Stories | the time I was lost in Russia
It’s hard to remember how we functioned before smartphones; before we had a map, a full phone directory, Google Translate, and all the information available by tapping a question into an internet browser in our pocket. Well, this story happened before that time. I was supposed to meet my friend Misha that morning. I don’t […]
why you need to buy books & upcoming new releases
The launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things, is just over two weeks away! I received my author’s copies last week. Six heavy mystery boxes arrived on the small stoop by our kitchen door, leaving me stumped until I saw they were from my publisher. I had already received an advance copy, […]
New Prints & FrameTV Art
First of all, thank you so much to everyone who shopped my original art sale yesterday. All of the original paintings are sold out! There are still some hand-painted color charts available, as well as blank color charts for those who want to make their own. You can find those HERE. All of the […]
Stories | the unreasonable quest for potatoes
I’m assuming most of my readers have easy access to a local grocery store, and if it’s like mine, you can pretty much buy anything you want there year-round. You might have to hit a few places to find a specific, rare ingredient, but you can probably find almost everything on your list. When shopping […]
Original Art Sale Preview | August 13, 2026
The next original art sale is Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers. If you subscribe HERE, you can shop the sale at noon before it opens to everyone else. (This isn’t a blog subscription. You will only receive emails with presale information for this and future […]
Stories | grocery shopping, cooking, and eating in Russia
I need to preface this post by saying that I have always been a picky eater. I wasn’t a picky eater in that I wouldn’t try new things or that I didn’t like vegetables. I actually loved a lot of vegetables that most kids won’t touch. I could eat an entire artichoke by myself […]
Recent Blog Posts
Stories | the time I was lost in Russia
It’s hard to remember how we functioned before smartphones; before we had a map, a full phone directory, Google Translate, and all the information available by tapping a question into an internet browser in our pocket. Well, this story happened before that time. I was supposed to meet my friend Misha that morning. I don’t remember why we were meeting. It actually wasn’t to find potatoes or other rare summer produce this time. I also don’t recall why I was
why you need to buy books & upcoming new releases
The launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things, is just over two weeks away! I received my author’s copies last week. Six heavy mystery boxes arrived on the small stoop by our kitchen door, leaving me stumped until I saw they were from my publisher. I had already received an advance copy, but seeing stacks of my new book was thrilling. After all of the thinking, writing, editing, photographing, and designing, it’s about to be released into
New Prints & FrameTV Art
First of all, thank you so much to everyone who shopped my original art sale yesterday. All of the original paintings are sold out! There are still some hand-painted color charts available, as well as blank color charts for those who want to make their own. You can find those HERE. All of the paintings sold in yesterday’s art sale are now available as prints from 5 x 7″ to 16 x 20″. You can shop the newly released
Stories | the unreasonable quest for potatoes
I’m assuming most of my readers have easy access to a local grocery store, and if it’s like mine, you can pretty much buy anything you want there year-round. You might have to hit a few places to find a specific, rare ingredient, but you can probably find almost everything on your list. When shopping for groceries in Izhevsk, Russia, in 1995, you didn’t make a shopping list. You set out, saw what was available, and then decided what you
Original Art Sale Preview | August 13, 2026
The next original art sale is Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers. If you subscribe HERE, you can shop the sale at noon before it opens to everyone else. (This isn’t a blog subscription. You will only receive emails with presale information for this and future original art sales. And it’s free!) In this original art sale, I have pieces ranging from hand-painted color charts on antique linen for $75 to
Stories | grocery shopping, cooking, and eating in Russia
I need to preface this post by saying that I have always been a picky eater. I wasn’t a picky eater in that I wouldn’t try new things or that I didn’t like vegetables. I actually loved a lot of vegetables that most kids won’t touch. I could eat an entire artichoke by myself at eight. But I’m picky about texture, and I’m not a big fan of meat. (If you’ve followed my blog for several years, you may
Slipcovered recliner ottoman
Last week, I shared about the hand-me-down recliner I slipcovered. You can read about that HERE. A couple of weeks after I finished sewing the slipcover, I made a cover for the matching ottoman. I’ve shared here many times over the years that I don’t particularly enjoy sewing, but I continue to do it because I enjoy the results. I enjoy the freedom it gives me to accept free furniture or pick up cheap pieces with good bones but dated
four things | eighty-two
It was a beautiful morning for late July, a gift really, so I decided to spend some time outside in the garden to do some weeding and trimming. It’s the time of year when I usually get tired of the maintenance, and it’s too hot to enjoy being outside, but this week has been a treat. I know we’ll still have hot, sticky days in August, but they are easier to tolerate when we have some cooler weather sprinkled in.
