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five things | antique & vintage art supplies

Antique and vintage art supplies have become one of my favorite things to shop for and collect.  As I’ve hunted for them, I’ve learned that they are not the easiest thing to find!  I think that makes the hunt even more exciting, but it can also be frustrating when you’re hoping to find something specific.  I have managed to acquire some beautiful pieces recently, so I thought I would share those as well as five things I’ve learned about shopping for antique and vintage art supplies. Warning: If you’re an art supply addict, as I am, prepare yourself for some gorgeousness… one | look often & everywhere I think this philosophy is true any time you’re shopping for antiques.  You just have to look everywhere and look regularly.  You never know when you’ll trip across some antique paint box that someone dropped off at the thrift store or an estate

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October 22, 2020 24 Comments
All Things Home

farmhouse white chair makeover

A couple of months ago, I picked up this sweet vintage chair from a local antique shop for $25.  It was just the kind of chair I had been looking for to use at my sewing desk.  I don’t typically sit and sew for hours on end, so it didn’t have to be super comfortable.  My sewing desk is also vintage and smaller in scale, so I needed a vintage chair that would be sized appropriately to pair with the desk.  I liked the idea of how the cutout in the back of the chair would stand out against the pine desk.  It was a little grubby, though, and the paint could use a refresh, so I gave this chair a quick and simple makeover with Farmhouse White Milk Paint. I started out the makeover by wiping the chair down.  It had clearly been stored for years and would benefit

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October 14, 2020 23 Comments
All Things Home

easy ticking footstool makeover

Remember this antique footstool I purchased a few weeks ago when my mom was visiting?  Well, I finally gave it a makeover!  I was planning on making a slipcover, but this footstool makeover turned out to be much easier… I decided to try to pull off a couple of the tacks to see how easy the footstool would be to strip.  I’ve stripped several pieces finished with nailhead trim before and they can be so tedious to remove.  These just popped right off, so I proceeded with the footstool makeover right on the spot.  I was able to strip it in about 15 minutes and discovered that contemporary leaf design was hiding delightful antique blue and white ticking! This layer is obviously the equivalent of the footstool’s undergarments, but I still love it.  It was a little dusty, so I cleaned it thoroughly with a vacuum. I still might reupholster

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October 7, 2020 52 Comments
All Things Home

latest consignment store haul

Hey, everyone!  I enjoyed a few days off but really started to miss sharing here on the blog towards the end of the week.  I got so much done, though, and it was focused, unhurried, productive, fruitful…just what I needed it to be.  Towards the end of the week, I was feeling a bit fried and antsy to get out of the house, so I went to my favorite local consignment store (it’s Kismet for those who are local or passing through Rochester, MN.) I originally went in because I spotted a pair of chairs on their Facebook page.  I thought they would look nice flanking the hutch in the living room.  They were still available, so I went to the consignment store the next morning and they were even better in person.  They were both sturdy, in excellent condition, and it looked like the hand-tied caning had been redone

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October 5, 2020 42 Comments
All Things Home

stripping & waxing antique pine

A few weeks ago, I dragged this old cabinet outside to sand it down.  It had been in Marshall’s room for a few years in this house and our PA house.  It had some water damage on top as well as sticker residue on the sides.  I mean, it has been living in a kind-turned-teen’s room for a few years and they aren’t the best at furniture care!  It was getting to the point that stripping and waxing this antique pine piece was going to be the best way to bring it back to life. Striping Antique Pine This cabinet had a very thin, yellowing finish on it that was easy to sand off with an orbital palm sander equipped with 100 grit sandpaper.  I opted to go that route instead of using a chemical stripper, which is usually my preference.  It would be faster and a little less mess

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September 23, 2020 25 Comments
All Things Home

How to Clean Stinky Furniture

One of the questions I’m asked most often is about how to clean stinky furniture.  Here is the most recent e-mail I received about that… “I have an older dresser that smells awful! I have no idea what to do to alleviate the smell. It was my mom’s and now it’s mine. There hasn’t been anything smelly stored in it but I’m stumped as to what to do to have fresh-smelling drawers without having to sand the inside of the drawers down or douse it with chemicals. My only other thought is to spray or paint it with KILZ. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions?  Thanks for your time!” Having bought and sold thousands of pieces of furniture over the past 10 years, I have done battle with many pieces that were stinky, musty, smelled like smoke or animal pee, or were just completely dirty and gross.  Sometimes it’s

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September 10, 2020 29 Comments
All Things Home

antique jenny lind daybed

I think I’ve mentioned it a time or two that I was looking for a bench, settee, sofa, or daybed to put under the window in our master bedroom.  The hunt has been a bit harder than I expected.  Once I compared the measurements of my space (as well as the door leading into the bedroom) to pieces I was finding on craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, I realized that I was looking for something very specific.   It would either take just the right amount of thrifting serendipity or a willingness to splurge on a new piece or an antique one that would have to be shipped.  I found some online that I loved, but they were way outside of the budget I set for this piece. I found a new one that was the right size and within the budget, but I was afraid I might regret not waiting for

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August 28, 2020 46 Comments
All Things Home

five things | the best decorating bargains in my house

I received a comment last week where a reader shared that she felt like she would never own things that were as beautiful as those that are in my house because her decorating budget was limited.  First of all, I wanted to reach through the computer and give her a hug.  I was thankful for her honesty and openness.  I was also thankful for the fact that I knew exactly how she felt.  I’ve shared many times over the years on this blog that I know how frustrating and discouraging it can be to have a non-existent budget to put towards your creative outlet and customizing your home.  I remember looking wistfully at decorating books and magazines, feeling more discouraged than inspired.  But even though I have a bigger budget now, I still love decorating bargains. Working as an antique’s dealer for almost 10 years and home blogger for over

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August 25, 2020 80 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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