four things | seventy five
I had an original art sale yesterday, so I spent the bulk of the day babysitting the sale (answering questions, managing presales, etc.) and packing paintings that sold. I am always bubbling with nervous energy before a sale, so I channeled it into cleaning the house and doing small, mindless tasks, like sprinkling some of […]
Original Art Sale Preview | May 20, 2026
I typically post my previews a few days ahead of an original art sale, but May has been so busy that this sale snuck up on me! The next original art sale is tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers. If you subscribe HERE, you can […]
Lucketts Spring Market 2026
Before I share my Lucketts recap, I wanted to let you know my next original art sale is Wednesday, May 20, 20206, at 1:00 pm Eastern. For those interested in early access at noon, you can sign up HERE. On Thursday night, we packed our van with oil painting supplies, two bins of framed paintings, […]
Lucketts Spring Market Wish List 2026
I’ve reached that tipping point in my life where I feel like I probably have enough stuff. No doubt, I passed that point years ago, but hunting for antiques and just the right piece for my house is still so much fun! I have noticed I walk out of more antique stores empty-handed or with […]
learning charcoal
A few weeks ago, I was thinking to myself, Marian, you simply don’t have enough hobbies. You should pick up another one. Okay, not really. I have hobbies coming out of my ears. In actuality, I just found myself thinking about charcoal as an art medium and felt a pull to it. I struggle with […]
Lucketts Spring Market Preview (available original paintings)
As I shared a couple of weeks ago, I’m heading back to the Lucketts Spring Market as a semi-vendor. Since my business has changed so much over the past eight years, I’m just testing the waters to see how my original art will sell at that venue. I’ll be there just one day, Friday, May […]
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four things | seventy five
I had an original art sale yesterday, so I spent the bulk of the day babysitting the sale (answering questions, managing presales, etc.) and packing paintings that sold. I am always bubbling with nervous energy before a sale, so I channeled it into cleaning the house and doing small, mindless tasks, like sprinkling some of the shells I collected over Spring Break around the garden and patio. I was thinking about nervous energy before an event like this as I
Original Art Sale Preview | May 20, 2026
I typically post my previews a few days ahead of an original art sale, but May has been so busy that this sale snuck up on me! The next original art sale is tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers. If you subscribe HERE, you can shop the sale before it opens to everyone else. (This isn’t a blog subscription. You will only receive emails with presale information for this and
Lucketts Spring Market 2026
Before I share my Lucketts recap, I wanted to let you know my next original art sale is Wednesday, May 20, 20206, at 1:00 pm Eastern. For those interested in early access at noon, you can sign up HERE. On Thursday night, we packed our van with oil painting supplies, two bins of framed paintings, and a couple of bags. As I looked at the small pile, I couldn’t help but notice the stark difference between packing for this Lucketts
Lucketts Spring Market Wish List 2026
I’ve reached that tipping point in my life where I feel like I probably have enough stuff. No doubt, I passed that point years ago, but hunting for antiques and just the right piece for my house is still so much fun! I have noticed I walk out of more antique stores empty-handed or with just one thing these days, compared to my piles in the past. I think this house feels pleasantly full, and I find myself shopping for
learning charcoal
A few weeks ago, I was thinking to myself, Marian, you simply don’t have enough hobbies. You should pick up another one. Okay, not really. I have hobbies coming out of my ears. In actuality, I just found myself thinking about charcoal as an art medium and felt a pull to it. I struggle with drawing, specifically with a pencil or pen. I am much more comfortable working with paint, where I can focus on shapes instead of lines. Charcoal
Lucketts Spring Market Preview (available original paintings)
As I shared a couple of weeks ago, I’m heading back to the Lucketts Spring Market as a semi-vendor. Since my business has changed so much over the past eight years, I’m just testing the waters to see how my original art will sell at that venue. I’ll be there just one day, Friday, May 15, from 1-4 pm, to do a bit of painting and be available to say hello. I’m also bringing along some of my original oil
four things | seventy four
It’s been a full week. I was called for jury duty, so I didn’t know whether I would have a day of sitting at the courthouse or a normal workday until 4:30 pm the previous day. I got ahead on blog posts and worked over the weekend to be ready in case I was selected for a trial. Well, I never even had to set foot in the courthouse. My number was never called, and then I was released yesterday
my first nikon mirrorless camera | nikon zf review
My suggestion when it comes to camera gear (or just about any creative tool) is to upgrade when your skill level outpaces your tools’ capabilities. Basically, you’ll know when you’re ready. There is no need to buy a $3000 camera if you only know how to use a point-and-shoot, you’re not super picky about clarity, and you’re not interested in getting the most out of the bells and whistles that accompany the high price tag. So, years ago, I started
growth
