Encouraging words from Degas about AI
“Without a heart, can one not be an artist?” – Edgar Degas I heard this quote in Sebastian Smee’s book The Art of Rivalry. It was in the context of Degas’s reputation for being a misogynist and having an aversion to love and marriage. He said and wrote things that seemed to show at least […]
Reversible Quilt inspired by Antique Provence Quilts
I don’t remember which magazine it was in, but I can still vividly recall the spread. It was an article about antique quilts from Provence, featuring a woman who had been collecting them for decades. She had stacks neatly folded in an old armoire and used throughout her home. I read and reread that article […]
walking through Siena, Italy
On this trip to Italy, I’m glad I got to see a couple more ancient Tuscan cities – Arezzo and Siena. I had been to Barga, Lucca, and Florence, and while there are similarities, each city and town has its own flavor. Once we made our way through the densely packed market crowds of Siena, […]
four things | sixty
I usually write in the morning. It’s when my mind is fresh, and the words flow best. But this morning, as I eyed a ball of cat hair fluff scurry across the studio floor, I decided to get the vacuum, dust cloth, and tidy things up beyond just a quick hit with the vacuum. I […]
the non-art parts of selling art
When I use the word “art”, I am referring to art in the broader sense – something that is made by human hands. My art has changed over the years from painting murals on walls to painting furniture to painting on panels with all sorts of other artistic endeavors and experiments mixed in. So, when […]
2025 Home Project Recap
When I first started putting this post together, I felt like we didn’t do many home projects in 2025. We did a lot of landscaping and had new windows installed, but did we do anything else? Well, once I started to look back through the year in pictures, I realized we did a ton of […]
Recent Blog Posts
progress on the custom A/C surround
When I last shared about the custom A/C screen/surround we’re building, it looked like this… My dad came over on Thursday to help me with turning those primed and painted pieces into finished panels. My dad and I are a good building team because we have a similar approach – done is better than perfect. Several times, we said something like, “We’re not sending anyone to space in this thing, so it’ll do.” Even Jeff, who usually brings more perfectionism
four things | thirty-three
Whew, what a week! I decided to try fitting in a bunch of projects to “beat the heat,” and I ended up working quite a bit in the heat, red-faced and sweat dripping off my brow. It was only in the mid-to-high 80s, but I’m just not built for heat and humidity. I got a lot accomplished, but it threw off my blog posting schedule, and my e-mail was woefully neglected. I spent some time today getting caught up, so
DIY Custom A/C Screen
After having the lumber on our garage floor to season for a few months, we are finally building the DIY custom A/C surround. I am joking about letting the wood season. I bought the material without consulting my building partners, and we were not all on the same page regarding starting this project in the fall. That meant we were stepping over it and tripping on it for a few months because I put the cart before the horse. Now,
summer simmer pot recipe
A couple of weeks ago, there was an unfortunate accidental popcorn burning incident in our kitchen. If you’re familiar with the smell of burnt popcorn, you know how unfortunate that can be. Not only did it stink up the house, but it we had to clean out the entire cabinet that houses the microwave and clean everything the burnt popcorn smoke wafted through. I even had to buy new air filters for our Dyson air purifier that we moved from
opening the pool & back patio
Yesterday was the kind of day that I love. The weather was just to my liking: overcast, dry, breezy, and warm enough to work outside, but not too hot. And everyone in our family worked together to get things ticked off the to-do list. Marshall power-washed the front walk, Calvin mowed, and Jeff and I worked together to trim hedges, weed, mulch, and tidy up the back yard. Since the temperature is still to my liking today, I’m going to
