Back when I was an itty bitty baby blogger, I took a big step and went to my first blog conference – Blissdom. I went by myself and roomed alone, so it was a little intimidating. I awkwardly walked around, hoping to recognize someone from their 125×125 profile picture or maybe someone would recognize me, but I wasn’t hopeful of that. I did manage to connect with some other DIY/Home Decor bloggers within an hour or two of being there and more began to gather.
Someone suggested a group picture, so we bunched up on a grand staircase, turned sideways, so we all looked skinny and smiled. In the midst of the tummy-sucking-in and hip twisting, someone next to me said, in a soft voice, “Hello. I love your blog.” I was taken aback that someone knew who I was, so I turned to see who my “fan” was. The world went into slow motion as I looked into the face of THE NESTER. I have no recollection of what I said, but I’m sure it was something very dorky, because I was nervous and awestruck and in the presence of one of my blogging idols. She was one of the “big dogs”, as I thought of them. She was so relatable and sweet and encouraging. She was a mentor at Blissdom, so I got to spend a lot of time under her coaching during the event.
As a bonus, we figured out we were on the same plane to Charlotte, where she lived and where I was transferring to another plane. I was desperate to sit by her and suck any blogging knowledge and advice I could from her. As I’m trying to arrange things, so we could switch our assigned seats, the thought struck me that maybe she found me annoying and a little too presumptuous to assume that she wanted to spend two hours shoulder-to-shoulder with me. I backed off gave her an out, knowing she might have had enough of fledgling bloggers tapping her brain. She said she would love to sit together, so we could hug if we crash.
She gets someone to hug and I get to be a sponge. Fair trade.
And we took pictures of each other and shared them on Facebook or Twitter or whatever social media outlet we were all using back then.
She shared so much free, unguarded, valuable information about blogging, business, balance and perspective. (And, it turns out that her husband went to school with some dear friends of ours. Small world.) It was such a boost for me..she probably has no idea what an impact that time had on me.
Fast forward a few years and here I am, with her new book, The Nesting Place, in my hands.
And it takes me back to that seat on the plane. Where she shared her own journey and it inspired mine.
This isn’t a decorating book that tells you to group things by threes and explains the science of complimentary colors. This book shares a story that is filled with bad real estate purchases, less than ideal rental situations, moving away from a dream home and striving for contentment in all of those situations. It shows how a chair with a broken leg, slouchy sofa pillows and curtains that aren’t hemmed or lined can come together and look amazing. This book makes taping a feather to a wall feel like art.
In every page, she backs up her tagline…”it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” And it doesn’t. Isn’t that liberating?
The book is filled with design inspiration as well, though. I think Myquillyn is a master at creating “moments” in a home…
…beautiful vignettes, layers of texture, visual interest…
…areas that make you want to snuggle and walls that beckon you to lean in and look…
…and she can show all of those things without making you feel like your space is junk, because it doesn’t look like hers.
It’s an easy read and every bit as wonderful as her blog.
Congratulations, Myquillyn for your accomplishment and thank you for being so free with your story and advice. You’ve inspired me for over four years and I’m sure many others as well. Your book is just the latest cherry on the cupcake.
Disclosure: This is not a paid sponsored post, but it does contain Amazon affiliate links.
31 Responses
So, I just started my blog and I constantly look to your blog and hers for inspiration! So finding that you have done a post with her style as your post……its just….well, it’s just a perfect post! Thank you both for the continued inspiration! xoxo ~Ashley
This was a great post for me to read. I’m just starting my blogging, website, and blogging. Its really comforting to know even you to at some time have felt intimidated, but learned to feel comfortable asking the experts for advice. Thank you. Thank you.
Another fine example of why I love your blog. You don’t hesitate to praise other peoples work and give your readers new things to check out. I thank you for that.
Well, I haven’t started a blog yet but I did rent a booth at a great old big barn, a very well established place here and I couldn’t be happier! AND your encouraging posts over time definitely were part of my process getting there.
I love this post. I am sad that Blissfom is no more. Do you know another great conference for a beginning blogger? Would love to attend one. Thanks!
The Nester is one of my all-time favorites! If I could marry her aesthetic to yours, I think that would be my dream home. And I’ve always thought you two must be kindred spirits, if not friends. So glad to find out that you’re both! The gracious way you invite people into your lives and work and homes and call all of us to be FREE is the one of the most life giving ministries I’ve ever experienced. Thank you to you and your “sister”. I love you both!
I just wanted to tell you that I found your web site by clicking on a link in the Nester’s web site! I love both of your web sites.
My husband purchased “The Nesting Place” for me for Mother’s Day. I am enjoying it little by little in order to savor it.
I love how you encourage and support each other. I thank all of you for sharing with us. It has brought out my creative side and look at my home in a different way. I am not a blogger. I look forward to what you and the others share.
I have to thank my cousin Heidi at Decor and More. One of her posts lead me to Perfectly Imperfect, which lead me here to Miss Mustard Seed and then to a few other blogs I follow. Thank you all.
How ironic that you, with your talent, vision and drive would ever feel self concious, in addition to your grace and humility. How wonderful to meet another whose soul is much the same. I rather believe most bloggers share the same soul, an inner vision and an absolute delight in sharing what they know, believe, envision and hope to achieve. There is room for all of your ideas in this big, wide world.
Miss Mustard Seed AND The Nester! Two of my favorites!! I have read her book thru twice and have bought 4 of them as gifts. I love her “realness”…..much like I love yours.