Growth doesn’t usually happen in leaps and bounds. It’s something that sneaks up on you; it’s masked by time and embedded in the act of showing up every day. One day, you look up and realize you’ve traveled a great distance, closing the gap between where you want to be and where you were. It was done in increments so small they were barely noticed. You hope for it, catch glimpses of it, and feel like you’re making some progress,
built-in fridge update
If you followed our kitchen renovation, you might remember that we went with a built-in panel-ready fridge. I never thought we would be able to fit one into our budget, but when I had the opportunity to work with Ilve’s US distributor on the range as a part of a blog/social media collaboration, they asked if I would also be interested in working with Forte on our fridge, dishwasher, and range hood. I knew that choosing a relatively unknown Italian
four things | seventy three
It’s been a day of comings and goings. Rosa Jo is staying with us for a few days as my parents visit friends. Our contractor stopped by to open our pool and talk about a few upcoming projects. The refrigerator repair tech was out to make one last-ditch effort at getting our fridge working again (I’ll share all about that in another post). I’ve been trying to work between it all, but this post has taken forever to put together
A return to Lucketts Spring Market
Quickly, I wanted to highlight that today (April 28) is the last day to join Pup Club Prints as a founding member and receive the beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer fine art print. Pup Club Prints is a fine-art snail-mail print club for animal, art, and analog lovers. It’s just $10/month for a quality 5 x 7 giclee fine art print, and you can cancel at any time. As an inaugural member, you’ll also be entered to win an original 8
April garden notes
Most of my April gardening work has been tidying up the beds, pruning old blooms off the hydrangeas, raking leaves, and weeding. Oh, the maple saplings and onion grass have been prolific this year, so pulling them out of the beds has been my primary objective. Instead of spending a couple of long days weeding, I decided to work in small chunks. Every day, after my morning walk, I put on my gardening boots and gloves and would fill one
four things | seventy two
I decided I won’t talk about the weather in my little Four Things preamble today. (Although we have been having wonderful Spring weather, and I’ve been delighting in my morning walks and time in the garden.) I’m going to share some thoughts on embracing change… I used to love Instagram. It was such a fun community and an easy way to share and connect. Once the algorithm was imposed and Meta acquired it several years ago, it slowly became less
Bronzino & the Medicis
As I shared in THIS POST, the self-portrait gallery was the highlight of the Uffizi Museum for me, but another exhibit was a very, very close second. I mean, they are virtually tied, and I think you’ll see why. As my mom and I meandered through the light-filled U-shaped corridors of the Uffizi, a portrait of a woman and her child hung high on one of the walls. It was too high for me to lean in and appreciate the
Pup Club Prints | fine art prints for dog & art lovers
Thank you to everyone who is trying to subscribe! We had some technical issues, but it’s working now! Also, I decided to offer a big thank you to those who sign up for the first month’s print. Founding Pup Club members will be entered to win an original 8 x 10 commissioned oil painting (animal, still life, or landscape), a $300 value. I am so excited to finally launch Pup Club Prints, a monthly art subscription I’ve been working on
the business of art vs. the art of art
There is an anecdote about Vincent Van Gogh that I’ve heard and even repeated myself. Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime. It’s often used as an encouragement to struggling artists. If his work, which was so unique, brilliant, and beautiful, wasn’t appreciated, then you’re in good company if you find yourself in the same boat. I’ve shared in my Four Things posts over the past few weeks that I’ve been reading THIS BOOK on the life of
four things | seventy one
We’re in the middle of a mid-April heatwave. This time of year, I will wear a hoodie in protest when summer weather rears its head early, which is sort of ridiculous. I’ve still been making a point to get outside by walking in the morning before it gets hot and then spending about 15-20 minutes filling a bucket with weeds and maple saplings from the garden beds. Maple saplings are my lot in life at the moment, but they are
styling pet portraits in interiors
I received a question a couple of weeks ago about how to style a pet portrait in a room without it looking like a shrine to your dog, cat, hamster, or horse. Good question! I’m so glad you asked. Let’s talk about animal art in interiors and how to make it work with your decorating. First of all, let me say that there really aren’t rules when it comes to style, art, decorating, or aesthetics. I mean, there are rules
Move Slow & Make Things Book Bonuses Available!
I am so excited to share that the preorder bonuses for Move Slow & Make Things: Pursuing the Delightfully Fulfilling Creative Life are now available! If you’ve already ordered the book, thank you! You can enter your order information on THIS to claim your bonuses. If you haven’t preordered the book yet, you can do that HERE. I will be released September 1, 2026, so you still have plenty of time, but I learned through the release of Feels Like
I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.
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From the very first coat of paint to custom cabinetry, Marian has been slowly transforming her 1970s split-level into a home filled with charm, character, and creative vision. Explore room-by-room updates, clever DIYs, and the stories woven into each renovation project. It’s a work in progress—and that’s part of the beauty.
