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All Things Home

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

Mixing Milk Paint Video Tutorial

I made several videos on using milk paint when I first launched the line, but they could use some updating.  First of all, it was just me in my basement with a camera on a tripod.  While I think there’s something approachable and real about those, you can’t always clearly see what I’m doing and that’s the whole point of a video tutorial!  I was also very loosey-goosey about my instructions.  That’s just how I am, but I know a lot of people need specifics and, when it comes to using milk paint for the first time, specifics are very helpful. So, we’re in the process of remaking our videos (and we’ll get to the slipcover videos and new upholster videos soon, too!)  We now have a camera man, Jeff, a beefy camera, mics, lighting and a second camera to capture overhead detail shots.  We also have Kriste. As crafty

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Favorite Finds

free antique piano, a victorian settee & a preview

** I’ve had a lot of inquiries from wonderful people offering the piano a good home and I believe it has found one.  Thanks so much to all who were interested! ** Yep, you read the title right.  I am offering our 100+ year old upright piano for free.  If you read my book, you know the story behind the piano.  For those who haven’t or need a refresher, Jeff gave me this piano.  I grew up in a musical family and I’ve wanted a piano for a long time.  When we moved to this area almost 8 years ago, one surfaced at a church yard sale.  It was $300, which was more money we had to spend on something that wasn’t groceries or diapers.  I looked a the posted picture and sighed, knowing we just couldn’t swing it. A few days later, Jeff was working late and being very

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Favorite Finds

another alarm clock jackpot, a pet jug & other finds…

Kriste and I went on a shopping trip/field trip today as planned.  It was so fun having someone along to bounce ideas off of, to point things out and to brainstorm a bit.  (Mom, you’re great to shop with, too.  Had to throw that out there.) Anyway, we throughly combed every aisle at the craft store…filling the cart with things for seasonal projects, glitter projects, photo shoots, milk paint projects and the look book two.  We came up with some ideas that I’m pretty excited about. We also went to a local antique mall to look mostly for photo shoot props and things to sell in the online shop and at the Chapel Market In October.  Do you remember the alarm clock jackpot I hit a few weeks ago?  We were in that exact booth today and I started turning around to point out the spot where I last scored a bunch

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Before and Afters

hand painted antique sled

Before I get to the sled (yes, in August), I wanted to give some details on the yard sale I’m having on Saturday, August 9, 2014.  I’m actually piggy-backing on the yard sale one of my friends is having.  I really want to flush some things out of my house and this is a great opportunity to do it.  The sale will be at an old commercial building formerly known as Distelfink.  (Locals will know what I’m talking about!)  The address is 2710 Old Harrisburg Rd, Gettysburg, PA, which is just off the Rt 15 Hunterstown exit. I’ll be at the sale on Saturday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, but my friend will be set up Wednesday – Saturday.  She’s selling designer women’s clothing, kid’s clothing, toys, books, home accessories, luggage rack for the car…tons of stuff. Now, this is not an antique sale overflowing with ironstone, but I

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Before and Afters

silvertone finds a home & French chairs get a fresh start

I’ve been working on restoring an antique Silvertone phonograph for a few months.  I got into painting furniture, because stripping, refinishing and restoring is so tedious and takes forever.  Just give me a brush and a couple of hours and let it be done!  But, sometimes it’s worth it and I’ve found a labor of love is good for my patience every now and then. I have wanted a photograph for several years and finally got one in a furniture lot I purchased shortly before the Lucketts Spring Market this year.  It had good bones and still worked (yay!), but it had been neglected and showed some pretty nasty water damage. I cleaned, stripped, sanded, stained and refinished the piece and, I must say, I am super proud of myself and how it turned out.  We do still need to replace the veneer on the bottom of the sides and

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Favorite Finds

the last finds & best pancakes in the world

Over the years, I’ve shared a lot of pictures of treasures I found in my Oma and Opa’s attic and some things I got from their house after my Opa died.  A few months ago, I went with my mom to clean their house and prepare it to sell.  After all of my years of treasure hunting (with permission, of course), I left the house with my last finds.  It was a little sad that the days of poking through bug-eaten boxes with the hopes of finding something cool were over.  There would be no more discoveries made. As I was cleaning out my basement this past week, I found a paper bag of things I brought home from his house that I never unpacked.  It was a little taste of the joy felt when finding something in the attic.  To add to that feeling, I had totally forgotten what was

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Favorite Finds

le bon lait, a bed frame & peppers

I have to admit that this purchase was a total impulse buy.  A few weeks ago, I was looking through Furniture Feature Friday links to pick out my favorites.  As I was scanning through the thumbnails, I clicked on this table makeover inspired by Country Living by Kathy of South of Main… My eyes were immediately drawn to the Normandie milk bottle.  Oh, I would love that for photo shoots and to actually use!  It’s blue and white with cows on it and looks like a vintage French find…  It’s totally me.  So, I dropped everything I was doing and started searching for one.  They were apparently available at World Market, but I don’t have one near me, so I dug around online and bought two from Etsy. I did get so sidetracked that I missed posting FFF on time and I didn’t select favorites.  All because of a milk bottle… …and it was

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Decorating

family gallery wall

When my dad was stationed on an Army base in Stuttgart, Germany, my mom had access to a framing shop.  She took some classes and started framing old family photos, eventually creating a huge gallery wall.  It didn’t matter how many times I looked at those pictures…I would still lean in and study them.  Who did I take after?  Do I have her eyes?  Does this one look like my brother?  That rocking chair is in our living room, right?  I love that expression, the bow in her hair, the delicate necklace, the dapper suit and slicked hair and the little kitten by her cheek.  That gallery wall followed us through all of our moves when I was a kid and is still one of my favorite things in my parent’s home. That gallery wall has inspired me to collect black and white and sepia toned family photos, letters, postcards and

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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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