shelling diaries 2026 | part one
We are back in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, for Spring Break. We love coming this time of year because it’s still “off season”, so it isn’t crowded, and it’s rarely overly hot. We can still have some warm, sticky days, and we do risk having gloomy, cold days that aren’t great for the beach, […]
revisiting a special place in Florence
On our last two visits to Florence, Mom and I tried to find a specific place: a piazza where my brother and I each sat for a pastel portrait. We even described it to the private guide who led us around the city in 2019, and she wasn’t sure where we could find it. We […]
four things | sixty-six
A few days ago, we were tempted into thinking we had turned the corner into spring. We had some warmish, sunny days that couldn’t be missed. I enjoyed walking outside without my face turning pink from the cold. But this week, I went out walking in the morning and realized it was in the 20s […]
what makes you an artist
This is a quote from Junot Díaz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, that I wrote in my notebook years ago. I’ve probably shared it here before, but I thought I would share it again. “A writer is not a writer because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, or because everything she does […]
our hotel in Florence
In previous years, we’ve just spent one night in Florence and left early the next morning to fly home. Both times, we happened to be there on a Monday when all the museums were closed. For this trip, we decided we would stay two nights, so we could visit a couple of the museums and […]
the last day in Sovicelle, Italy
Our last day of the Prone to Wander retreat was spent at the farm (podere) with a relaxed schedule. After a late breakfast, we gathered for a cooking class taught by Orsa, our host and the culinary mind behind the lunches and dinners we ate at the retreat. She has her degree in culinary anthropology, […]
Recent Blog Posts
packing art supplies for international travel
I’ve been bringing along art supplies when I travel for the past few years. When I went to China in 2017, I had a vision of standing on the Great Wall and capturing the experience in a sketchbook. I was nervous about it, but I did it! The sketch was rubbish, but I learned that it wasn’t about the results. It was about the process, about being fully present, and taking time to observe. (You can read the post about
building a custom propane tank screen
The only problem with cutting back the abelia hedge on the left side of the house earlier this year was that it exposed all of the work that needed to be done to this side of the house. You could see the staining on the brick from ivy, the trim that was long overdue for a fresh coat, and all of the weeds and refuse that needed to be removed. We’ve been working on it bit by bit, and we
four things | forty-eight
This week has been all about prepping and packing for my upcoming trip to England and Italy. It’s sort of wild to me that I’ve never been to England, given that I lived in Germany as a child. We traveled all over the place, but never made it across the English Channel. I know this will be the first of many visits, because there are so many places I want to see for their beauty and/or historical significance. A branch
Europe shopping list 2025
Before my last two trips to Europe (in 2018 and 2019), I made a shopping list of things I wanted to look for. I thought it would help me focus when I felt like buying everything! It also gave us specific destinations to visit, which is always a great way to get off the touristy trails and experience a city. It becomes like a treasure hunt. And yes, when you travel with me, I will look at my map and
how to install vinyl shutters on brick | tutorial
Over the weekend, we installed shutters on the left side of the house. That was the last side of the house that needed shutters, so I can finally check that project off the list! This home had wood shutters on all the windows originally, but they had rotted and were removed. Before we bought the house, vinyl shutters had been installed on the front and right side of the house, but the windows along the back and left sides were
my capsule wardrobe for Europe
I leave for England in less than a week, and I thought I would share the clothes I pack for a trip like this. Most days, I am a sweats & hoodie girl. It really is my uniform. I often work on potentially messy projects, so I prefer not to wear nice clothes. I also like to be comfortable! I mean, I’m at home, so why not? But when I travel, I want to make an attempt at looking stylish.
