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a slice of life
a slice of life

what’s in my gardening books stack

I’m a book-stacker.  When I am interesting in a subject, I’ll pull books on that topic and make a stack on my studio counter.  If I feel like there are holes in my collection or some tempting new books are available, I’ll buy a few more to add to the stack.  I’ll then grab books from that stack to read when I have some free time or when I’m headed to an appointment or another place where I might be waiting.  The current stack on my studio counter follows a clear theme – gardening.  It’s full of some of my favorite gardening books that I’ve had for years along with some that I just opened a few days ago. If you know me, you know I like big books.  Helping me move isn’t fun because not only do I have lots of boxes of books, but I have lots of

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April 29, 2024 14 Comments
a slice of life

back to IOP for a creative retreat

The last time I met up with Shaunna for a creative retreat was in February 2020.  We met up in Panama City Beach, Florida to spend a few days at her parent’s amazing condo that overlooked the ocean.  We ate charcuterie boards and ordered DoorDash.  We painted, played, talked, took notes, dreamed, asked questions, listened to music, and rested.  It was such a wonderful time and I couldn’t wait to do it again. (You can read more about my past creative retreats HERE.) Well, we all know what was around the corner in March of that year.  We have talked about doing a creative retreat for years but the timing was always off for one or both of us.  In addition, her parents were weary of repairing the property after the hurricanes (including a contractor who started squatting in the place) and sold their condo.  We would look at the

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April 24, 2024 9 Comments
Decorating

an ode to linen & Brooklinen’s 10th anniversary sale

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brooklinen.  As always, all words and opinions shared are honest and my own.  Brooklinen is currently having its 10th-anniversary sale, so check out the bottom of the post for more details. An Ode to Linen by Marian Parsons *Ahem* Oh, linen, how I love thee.  Let me count the ways.  I have ten. Number one.  I love that you are a natural fabric.  I enjoy cotton and wool, but you are my favorite. Number two.  Instead of being worse for wear, you get better with age.  You get softer and more comfortable with each wash.  You age like a fine wine or a prize-winning cheese. Number three.  You never, ever pill. You just don’t.  Anyone who has ever slept on pilly sheets understands and respects this about you. Number four.  You feel cool and cozy simultaneously.  You are a wonder. Number five. You are

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April 23, 2024 1 Comment
a slice of life

the give and take of getting things done

I was checking out the Instagram Stories of some of my favorite accounts to follow and I had to take a screenshot of this question-and-answer post by @themisfithouse.  It caught my eye because this is a question I have received regularly over the past 15 years of sharing online.  It also caught my eye because I loved the honesty of Monica’s answer. It doesn’t matter who you are, getting things done is a give and take. I think the danger of watching things happen online is that it feels so easy and instant.  We assume the people we’re watching get those things done on top of the things we do.  We assume they do those things by themselves.  And, we assume that everything happens in the timespan it was shared.  We assume they do it all.  It’s a good time to offer the reminder that no one does it all.

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April 18, 2024 38 Comments
a slice of life

why you should have a pair of gardening overalls

I’ve been working in the yard and garden beds most days over the past two or three weeks.  It’s that time of year when the longer days and not-too-hot spring weather draws me outside and I get excited about cleaning things up, weeding, and working on more landscaping projects.  We bought a house that had beautiful landscaping done about 50 years ago.  Fortunately, some of that landscaping is still in good condition, can be trimmed up, and provides a nice foundation to work around.  Unfortunately, much of the yard and many of those mature bushes are overgrown and there is still a lot of work to be done.  Last year, we made a big dent by having large bushes and some trees professionally removed and we’ve been slowly working on the rest on our own.  At some point, I’ll share a recap of what we’ve done in the yard so

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April 16, 2024 12 Comments
a slice of life

never stop having firsts

I just turned 46 years old last week and, on Sunday afternoon, I mowed a lawn for the first time in my life. I come from a long line of lawn-mowing women. Well, I suppose two women isn’t exactly a long line, but there is a family history. Whenever my mom would talk about my great-grandmother, Rosa, she would say, “She mowed her lawn into her 70s!” In fact, the only thing that stopped her from mowing her own lawn was when her car, which she thought was in park, started rolling backward out of her driveway. She didn’t want it to hit anyone, so she tried to stop it and it ran over her.  That event resulted in a hip injury that affected her for the rest of her life. She was a really awesome lady, a force when it came to knitting, and a big tipper when grandkids

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April 9, 2024 46 Comments
All Things Home

favorite things | antique transferware plates

I have loved antique transferware plates for years, decades even.  I think they were one of my earliest yard sale purchases as a newlywed.  I remember reading a magazine article that showcased stacks of mismatched antique transferware plates that had been collected over time and I fell in love with the idea of having a set of dishes that wasn’t a set at all.  I also subscribed to the idea early in my decorating journey that pretty plates and platters made unique and inexpensive wall art and I’ve been hanging them on the walls ever since. Even though I have well over 100 plates and platters (it’s probably closer to 200), I still am drawn to them and find new excuses to acquire them.  Well, these would be perfect for a still-life painting, so I can buy them to use as props.  If you’re a collector, you understand that some

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April 8, 2024 13 Comments
a slice of life

the story of the bryozoan-encrusted shell

I bet you didn’t see this post coming!  I have loved beach combing since I was a child but now I’m getting more into researching what I find, especially unique pieces.  While my focus has primarily been on shell hunting, I have also gained an interest in finding fossils and other oddities even if I’m not sure what they are. I’ve learned from years of shopping for antiques that I have a good instinct when it comes to finding interesting things.  That same skill seems to apply to beach combing as well.  Some of the odd things I collected ended up being ancient fossils and some excellent specimens of bryozoan-encrusted shells.  It started with one find that I assumed was a fossilized shell, but the more I studied it, the more baffling it became. I’m not quite sure why I picked up what looked like an odd rock, but there

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April 3, 2024 23 Comments

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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