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

Decorating

Favorite Things

beautiful tools | copper watering can & mister

As I have shared many times over the years, I believe in having the tools you use every day be beautiful from dish brushes and bars of soap to brooms and scissors to pencils and grocery bags.  Functional items can, in most cases, also be lovely, aesthetically pleasing, and a delight to use.  They don’t have to be made of brightly-colored plastic that you want to hide in your cabinets.  Even the humblest of sponges or a pair of gardening clogs can be something you enjoy having in plain view.  For years, I have been using a plastic water bottle or whatever else I could find on hand to water my houseplants.  I finally decided to treat myself to a beautiful watering can that I wouldn’t mind sitting out on the counter or the shelf by the kitchen door.  After looking around at my options and thinking about it, I

Read More
All Things Home

my gardening notebook

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped by a local nursery/garden center that is just a stone’s throw from my house.  I’ve driven by it often and wanted to stop in, but I knew I wasn’t ready for planting until after the roof was replaced and the exterior painting was done.  We finished priming and painting the front and “garage side” last fall, so I was ready to do some planting as soon as spring started to emerge. I knew I wouldn’t be able to tackle the landscape in the front of the house all at once, but I wanted to get a good start on the foundation bushes on the front of each “wing” of the house and get the beds in front of the porch prepped and tarped.  I’ll explain the area in front of the porch more as I share about the work I’m doing, but that

Read More
a slice of life

what’s in my gardening books stack

I’m a book-stacker.  When I am interesting in a subject, I’ll pull books on that topic and make a stack on my studio counter.  If I feel like there are holes in my collection or some tempting new books are available, I’ll buy a few more to add to the stack.  I’ll then grab books from that stack to read when I have some free time or when I’m headed to an appointment or another place where I might be waiting.  The current stack on my studio counter follows a clear theme – gardening.  It’s full of some of my favorite gardening books that I’ve had for years along with some that I just opened a few days ago. If you know me, you know I like big books.  Helping me move isn’t fun because not only do I have lots of boxes of books, but I have lots of

Read More
All Things Home

1970 bathroom refresh with Society6

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Society6.  I have worked with them as an artist and customer for years, so it’s a pleasure to partner with them for this post. If you’ve read my blog for a while you have probably heard about Society6.  I have been selling my artwork and photography there for almost ten years.  For those who don’t know what Society6 is, it’s a print-to-order marketplace for artists to share their work with a wider audience.  Society6 makes quality art prints, canvases, framed wall art, stationary cards, and other obvious products for artwork, but they also offer apparel, furniture, home and office accessories, and their library of available items is growing each year  So many new products like tapestries and bedding have been added since I first listed my work on their site. In addition to selling wrapping paper and prints on Society6 as an artist, I

Read More
1970 home renovation

progress on the garage-side garden

Last year, I focused most of my gardening on the backyard, specifically the area surrounding the pool.  We were in the process of having the pool restored and I wanted the area to feel tidy at the very least.  I didn’t want to be floating in our pool, trying to soak up the slower summer days only to be tormented by the view of garden beds filled with weeds.  So, I worked a little bit most days to clean weeds out of the beds, dig out rock, mulch, and plant.  I’ll share an update on those areas in another post.  This year, I’m still working on the back (specifically the area along the back fence), but I’m focusing more attention on the front and garage side of the house.  These are the two sides that are most visible from the street.  I wanted to work on them more last year,

Read More
Decorating

an ode to linen & Brooklinen’s 10th anniversary sale

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brooklinen.  As always, all words and opinions shared are honest and my own.  Brooklinen is currently having its 10th-anniversary sale, so check out the bottom of the post for more details. An Ode to Linen by Marian Parsons *Ahem* Oh, linen, how I love thee.  Let me count the ways.  I have ten. Number one.  I love that you are a natural fabric.  I enjoy cotton and wool, but you are my favorite. Number two.  Instead of being worse for wear, you get better with age.  You get softer and more comfortable with each wash.  You age like a fine wine or a prize-winning cheese. Number three.  You never, ever pill. You just don’t.  Anyone who has ever slept on pilly sheets understands and respects this about you. Number four.  You feel cool and cozy simultaneously.  You are a wonder. Number five. You are

Read More
All Things Home

the war on bishop’s weed

So, last year I shared a post about lovely surprises I was finding in our yard as bulbs peeked up in the Spring, perennials woke up, and bushes leafed out and bloomed.  I learned the dogwood trees in our front yard had white blooms, which was exactly what I was hoping.  A large bush that is falling over under its own weight is a beautiful mock orange that just needs some serious pruning. What we thought was a dead dogwood tree is actually a lilac bush that has grown taller than the house!  It gave me a better indication of what I wanted to heavily prune and save and what I wanted to remove.  One of the plants I shared was a ground cover Google identified as Ground Elder or Snow-on-the-Mountain, which both sound lovely.  I left it alone to bloom and thought the lacy white flowers were so pretty. 

Read More
All Things Home

kitchen eating nook changes | shelf styling

I’ve been sharing some tweaks and changes I’ve made to our kitchen eating area in my last two blog posts and I’m continuing that short series.  Today, I’m going to share a bit more details about the shelf styling.  I wanted to rearrange these shelves for a few months, but it kept getting pushed to the back burner.  I wanted to give myself plenty of time to make a bit of a mess and play without feeling rushed.  Shelf styling often involves a lot of trial and error, so it’s not a process that’s easily rushed.  I finally had a quiet afternoon last week and started pulling things off the shelves to get a fresh start.       When I’m working on a shelf styling project, I usually have a loose vision in mind.  Sometimes, I want things to be arranged in a way that looks and feels more

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