four things | forty-seven
I’ve mentioned before that sometimes, around the dinner table, our family shares our highs and lows for the day or week. It’s a good way to get kids talking beyond the typical one-word answer. “Fine.” This week, we have a big high. Calvin, our youngest, got his driver’s license. He was the last person in the house we had to chauffeur. While it’s terrifying and our car insurance is mindbogglingly high, I am so proud of him and excited that
hard pruning a mock orange bush
One of my favorite things in our yard is an old mock orange bush. I had no idea what it even was when we moved in, since it had bloomed months before the home was put on the market. I was surprised our first May in the house when the large bush was dotted with dainty white blooms. It was beautiful and so fragrant. Every May since, I have eagerly awaited the mock orange blossoms to make an appearance. Here
small guest room updates
Painting the guest room is still on the to-do list, and it might be there for a while. As is often the case, decorating the guest room isn’t usually a top priority. I’ve always loved working on the guest rooms in our homes, though. Since I’m not in these rooms daily, I feel I can take a departure from my usual color palette and try something different. The style remains the same, but I step outside my predominantly blue and
how to paint vinyl shutters
When I shared the installation of the new vinyl shutters along the back of the house, several people asked if I could share the specific products, tools, and techniques I used, so here is a post all about how to paint vinyl shutters. When we moved into our PA house way back in 2006, there were vinyl shutters on the front windows that were a faded country blue. Not long after moving in, I took them down and spray-painted them
four things | forty-six
My four things post typically goes live on a Thursday, but with a lot happening in the world, it felt appropriate to press pause on posting content online. I hope that this blog will be a source of encouragement and inspiration to those who read it; that it will be a reprieve from the brokenness of this world in a small way. Here are my four things for the week – A year of travel, tiny perfect things, being
when creative work is about just showing up
Most days, creative work is pretty easy for me. It has always been the kind of work where I’m most at home, most in my element, so I don’t have to drag myself to write or paint, take pictures, or make things. Most of the time, I run to them with eagerness. That being said, I do have lackluster days when I just go through the motions. Today is one of those days. So, I thought I would write about
how to find the right next house
“I would love to have a post about how you find such great houses. You always seem to get such great neighborhoods, lots, “raw material” even when you’re moving across states. Do you have a method? I’d love to hear about it. Thank you.” I thought this question was interesting because I feel like most people are a little baffled by the houses we buy! With our last two home purchases, I received lots of questioning comments, but I think
sweet autumn clematis
I recognized it immediately when we first looked at this house. It was hanging over a rickety fence that would need to be replaced, but my heart lifted when I saw it – sweet autumn clematis. I had planted it in my Minnesota garden in the hopes it would grow up around the porch, adding some charm to our beige suburban house. After a few seasons of nurturing, it finally grew along the porch, just as I had hoped. And
four things | forty-five
First of all, thank you so much to everyone who shopped my original art sale earlier this week. No matter how many times I have a sale, whether it’s antiques and furniture or art, I get nervous that nothing will sell. I appreciate that I don’t take a successful sale in the past for granted, and assume it will automatically lead to a sell-out in the future. I hope I always approach my sales with that balance of confidence and
installing shutters on brick | 1970 home renovation
When the weather first started warming up this spring, I had a long to-do list for the back exterior of the house. New windows, paint, and install shutters, build a custom A/C surround, paint the trim, power wash the patio, and work on the garden beds. We’ve been chipping away at these projects over the spring and summer, and I finally checked the last one off the list – hanging the shutters. They had been sitting in the garage for
ideas from Cheri’s house that I’m stealing
As I shared last week (HERE), I had the chance to stay at my friend Cheri’s house when I took Calvin to Minnesota for a quick trip to visit some friends. The trip was for him, and I was just there to drive the rental car and be the mom if he had any issues with his T1D. But it ended up being a real gift to me as well. It was a chance to step away from home projects
September 2, 2025 | original art sale preview
As always, thank you so much to all my new and returning collectors! It is truly an honor that you would hang a piece of my art in your home. Over the past year, I’ve primarily been working on animal portrait commissions, so I enjoyed shifting gears to focus on still life and landscape paintings. I loved creating these pieces and hope you find one that resonates with you. My next original art sale is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2,
four things | forty-four
This week has been jam-packed! It was the first week of school for the boys, which always feels jarring after the relaxed pace of summer. This year is very different, though, as we essentially have two college students and we’re trying to juggle cars and rides to classes that start and end at different times. I must admit, though, I am happy to be past the ages of school supply shopping hauls and packing lunches. That was never my favorite
A short trip to MN & upcoming art sale
Jeff is usually the one who takes the boys on trips so they can have some father/son bonding time, but he had recently been on a couple of trips, and it would’ve been a stretch to miss more work. So, as we planned a trip to Minnesota for Calvin to visit his friends, it was clear I would be the one to take him. At first, it felt like a minor inconvenience, something I was doing just for him, but
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
creativity conversations | on longing, finding inspiration, and “good enough”
Years ago, I used to write “Ask Miss Mustard Seed” posts. I would open up the comment section for questions from my blog readers and would then write posts answering those questions. We’d talk about decorating, DIY, furniture refinishing, upholstery, creativity, and running a business. I realized the other day that I miss those posts. I always appreciate curiosity and inquisitiveness, so I want to encourage that more often and write blog posts in response to what you’d like to
Washington County Museum of Fine Art
While I spent most of my week of rest at home, I knew getting out would be beneficial. I also knew that it would be good for me and my mom to have a fun day together since our last day together was so sad. We both burst into tears when she came to the door, feeling acutely that Sebastian wasn’t there to greet her, wagging his entire hind end with happiness. But once we hugged it out, we were
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
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