four things | thirty-two
My four things this week – Blooms, “I’m farming”, little by little, and rainy day painting… what I’m reading I received the most beautiful book in the mail this week – French Country Cottage In Bloom, the latest book by Courtney Allison. I’ve known Courtney for years, since my early days of blogging, and I’ve loved watching her bring her incredible styling and photography to books. I own all of them and love looking through them, especially for ideas for styling
how to get rid of bishop’s weed | goutweed update
It’s time for the highly anticipated update on my war on bishop’s weed/goutweed! I’m kidding, but I know some people are looking forward to an update and some advice on how to get rid of goutweed (or at least get it under control). Before I get into the different methods I’ve tried and which have been most effective for me, I want to share a fresh perspective on this aggressive ground cover. While searching online for advice and support can
progress on the front garden bed
I’ve been chipping away at gardening projects this week and have most of the front garden bed planted. After looking at black plastic for a year, it’s nice to see plants and mulch out there. As a reminder, I laid down black plastic to smother some weeds and get a fresh start with this bed. A couple of weeks ago, I started lifting up the plastic to plant a boxwood hedge along the house. I received several comments from experienced
four things | thirty-one
It’s graduation week, and now we have our first high school graduate! Marshall is graduating from high school tomorrow, so Jeff’s parents have come up from Raleigh, my parents are driving over, and we’ll be celebrating this milestone. In case you need a point of reference, this is the toddler who used to streak through my blog photos in diapers! I love this stage of parenthood, though. I love that he can now drive himself around, is earning his own
mock orange blossoms
We bought our house in the late summer, so it wasn’t until the next spring that I was surprised by the beautiful white blooms on an overgrown bush in our side yard. To say it’s overgrown would be a bit of an understatement because it’s literally falling over to one side under its own weight. I wasn’t sure what it was, but my keen-eyed Instagram followers told me it is a mock orange bush. They are apparently prized bushes for
Lucketts Spring Market 2025 Purchases
I must say, I was pretty proud of myself for the restraint I showed while shopping the Lucketts Spring Market. With the exception of one piece, I stuck to my list (you can find my list HERE) and didn’t buy small things that would add clutter to collections I’ve been trying to thin down. I had the perfect spot for everything I purchased, and I didn’t regret leaving things I felt tempted to buy at the market for others to
Lucketts Spring Market 2025 Recap
The Lucketts Spring Market 2025 is in the books! Oh man, what a special group of people who work so hard to put on an amazing event for their customers. I’m constantly impressed with their attention to detail and desire to make every event with the Lucketts name memorable. The Lucketts team doesn’t have to create a new theme for each market. All of the signage and displays they’ve used are spectacular and could certainly be used again. However, each
four things | thirty
After a misty, drizzly morning, the sun is finally shining after over two days of clouds and rain! I won’t be getting out into the garden today because the easel and writing projects need my attention, but I’m looking forward to getting back into it this weekend. My four things for this week – A return to an author I enjoyed, a treasure hunt, the season of effort, and another annoying project day. what I’m reading I was a little
Lucketts Spring Market 2025 wish list
It’s time for another Lucketts Spring Market! Right on cue, the rains have come in just as vendors are setting up, and there is more rain in the forecast. If an area is ever experiencing a drought, they just need Lucketts to set up shop, and the rain will come! As a former vendor who has experienced spring rain at Lucketts, I’m only partially kidding. Fortunately, the Clark County Fairgrounds has good drainage, and most vendors are in covered buildings.
