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Decorating

All Things Home

teacup & pedestal advent wreath

Last year, I made an advent wreath out of an ironstone ring mold. I was planning to do the same this year, but my ring mold was at the studio when I was in the heat of the decorating moment, so I shifted gears. (Of course, I could’ve hopped in the car and made the two-minute drive to the studio to get it, but that seems like too much of a disruption to someone who is in the thick of a creative moment.) I tend to thrive on decorating MacGyver-style, anyway. Well, sometimes. Some of my best ideas have happened on the fly. But then again, sometimes I get impatient and force things and it’s a disaster. And the worst part is that I know it’s a disaster even as I’m doing it. Like the time I thought it was a good idea to hot-glue exterior velvet ribbon to the

December 4, 2015 43 Comments

All Things Home

trading horses again

Remember my rocking horse? The one I bought from Restoration Hardware and then painted with MMS Milk Paint to make it look chippy and old? Well, in typical Marian fashion, I sold it. I wasn’t planning to, but a client asked if I could custom paint the same horse for her. I agreed to the job and we tried to schedule a time for her to drop her horse off at the studio. As we tried to schedule and reschedule, it occurred to me that it would save her a trip if I just gave her my painted horse, since she wanted hers to look exactly the same, and I could take the unpainted one and paint it again. Are you tracking with me? So, when I was in Virginia for the Holiday Expo, we met and traded horses. An interesting thing… I really don’t mind buying and selling pieces, but

December 3, 2015 55 Comments

All Things Home

Sarah’s Fireside Room

Do you remember Sarah’s wood stove decorating dilemma that I posted about this summer? Well, I received an update from Sarah on her progress and her plan, so I thought I would share it with you. Here is the inspiration board Sarah sent me… Here’s how the room looked when I shared it back in August… And here is how it looks now. She decided to paint the walls in the kitchen and fireside room in a Benjamin Moore color called “Cloud Nine” and it really unified the two spaces. The rust color wasn’t bad at all, but it looked disconnected from the rest of the space. The white walls look fresh and are now ready for warm layers to be added. There is brick behind the stove, but they discovered that it doesn’t cover the entire wall, so they are going to install a thin brick wall covering to

December 2, 2015 25 Comments

All Things Home

freestanding kitchen

Just imagine a kitchen without built-in cabinetry and long stretches of counter tops. That’s a pretty radical idea in the US in this day and age, but, for our next house, that’s exactly what I want. photo via I’ve been thinking about it for a while now…a kitchen that is gutted and furnished with freestanding antiques mixed with some modified or custom-built pieces to make the space functional. I get giddy at the thought! Imagine being able to rearrange your kitchen when you get the itch! (Jeff, don’t read that part.) But seriously. Not only do I love how custom it will look, but also how economical it is. And, I must confess, I have already been quietly keeping pieces that might work for my future freestanding kitchen… I already have an amazing antique counter that would be a great centerpiece and provide loads of storage. Imagine my shirt counter with

November 28, 2015 108 Comments

All Things Home

how to sew custom piping | slipcover series part 1

I finally did it. I’ve been promising to do it for years and I have, at long last, made good. Years ago, I made a six part video slipcover series on how to make a slipcover. I tried to write posts about it and I always fumbled over the wording and the posts were confusing and long. Imagine paragraph after paragraph of “with right-sides together, insert piping between pieces of fabric and pin into place along edge of the chair blah-blah-blah-blah…” It was just way too much to try to explain in words and pictures alone, so I decided to make videos. They were filmed in my crowded craft room, poorly lit and I know it was sometimes hard to see what I was doing. You can also hear my kiddos in the background. While those videos have their charm and I will keep the live on my YouTube channel,

November 24, 2015 27 Comments

All Things Home

decorating the studio & shop with me in Raleigh

I was home with a sick kid most of last week and, I have to admit, that once I get out of a routine, it’s hard to get back into it. I was ready to get back in the studio, but I was dragging my feet at the same time. On Tuesday, though, I had a full day to crank my music, create and take pictures, and my motivation started creeping back in. Sometimes I need to work on things that are totally not a priority in order to get myself going. On Tuesday, that meant rearranging furniture and getting fake snow in my hair and all over myself as I set up our studio tree. It’s the 6.5′ Flocked Alaskan Tree from Christmas Tree Market. So, here is the story with this tree. Christmas Tree Market asked if I would be interested in partnering with them last Christmas. I had just moved into

November 20, 2015 41 Comments

a slice of life

my favorite things 2015

Today I’m joining Melissa of 320 Sycamore and a few other bloggers in sharing a few of my favorite things! She was one of the first bloggers I met and is such a genuine and encouraging person, so I loved the chance to team up with her and some of her favorite bloggers. I decided to share a mix of things I’ve loved for a long time, things that are new loves and things that I would be very sad to do without. And, here they are… (Disclosure, this post is not sponsored by any of the products I share, but it does contain affiliate links.) Mrs. Meyers Lavender cleaner – This makes the whole house smell amazing! Wood-handled dish brushes – I bought these for the way they look, but they are the best dish brushes I have ever owned. I want to hoard them. Oreck steam mop – I received

November 18, 2015 15 Comments

All Things Home

Kim’s coastal bedroom | the walls & built-in plans

I spent a good part of my day today helping my parents paint their bedroom in the color I picked out, In Your Eyes by Benjamin Moore. My dad kept referring to it as “in your face.” I’m so pleased with the color, though. The room looks very sparse at the moment, but the color palette we’re building is calming, and serene and definitely sets a coastal tone. Before, the room was beige. My mom chose the color when they first moved in, just to get something on the wall. She’s never been in love with it and I think it’s because it wasn’t an intentional choice. It was a default one. We tried out some test swatches last week and In Your Eyes, the middle color, was the one we both liked the best. Dad didn’t get a vote, which suited him just fine. Here’s how the other side

November 17, 2015 25 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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Decorating

teacup & pedestal advent wreath

trading horses again

Sarah’s Fireside Room

freestanding kitchen

how to sew custom piping | slipcover series part 1

decorating the studio & shop with me in Raleigh

my favorite things 2015

Kim’s coastal bedroom | the walls & built-in plans

next art sale

August 13th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

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