Stories | Our Apartment in Izhevsk, Russia
All of our fellow travelers from the US and Canada stayed with Russian families for our summer in Izhevsk. Since I was under 18 and my dad had his own apartment, I would be staying with him. My dad rented this apartment for a few years, so he had his own place to stay when he was working in Izhevsk. You might think it was outfitted with American luxuries and amenities, but it was bare-bones and typical of a working-class
slipcovered recliner | take two
I shared a couple of weeks ago that my parents gave us an old recliner that was much better than the Facebook Marketplace recliner we’d been using. I was hesitant to replace it simply because I spent so much time making a slipcover for it, but it wasn’t the best recliner ever. There was a reason it was listed for $50. The recliner my parents gave us is very comfortable, but it’s also bulky. The padded back and wider arms
Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 4
The launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things, is just a few weeks away! September 1 feels like it’s far on the horizon, but it really is right around the corner. I’m excited to share our next giveaway to celebrate the book’s launch, showcase some of its themes, and highlight another artisan who shares her creative gifts with the world. If you haven’t already, you can preorder the book HERE. Don’t forget to sign up to receive your
stories | 17-year-old me travels 6,000 miles
If you missed the first installment about my trip to Russia, you can find it HERE. Our first flight was from Orlando, Florida, to Miami. It was a short flight and a small plane that had me blaring music in my headphones, closing my eyes, and gripping the armrests, pretending I was anywhere else. I was relieved when we landed and had some time on the ground before we boarded our first international flight. We would first stop in
antique portrait in the kitchen
Remember the portrait I found at the Lucketts Spring Market earlier this year? The one I saw a couple of years ago at the fall market, thought about, wished I had bought it, and then came face to face with it again? The woman in the blue dress with the dog on her lap? Yep, this one… Well, I realized I never photographed where I hung it in the house! I used to share home updates, even small adjustments, almost
four things | eighty-one
The weather has turned hot again, which is expected since we’re halfway through July and in the thick of summer. Hot, humid weather means I skip my morning walk, don’t stay on top of the weeds in the garden beds quite as well, and generally stay inside except in the morning and evening. I’ve already been looking ahead to appointments, deadlines, and things that are just around the corner, and it reminds me that each season is short-lived. In just
June Gardening Notes
In my May gardening notes, I shared that I put some compost around my Annabelle hydrangeas in the hopes they would do better this year. I have used Hollytone fertilizer on them in previous years, but that didn’t seem to be enough, and the compost has, so far, seemed to be the ticket to healthier, more prolific Annabelles. Here is how they looked last July. They were yellowing, losing leaves, and looked generally unhappy. And here is how they look
stories | 17-year-old me goes to Russia
I’ve actually considered sharing some of my personal stories here on the blog before. When I was organizing our house in Minnesota from tip to toe, I came across so many bits and pieces that brought stories to mind. I considered writing a Summer Stories series about some of my childhood summers. But, I didn’t. I was still in the season of my business when my blog felt like something that needed to stay exactly as it was at all
four things | eighty
I hope all of my American friends had a nice July 4th! We kept the day very low-key, but it was nice to have a long, slow weekend, and I enjoyed watching some of the festivities in clips online. I have spent years in the past going to see fireworks displays, but I find I don’t really want to sit in traffic and fight the crowds on a hot summer night. I’d rather stay at home and listen to the
telling stories
I’ve been telling stories here on this blog since 2009, but they’ve mostly been stories about furniture, about my business, my work, and my creative endeavors. About refinishing floors as a novice, about my first magazine feature, about the exciting firsts for my business that unfolded as I shared online. As this blog continues to morph and I continue to evolve as an artist and a person, I have decided to start sharing some of my personal stories here. These
Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 3
