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
Blog
Original Art
Commissioned Paintings
Miss Mustard Seed’s
Most Recent Posts
circa 1886
When I was in my mid-20s, I became a Food Network junkie. We had just moved into the first home we owned, a 1,100 sq ft townhouse, and I had my own kitchen after living in my in-law's basement for...
olive velvet pillows & a block print quilt
I thought I would share a couple of small details in our primary bedroom as it transitions from Winter into Spring. I don't make many big changes to my house through the seasons except for...
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,...
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. ...
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...
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...
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
_____
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
_____
favorite things | antique transferware plates
I have loved antique transferware plates for years, decades even. I think they were one of my earliest yard sale purchases as a newlywed. I remember reading a magazine article that showcased stacks of mismatched antique transferware plates that had been collected...
Artistic Endeavors
_____
Free Oil Painting Tutorial – Two Geranium Studies
For those who have been asking about free oil painting tutorials, here's one for you! I have been toying with the idea of starting a Patreon page where I can offer painting tutorials for a small monthly subscription to those who are interested, but I kept stalling on...
Creative Business
_____
Miss Mustard Seed is 10 years old!
A little over 10 years ago, I did a google search for "home decor blog" and discovered a whole new world. Well, new to me. I found "my people"...housewives, moms, and decor enthusiasts sharing their love of home on the internet. They were Myquillyn of The Nesting...
Furniture Makeovers
_____
making a slipcover for a recliner
Shortly after we moved in, I bought a manual wingchair recliner off of Facebook Marketplace for $40. I had a feeling it would be a "placeholder" for a nicer recliner in the future, but it seemed like a good tester piece. We could see how much we used it, see how it...
Slice of Life
_____
circa 1886
When I was in my mid-20s, I became a Food Network junkie. We had just moved into the first home we owned, a 1,100 sq ft townhouse, and I had my own kitchen after living in my in-law's basement for a couple of years while Jeff finished his undergrad degree. I had a...
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
_____
Fine Art
_____
Upholstery
_____
Knitting & Crochet
_____
Sewing
_____
