air markets.  I love the creative energy and the people I meet at these markets.

I am both excited and feel privileged to bring a green product to the market in Colorado.  The community in Colorado is rapidly moving forward in their budding desire to have products that are healthful for both humans and the earth.

I am looking forward to continuing to find new ways to use the paint, experiment with new color combinations, and to keep finding new mediums for the paint. There are endless options for using the paint!   I always love experimenting with products and I am looking forward to always learning and discovering more things about CeCe Caldwell’s paints.

You can find Danielle’s work and CeCe Caldwell’s Paint at these locations around the Denver area:

The Parker Shoppes

Not Too Shabby #2   

Reclaimed Style

You can find Danielle online at Reclamation Designs, Like her on her Facebook Page at Reclamation Designs

Thank you so much for hanging out with Danielle and I today!  I hope Danielle has inspired you to try CeCe Caldwell’s paints, I can’t wait to get back to painting!  If you are already a lover of CeCe Caldwell’s paints, go try out some new colors and experiment!   By the way, CeCe Caldwell’s has a Facebook Page and they love to see what you are working on.  Be sure to link up your creations at their site, you never know who might be looking and come check out your work!