All Things Spring

As spring blooms and nature bursts into life, immerse yourself in the vibrant world of seasonal renewal. Marian’s spring blog posts offer a delightful array of inspiration, where we celebrate the joys of this rejuvenating time of year.  Join us as we embrace the spirit of spring and revel in the wonders of nature’s awakening.

1970 Kitchen Renovation

Explore insights, inspiring design ideas, and transformational tips as Marian breathes new life into her kitchen. From vintage charm to modern elegance, follow her blog posts to uncover the art of creating a timeless and functional culinary haven. Discover the beauty of every step, from selecting appliances and countertops to incorporating unique elements that make this renovation a true masterpiece.

Miss Mustard Seed Wrapping Paper

Add a personal touch to your gifts with Marian’s custom-designed wrapping paper, now available on Society6. Explore her exquisite collection of unique patterns and illustrations, crafted with love and creativity. Elevate your gift-giving experience and make each present truly special with this one-of-a-kind wrapping paper. Shop now and bring joy to your loved ones with artful and personalized packaging.

Find Inspiration & Encouragement

Welcome to the Miss Mustard Seed’s blog, where creativity, vintage charm, and farmhouse elegance come to life. Explore inspiring DIY projects, furniture makeovers, and curated vintage finds that infuse warmth and personality into your home. Discover budget-friendly ideas, painting techniques, and creative inspiration that will elevate your living spaces with love and creativity. Welcome to a haven of creative possibilities where you can create a home that tells your unique story.

to customize your house to feel like home

to nurture your creativity & artistic growth

to find new favorites & never stop growing 

Original Art

Commissioned Paintings

Miss Mustard Seed’s

Most Recent Posts

the 2024 IOP shell collection contest

the 2024 IOP shell collection contest

My mom and I started talking about the IOP shell collection contest of 2022 before we even found our first shell this year.  Once the competition was mentioned, though, my mom became unreasonably...

read more
wabi-sabi shells

wabi-sabi shells

We've been spending Spring Break at Isle of Palms, a beach in South Carolina we've visited with extended family a few times over the past four years.  The thing my mom and I most love about this...

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things I miss about our MN house

things I miss about our MN house

When we bought our home in Minnesota, we knew it was a great house with good bones, but if you told me I would think about it and miss it with some regularity, I'm not sure I would've believed you. ...

read more
kitchen garden inspiration

kitchen garden inspiration

We'll be starting our spring yard clean-up soon and I'm already excited to work on some of the blank spaces we cleared last year and continue pruning, shaping, trimming, and pulling things that are...

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unlacquered brass kitchen faucet update

unlacquered brass kitchen faucet update

As we use our newly renovated kitchen more and more, I want to provide some updates along the way.  I know I still need to share a full tour of the cabinets and how we have it all organized, so that...

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the reality of hooks by the door

the reality of hooks by the door

So often, when we see hooks by the door in magazines and online, the contents of those hooks are very neatly curated.  Only the very cutest jackets, aprons, and bags will be displayed along with the...

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Feels Like Home

Marian’s new book on customizing your home is
now available!

Miss Mustard Seed’s YouTube

This channel shows a progression of my business from my early years of painting and refinishing furniture and dealing antiques to my current passions of art, painting, and design. I just love all things creative and I love encouraging and inspiring other to discover and use their creative gifts.

Free Art Classes

While most of the world was under stay-at-home orders in the Spring of 2020, I connected with my online community by offering live art classes every Friday for a few weeks.  It was such a pick-me-up for me each week!  I received wonderful feedback from the class participants who joined me live or have taken the classes since, so I decided to put them into an online course format and offer them for free.  Sign up and learn to paint with oils in nine classes that cover everything from making a color chart to painting a grazing cow…

Recipes, projects, and decorating ideas for Spring

As spring blooms and nature bursts into life, we invite you to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of seasonal renewal. Marian’s spring blog posts offer a delightful array of inspiration, where we celebrate the joys of this rejuvenating time of year. Join us as we embrace the spirit of spring and revel in the wonders of nature’s awakening.

Marian’s Home Tours

Maryland Home
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Marian shares her journey of transforming her new 1970s Maryland home into a modern marvel. Discover inspiring renovations that marry vintage elegance with contemporary flair. Explore her latest blog posts, featuring DIY projects, interior design ideas, and budget-friendly tips that breathe new life into this charming abode. Delight in the art of renovation and witness the magic of infusing every corner with personality and timeless allure. Join Marian on this exciting chapter of her Maryland home transformation and uncover a treasure trove of creativity and inspiration.

Latest Posts by Topic

All Things Home
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things I miss about our MN house

things I miss about our MN house

When we bought our home in Minnesota, we knew it was a great house with good bones, but if you told me I would think about it and miss it with some regularity, I'm not sure I would've believed you.  There are things I've loved about all of our homes, but the house in...

Artistic Endeavors
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five projects for creative play

five projects for creative play

Just as I was starting to gain my energy and feel better after being sick, I got hit again!  I tested positive for the flu on Monday, so I am back to snuggling with the kitties most of the day.  I don't know if I've ever gotten two viruses back to back like this and...

Creative Business
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Lucketts Spring Market 2023

Lucketts Spring Market 2023

I feel like I'm going home in a way!  The Lucketts Spring Market was a big event in my business for almost a decade and it's so fun to be back.  I'm just going as a shopper on VIP day, which is a lot less work than being a vendor!  In case you have never heard of...

Furniture Makeovers
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antique shoe cart reproduction & inspiration

antique shoe cart reproduction & inspiration

Over the years, I have bought and sold more antique "shoe carts" than I can properly remember.  These antique shelves on wheels are called shoe carts because they were often used in shoe factories to transport shoes around the factory.  I have found carts that are all...

Slice of Life
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the 2024 IOP shell collection contest

the 2024 IOP shell collection contest

My mom and I started talking about the IOP shell collection contest of 2022 before we even found our first shell this year.  Once the competition was mentioned, though, my mom became unreasonably competitive.  "I found the first olive shell!!  I think that should earn...

Tutorials

I love learning and sharing what I’ve learned with others.  Since 2009, I’ve been writing and filming tutorials on everything from furniture refinishing and slipcovers to woodworking and crochet.  What would you like to learn to do today?

Try Something New

Refinishing Furniture
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Fine Art
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Upholstery
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Knitting & Crochet
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Sewing
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