Welcome to giveaway number three leading up to the September 1 launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things. This giveaway is in collaboration with Erin Callahan of Garden & Guild. I’ve been following Erin on Instagram and have purchased several heirloom garden tools and classic gardening books from her since learning about her small shop. Since I reference many gardening stories, analogies, and parallels in the book, it seemed fitting to have a giveaway centered around gardening
four things | seventy nine
Oh my word, it is hot as the blazes this week. I often joke that I was made for Norway. (Although I have never been there, and the ancestry information I’ve found so far has all led back to England.) I certainly wasn’t made for anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. I’m fair-skinned, have a sun allergy, turn beet red in the heat, and feel nauseous if I can’t cool off. So, I’m getting my gardening and pool chores done
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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Stories | the time I was lost in Russia
It’s hard to remember how we functioned before smartphones; before we had a map, a full phone directory, Google Translate, and all the information available by tapping a question into an internet browser in our pocket. Well, this story happened before that time. I was supposed to meet my friend Misha that morning. I don’t remember why we were meeting. It actually wasn’t to find potatoes or other rare summer produce this time. I also don’t recall why I was
New Prints & FrameTV Art
First of all, thank you so much to everyone who shopped my original art sale yesterday. All of the original paintings are sold out! There are still some hand-painted color charts available, as well as blank color charts for those who want to make their own. You can find those HERE. All of the paintings sold in yesterday’s art sale are now available as prints from 5 x 7″ to 16 x 20″. You can shop the newly released
Stories | the unreasonable quest for potatoes
I’m assuming most of my readers have easy access to a local grocery store, and if it’s like mine, you can pretty much buy anything you want there year-round. You might have to hit a few places to find a specific, rare ingredient, but you can probably find almost everything on your list. When shopping for groceries in Izhevsk, Russia, in 1995, you didn’t make a shopping list. You set out, saw what was available, and then decided what you
Original Art Sale Preview | August 13, 2026
The next original art sale is Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers. If you subscribe HERE, you can shop the sale at noon before it opens to everyone else. (This isn’t a blog subscription. You will only receive emails with presale information for this and future original art sales. And it’s free!) In this original art sale, I have pieces ranging from hand-painted color charts on antique linen for $75 to
Stories | grocery shopping, cooking, and eating in Russia
I need to preface this post by saying that I have always been a picky eater. I wasn’t a picky eater in that I wouldn’t try new things or that I didn’t like vegetables. I actually loved a lot of vegetables that most kids won’t touch. I could eat an entire artichoke by myself at eight. But I’m picky about texture, and I’m not a big fan of meat. (If you’ve followed my blog for several years, you may
Stories | Our Apartment in Izhevsk, Russia
All of our fellow travelers from the US and Canada stayed with Russian families for our summer in Izhevsk. Since I was under 18 and my dad had his own apartment, I would be staying with him. My dad rented this apartment for a few years, so he had his own place to stay when he was working in Izhevsk. You might think it was outfitted with American luxuries and amenities, but it was bare-bones and typical of a working-class
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
Slipcovered recliner ottoman
Last week, I shared about the hand-me-down recliner I slipcovered. You can read about that HERE. A couple of weeks after I finished sewing the slipcover, I made a cover for the matching ottoman. I’ve shared here many times over the years that I don’t particularly enjoy sewing, but I continue to do it because I enjoy the results. I enjoy the freedom it gives me to accept free furniture or pick up cheap pieces with good bones but dated
slipcovered recliner | take two
I shared a couple of weeks ago that my parents gave us an old recliner that was much better than the Facebook Marketplace recliner we’d been using. I was hesitant to replace it simply because I spent so much time making a slipcover for it, but it wasn’t the best recliner ever. There was a reason it was listed for $50. The recliner my parents gave us is very comfortable, but it’s also bulky. The padded back and wider arms
antique portrait in the kitchen
