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
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Miss Mustard Seed’s
Most Recent Posts
painted garden obelisk
When I decided to make custom lattice for our DIY A/C surround, I measured and counted out how many 1 x 2s I thought we would need for the project. I estimated that we would need 85 1 x 2s and...
DIY custom A/C surround reveal
Jeff and I noticed a stretch of stifling days in the forecast, so that gave us the push we needed to get the DIY custom A/C surround installed and finished this weekend. I shared the progress we...
four things | thirty-five
Well, between thunderstorms and hot, sticky afternoons, summer is in full swing here in Maryland. I've been spending mornings and evenings working on projects outside and staying inside for the...
facebook marketplace find | vintage oak desk
If you followed my blog during our move to Maryland three years ago (can you believe it's been that long?!), you probably remember that I sold a ton of stuff. One of the pieces I sold was the...
photo tips for pet portraits
I have been drawn to portraits for years, so it was only natural for me to explore portraiture once I started drawing and painting. Painting portraits of living people can be tricky, though. ...
what happened to my willow projects
If you were following along last summer, you might remember my obsession with weaving willow cloches and plant supports. (You can find that post HERE.) I went on a deep dive, sourcing willow...
Celebrating 3 Years
Feels Like Home
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 Summer
The days are longer, the sun is warmer, and the garden is in full bloom. Summer invites slow mornings with coffee on the porch, afternoons spent painting in the studio, and evenings tending to the plants that seem to double in size overnight. It’s the season of full project mode—outdoor updates, creative bursts, and long walks that end just before dusk. While winter holds a special place in my heart, there’s something lovely about a season so filled with light, color, and the quiet hum of life all around.
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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painted garden obelisk
When I decided to make custom lattice for our DIY A/C surround, I measured and counted out how many 1 x 2s I thought we would need for the project. I estimated that we would need 85 1 x 2s and figured I should round it up to 100 to have some extras in case some were...
Artistic Endeavors
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photo tips for pet portraits
I have been drawn to portraits for years, so it was only natural for me to explore portraiture once I started drawing and painting. Painting portraits of living people can be tricky, though. Winston Churchill famously burned a commissioned oil portrait capturing his...
Creative Business
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Traumwohnen & tips on being featured in a magazine
My very first magazine feature was thrilling. It was a small blurb about my blog in Flea Market Style magazine and I was over the moon. When I started my business, I was interviewed by the college student who designed my business cards, logo, and blog as a class...
Furniture Makeovers
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Giving an antique whirligig a makeover
A few months ago, I decided to check out an antique store I hadn't been to in a while - the Fayetteville Antique Mall in Fayetteville, PA. I used to go there regularly when we lived in PA, but I noticed more vendors were leaving over and the quality of the...
Slice of Life
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four things | thirty-five
Well, between thunderstorms and hot, sticky afternoons, summer is in full swing here in Maryland. I've been spending mornings and evenings working on projects outside and staying inside for the heat of the day, working at the easel and writing. While I'm not 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
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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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