Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Antiques

All Things Home

artist’s guild, an engineering set & ironstone

I wanted to share a few more of my Gold Rush finds today.  One of them is so simple, but it’s one of my favorite finds of the day.  While I was touring the old schoolhouse/music hall, I found a stack of statement pads.  The top one had been nibbled at and was in poor condition, but the rest were relatively protected under the top pad and partially wrapped in paper.  I pulled out the stack and there were seven statement pads. What caught my attention is that they were for the Artist’s Guild in Rochester, MN.  How cool is that?  So, I grabbed four pads for myself and pointed out the three remaining to Cheri in case she wanted them.  (She did.) I’ve basically been using them as a large notepad, writing down quick to-dos and notes.  I mean, if you’re going to jot down a note, why not

Read More
All Things Home

French Market Basket

I love French market baskets and have bought several over the years, but most of them have been sold.  I have kept three for myself, though.  I like to use them on top of tall pieces of furniture to fill the space visually, add some texture, and provide some storage for rarely-used bulky items. Before setting out for Gold Rush, I had a fleeting thought that I would buy another one if I found one at a good price.  Well, wouldn’t you know…Cheri and I came across an entire stack of them.  They were $55/each, which is a good price for this style of basket. I ended up picking a basket with a pretty weave and wood runners along the bottom to put on top of the wardrobe in the sewing room.  It’s a perfect place to stash extra pillow forms. I haven’t shown this piece in a while, but

Read More
All Things Home

antique jelly cupboard

This antique punched-tin pie safe has always been one of those pieces I just didn’t want to let go.  I purchased it a few years ago from an antique store in Maryland with the intention to sell it, but I decided to keep it for myself.  I put it in the family room in our last house and we stored movies and games inside.  When we moved to Minnesota, I wasn’t sure where I would put this piece or how it would work in our new house, but I just wasn’t ready to let go. We hauled it over 1,000 miles and, as I suspected, I struggled with where to put it in our new house.  Not only did I struggle with where to put it, but I struggled with how these tall ceilings and new finishes made the piece look grubby instead of chipping and charming.  It just didn’t

Read More
All Things Home

the melodeon

You caught a glimpse of the melodeon I purchased from the old schoolhouse/music hall in yesterday’s post, but it was buried under a bunch of stuff.  Here is where it ended up in our house and how it looks after a good cleaning and polishing with some MMS Milk Paint Hemp Oil. I have been looking for something to go under the master bedroom window since we moved here and I haven’t found anything that hit the nail on the head.  I had a $50 thrift store desk there for a while, but it was more of a place-holder than anything else.  I moved that desk into the sewing room and put the melodeon in its place. (I wrapped some fabric around the seat cushion for now, but I’m going to fix the seat and upholster it.) The style of this piece fits much better with the French wardrobe and

Read More
All Things Home

the old schoolhouse/music hall

Before I share about the old schoolhouse/music hall I visited during Gold Rush, I wanted to let everyone know I listed a bunch of paintings for sale on Daily Paint Works.  This latest sale includes eight 5 x 7s from my “Out the Window” series, a calf, a country church, and I finally felt like I could let go of one of my sepia-toned rabbits. These paintings are sold auction-style, so I don’t have to set the prices and so everyone has time to place a bid if they are interested in owning an original painting.  You can bid on the animals HERE and the landscapes (including the church) HERE. Thanks to everyone who bids and buys!  It means a lot to me that you support this new venture into the world of fine art. As Cheri and I were making our way around the town of Oronoco to check

Read More
All Things Home

Gold Rush | Aug 2019

Last Friday, my friend Cheri and I hit Gold Rush Days in Oronoco, MN.  It’s a huge antique event that takes over the entire sleepy town.  I’ve gone the past two years and found some fun things, but for some reason, I wasn’t enthusiastic about going this year.  I’ve been busy, I was certain it would be hot and humid, and I wasn’t optimistic that I would find anything I was looking for.  Great attitude, right?  I couldn’t believe I was feeling that way about antiquing!  Jeff encouraged me to go, though. I almost bailed, but I didn’t and I can’t tell you how glad I am that I went.  It was the best Gold Rush, yet!  (You can read about previous years HERE.) Right off the bat, Cheri and I were making a beeline to a couple of vendors.  I spotted a bunch of gilded frames leaned up against

Read More
All Things Home

real simple interview & craigslist tips

A few months ago, I was interviewed for an article for Real Simple about buying furniture secondhand on a variety of online marketplaces.  That issue is now available on newsstands (July 2019) if you’d like to grab a copy. While we’re on the topic, I thought I would share my tips and tricks when it comes to shopping for furniture secondhand, specifically off of craigslist.  I’ve been shopping off of craigslist for over 10 years, so it’s my go-to place, even though other online marketplaces have cropped up and are just as good.  It’s just what I’m used to and I’ve found some amazing things just by search regularly. These tips are primarily from a post I wrote a few years ago, but I’ve made some updates and additional comments. HOW I SEARCH CRAIGSLIST I search all “for sale” categories.  You can often find furniture, antiques and cool pieces with

Read More
All Things Home

a new home for the $50 dresser

Last week was such a blast.  I ended up spending it with my dear friend, Shaunna.  We became fast friends about 9 years ago when we met at the blogging conference, Blissdom. We are two peas in a pod, as they say.  We’re just alike enough and just different enough. Shuanna flew up to Minnesota, so we could spend the week working on our new collaborative project, which we’ll be launching within a couple of weeks.  There was lots of laughing and a lot of deep creative conversations.  By the end of the week, I was simultaneously full to the brim and drained.  I can’t wait to tell you what we’ve been up to. Until then… I took the weekend to rest and catch up.  I slept in, journaled, did my morning walk, hung out with Jeff & the boys, painted, and got back into some of my normal routines. 

Read More

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.

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest