Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 2
Welcome to giveaway number two leading up to the September 1 launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things. For this giveaway, I’ve partnered with Luxury Brands of America, a US distributor for fountain pens, inks, notebooks, and other fine writing supplies. They carry some of my favorite fountain pen brands, such as […]
Annabelle hydrangea update
If you’ve been following our landscaping projects over the past few years, you are probably somewhat familiar with the Annabelle hydrangeas I was determined to plant. I purchased Annabelle hydrangeas for our house in Minnesota on a whim at the grocery store for around $15/each, and they thrived. They were the best hydrangeas I ever […]
antique-inspired color charts
I’ve been making and selling color charts on linen for a few years. My first one was inspired by color charts found at an artist’s estate sale. I was so smitten with them when I first spotted them online – the colorful squares in oil framed by age-stained fabric – that I decided to make […]
Live Painting at Lucketts
This post has been sitting in my drafts for weeks! I know some of you must have been losing sleep because I left you hanging about the Lucketts Spring Market. I will not torture you any longer. Here’s how the afternoon of painting went back in May… After my triumphant antique find and a morning […]
four things | seventy seven
This week started with the loss of power from a storm. It wasn’t really the storm that knocked out the power, but the wall of wind that came right before the rain. It took out trees, limbs, power poles, and made a general mess of our yard and pool. Jeff had just finished cleaning up […]
Visiting Clarkson’s Farm
When Julia (my English friend and host when visiting the UK) and I discussed what we should do with our time in the Cotswolds, we frequently kicked around the possibility of visiting Jeremy Clarkson’s concerns – The Farmer’s Dog Pub and Diddly Squat Farm Shop. Both of us are fans of the show, and we […]
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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
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.
Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire
After our morning in Minchinhampton and Winchester, we headed over to Chawton, Hampshire, to walk around the village and arrive in time for our scheduled unguided tour of Jane Austen’s House. This is the home that Jane lived in during the final eight years of her life (aside from the months of illness just before her death, when she lived in Winchester to be closer to her doctor). It’s also the home where she completed all six of her novels
Minchinhampton & Winchester
With some degree of sadness that it was our last morning in the Cotswolds and our last day together, Julia, my mom, and I packed up our belongings, tidied up the thatched cottage that had been our temporary home, and set off to see more of the English countryside before heading to the airport to catch an early flight the next morning. We had a bit of business to take care of before we could start the sightseeing. My camera
Handmade Christmas Garland Round-up
The past few Christmases, since our move back to the East Coast, I have been behind on sharing holiday and Christmas posts. After years of working way ahead on Christmas for retail, articles, and blog posts, it felt good to decorate, shop for gifts, and share in real time. I realized, though, that I was often sharing too late for people to make handmade decorations, or that all the products I was using were already sold out! So, I’m going
four things | fifty-one
It’s our final few days before it gets dark ridiculously early. I’m already feeling the darkness creeping in as I’m sitting at my easel in the afternoon. I love winter and all that comes with it—soup, Christmas, hoodies and wool socks, football games, and snow—but I wish it came with more sunlight. I know you can’t have one without the other, though, so I’ve pulled some extra lighting into my studio so I can continue to work a full day
Daylesford, holding history, & dinner at The Village Pub in Barnsley
After visiting Cotswold Farm Park and taking my fill of photos of rare breeds—cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and more —we went to meet Julia’s sister-in-law, Carol, at Daylesford Organic Farmshop. Even after spending only three full days in the Cotswolds, I feel confident recommending this shop as a destination to add to your itinerary when in the area. It’s not just a farm shop, but a beautiful store with lots of inspiration and eye candy, local British specialties, a garden
cotswold farm park | rare breeds farm visit
In case you haven’t ascertained this for yourself, I basically traveled across the ocean to take pictures of sheep and cows. Not really, but that was a highlight for me. Animals are among my favorite subjects to paint, and I couldn’t help but pull out my camera whenever we came across a cow, sheep, horse, dog, cat, quail, or pigeon. Julia knew this, so she arranged the perfect field trip for our third morning in the Cotswolds: Cotswold Farm Park, a
Broadway & Dover’s Hill
We spent most of our second day in the Cotswolds at Hidcote Manor, touring the house and gardens, eating cake for lunch, and plein air painting. It was late afternoon by the time we headed to our second destination – Broadway. After visiting several villages the day before, I started to understand that while each village is comprised of historic buildings, made from the same honey-colored Cotswold stone, they each have their own feel and flavor. Broadway was mostly flat,
four things | fifty
Autumn is in full swing here in Maryland, and we are in the thick of our yearly battle with the leaves falling from our six 50-year-old maple trees. Jeff takes the lead on the leaves, and I’m working on garden chores to give ourselves the gift of a tidy yard over the winter, and garden beds ready for spring mulching and planting. I plan to work more on that now that the pool is closed and I don’t have to
plein air painting at Hidcote
Let me start by saying plein air painting is not my sweet spot. While I enjoy painting outside and on location, I’m rarely very happy with the results. I prefer painting in my studio in a more controlled environment. The lighting is relatively fixed; I have my easel and chair set to my height, all of my supplies are readily at hand, and I don’t have to worry about bugs sticking to my painting. Whenever I paint outside, I feel
Hidcote Manor | National Trust Home & Garden
We had a slow start on day two in the Cotswolds. Mom and I were feeling the effects of being awake for over 24 hours and didn’t want to spring out of bed early for a long day of sightseeing. Over a breakfast of fresh bread, butter, and raspberries, we made plans for the day while a load of laundry cycled through the small washer in the kitchen. After village hopping on our first day, Julia suggested visiting a National
meet Rosa Jo
This post was going to happen eventually. Both mom and I have been combing shelters and rescues for dogs since we lost Sebastian in July. I told my mom it’s her turn to be the primary owner of our shared dog. I have two cats and teenagers, so she needed a dog more than I did. She talks to every dog she sees on the streets, and it became a bit of a running joke during our trip in England
four things | forty-nine
I had planned to write Four Things posts while traveling, but that didn’t happen. Our days were full and, when we did have downtime, I didn’t want to spend it pecking away at my computer. Instead, I wrote in my journal to record all my experiences, thoughts, and observations as close to the moment as possible. I wandered around the villa’s grounds where we stayed in Italy. I painted, sketched, and soaked it all in. But now that I’m home,
the thatched cottage
As our first day in the Cotswolds was waning, Julia drove us to Chipping Campden to check into our Airbnb. Just a few weeks earlier, Julia and I were on a FaceTime call, looking at potential places to stay during our trip. She had sent me a few vacation rentals and National Trust properties, and I had done some browsing as well. We hadn’t settled on anything, though. We were looking for a place that was historic, which isn’t too
Cirencester, Seasalt Cornwall, & Bourton-on-the-Water
Well, I am back home in the US, but I have over 2,000 photos to go through and edit, and I wrote so much in my journal that I went through three ink cartridges in my fountain pen! I recorded it all for my own sake, but also so I could share what we did, what I loved, and what inspired me here on the blog. I hope my travels will inspire you as well. This is my third post
My Favorite Local Antique Stores
I have been asked several times since I moved back to the mid-Atlantic region if I would share some of my favorite antique stores. I will start by saying, there are a plethora of fantastic antique stores, markets, co-ops, barn sales, consignment shops, and thrift stores all within about an hour from me. There is no way I can give an exhaustive list, but I wanted to share the places I regularly check out that are either in Hagerstown or
DIY wet panel carrier for oil paintings
In my previous post about traveling with oil paints, I mentioned I would share a DIY wet panel carrier tutorial, and here it is! If you don’t use oil paints, you may wonder what a wet panel carrier is and why it’s necessary. One of the wonderful things about oil paints is that they are slow-drying. This gives you a lot of time to blend and nudge the paint around, or even just scrape it off. I find it’s even
Small Business Spotlight | A Gallo Watercolors
When I first started my business and blog, many creative entrepreneurs supported me along the way. They showed me the ropes, invited me into their community, and introduced me to their audience and customer base. I love that I can now return the favor to other creative entrepreneurs, from small start-ups to established, thriving companies, you may have never heard of. This Italian company, which makes handmade watercolor paints, fits into the latter category. They already have a devoted following,
Bibury, Barnsley, & The Pig
The next stop in our jetlag-countering Cotswold tour was Bibury. (You can read about our first stop in Burford HERE.) As an American, you might be tempted to say Bi-berry, but syllables are dropped by the English (or added by the Americans) as in straw-bry and rasp-bry. It’s Bi-bry. Now that we have the pronunciation sorted, I will tell you that Bibury is known as “the most photographed place in the Cotswolds.” I’m not sure how you can measure that
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
Spring Break Paintings
Painting really is like any other skill or strength-based activity. If you step away from it, even for a few days, there is a bit of dust to knock off when you get back to it. For this reason, I wanted to try to fit in some painting while I was at the beach. Not only is it good practice in general, but it’s good practice to get better at painting when away from my studio. I feel pretty confident
King Louis & Sky Miles | IOP Dog Reunions
Each morning, as we walk and collect shells on the beach, there is also a dog party happening. At Isle of Palms, dogs are allowed off their leashes to run free for a few hours each morning, and both owners and dogs take advantage. Dogs are running in the surf, chasing balls, playing with each other, greeting all the other beach-goers (who are there for them, naturally), and jogging alongside their owners. It finally occurred to me in 2024 that
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 is golden. A writer is a writer because, even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of progress, you
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 art style over the years, I haven’t really been sure how to answer. I like the impressionists, but my work clearly doesn’t look like a
My new book | Cover & Title Reveal
I am so excited to finally reveal the title and cover for my new book – Move Slow & Make Things: Pursuing the Delightfully Fulfilling Creative Life. This book was born out of hundreds of conversations I’ve had with people over the years, in person, in small groups, and online, about creativity and what it means to be an artist. Sometimes, the conversation starts with a question from someone seeking to make more room for creativity in their own life:
Fine Art Prints available at Marrs on Main
After working with Jenny Marrs on pet portraits for one of her design clients (you can read about that HERE), the shop manager for Marrs on Main reached out to me about carrying some of my prints in the store. I was naturally excited about the opportunity, but I had never sold prints directly, so I had a lot of logistics to figure out. The first step was finding a printer I liked, so I ordered a bunch of
Seasonal
Fall
HGTV.com Halloween Tutorials & Matthew Mead
I know it’s only August, but Hobby Lobby is already gearing up for Christmas, so I can share my HGTV.com Halloween tutorials, right? I actually worked on all of these last November. Wow, how time flies. Here they are… Chalkboard Treat Bucket Witches Broom Place Card Holders Burlap Halloween Table Runner Foam Halloween Tombstones Vintage Inspired Halloween Banner Halloween Applique Pillow Pumpkin Topiary “Grain Sack” Pumpkin Fall Leaf Lampshade We never decorated for Halloween when I was growing up,
Happy Thanksgiving!
May your table be beautiful, your turkey be tasty and your family be nice to each other… …and may you be thankful even if they’re not. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Preserving Fall’s Bounty
My seasonal decorating is all out of order. I have been working on Christmas stuff since September and now I’m working on my fall decor for next year! HGTV.com has me writing several holiday decor tutorials for them and I need to work on the ones that require fresh pumpkins and the great outdoors before the season changes to winter. Our “leaf peak” has passed in Pennsylvania, so I needed to preserve some leaves for my photo shoots before they were
Grain Sack Pumpkins? Oh yeah.
Today, I have the privilege of being a guest on one of my favorite blogs, Dreamy Whites. (I’ve been guesting a lot lately, haven’t I?) Anyway, Maria is one of the sweetest people you’ll ever “meet” and she has an impeccable style sense and knows how to wield a camera. If you have not been to her blog, you must check it out. Maria asked me to share a fall decorating idea with her readers and I was happy to
at home
All Things Home
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
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
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
selecting the right height for nightstands
On Instagram yesterday, I was asked if there was a standard for selecting the right height for nightstands. I thought that was a great question and one I never looked up, but I have typically chosen nightstands that felt like the right height for the bed they were paired with. I like nightstands that are roughly the same height as the top of the mattress or perhaps a little bit taller. This makes reaching for things easy when turning off
Everyday Moments
A Slice of Life
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 is golden. A writer is a writer because, even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of progress, you
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 see a bit more of Florence. The drive to Florence was uneventful. Our driver dropped three women from our group at the airport before taking
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, so she has abundant knowledge of regional food, dishes, and cooking techniques. She taught us how to make Pappa al Pomodoro or “bread soup.” With
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 button, and it’s done. There’s no bell to ring or a team gathering for a celebration after work. You just do it and then move
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 activity by gardening and getting outside more often, and tracked my food. I lost almost 30 lbs and was already feeling so much better. In
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 this retreat was that we had met six years earlier when I popped into her family’s pen-and-paper shop. Their shop was just a short walk