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Holiday
Decorating

It’s finally Christmas

After cramming fall and spring into one week, I’m finally getting ready for Christmas.  We put our “family” tree up today and I started decking out the dining room and entry hall.  The “pretty” tree is in it’s place, but I still need to put the lights on and decorate it.  I know the blog world has been showing off their Christmas decor for weeks, now, so I’m a little late.  I hope you’re not too sick of Christmas at this point!  If you’re not, here’s what I’ve done so far…                          I can’t wait to get more of it done.  I’m really getting into the spirit, now!  

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December 17, 2011 No Comments
Decorating

{the last days of fall}

I’ve enjoyed looking over all of the Christmas link parties, but it’s still fall in the Mustard Seed household. Our Christmas decor will be up from late December through early February. That’s just how it is in this business.  I’m happy to say, though, that I only have two more freelance writing projects to finish for fall and then I am done.  I can pitch the pumpkins and bring out the evergreens.  Here’s a peak at a couple of the projects that I did for HGTV.com for fall of 2012…       …and I took a few shots of these cute little pumpkins and some glitter leaves.  One of my readers sent these brass leaves to me and they look gorgeous glittered.   (Thanks Perry family!)     I’m going to use them for Christmas as well. Tomorrow I’m going to do a photo shoot for the Spring.  HA!  Wish me luck trying

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December 13, 2011 No Comments
Decorating

trim & a tree skirt

The project that won’t ever end (I seem to have a lot of those, don’t I?), is finally coming close to an end. This past week, I put in the trim around the baseboards and bead board. If you’ve ever put trim in an old house, you understand my pain. The floor is not level, the walls aren’t plum and it’s a nightmare to get things looking like they’re at least kind of straight. The floors are almost an inch off from left to right and from front to back, so putting in a squared off piece of bead board was tough. I ended up with a sizable gap where the bead board is supposed to fit snugly against the baseboard. Instead of trying to cut the piece at the exact angle, I decided to leave the gap and put some trim over it. Trim, caulk and paint can make

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December 11, 2011 No Comments
Decorating

{a little Christmas}

I’m finally getting around to some Christmas stuff for this year.  First of all, I cleared most of the Christmas decorations out of my room at Lucketts when I moved and I had some things left over to sell.  I just listed five of my hand glittered “Christmas” banners in my Etsy shop, so head over there if you’re interested in purchasing one.         Second, you may have noticed the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Holiday Basket giveaways around the blog world.  I won’t be hosting one here, but several of my peers and friends are hosting them.  Snoop around so you don’t miss out.  Here is some more information about it… “To spread some holiday cheer and celebrate the Annie Sloan American Tour, we are excited to announce this wonderful giveaway. See how you can enter to win one the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Holiday Baskets given away by over

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December 6, 2011 No Comments
Decorating

Poinsettias

I am totally wiped out.  I’ve been up really late the past couple of nights and worked very hard both days.  The first night I stayed awake because I was struggling to write.  The second night I stayed awake because the words were flowing so well that I didn’t want to stop!  It’s funny how that works.  Yesterday I moved my room at Lucketts and did some shopping and today I did the photo shoot for the cover of my book.  You wouldn’t think that would be too involved, but I assure you it was an all day process.  I had to clean, rearrange furniture and accessories, set a table, make floral arrangements, fix lighting, snap pictures, change lenses, edit the photos, e-mail them for feedback, tweak the styling, take more pictures change lenses again, edit the photos…and on like that all day.  I am doing all of the photography for

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December 3, 2011 No Comments
Decorating

I’m so ready

I love Christmas. I know it’s cliche, but to me, it really is the most wonderful time of the year.   I have always decorated the day after Thanksgiving, but this year it’s going to have to wait a bit.  I have some Halloween and Thanksgiving projects for HGTV.com that I need to get through before I can put up the trees.  And I waited way too long to shop for pumpkins for those projects.  Since I couldn’t find them at a store, I actually knocked on the door of a total stranger in my in-law’s neighborhood and asked if I could buy the pumpkins off her lawn.  The owner of the pumpkins graciously said I could have them, even though I’m sure she thought I was a lunatic…and rightly so.  Some of the girls I’m meeting at the Raleigh flea market tomorrow are going to bring me some as well, so I’ll be set for

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November 26, 2011 29 Comments
Decorating

{give thanks}

As I shared yesterday, my ornament trio is available for sale today on Wuslu, so head over there if you’re interested in purchasing some. This year has been one of amazing growth in my life.  I am equally thankful for both the blessings and the trials that have been a part of it.  I hope you and your family have a special day, filled with gratitude, joy and love. And one person has one more thing to be thankful for… Charlotte (aka “scrapbooky”) has won a Silhouette Cameo.  Woohoo!

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November 24, 2011 13 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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