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a slice of life
a slice of life

April’s Books of the Week

I must pat myself on the back for picking some great books in the month of April!  I feel like I can say that because I just picked them off of a shelf, read them, enjoyed them, and I’m sharing them with you. The Art of Beatrix Potter I enjoyed this book on a few different levels.  First off, I liked learning more about Beatrix Potter as a writer, artist, and creative.  This book is part biography with family photos and details about her childhood and how her stories and art began and evolved. I also enjoyed this book as a subject to study as an artist.  There are so many delightful sketches and watercolor paintings, as you would imagine.  I always learn so much from studying other artists.  I feel overwhelmed at the idea of sketching a street scene, but I can learn how to do it by making

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May 22, 2020 19 Comments
a slice of life

this & that

Our weekend was mostly rainy, but it was much needed.  I’m watching our grass green up and our front garden spring to life (along with weeds that need to be pulled) out of the drenched soil.  I spent Sunday cleaning and making soup to get the week started off well.  I did take some creative time when everyone else was occupied, though.  I did prep for the next slipcovers I’ll be working on as well as some painting and drawing. I also sent out some more happy mail! I am taking another Jeanne Oliver class – The Working Art Journal with Pam Carriker and I’ve been making value scale charts with my pencils… I love making little tools for art and Pam has all sorts of fun suggestions for getting to know your art supplies and making pretty and functional reference materials. The bulk of the class is working on

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May 20, 2020 43 Comments
a slice of life

make-do banana bread recipe

In the early days of quarantine, I remember feeling a little panicked about food.  Maybe panicked is too strong of a word, but I was worried about the unknown.  I have some small experience with food shortage and not knowing what you’re going to be able to get each day.  I spent a summer in Russia, just a few years after the wall fell.  I lived in an apartment with my dad and, as the lady of the house, I was responsible for the shopping and cooking.  I liked homemaking even then and my dad was always one to push me into the deep end to see if I could make it. We shopped together the first few times and I learned that it was nothing like going into an American grocery store.  Their stores were small, more like the size of a gas station market, and the shelves were

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May 13, 2020 18 Comments
a slice of life

milk paint backdrops, blueberry ink, & creative community

Last week was the first week that I felt like I was settling into a new routine.  The previous weeks were about figuring out this new normal…the stress of feeling like I’m bringing toxic waste into the house when I order groceries or check the mail, the struggle of learning how to do school from home, the worry of the unknown, trying to sleep after reading the news.  I know so many of you can relate to the upheaval. But, I’m settling now, just as one would after a move or starting a new job, having a baby, or some other life-changing event. I’ve grown used to having groceries delivered and wiping them all down before bringing them into the house.  The boys have gotten into their own routine and have been doing schoolwork with more independence.  We’ve been able to treat ourselves with one outing to Home Depot to

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May 11, 2020 16 Comments
a slice of life

pick-me-up plants

Saturday night was a rough one.  Jeff and Marshall (my oldest) slept in a tent set up in our backyard, so that meant I was on overnight diabetes-duty on my own.  For those who don’t know, Calvin, our youngest is a type 1 diabetic.  This is just a normal part of our lives and we all work together to manage it, but the most wearisome thing about diabetes is it never takes a break.  It doesn’t sleep.  It doesn’t care if you’re traveling or if you want to have a special treat on a holiday.  It has to be considered and dealt with all the time.   And Saturday night, it was demanding.  His equipment wasn’t working, so I had to test his blood sugar every 1.5-2 hours and try to sleep in between with alarms sounding.  I woke up grouchy, groggy, and with a headache. It felt like jetlag; like

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May 7, 2020 85 Comments
a slice of life

#happymailmovement giveaway no. 1 | mini oil paintings

Today is my first #happymailmovement giveaway for my blog readers!  I have been working on these for a couple of weeks and I have over 20 to give away.  Some of them I’m sending to friends, people who have sent me happy mail, and a few members of my mentoring group, but I’m going to be giving away ten here today! And, for those asking, I will be painting more to sell.  At first, I wanted to build a healthy stash to give away as happy mail. I have absolutely loved painting these!  They are quick and give me a huge sense of accomplishment when I can paint 4-6 in one sitting.  I’m also learning a lot through the process.  It’s easy to experiment and not feel too uptight on a tiny piece of canvas.  I can just throw it away if it doesn’t work out. You can tell that

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May 2, 2020 994 Comments
a slice of life

Happy Mail Movement

As I’ve shared on my blog over the past few weeks, I’ve been the recipient of some pretty awesome “happy mail.”  I always love getting mail and packages, whether they are gifts or things that I’ve ordered, but that sentiment has been amplified during this time of isolation.  Every little thing is precious and the connection with the people who made it, sourced it, packed it, shipped it, and delivered it is appreciated even more. Opening each package is like Christmas morning, filled with anticipation and excitement.  And I have found so much joy in finding the perfect spot for all of my new treasures.  Just the act of moving things around to find a home for whatever arrived on my doorstep that day has been a happy distraction from checking the news or feeling overwhelmed at managing the boys’ schooling. Last week, I received some more happy mail… A

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April 27, 2020 45 Comments
a slice of life

“Can I pull it off?”

Disclosure: This post is a sponsored collaboration with Magnolia Pearl.  We received a great response from our last collaboration, so we decided to work together again!  As always, all opinions and words are my own. I saw a pair of shoes in an e-mail from Magnolia Pearl a few weeks ago and right away, I was smitten.  They look like antique leather baby shoes, but they are shoes for adults!  Oh my…I couldn’t send Red an e-mail fast enough to see if they had them in my size. While I was waiting for the reply, doubt crept in…  “Can I pull them off?”  I’ve been marinating on this question and how I squashed my own excitement for a pair of shoes I was immediately drawn to and excited about wearing.  And I realized I do that to myself all the time.   Can I pull this off?   What is that question

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April 24, 2020 No 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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