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

playing with abstract art

playing with abstract art

If you had asked me a few years ago if I had any interest in abstract art, I would've told you confidently that it's not my thing at all.  More than that, abstract art seems too chaotic, pointless,...

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collectors collect

collectors collect

If you have followed my Instagram Stories while I've been on vacation at Isle of Palms, it's obvious that I'm a collector by the number of shells I add to my beachcombing bag to take home with me. ...

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trellis inspiration

trellis inspiration

A little over a week ago, I shared some of our spring project plans and I thought I would flesh one of those ideas out a bit more.  Specifically, let's take a look at some trellis inspiration ideas...

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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...

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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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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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kitchen eating nook changes | new chandelier

kitchen eating nook changes | new chandelier

Over the past couple of months, I have made a few changes to the kitchen eating area, so I thought I would share those changes in a small blog series.  There are three main components I changed and you'll be able to see them all, but I'm going to focus on one element...

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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feels like home book launch team

feels like home book launch team

Thank you so much for all of the enthusiasm and support for my new book, Feels Like Home!  Writing a book is such a long process and you never know how it will be received, but the feedback I've been hearing on the sneak peeks and previews have been so positive and...

Furniture Makeovers
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adding a new shelf to an antique pine hutch

adding a new shelf to an antique pine hutch

When it comes to knocking projects out, I have learned that it helps to pay attention to the tools and materials I have out and try to hit projects that need those same tools and materials.  For example, while the sewing machine is out and threads are all over the...

Slice of Life
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collectors collect

collectors collect

If you have followed my Instagram Stories while I've been on vacation at Isle of Palms, it's obvious that I'm a collector by the number of shells I add to my beachcombing bag to take home with me.  I embraced the fact that I was a collector a long time ago.  I allow...

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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