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Favorite Finds

Favorite Finds

Guest Room & Ironstone

Last night I asked Jeff if I could leave early for handbell practice, so I could pick up some paint on the way.  He gave me a look.  “What do you need paint for?”  I answered casually, “The guest room.”  Usually me buying paint isn’t a questionable event, but I have a lot on my plate right now and painting the guest room doesn’t really need to be on that plate. It can be served with the cheese course or dessert if there’s room left when the entree is done. But, I really want to shoot the bed for the MMSMP look book and my in-laws would like to visit eventually (if it ever stops snowing around here) and I need to get the room put back together for them. There’s DIY shrapnel everywhere at the moment. Deciding to paint the room started with patching the walls.  This room was

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Favorite Finds

soap and brush gallery

A few months ago, I curated some collections on eBay and shared them on my blog.  Now, I’m refreshing the ones that were the post popular…adding even more inspirational goodness and, this time, including vintage and antique finds that are similar to those I use in my home.  I found a set of French cane chairs almost exactly like the ones in my dining room… …a similar stool and the exact paint and fabric used in my master bath… …an ironstone soap dish… …and the exact alarm clock and locker baskets I use on the shelves. It’s been fun to “shop my look” in these collections and find things I love and enjoy using in my home. For more inspiration and curated collections, click HERE. One last thing.  eBay has launched a new campaign called  Curate for a Cause.  You can check out the full details at www.ebay.com/imbornto, but for every curated

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Favorite Finds

more finds & the holy grail

I unpacked and tagged some more of my finds from Friday.  The contents of the box I unpacked were wrapped in a padded, bluish-green plastic.  As soon as I unwrapped the first piece, I realized what they were – disposable, absorbent pads.  Also know as “wee pads.”  As I was opening everything, I couldn’t help but think of Tim Gunn on Project Runway begging the contestants to not be so unoriginal as to make dresses out of wee pads.  Oh goodness…random. Anyway, here’s what I found… …this pitcher has the prettiest detail on the handle… …and I couldn’t pass up this old handless mug… …and this clock couldn’t be passed up, even with the broken face… …this Blue Willow child’s tea set is available in the online shop… …this clock has the prettiest face… …and I love the label on these soap flake jars… Most of the pieces are tagged

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Favorite Finds

fun finds & help wanted

I don’t know about you, but the whole “sping forward” thing messes me up for a week each year.  This morning I could hardly keep my eyes open as I made lunches for the boys.  Jeff took them to school and I crawled back in bed.  By the time I dozed, did my workout, showered and ate breakfast, half of the day was gone!  I still managed to get a lot done, but I’ve got to get back on a normal schedule. Anyway, as I shared over the weekend, my mom and I went out shopping on Friday, so I thought I would share some of the things I bought. I loved the patina on this handmade wood box inscribed 1865… …and it even came with the key! The crackled finish is so cool. I also picked up a couple of cameras… …some cow bells… …a pretty ironstone tureen… …an

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Favorite Finds

Antique Textile Junkie

I remember the first time I browsed through an antique store, I left with two things.  One was an aqua mason jar with a zinc lid and the other was a delicate cream child’s bonnet, obviously old and handmade.  I was drawn to the yellowed patina on the fabric, the dreams that may have been poured into every stitch and the small piece of history I could now hold in my hand. I’ve been an antique textile junkie ever since. It doesn’t matter if it’s a petticoat… …a tea towel… …a pillow case… …a quilt or coverlet… …a set of napkins… …a towel for keeping bread warm… …or a table cloth. I’m a fan of antique textiles.  Are you? If you are, check out my curated collection HERE.  If not, you can check it out, too, but you may get hooked. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You can follow

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Favorite Finds

the biggest piece of ironstone ever

My mom and I went out shopping on Friday in the hopes of finding cool things to sell in the online shop and at Lucketts in May.  It was a little slow at first, but we ended up finding some really great things.  Of course, we were hunting for ironstone among other things and found some pretty pieces.  I rounded the corner to check out one booth and spotted this… You might think, from this picture, that it is a sugar jar without a lid. …and that would be a reasonable guess… …except THIS is a sugar jar… The piece I found is huge!  It’s the biggest piece of ironstone I’ve ever seen.  It was paired with a lid that sort of fit, but clearly wasn’t meant to go with it.  It is an unmarked piece, but I know without a question in my mind that it is ironstone.  The

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Favorite Finds

Fans, Typewriters & Scales

As a newlywed 15 years ago, I discovered decorating books and magazines.  Well, I always knew they were out there, but now that I had my own home and was in search of my style, they applied to me and I became an addict.  I quickly gravitated to a more “country” style and homes that displayed a lot of antiques.  I noticed fans, scales and typewriters used as props in the homes that were featured and all three made it to my “list.”  The list of things I would hunt for as I was out shopping.  I bought my first antique fan, a black Emerson oscillating fan from eBay for $15.  It’s in the photo shoot below… A few years later, I found a rusty typewriter at an antique store for $5 and took it home.  The typewriter I have now is a portable Corona I found at an estate

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buying & selling antiques

tagging, keeping & selling

I had a living room full of stuff that needed to be sorted out today.  Boxes of ironstone, boxwood wreaths and butcher twine, furniture and other things that have been delivered or bought over the past few days.  I had a little bit of time this afternoon, so I picked away at it, selecting what needed to go to the basement to be worked on, what needed to be photographed to be listed in the shop and what I wanted to keep (well, keep and exchange for other things to sell.) I tagged things for Lucketts that had a tighter margin and I felt they might be too expensive with shipping included. I also thought about what would be better to take to an antique fair as opposed to packing to ship and what would be good display pieces.  Also, I want to make sure I have great stuff, which

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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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