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Antiques

Antique European Mould Rack

When our kitchen renovation plans were in the very early stages, I had in mind that I wanted to find an antique plate rack.  I have always been drawn to them, especially since I have an extensive collection of ironstone and dishes.  There’s always a chance I’ll find one at an antique store or market, but I was combing Maria’s shopping and van-loading pictures as she took shopping trips to Europe to fill a container to ship back to the US to sell online and in her California-based shop, Dreamy Whites.  I spotted this pretty pine rack on her Instagram stories one day, circled it, and texted her the picture. Several weeks ago, before the kitchen renovation even started, a huge box arrived unexpectedly at my doorstep.  Maria is incredibly generous, so it’s not unusual for packages to arrive when I haven’t ordered anything from her.  I opened the box,

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June 19, 2023 37 Comments
All Things Home

Lucketts Spring Market 2023 recap

On Thursday afternoon, my mom and I set off for Northern Virginia to visit old friends and spend a day at the Lucketts Spring Market.  Throughout the weekend I thought, this is why we moved back…  So I could go to Luckettts again.  Just kidding!  It’s so we would be close to family so we can do things together and be there to support one another. We were invited by Chris Tigges to stay at her bed & breakfast and wedding event, Zion Springs, on Thursday evening so we would have a quick 30-minute drive to the Lucketts Spring Market in the morning.  The Clarke County Fairgrounds is almost exactly an hour from Hagerstown, so we could’ve made that drive pretty easily, but this makes the event more of a treat for us.  And, staying at Zion Springs is a treat. We stayed there during our last Lucketts Spring Market

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May 22, 2023 34 Comments
Antiques

favorite things | concrete garden accessories

Most of the things I love as an adult can be traced somewhere back to my childhood.  Such is the case with concrete garden accessories.  My Oma and Opa had concrete planters, a bird bath, and a bench in their yard in both of the houses they lived in when I was growing up.  And most of those pieces were passed down from their parents.  I remember sitting in the grass and using that bench as a counter for all sorts of creative outdoor activities.  I would make mud cakes to serve at an imaginary restaurant and line up small stones to make patterns.  I didn’t need much to entertain myself! When we cleaned out my Opa’s house after he passed away, I really wanted to take the bench and birdbath, but they were just too heavy and my van was already loaded.  We left them with the house, but

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April 11, 2023 27 Comments
Antiques

the white art supply cabinet

As we were preparing to move from our house in Minnesota, I decided to sell the green art supply cabinet I was using.  Selling my art supply cabinets seems to be a tradition when I move.  I also sold THIS ONE when I moved from PA to MN.  They are usually big, heavy pieces and it makes more sense to find a new one that is just perfect for my new creative space.  I shared about my trip to Ekster Antiques when I spotted this amazing cabinet for sale, but I haven’t really featured it in my studio and shared how I am using it now. I realized this when I was taking pictures of the completed painted studio and the cabinet just looked gorgeous!  It was always a little underwhelming against the half-painted minty-green wall, but now it really looks lovely.  This piece still might get stripped or a

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March 27, 2023 21 Comments
Antiques

ironstone cake stands | the holy grail of antique ironstone

Jeff and I were planning to work on the hall trim on his day off a couple of weeks ago, but the weather was rainy and cold and it was not the best day to set up a miter saw on the driveway.  On top of that, I was pretty tired from the long workday I had with my parents.  You can read about what we accomplished HERE.  So, I suggested we go out to breakfast and then hit some antique and used furniture stores to see if we could find a piece to use as a printer stand and for office supply storage.  Something for this spot… So we went to a couple of my favorite local spots and, when I rounded a corner, I spotted ironstone. I am at the place in my ironstone collection where I only buy pieces that are really special, but I still have

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March 15, 2023 39 Comments
Antiques

my favorite source for antique European antlers

I was at an antique store years ago with my mom and I spotted a pair of antique German stag antlers.  I immediately felt drawn to them.  I couldn’t express why at that particular moment, but I kept going back to them and finally took them carefully off the wall of the booth where they were hanging and claimed them by tucking them into a cubby by the checkout counter.  When I took time later to reflect on that purchase, I found vague memories of antique stag antlers mounted on beautifully carved wooden hangers in places we stayed when traveling around Germany and Europe.  I remember them hanging on the wall over corner benches, next to checked curtains.  I remembered them in restaurants and Gasthauses (a German “guest house” aka bed & breakfast that was often like staying in someone’s home.) I don’t remember taking great notice of them at

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February 1, 2023 15 Comments
Antiques

$40 dining room table & chairs

Since we moved into our house in September, I have been hunting for a dining table and chairs.  The dining room has been a bit of a storage room, so it hasn’t felt like too much of a priority.  I was looking forward to eating in there, though, and using the table for puzzles and projects.  And I was looking forward to it looking and feeling more like a proper room.  It was funny…we had our electrical panel replaced and the electrician looked a little stumped when he was trying to label that room.  From the studio, I called over, “It’s the dining room!” I found a few on Facebook Marketplace and at local used furniture and antique stores, but they were either too expensive, not quite the right style or the table or chairs were rickety.  I knew the right set would come along at some point.  I just

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January 16, 2023 47 Comments
Antiques

new antique fireplace tools

The first thing I bought specifically for our house was a pair of antique “cannonball” andirons.  My mom and I went to an antique store as a diversion from a tense period of waiting for our offer to be accepted and I received a call from our realtor on the way that the deal was done.  So, I was shopping with more intention and excitement.  I spotted this pair of andirons and they immediately spoke to me. As with most antiques I feel drawn to, I can’t always explain why one piece speaks to me and another doesn’t, but my mom pointed out that they look like the andirons that were in my Oma’s fireplace and I think perhaps her mother before her.  It was intuitive and familiar and, in this case, I had an explanation.   I knew we had a woodburning fireplace for the house and, while I

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January 5, 2023 34 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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