planting the front garden bed | part one
I feel like I’m way behind with gardening chores and projects, but when I looked back at last year to see when I did most of my gardening work, I’m pretty much on schedule. I might just be a week or two behind, but not as far behind as I feel! My two biggest garden projects this year are planting the front bed and cleaning up the left garden bed. Since I want to get plants in the ground as
Original Oil Paintings Available at Lucketts
Late last summer, I received a message from some Instagram friends I met through the Lucketts Fall & Spring Markets. “Would you like to sell some of your original oil paintings in our space?” I had considered getting a booth to sell some original oil paintings in antique frames, but I would get overwhelmed at all of the logistics and set the thought aside. Maybe I will one day, but this offer gave me an opportunity to test the waters
four things | twenty-nine
I always forget how busy May is with Mother’s Day, end-of-the-year school events and projects, a birthday in our house, and I seem to end up scheduling too many maintenance appointments during an already busy month. I keep reminding myself and the boys that the end of the school year is right around the corner, and we all need to focus on finishing well. I am looking forward to a more relaxed summer schedule. Here are my four things for
refillable ballpoint & rollerball pens
I’ve been promising this post on Instagram for a while, and it’s finally here – a round-up of beautiful, refillable, and relatively affordable ballpoint and rollerball pens. I say relatively affordable because, like fountain pens, rollerball and ballpoint pens can get very, very expensive depending on the brand and materials used. I never thought I would spend more than $20 on a “nice pen”, much less over $50 or $100, but I have been wooed into the world of beautiful
what to get rid of, what to keep | organizing
As I’ve been sharing my organizing and purging efforts, I have been asked by several blog readers how I decide what to keep and what to get rid of. One reader expressed hesitancy to get rid of something for fear she might need it down the road. So, I thought I would share some of the rules I used for deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. These rules aren’t unbreakable, but they are guidelines that help
the mediumalized living room shelves
The living room shelves were one area that made me decide it was time to thin down my ironstone collection and other antiques from my stash. I put ironstone casseroles on the top shelf because I had nowhere else to put them. Since I’ve displayed all sorts of ironstone pieces all over my house for years, it didn’t seem odd, but I realized I put them there by default, not because they were the best thing for those shelves. I
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.
In the Studio
Artistic Endeavors
my next big project(s)
After working as a creative entrepreneur since 2008, I have learned that projects come in seasons. Sometimes those seasons last for years and sometimes they are brief, fleeting. Some seasons I repeat, in new ways, over and over again because I enjoy them so thoroughly and feel called back to them. Some seasons are experienced and then come to an end. I’ve written and published two books, both in their seasons. Both were a part of my growth, my story,
slow and steady artistic growth
For many years, I have championed the idea that practice makes better. I recently saw something to add to that from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. “Two simple rules: 1.) You get better at what you practice. 2.) Everything is practice.” Sometimes, with my art, I wonder if I’ve improved and, if so, how much. There are days when I feel like I’ve grown in leaps and bounds and other days when I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten how to
Society6 prints & paper sale
For those interested in prints, wrapping papers, and cards, I added a few new designs to my Society6 shop and most of my products are currently 50% off! One of my newest prints is this pair of rabbits… I didn’t add any new paper designs this year (time got away from me), but papers I designed in previous seasons are still available and are on sale for $10, which is 60% off the regular price. You can find all of
Artist Reference Photos | Portraits & People
We have been adding a bunch of new photos to the Artist Reference Photos site each week, including some lovely new still-life vignettes and landscapes with barns, cows, and sheep. I’ve always collected photos for myself, but it’s been fun to be more intentional about it and collecting photos to share on the site. As a recap, Artist Reference Photos is a free, reference-sharing site for artists. All images on there are either taken by me or donated to the
Feels Like Home | three year anniversary giveaway
This giveaway is closed. The winners are Naomi B, Gail J, and Judi Y. Congrats, and thanks to all who entered and celebrated this book birthday with me! Feels Like Home is still $11.99 on Amazon if you want some extra inspiration for making your house feel more like your home. Can you believe Feels Like Home turns three this week? It was released on October 12, 2021, and we can’t let this book birthday pass without a little celebration.
original oil paintings to sell at Lucketts
It was sort of inevitable. I move back to within an hour from Lucketts and I get sucked back in. (And I mean that in the best possible way.) If you were reading this blog before I moved to Minnesota, you’ll remember the days when I was a full-time vendor at the Old Lucketts Store in Lucketts, VA, and when I sold at the Spring Market each year. Lucketts has always been a very special part of my story since
at home
All Things Home
progress on the front garden bed
I’ve been chipping away at gardening projects this week and have most of the front garden bed planted. After looking at black plastic for a year, it’s nice to see plants and mulch out there. As a reminder, I laid down black plastic to smother some weeds and get a fresh start with this bed. A couple of weeks ago, I started lifting up the plastic to plant a boxwood hedge along the house. I received several comments from experienced
mock orange blossoms
We bought our house in the late summer, so it wasn’t until the next spring that I was surprised by the beautiful white blooms on an overgrown bush in our side yard. To say it’s overgrown would be a bit of an understatement because it’s literally falling over to one side under its own weight. I wasn’t sure what it was, but my keen-eyed Instagram followers told me it is a mock orange bush. They are apparently prized bushes for
Lucketts Spring Market 2025 Purchases
I must say, I was pretty proud of myself for the restraint I showed while shopping the Lucketts Spring Market. With the exception of one piece, I stuck to my list (you can find my list HERE) and didn’t buy small things that would add clutter to collections I’ve been trying to thin down. I had the perfect spot for everything I purchased, and I didn’t regret leaving things I felt tempted to buy at the market for others to
Lucketts Spring Market 2025 Recap
The Lucketts Spring Market 2025 is in the books! Oh man, what a special group of people who work so hard to put on an amazing event for their customers. I’m constantly impressed with their attention to detail and desire to make every event with the Lucketts name memorable. The Lucketts team doesn’t have to create a new theme for each market. All of the signage and displays they’ve used are spectacular and could certainly be used again. However, each
Lucketts Spring Market 2025 wish list
It’s time for another Lucketts Spring Market! Right on cue, the rains have come in just as vendors are setting up, and there is more rain in the forecast. If an area is ever experiencing a drought, they just need Lucketts to set up shop, and the rain will come! As a former vendor who has experienced spring rain at Lucketts, I’m only partially kidding. Fortunately, the Clark County Fairgrounds has good drainage, and most vendors are in covered buildings.
planting the front garden bed | part one
I feel like I’m way behind with gardening chores and projects, but when I looked back at last year to see when I did most of my gardening work, I’m pretty much on schedule. I might just be a week or two behind, but not as far behind as I feel! My two biggest garden projects this year are planting the front bed and cleaning up the left garden bed. Since I want to get plants in the ground as
Everyday Moments
A Slice of Life
miss mustard seed tees & hoodies
Do you remember Miss Mustard Seed tees and hoodies? We’re going almost ten years back when I used to sell in retail spaces, at markets, and regularly added products to an online store. I loved designing and wearing my own tees and hoodies, and they were my uniform for many years. I finally let go of my last paint-splattered, faded sweatshirt a couple of years ago. I’ve wanted to relaunch tees and hoodies for years, but I always get hung
your creative super power
A question I received when I shared one of my paintings on Instagram earlier this week stuck with me. I posted a picture of a cat painting as an example when someone asked if I only paint dogs. It was this painting… Here was her question… Two of the questions are about method and technique, which I won’t go into in this post. But the second question is the one that hung with me. “Do you actually SEE them that
Arezzo Antique Market
After our day-and-a-half delay in London, we arrived in Florence late at night and sleepily went through customs and connected with the driver who would take us to the Prone to Wander retreat in Sovicelle. He was a kind gentleman who spoke a little English, so we exchanged the usual pleasantries, then sat quietly for the rest of the drive. The main excitement of the ride was his driving style. Mom and I referred to him as Mario Andretti the
four things | fifty-three
I’ve spent a lot of time at the easel this week, painting every day. I am pushing through to get as many pet commissions done for Christmas presents before it’s too late for oils to dry in time. I used to sit in front of old pieces of furniture, and now I sit in front of small wood panels clamped in an easel. Both tasks are about transformation. Both involve paint, brushes, and creative decisions. I have grown and changed
Chawton House & Delightful Delays
The afternoon was fading into the evening as we finished touring the garden of Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, and we decided to walk down the road to visit Chawton House, home of Jane’s brother, Edward. He inherited the estate, including the house where Jane lived, from the Knight family, who named him their heir. We knew it would be closed, but it was worth the five-minute walk to see a bit more of Chawton, the house, chapel, and grounds.
four things | fifty-two
It’s hard to believe we’re in the final two months of 2025. Didn’t it just start? I remember someone telling me I pressed the fast-forward button on my life when I was holding a newborn Marshall in my arms, and she was right. The years seem so fleeting and precious, and our growing, maturing boys are a great measuring stick for the passage of time. I love this time of year, though—the cooler temperatures and build-up of anticipation to Christmas.
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.