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Favorite Things

a slice of life

wabi-sabi shells

We’ve been spending Spring Break at Isle of Palms, a beach in South Carolina we’ve visited with extended family a few times over the past four years.  The thing my mom and I most love about this beach is the shelling.  We can find wonderful shells and it’s my favorite activity to go out once or twice a day to comb the beach.  One of the best parts about shelling with my mom is that we look for different things.  It’s sort of like when we go to antique stores together.  I know I’m never going to have to wrestle her over a piece of ironstone or a writing slope.  At the beach, I am mostly drawn to the shells with character – shells that “speak to me” in a way that others might not get.  When you see my collection of shells set out together, you can see the

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Favorite Things

My favorite period drama series & shows | part 3

Well, I am still spending most of my time in bed and all of my time in jammies with the flu.  I’ve felt lousy, but I’m so thankful it hasn’t been as intense as I know it can be.  I’m just trying to be gentle and patient with myself even though I’m eager to get back to work.   I’m also thankful that I love my work and miss it when I’m sick!  Anyway, as you can imagine, I’ve been watching a lot of TV as I’ve been under the weather for most of February and that got me thinking about past posts I’ve written sharing some of my favorite period drama series and shows.  I feel like they can’t make period drama series fast enough for me to consume them!  I just love that genre (the costumes, the scenery, the houses, the props) and I enjoy series specifically so a

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Favorite Things

artist spotlight – Maryfrances Carter

One of the things I love most about the online world is learning about artists and creative business owners with whom I might never cross paths.  I have gotten to admire the work of people who are wildly creative and make amazing works of art out of paper, paint, clay, metal, and more.  It’s inspiring to see their work, how they conduct their business, and how they continue to produce while nurturing their artistic voice.  One of the artists I tripped over on Instagram is the ceramicist and surface artist Maryfrances Carter. (All of the photos in this post are used courtesy of Maryfrances Carter.) When you see her work, you’ll understand why I was drawn to it.  Her predominately blue and white color palette attracted my eye right away along with her designs that feel both traditional and fresh.  Her flagship product is coffee mugs that are offered individually

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Art

art books | new releases in 2024

Well, now that I have more shelf space in the studio, I can buy more books!  I say that partially in jest, but my book-loving mind does think that way to an extent.  There is a practical, organized side of me, though, that understands limits are good and things are only valuable if I can interact with them meaningfully.  They have to be accessible and useful to be enjoyed, so keeping that in mind, there will always be some limits.  That being said, I really, really love and use my art books.  I visit and revisit them regularly, so I feel like I can justify making more room for more books without feeling guilty. I have learned, though, that I need to be intentional about the books I curate, so I’ve gotten in the habit of maintaining a pretty meticulous art books wish list.  When I see a book I’m

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Favorite Things

Black Friday Deals with Walmart

Disclosure | This post is sponsored by Walmart.  As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own. Almost 15 years ago, I decided I would set out on Black Friday to see what all of the fuss was about.  I love getting a good deal, but I wasn’t excited about braving the parking lots and crowds.  I ended up waiting in a line wrapped around a store to buy a Playdough set for Marshall and my curiosity about the hoopla was satisfied.  But now, there is no need to wait in line or even wait until Black Friday to get amazing deals.  has thousands of Black Friday deals available today and you can shop them all without fighting for a parking spot, sitting in traffic, or waiting in lines. They are offering sales of everything from toys and electronics to clothes and housewares and more.  As you

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a slice of life

The Brot Box | homemade German bread

I want to let you know that I’ve been working very hard and making tremendous sacrifices for your benefit over the past couple of weeks.  I mean, this was the kind of work that is way over and above and I did it all for you.  I have been cooking and testing out homemade German bread from The Brot Box. I think some thank yous are in order and I might need a vacation.    If you’re not familiar with my brand of humor, I’m being cheeky with you.  Baking and eating bread to test it out was a treat.  I’m often asked to test out products to share here on the blog and I definitely say no more than I say yes, but when The Brot Box asked if they could send me some of their homemade German bread for me to try, I did not hesitate.  (By the

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All Things Home

maple house collective | small shop spotlight

A few years ago, I worked with The Maple House Collective, a small business based in Washington state that sells antiques and housewares online and eventually in a renovated barn.  I love following the journey of Phoebe and her family for a few reasons.  First of all, the aesthetic of the shop is stunning.  Phoebe is amazing at curation, styling, and photography.  Second, I love that it’s a family business and they all work very hard together.  You want to shop from them and root for them and it always feels good to buy from a business like that. When she reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in doing some product photography, I said yes without any hesitation.  As a small business owner myself, I know how nice it is to get a fresh eye on your products and to receive some photos you didn’t

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a slice of life

one of my secrets to a productive day & Brooklinen Labor Day sale

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brooklinen, who is currently running a 20% Labor Day sale now through September 6, 2023.  As always, all words and opinions are honest and my own. I’m often asked about my daily schedule and how I get so much accomplished.  A part of it is that I am a person who is driven by productivity, which can be a good thing and a bad thing.  A part of it is the snapshot shared here on the blog and social media sort of compress the things I get done in a week and it can collectively look like more than it is.  But one thing I’ve come to value more over the years is protecting time to rest and getting a good night’s sleep, which can sound counterproductive to productivity. In the early years of my business, I really bought into the hustle culture and

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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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May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

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