I was wondering if you were going to introduce this book on your blog, since your blog is mentioned in it! I have bought it for a friend and asked one for my birthday. My birthday is not for another month, but I declared to my husband I NEED a very early present this year 🙂
I am almost finished with her book – a friend gave it to me recently for my 40th birthday! She didn’t even know I wanted it! I was so excited I almost got us kicked out of the restaurant! HA!
It’s such a great book and so much more than just a decor book. So many things I’ve read can be carried over into so many other aspects of life. Love it so very much!
Love her book (and website) as well as yours! Thanks for sharing about how you met!
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it and the lovely book.
I know! Isn’t it cool that she has a book now! I can’t wait to get it. She is one of the few bloggers who makes me laugh out loud. When i first started discovering blogs, you and The Nester and The Old Painted Cottage were the ones that I first fell in love with. Now you’re both sooooo famous! I love it…
Cindy
Marion,
I have to say that your last several blogs seem to really capture your spirit and heart! At one point, I wondered if you had a ghost writer on a few entries, but lately I’ve been so overwhelmed with your gracious, generous and encouraging heart! I follow you and your business carefully, and know that you’ve hit challenging times with your son’s diabetes, Jeff’s change in career (just prior to his diagnosis), and an every growing business meshed within your marriage.
Thank you for not putting your faith and walk with God on the way back burner! Thank you allowing yourself to be vulnerable to life’s ups and downs, but most of thank you for taking courageous steps in being gracious to others.
Thanks, Karen. Yes, it’s always been me writing my posts, but I go through seasons, I think…sometimes I’m really inspired about certain things…other times I’m in a rut. 🙂 Just like everyone else!
Hi Marian, I’ve been stalking several of the “big dog” blogs for years. I finally started my own little baby blog last year, and I’ve been having so much fun with it. It’s nice to hear that even celebrity bloggers start off small. Such a beautifully written and refreshing blog post. Thanks for sharing!
Sally @cottagefix
does Myquillyn have a FB for her biz or her blog……how do u find her????? Thanks for this great article . it inspired me to add 4 different chairs around our eating table rather than 4 heavy wooden ones that are all the same. It’s kinda funky for a change! Thankfully my hubby is patient.
Yes, you can find her here… https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nesting-Place/116713278381310
I love how honest and true you are to the fact that you were scared and nervous through your journey and everything is not always in its perfect place in your life but instead you constantly work to move it around and around until it becomes comfortable. So many people read blogs and stories of success and assume it just comes naturally and easily with very little effort or even fear but you show us that it is a journey and there are real ups and downs involved and being human is what makes you so very genuine and relate-able.
I can not tell you how many times your statement that “a piece (being painted) will often look horrible at some stage but don’t give up as that is right before the magic begins to happen” has resonated in my head just as I am ready to throw in the towel (and paint brush) and then suddenly the transformation begins right before your eyes. So many of us give up a little too early (on furniture transformations, personal transformations, even each other).
Thank you for showing us that it is okay to be afraid at times on our journeys, it just means we are exploring new grounds and that we should not thrown in the towel (or paint brush) too early because often there is something amazing happening right before our eyes.
Staci Lewis White
The Wired Bird
Miss Mustard Seed + The Nester = my 2 ALL TIME favorites!! The first time The Nester commented on something ‘I’ commented on, I was dumbstruck….I just didn’t know how to react!! “The Nester SPOKE to meeeeeee”….bet I scared the living daylights out of her!! Then, I found a ‘thank you’ in my personal email one day from YOU – I took a picture of that!!!!!! Yes, I actually did that. Such a dork, nerd, stalker……just so very excited! Both of you dear ladies have become like an extended family to so many of us. Kindred spirits. Genuine. I watched Nester on a clip from Lysa TerKeurst earlier today, and her personality was one that was so adorable, as is yours, Marian. You two have an enormous gift even outside of the decorating talent you both share, and that is you are both as real, as genuine, as the sun rises and the moon sets. I have your book (someday to get autographed!), and I can’t wait to get my hands on hers!
I was unfamiliar with The Nester so thank you for posting and I will check her site out as well as her book.
I just bought a copy of her book last week and am loving it. Such an important message. x
Its on my wishlist! Hoping to use some Amazon gift cards to buy some summer reading materials!
All my friends and family tell me I should start a blog to show all the decorating and gardening things I do, but I have no idea how to get started. My daughter-in-law helped me register a name, Nestled Feathers, but have no ideA how to start. Any suggestions ?
Awesome! I can hardly find the patience when I see a book like this and I have to wait for the money to find its way into my budget to buy it. My curiosity and need to decorate can hardly be contained! Ahhh!
Wonderful post! I really enjoyed it. I rarely post, yet I want you to know that I read all your posts on Miss Mustard Seed. I have just moved into a new position at work which involves a lot of merchandising. Today reading your post just made the connection click in my brain from your decorating and styling and what I am now doing. I really appreciate all you share and being such a generous, caring, straight forward woman.
Lovely post and a great story about inspirational women! Thank you for sharing.
x
Sada
The icing on the cake is seeing Ann Voskamp’s name on the front cover. Love her. Thank you for being so open.
Oh Mustard Seed, you, as usual, are too kind. I LOOOVED meeting you and getting to know you over the years. You’ve been such an encouragement to me and your style is to die for. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you!! xoxoox