four things | sixty-four
I’ll share why in the “what I’m working on” section of this post, but it was a big week for me! So often in creative work, when you pass a huge milestone or complete a marathon task, there isn’t any fanfare. You just turn in the work, mail it to the client, press the submit […]
health & fitness update
I shared here on the blog that I made several lifestyle changes in 2024 to increase my fitness level, improve my overall health, and lose some weight that crept on during Covid, our move, and six months of being in an orthopedic boot after I broke my foot. I walked three miles daily, increased my […]
my painting style
When you first start a creative endeavor, you’re just trying to do the thing, and you aren’t too worried about what bucket or genre you might fit in. As you grow and start to find your style and voice, you do start to wonder where you fit. When people have asked me to define my […]
marbled paper & bookbinding workshop in Italy
Our second-to-the-last day of the Prone to Wander retreat was spent at “home”. Instead of taking the bus to an experience, the experience came to us. Maria Giannini, a paper maker and bookbinder from Florence, came to teach a paper marbling and bookbinding workshop. The interesting coincidence of Maria and me both teaching workshops at […]
four things | sixty-three
Our temperatures have been warming, and the snow is slowly melting, so my regular morning walks are back. It feels good to get outside and to get more steps in each day. I used to feel like my days were pretty consistent through the seasons, but I’m starting to learn I have pretty distinct […]
Kim’s Coastal Bedroom Twin | room makeover
Every once in a while, I get to see how something I share on my blog inspires someone else. Most of the time, it’s just me at my laptop, pressing publish and receiving a handful of comments as feedback. Over a year ago, though, I received an e-mail from one of my blog readers, Barbara, […]
Recent Blog Posts
painting wallpaper | 1970s basement makeover
Let’s talk about painting wallpaper. In most cases, I am not in favor of it. Painting wallpaper bonds the wallpaper to the drywall in a way that makes it almost impossible to remove down the road. Some wallpaper will bubble and crease when dampened by a fresh coat of paint. It’s a shortcut that will almost always require more work at some point, such as replacing the drywall entirely or covering it with paneling. But, there are times when the
four things | thirty-six
I usually enjoy the summer because of the slower pace, but this week has been busy! We’ve just had a lot on the schedule. Things should quiet down next week. In all of the busyness (and the suffocating heat), I’ve still managed to get some good things done. Here are my four things – My Jeffersonian period, borrowed light, toning down the crazy what I’m reading I’ve been enjoying my book on Monticello’s garden so much (A Rich Spot of
a love affair with card room green
My love of Card Room Green started when we first moved to Minnesota. I had a Farrow & Ball paint deck as part of my paint deck stash, and while I would occasionally pull it out to look for a particular color, I had never used their paint or one of their colors in my home. If you were reading my blog when I first shared our house in Minnesota, you might remember that it was a celebration of beige
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 warped or in bad condition. I was confident in my math, so Jeff and I primed and painted all 100 pieces, even though
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 made on building the surround a couple of weeks ago HERE. Since I had all of the pieces painted and two of the panels of the A/C surround built, it was pretty quick and easy to install. We had a general plan of
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 “summer person”, I do love the longer days and the slower rhythm of summer. I don’t have to get up early and rush the boys off to school, more of our evenings are free from obligations,
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 vintage oak teacher’s desk I used in my studio. Oak teacher’s desks turn up pretty regularly on the used furniture market and are generally not very expensive, so I figured I could find a replacement pretty quickly. Three years later, I was
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 appearance in his retirement years because he hated it. It was a good likeness, but he was wounded by how the artist viewed and portrayed him, to the point that he threw a high-quality piece of original
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 branches locally and online, watching tutorials and reading articles, searching for inspiration, and then testing out what I learned. It involved setting up a baby pool in my driveway to soak the willow and experimenting with several weaving styles and methods. It was a thorough effort, and
four things | thirty-four
I must say, I am pretty proud of everything I’ve accomplished in the week since my last Four Things post. I turned in my book manuscript, primed more pieces for building a few more panels to screen the A/C unit and propane tank. I built another garden obelisk and completed a few commissioned paintings. Jeff and I also worked together over several days to get the garage organized, and now I feel even more motivated to get projects done now
tell me you’re doing home renovations…