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Artistic Endeavors
Original Art Sale Preview | May 20, 2026
I typically post my previews a few days ahead of an original art sale, but May has been so busy that this sale snuck up on me! The next original art sale is tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers. If you subscribe HERE, you can shop the sale before it opens to everyone else. (This isn’t a blog subscription. You will only receive emails with presale information for this and
learning charcoal
A few weeks ago, I was thinking to myself, Marian, you simply don’t have enough hobbies. You should pick up another one. Okay, not really. I have hobbies coming out of my ears. In actuality, I just found myself thinking about charcoal as an art medium and felt a pull to it. I struggle with drawing, specifically with a pencil or pen. I am much more comfortable working with paint, where I can focus on shapes instead of lines. Charcoal
Lucketts Spring Market Preview (available original paintings)
As I shared a couple of weeks ago, I’m heading back to the Lucketts Spring Market as a semi-vendor. Since my business has changed so much over the past eight years, I’m just testing the waters to see how my original art will sell at that venue. I’ll be there just one day, Friday, May 15, from 1-4 pm, to do a bit of painting and be available to say hello. I’m also bringing along some of my original oil
my first nikon mirrorless camera | nikon zf review
My suggestion when it comes to camera gear (or just about any creative tool) is to upgrade when your skill level outpaces your tools’ capabilities. Basically, you’ll know when you’re ready. There is no need to buy a $3000 camera if you only know how to use a point-and-shoot, you’re not super picky about clarity, and you’re not interested in getting the most out of the bells and whistles that accompany the high price tag. So, years ago, I started
growth
Growth doesn’t usually happen in leaps and bounds. It’s something that sneaks up on you; it’s masked by time and embedded in the act of showing up every day. One day, you look up and realize you’ve traveled a great distance, closing the gap between where you want to be and where you were. It was done in increments so small they were barely noticed. You hope for it, catch glimpses of it, and feel like you’re making some progress,
A return to Lucketts Spring Market
Quickly, I wanted to highlight that today (April 28) is the last day to join Pup Club Prints as a founding member and receive the beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer fine art print. Pup Club Prints is a fine-art snail-mail print club for animal, art, and analog lovers. It’s just $10/month for a quality 5 x 7 giclee fine art print, and you can cancel at any time. As an inaugural member, you’ll also be entered to win an original 8
Seasonal
Fall
tucking in the garden for winter
This is our fourth fall in this house, and I think we have finally figured out how to best deal with the leaves from the six large maple trees on our property. The first fall, we had just moved in and were completely overwhelmed by them. Our amazing neighbors jumped in and used their two riding mowers to help us out. Since then, Jeff (primarily) and I have been trying to figure out a system to stay on top of
simple, natural fall mantel | autumn decorating
In the very early years of my blogging career, I connected with Layla of the Lettered Cottage. I was smitten with her design aesthetic and eye for styling. We both wrote tutorials for HGTV.com (you can find mine HERE) and wrote and contributed photography for several of the same editors and magazines. We met at a few blog conferences over the years and even partnered on the very first Chapel Market hosted by her community in Alabama. As another fun
fall baking with Walmart
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Walmart and contains affiliate links. As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own. As the chilly weather has started to show up more consistently, I find myself in the mood to do some baking. I actually really enjoy baking, but I don’t do it very often since I also like to eat baked goods! But, baking a dozen apple cinnamon muffins seemed like a pretty safe bit of fall baking
fall entertaining with Walmart
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Walmart. As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own. Last week was the first week that felt like fall and it was glorious. I mourn that the pool has become a polar bear swimming experience, but that is about all I’ll miss about summer. I love it when cooler weather comes in and I can don my hoodies and slippers. I also love decorating during fall and winter perhaps more
outdoor fall entertaining with Walmart
Disclosure; This post is sponsored by . As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own. I have partnered with many times over the years and I am excited to be working with them in our new home. An advantage to moving into a home in late September is that we are entering one of the most beautiful, outdoor-entertaining-friendly weather of the year. It’s usually pleasant outside, not too buggy, not too muggy, and nature starts to
Bavarian Pretzels (Bretzels) Recipe
For Christmas, I got a cookbook called . It’s an excellent book if you’re interested in learning about or improving your bread baking. As I read through it, I was surprised to see a recipe for German/Bavarian soft pretzels (bretzels.) These delicious soft pretzels spilled over the German border into France and were adopted by the region of Alsace. For those who don’t know, I’m a military brat who spent most of my childhood in Germany and soft pretzels were
at home
All Things Home
Lucketts Spring Market 2026