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
Seasonal
Fall
farmhouse holiday series | fall family room
In this second installment of the farmhouse holiday series, we’re all sharing our fall family rooms… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but I don’t do much in the way of fall decorating. I’ll put out a couple of pumpkins, a bowl of apples, etc. and just leave it at that. In the case of my family room, I just put a mum in a bucket and added a couple of faux pumpkins in a wicker basket
apple orchard picnic shoot
Today was a whirlwind, but packed with activities that were good for my creative soul. Photo shoots are one of my favorite aspects of my job. If you read my very, very early posts, I share how much I love “playing magazine”. I loved that I had an excuse to take pictures of pretty things and share them. And I have never grown weary of it! Today’s shoot was for an “apple orchard picnic” table for HGTV.com. It was hot and
a harvest table, a dough bowl & succulent pumpkins
A few of the freelance projects I worked on late this summer for HGTV.com are live now, so I wanted to share a preview and links. I love how these turned out. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I could set tables and take pictures of them all day long. And sometimes I do. Harvest-inspired fall table This one came together with so many rich layers. Kriste and I were working on it together and I kept stopping
Finding Fall Home Tour
Today, my blog is the second-to-the-last stop in the Finding Fall 2015 Home Tour. There are a lot of amazing homes and decorating ideas that have been shared so far, so be sure to check out the links at the bottom of this post if you’re just jumping in on the tour. If you’re stopping from Unexpected Elegance and are new to my blog, welcome! Before we get into the pictures, I must be a bit transparent for a minute. Getting
fall table & buffet preview
As I shared the other day, I could do tablescapes all day long. Other than furniture, it’s probably one of my favorite parts of my job. I think it’s probably because I love dishes, serving pieces, ironstone, silverware, etc. I have a lot of it and, while we do use some of it everyday, I have enough to feed an army. So, I love when I get to pull it out and “play” with it. It’s sort of like a
autumn table & more glittered pumpkins
A couple of weeks ago, I showed a more traditional, spooky black & orange fall table with black glass glitter on pumpkins, crows, pinecones and a paper bat bunting. In this setting, I wanted to show glittered pumpkins in a totally different way, so Kriste & I set up a rustic autumn table with a little glam element in the form of gold (14 Karat) and silver (Tiara) glass glittered pumpkins. Kriste took the lead on glittering these pumpkins and opted to glitter
at home
All Things Home
antique purchases with mom
Most of you have my taste pretty nailed down! When I asked which pieces you thought I bought while on my antique trip with mom, you were pretty spot on! (You can read that post HERE.) Truth be told, I wanted to buy everything I highlight, but I’ve hit that tipping point where I need to be very particular about what I buy. Years of antiquing as a hobby and a business has my house pretty well furnished. But, my
antiquing with mom
After visiting the local art museum and grabbing lunch at a bistro, Mom and I went to one of my favorite antique stores. Since purging ironstone and antiques earlier this year, I’ve been disciplined about not bringing a bunch of stuff back into the house. I do love milling about in antique stores, second-hand shops, and markets, though, and I’m resigned to the fact that there will always be some amount of stuff coming and going. It just needs to
proper heights for wainscoting
I don’t usually care for “decorating rules.” They are typically preferences and gimmicks more than actual rules. “Blue and green should never be seen.” is one rule that I threw in the garbage bin pretty quickly when I started decorating. I want to ask the person who came up with that adage if they ever stepped outside with their eyes open. The dominant colors in nature are undeniably blue and green, and it’s one of the most harmonious and beautiful
options to improve a drop ceiling
Since it comes up every time I show our basement here, on Instagram, or anywhere on the Internet, let’s discuss the eyesore that is drop ceilings and some of the available options to improve them. Let me first declare that I am anti-drop ceiling. I understand their practicality, affordability, and necessity in some circumstances, but I am still not a fan. And, in my house, I strongly dislike having a drop ceiling. I would say hate, but I don’t think
removing english ivy two ways
There was a time when I thought English ivy was charming. I mean, it is. When you see it growing up old brick homes, there is something beautiful about it. Now that I have lived in a mid-century brick home that was half-eaten by English ivy, I no longer find it charming. It stains the brick, it grows in windows and screens, it chokes out bushes and trees, and it’s incredibly hard to remove and control once it’s gone unchecked.
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
Everyday Moments
A Slice of Life
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, we had the most spectacular view of the city, medieval buildings with tiled roofs spilling down the hillside. It was almost overwhelming to think we
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 moved everything sitting on surfaces (which is a lot of things), and vacuumed every bit of cat hair and dust I could spot. I put
snow day 2026
I love snow. Even living in the Bavarian Alps and in Minnesota didn’t make me tired of it. Living in Florida made me love it even more. So, I was cheering on the snow totals in our area as the forecasts were coming out. We ended up getting much more sleet than they initially thought, but it was still a substantial snow event that cancelled all our normal activities for two days. It’s rare for a pastor to have a
four things | fifty-nine
I know I have a reputation for being a highly productive person here on this blog, but there are days when I faff about and waste time with the best of them. I’ve been glued to the weather reports, surfing blankly online, and generally piddling the morning away. I did catch up with my parents, shipped out a commissioned painting, and varnished another. But I’ve been avoiding diving into actual work. I think the anticipation of a significant snow event
Shopping at the Siena Maket
I was going to share about our day trip to Siena all in one post, but as I was uploading the photos, I realized the post would be ridiculously long with a million photos! So, I decided to break it up into a few shorter, more easily-digestable posts. Our group was going to Siena to shop at the weekly market, tour the city, and meet in the afternoon for tea at the home of one of our Italian hosts and
four things | fifty-eight
As a reminder, my next original art sale is tomorrow, Friday, January 16, 2026, at 1:00 EST. You can see a sale preview HERE. This week has been a busy one for me! I came home from helping my parents on Sunday afternoon, so I had to hit the ground running Monday morning to catch up on things I couldn’t do last week away from my studio. I’ve been catching up on photography, painting, and other things that require more
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.