…without telling me you’re doing home renovations. Just look in their garage or any other storage spaces. They will likely be a jumble of materials and tools used for projects looking something like this… Yes, those are still boxes that have not been unpacked since our move into this house almost three years ago. Yes, this space is embarrassing. Yes, I watermarked the photos. When we first moved in, Jeff built some simple garage shelves to provide some storage. Before
power washing the front walk
We have done so much work on the front of our house over the last couple of years. After all of the painting, planting, and updates, there was one glaring thing that needed to be addressed. This front walk desperately needed to be cleaned. We bought a power washer a few years ago, so we just needed to get it out and put it to use! (The pressure washer we purchased is no longer available, but it’s similar to THIS
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
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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More from the Blog
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
how to clean up artists’ oil paint
I wanted to work with oils for a long time, probably years. I set out looking for different kinds of paints to try, to experiment with. As intrigued as I was with oils, I was also terrified of them. What about the fumes, the clean-up, and the slow drying time? I had used oil products when we built and refinished butcher block counters and on a few other projects, but I always bought brushes specifically for the purpose and I
Join us for the #indexcardartproject 2025
As I shared last week, I decided to do another Index Card Art Project and you’re invited to paint along! I did one in 2019 with two of my art buddies from Instagram – Michelle Wooderson and Paige from Open Field Mercantile. We started our oil painting journeys together and have stayed in touch and checked in through the years. I cannot tell you how amazing it was to have two other artists who were brand new to oil paints
getting past the gatekeepers
When I first started oil painting in late 2017, I really didn’t have any plans for it. For a long time, I had envisioned myself painting at an easel, holding a palette, working in oils, and producing paintings I might want to hang on my walls. I didn’t even know if I would like it enough to continue beyond painting the 100 landscapes I committed to. I wanted to give it a good, honest try and see where it led.
the ongoing battle in my studio
I love my studio. It’s a little creative sanctuary for me. But, in this sanctuary, there is an ongoing battle that followed me from my last studio. It’s the push and pull between wanting a tantalizing buffet of books and art supplies in view and wanting room to work and white space to foster new projects. This side that is almost always winning is the former and lately, I’ve been feeling it. Maybe it’s because I wedge a cat tree
January 24, 2025, original art sale preview
The last time I had an original art sale was last April! Ack. What happened?! Well, I know that I was writing, working on a book proposal, gardening, working on house projects… I did some commissioned pieces and a lot of sketching and studying, but I didn’t have many finished works last year. My goal is to have ten this year, but we’ll see how that goes. In this original art sale, I have pieces ranging from 5 x 7
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,
at home
All Things Home
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
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
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
Everyday Moments
A Slice of Life
plein air painting in italy & podere tour
After a late night of travel followed by two full days, touring Arezzo and teaching a creative workshop, I was feeling run down and decided to skip the group activity planned for the next day. It was a tough call, but I wanted time to slow down and soak up our beautiful surroundings. I didn’t want to feel rushed to go to the next place and do the next thing. I also wanted time to catch up on my journal
small business Saturday
As a small business owner myself, I love supporting other small business owners. It takes a lot of work to turn a vision into a reality and a lot of faith to take that big scary step. While I’m not a huge fan of the post Thanksgiving gauntlet of sales (although it is admittedly good time to start your Christmas shopping), I love that there is a day to celebrate and encourage support for small businesses, so I thought I
2025 Christmas Gift Guide
The Christmas shopping season is among us, and Black Friday (which seems to last over a month now) Sales are already happening. As I have in the past, I’ve put together a few gift guides, mostly consisting of things I own and love that might be good for someone on your list. While I love bargains and good deals, I’ve never been one to shop for or buy something simply because it’s on sale. Instead, I hope the things I
travel journal workshop
I’ll give you fair warning that my posts will be all over the place for a few weeks. We’ll be bouncing around between Christmas decorating, gifting, and crafting, to early October in Italy, and then whatever else I’m working on. Welcome to my life. Today, we’re back in Tuscany at the La Dolce Vita Retreat. While this trip was a vacation, it was also work. I was here to teach a creative workshop for the retreat attendees. I wanted my
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
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.