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Favorite Finds

Color Inspiration

I have been a little stuck with a few rooms in my home.  A kitchen and family room makeover will be happening in a few months and I really want to get our master bedroom finished.  While I know the overall look I want, I’ve felt a little stuck on the details.  I just know I want things different.  These rooms are all a part of an addition that was put on our 1940’s home about nine years ago.  The kitchen has awesome storage and a great floor plan, but the finishes aren’t to my liking.  Green laminate counters, maple cabinetry and linoleum floors are not what I would’ve picked out.  The family room is a little awkward, but it’s a large room and we have plans to make the layout work.  It involves demolishing an ugly fireplace and putting up built-ins to house a flat screen TV in its place. 

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a dresser, a story and a decision

I find my furniture all over the place.  Yard sales, consignment shops, auctions, estate sales, curbs, thrift stores, friends, family, antique stores…  This one was found on Craig’s List.  It looked like this when I picked it up.  The shape is gorgeous, but the peeling veneer and missing details had the old girl showing her age.  Instead of trying to repair and hide all of the quirks, I decided to celebrate them.  This is an old dresser and it doesn’t need to look new.  A heavily distressed paint camouflaged all of the imperfections and played up the texture of the piece. I really love how this one turned out.  One of my favorites and I really, really wanted to keep it, but it went to Lucketts.  That seems to be a theme with me, lately. A funny story about this dresser…I drove out to pick it up along with another one

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great finds, the one thing I won’t paint and a giveaway

I set out Sunday afternoon to hit an antique mall I hadn’t been to in a while.  I really need to start building up a stash for the Lucketts Antique Market in May.  Well, the antique mall I wanted to mill around in was closed.  Like, forever.  So, hmmm…I have a couple hours to myself.  Where can I go?  I pulled out my handy iPhone and looked up some antique stores in the area.  The first one I went to was a bust.  Mostly.  I did find this awesome camera… It was super cheap, but it was about the only thing in the place that was.  So, I headed to the next place on my phone.  It didn’t look promising.  It’s a tiny, little…almost a shed.  At first glance, I thought it was going to be stuff with reproduction primitives, based on the name and the outside.  I started walking

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lisa leonard home decor & a french armoire

I am inspired by women who are pursuing their passion, pushing their creativity and making their mark.  Lisa Leonard is one of those women.  I have loved her work since I first noticed it on blogs a little over a year ago.  She makes amazing jewelry, which I love, but now she’s branched out into my world –  Home Decor…Lisa Leonard style. I was totally smitten with this customizable pennant banner.  You can pick any word you want.  This has been a dream season in my life, so that is the word I chose.  I love how Lisa took what she has done in jewelry and translated it into jewelry for your home.  She’s brilliant.  Wouldn’t this be perfect for a baby gift, at a wedding, or…say…anywhere.   She also carries custom cake forks, wall hangings, bowls, baby spoons, and more.  You must check it out! For full disclosure, Lisa is one of my sponsors,

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Fondant and Tears

Today was sort of a mixed bag for me.  We’ll start with some of the good.  I got more Chalk Paint colors to try and I received a fun box of goodies from one of my new sponsors, Cat from Baby Jewels. She made me a fondant stamp with my logo on it!  I’m planning to make mini cupcakes to bring to the Lucketts Antique Market in May to give out to my readers.  Such a great idea!  Wouldn’t this be awesome for a wedding, anniversary or shower? She also made me a self-inking stamp with my logo and web address.  I am going to use this so much for my weather-resistant tags and other marketing materials.  She also offers lots of cute designs that are customizable, like this book stamp.  We’ll be doing a giveaway in the future, so just keep an eye out for that.  Thanks so much for these awesome

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Restocking

Today was a good day.  I had my foot x-rayed (after dropping two sheets of bead board on it last Friday) and it’s badly bruise, but not broken.  Yay!  I was having nightmares of a paint-splattered cast.  I bought a great French chair off Craig’s List.  And, I turned thirty-three today.  My husband did a grand job with it, too.  He bought me a spa day and some gift cards, so I can shop.  My boys signed cards for me and sang the cutest version of “Happy Birthday” ever.  I had to bake my own cake, because none of my boys can bake.  I made a Texas Sheet Cake, like my mom used to make.  I had no idea there’s half a box of butter in that cake.  AND Crisco.  Oh well.  It’s once a year.  I also got the weekend totals for my Lucketts sales and…well…let’s just say I have A

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Couldn’t Walk Away

Surprisingly, the more I am around antiques, the easier it is for me to resist the urge to buy everything that catches my eye.  This amazing wire caddy holding 12 mini clay pots was in Christine’s space at Wild Rose the day I moved out.  I kept looking at it.  It was a siren…calling to me.  My husband is outside tying the antique shoe rack to the top of our van and I’m eyeing things I want to buy instead of packing.  I went back to my packing and suddenly became paranoid that someone else would come into the shop, make a beeline for the caddy and buy it while I was loading my car.  When I start getting paranoid, I know I need to buy it or regret it later.  I informed Lynette, “Ok.  I’m getting this.” and plunked it clearly on the counter.  I’m so happy I did. 

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Abodent & a Winner

One fun thing about blogging is getting to introduce others to products and companies I really like.  I was recently contacted by UK based Abodent about sponsoring my blog.  (Do you think it was because of the Union Jack dresser?)  Well, I loved their stuff so much, I asked for some of their products instead of a monetary sponsorship and I was not disappointed.    Goldfinch Dyad Cushion I knew immediately I wanted one of their beautiful pillow covers.  Not only is this one so pretty, but it’s extremely well made with exquisite detail on the back.  I love it!  They also carry unique hardware including hooks… Two Tusk Coat Hook …and cabinet knobs.  Brushed Oval Quartz Cupboard Knob You’ll see these quartz knobs very soon on one of my newest dressers.  Maypole Drawer Knob The Library Drawer Knob Dried Sycamore Seed Knob and Royal Rose Duo Cabinet Knob They also carry decorative pieces and tableware like

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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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