Before I share my Lucketts recap, I wanted to let you know my next original art sale is Wednesday, May 20, 20206, at 1:00 pm Eastern. For those interested in early access at noon, you can sign up HERE. On Thursday night, we packed our van with oil painting supplies, two bins of framed paintings, and a couple of bags. As I looked at the small pile, I couldn’t help but notice the stark difference between packing for this Lucketts
Lucketts Spring Market Wish List 2026
I’ve reached that tipping point in my life where I feel like I probably have enough stuff. No doubt, I passed that point years ago, but hunting for antiques and just the right piece for my house is still so much fun! I have noticed I walk out of more antique stores empty-handed or with just one thing these days, compared to my piles in the past. I think this house feels pleasantly full, and I find myself shopping for
A return to Lucketts Spring Market
Quickly, I wanted to highlight that today (April 28) is the last day to join Pup Club Prints as a founding member and receive the beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer fine art print. Pup Club Prints is a fine-art snail-mail print club for animal, art, and analog lovers. It’s just $10/month for a quality 5 x 7 giclee fine art print, and you can cancel at any time. As an inaugural member, you’ll also be entered to win an original 8
April garden notes
Most of my April gardening work has been tidying up the beds, pruning old blooms off the hydrangeas, raking leaves, and weeding. Oh, the maple saplings and onion grass have been prolific this year, so pulling them out of the beds has been my primary objective. Instead of spending a couple of long days weeding, I decided to work in small chunks. Every day, after my morning walk, I put on my gardening boots and gloves and would fill one
styling pet portraits in interiors
I received a question a couple of weeks ago about how to style a pet portrait in a room without it looking like a shrine to your dog, cat, hamster, or horse. Good question! I’m so glad you asked. Let’s talk about animal art in interiors and how to make it work with your decorating. First of all, let me say that there really aren’t rules when it comes to style, art, decorating, or aesthetics. I mean, there are rules
madame mére
I finished yesterday’s post about the Uffizi portrait gallery with a bit of a cliffhanger. I didn’t include the setting, though. This was at Isle of Palms a few weeks ago. Several extended family members live near Charleston, so we visit them (or they visit us) while we’re there. So, my aunt interrupted my story about people walking right past a Rembrandt with an intriguing offer. “If you love portraits, I have a proposition for you.” Now, I had no
Everyday Moments
A Slice of Life
four things | seventy five
I had an original art sale yesterday, so I spent the bulk of the day babysitting the sale (answering questions, managing presales, etc.) and packing paintings that sold. I am always bubbling with nervous energy before a sale, so I channeled it into cleaning the house and doing small, mindless tasks, like sprinkling some of the shells I collected over Spring Break around the garden and patio. I was thinking about nervous energy before an event like this as I
four things | seventy four
It’s been a full week. I was called for jury duty, so I didn’t know whether I would have a day of sitting at the courthouse or a normal workday until 4:30 pm the previous day. I got ahead on blog posts and worked over the weekend to be ready in case I was selected for a trial. Well, I never even had to set foot in the courthouse. My number was never called, and then I was released yesterday
growth
Growth doesn’t usually happen in leaps and bounds. It’s something that sneaks up on you; it’s masked by time and embedded in the act of showing up every day. One day, you look up and realize you’ve traveled a great distance, closing the gap between where you want to be and where you were. It was done in increments so small they were barely noticed. You hope for it, catch glimpses of it, and feel like you’re making some progress,
four things | seventy three
It’s been a day of comings and goings. Rosa Jo is staying with us for a few days as my parents visit friends. Our contractor stopped by to open our pool and talk about a few upcoming projects. The refrigerator repair tech was out to make one last-ditch effort at getting our fridge working again (I’ll share all about that in another post). I’ve been trying to work between it all, but this post has taken forever to put together
four things | seventy two
I decided I won’t talk about the weather in my little Four Things preamble today. (Although we have been having wonderful Spring weather, and I’ve been delighting in my morning walks and time in the garden.) I’m going to share some thoughts on embracing change… I used to love Instagram. It was such a fun community and an easy way to share and connect. Once the algorithm was imposed and Meta acquired it several years ago, it slowly became less
Bronzino & the Medicis
As I shared in THIS POST, the self-portrait gallery was the highlight of the Uffizi Museum for me, but another exhibit was a very, very close second. I mean, they are virtually tied, and I think you’ll see why. As my mom and I meandered through the light-filled U-shaped corridors of the Uffizi, a portrait of a woman and her child hung high on one of the walls. It was too high for me to lean in and appreciate the
Explore painting at your own pace—no experience needed
Free Art Classes for the Creative at Heart
While the world slowed down in the spring of 2020, I found connection and creativity by offering live art classes each Friday—just a simple way to share something joyful during uncertain times. What began as a small spark turned into something truly special. After receiving such kind and encouraging feedback, I decided to turn those lessons into a free online course. Inside, you’ll find nine beginner-friendly oil painting classes covering everything from mixing colors to painting a sweet grazing cow. It’s a gentle, joy-filled place to start (or continue) your painting journey.