Remember the portrait I found at the Lucketts Spring Market earlier this year? The one I saw a couple of years ago at the fall market, thought about, wished I had bought it, and then came face to face with it again? The woman in the blue dress with the dog on her lap? Yep, this one… Well, I realized I never photographed where I hung it in the house! I used to share home updates, even small adjustments, almost
June Gardening Notes
In my May gardening notes, I shared that I put some compost around my Annabelle hydrangeas in the hopes they would do better this year. I have used Hollytone fertilizer on them in previous years, but that didn’t seem to be enough, and the compost has, so far, seemed to be the ticket to healthier, more prolific Annabelles. Here is how they looked last July. They were yellowing, losing leaves, and looked generally unhappy. And here is how they look
Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 3
Welcome to giveaway number three leading up to the September 1 launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things. This giveaway is in collaboration with Erin Callahan of Garden & Guild. I’ve been following Erin on Instagram and have purchased several heirloom garden tools and classic gardening books from her since learning about her small shop. Since I reference many gardening stories, analogies, and parallels in the book, it seemed fitting to have a giveaway centered around gardening
dusting off the sewing machines…
It’s been a minute since I had my sewing machines out. I had to reacquaint myself with winding the bobbins and getting the needles properly threaded, but I slowly figured it out. The funny thing is that I needed to wear reading glasses over my contacts to thread the needles this time. As an aside, I started writing this blog when I was in my early thirties and both of my boys were in diapers. Now, they are in college,
Everyday Moments
A Slice of Life
Stories | the time I was lost in Russia
It’s hard to remember how we functioned before smartphones; before we had a map, a full phone directory, Google Translate, and all the information available by tapping a question into an internet browser in our pocket. Well, this story happened before that time. I was supposed to meet my friend Misha that morning. I don’t remember why we were meeting. It actually wasn’t to find potatoes or other rare summer produce this time. I also don’t recall why I was
why you need to buy books & upcoming new releases
The launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things, is just over two weeks away! I received my author’s copies last week. Six heavy mystery boxes arrived on the small stoop by our kitchen door, leaving me stumped until I saw they were from my publisher. I had already received an advance copy, but seeing stacks of my new book was thrilling. After all of the thinking, writing, editing, photographing, and designing, it’s about to be released into
Stories | the unreasonable quest for potatoes
I’m assuming most of my readers have easy access to a local grocery store, and if it’s like mine, you can pretty much buy anything you want there year-round. You might have to hit a few places to find a specific, rare ingredient, but you can probably find almost everything on your list. When shopping for groceries in Izhevsk, Russia, in 1995, you didn’t make a shopping list. You set out, saw what was available, and then decided what you
Stories | grocery shopping, cooking, and eating in Russia
I need to preface this post by saying that I have always been a picky eater. I wasn’t a picky eater in that I wouldn’t try new things or that I didn’t like vegetables. I actually loved a lot of vegetables that most kids won’t touch. I could eat an entire artichoke by myself at eight. But I’m picky about texture, and I’m not a big fan of meat. (If you’ve followed my blog for several years, you may
four things | eighty-two
It was a beautiful morning for late July, a gift really, so I decided to spend some time outside in the garden to do some weeding and trimming. It’s the time of year when I usually get tired of the maintenance, and it’s too hot to enjoy being outside, but this week has been a treat. I know we’ll still have hot, sticky days in August, but they are easier to tolerate when we have some cooler weather sprinkled in.
Stories | Our Apartment in Izhevsk, Russia
All of our fellow travelers from the US and Canada stayed with Russian families for our summer in Izhevsk. Since I was under 18 and my dad had his own apartment, I would be staying with him. My dad rented this apartment for a few years, so he had his own place to stay when he was working in Izhevsk. You might think it was outfitted with American luxuries and amenities, but it was bare-bones and typical of a working-class
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.