Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Favorite Things

a slice of life

January 2018 favorites

Victoria Victoria on Masterpiece Classics is back!  This is a wonderful show, especially for period drama buffs, such as myself.  I think the first episode was off to a slow start, which made me nervous for season two, but it turned out to be a  great season!  (Tip: If you buy it on iTunes, you can see the entire season before it’s released on PBS, so I bought it and already binged.)   Sick-time Stories My oldest son, Marshall, has been so sick this month!  We think he had the flu, although that wasn’t confirmed with a test.  He was sick in every way for a week and it turned into an ear infection, so we suspect the flu.  Then, after his trip to Belize, he had strep throat. Him being sick was not a highlight, but while he was sick, he asked me to tell him stories.  I told

Read More
a slice of life

November Favorites

Another month is behind us and that means I have some new favorites to share with you!  I am enjoying these posts more and more and, I think, a large part of it is that it makes me mindful of the things I’m really enjoying.  I take note of them as something worth sharing.  Whether it’s something I’m watching, listening to, eating, wearing, or whatever.  Paying attention to what I enjoy makes me all the more thankful for the little things. Here are some favorites from November… Alias Grace on Netflix I love, love, love period dramas.  I’m pretty sure I’ve shared that before.  I will watch them as fast as they can crank them out.  Remake Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and Elizabeth Gaskell just as many times as you like, Masterpiece.  I will watch them all. So, when I spotted Alias Grace on Netflix, I hopefully and eagerly

Read More
a slice of life

October Favorites

October has been a great month.  I feel like we’re finally getting into a rhythm with our schedule and a lot of great memories have been made.  The boys had their first sleep over, I had lunch/coffee with several new friends, our church small group started meeting at our house, and we had our first snowfall and turned on the fireplaces. Calvin also had his first appointment at the Mayo Clinic (he’s a Type 1 Diabetic) and I am still getting used to the idea that we live less than 4 miles from one of the best hospitals in the world, including a top-notch Pediatric Endocrinology department. We’ve been enjoying watching the leaves change, the cooler temperatures, soup on the stove, and watching football.  The month was closed out with having friends over for take-and-bake pizza followed by walking around the neighborhood, tagging along behind the kids as they trick-or-treated.

Read More
a slice of life

September Favorites

I started doing “favorites” posts each month at the beginning of this year and that lasted for…oh, about two months!  Life just happened and I didn’t come back to it, but I decided to pick it up again.  Here are a smattering of things I enjoyed in September… Hamilton : An American Musical As a total drama nerd with a degree in musical theatre, I just love it when I find a new-to-me musical to overplay when I’m alone.  Well, I finally listened to Hamilton after it came up in a few separate conversations and I absolutely love it.  It’s not a conventional musical, but has a lot of rap and R&B mixed with melodies that have a familiar musical feel. The story is powerful, the music is great.  I love it and I’m wearing it out on my iPod while I work. 100 meadows project  Who knew that plowing

Read More
a slice of life

Old World Kitchen Dreamware Giveaway

If you’ve followed me for a while, you may have picked up that I have a thing for kitchenware.  I was a Food Network junkie when I left the corporate world, so I could support Jeff in full-time youth ministry and be a homemaker.  I thoroughly relished the time and spent much of it cooking and baking from scratch and, as a part of that, building my collection of kitchen gear.  I built up a pretty well-equipped kitchen with great knives, utensils, pots & pans, cutting boards, etc., but I still keep an eye out for special pieces I can add or tools I can upgrade. Some of my favorite pieces of kitchen gear over the past couple of years have been wooden spoons and spatulas.  I love the warm patina they develop over time.  The more they are used, the better the look, in my opinion. Through Instagram, I

Read More
a slice of life

February Favorites

We’re almost halfway through March and I haven’t shared my February favorites!  I have some good ones, though, so I wanted to make sure I got this post finished and live.  If you want to check out my favorite products in January, you can see them HERE. These are the things I was really digging in February… To watch… Season two of Mercy Street on PBS (and streaming on Amazon Prime).  I absolutely love period dramas, so when Mercy Street premiered last year, I was all over it.  I couldn’t wait for season two and I finally got to watch and finish it in February.  It really is a well-done show.  My dad, who has a degree in history, doesn’t find it 100% accurate, but I love the characters and the backdrop. I also loved the movie Hacksaw Ridge and I highly suggest seeing it, if you haven’t.  Now, I

Read More
a slice of life

January Favorites

I’ve been thinking about sharing a “favorites” post each month for a while now and finally decided to actually do it!  There are so many times when I find a show, a website, an Etsy shop, a beauty product, an Instagram account, etc. that I am smitten with and I want to share them with others.  So, I’m going to *try* to do it each month, collecting things that are my favorites along the way. And I hope you find some new-to-you things that you enjoy! Self Care I go through spurts with this… I really try to go beyond my daily routine and find products that will make me feel pampered.  I had some gift cards from Christmas and I recently took a trip to Sephora, so I have found some new favorites in the self-care department… My sister-in-law introduced me to  hair products over Christmas.  Her hair looked shinier

Read More
a slice of life

my favorite things lately

I have found that there is an ebb and flow to the things that catch my eye.  Of course, there are constants, ironstone being the most obvious, but there are pieces that I have found a new or renewed interest in… baskets  Baskets is one that has been the most surprising to me.  I haven’t paid much attention to baskets and was even slightly annoyed with the stacks of baskets that seem to be everywhere in secondhand shopping.  But, over the past few months, I have changed my tune. These utilitarian gems bring so much texture to a space along with stylish storage. What I look for in a basket… The older the better.  That’s the case with a lot of things for me, but I’m looking for pieces with a nice patina and age to them.  I especially love old splint baskets. Market-style or laundry-style baskets.  I also like ones

Read More

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.

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest