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

Preorder the Book
Facebook Instagram Youtube Tiktok

All Things Home
Painted Signs

Antique Sign Tutorial

If you’re looking for the full tutorial on making an antique sign, you can find it HERE. I can hardly believe that I have been writing for Cottages & Bungalows magazine for over a year! Wow.  It’s been a real honor to write their DIY Essentials column to share everything from how to make no sew drapes to building a simple bird house to building a shelf.  In the issue currently on newsstands, I show how to make an “antique” sign using graphite transfer paper.  I love any project using paint and this photo shoot was one of my favorites… If you want to see the tutorial, check out the magazine.  I’ll post it on my blog in a few weeks when the magazine is no long available.   I tell you, you never know what is going to happen when you start a blog.   I never, ever, EVER thought

Read More
July 25, 2012 No Comments
Decorating

hardware

We all know that hardware is like the jewelry on a piece of furniture. It’s the finishing touch that can make a piece special. It’s also where a piece can go really wrong.   When I first started refinishing furniture, I felt like I had to replace the hardware on every piece.  I’ve since changed my tune.  If the hardware is original, in good condition and complete, I keep it.  If there are pieces missing, it’s broken or it’s really ugly, then I replace it.  My Tricycle dresser (above) was missing most of the hardware, so I replace it with these over sized ceramic knobs from Hobby Lobby.  I wasn’t sure about how they would work, but they made the piece, in my opinion.     The amber knobs on the Mustard Seed Yellow dresser were actually original and unlike any knobs I’ve seen.  The end of the knobs actually

Read More
July 11, 2012 No Comments
Antiques

live pure sign

A few months ago, I was contacted by Tara of Between You & Me.  Tara and her husband design and make beautiful wood signs for the home.  After looking through their signs, I fell in love with this one…           It says it all.  Simple and true.  I immediately thought this would be great to hang in my boy’s room, which will be a project I’d like to work on in a few months…hopefully!  In addition to the “Live Pure” sign, they also make a family rules sign… …a city sign, quotes, Bible verses and custom signs.  You can take a look at all of the signs they have to offer HERE. In addition to showing their beautiful signs, I have to share how wonderful their customer service was.  They sent a sign to me before the Lucketts Antique Market and I broke it trying to remove

Read More
July 9, 2012 No Comments
Miscellaneus

Milk Paint Video Tutorials!

I just uploaded my first three video tutorials on working with my Milk Paint!  The milk paint won’t be widely available until August 2012, but I wanted to start putting the videos out there to answer some questions about Milk Paint and to show what kind of tutorials will be available.  Enjoy!   Subscribe to my You Tube Channel if you want to see the latest videos when they come out! More to come…  

Read More
July 7, 2012 No Comments
Tutorials

The Mustard Seed Workshop & the Bagster Bag

For some crazy reason, my husband and I felt like we needed to get our basement organized, cleaned and functional right after the Lucketts Antique Market and before my Milk Paint launch.  I don’t know what we were thinking, but it’s been nice to see things coming together.  I don’t know about you, but I feel stressed out when things are messy, so organizing is a way I can regain some control over my house (and a little bit over my life.) We ended up with a lot of trash and we were just piling it up in the back yard (our neighbors loves it, I’m sure.)  The plan was to drive it out to the dump when we were finished.  Then, I received an e-mail from Waste Management, the company who makes the Bagster Bag.  I’ve heard of the Bagster Bag and I’ve even seen people using them, but I never thought to

Read More
June 28, 2012 No Comments
Antiques

Big Purchases

I shared when I posted FFF this week that I made a couple of big purchases on Thursday, so I thought I would show them off.  Here’s one… See that big hardware counter with all of the metal bins?  Yeah, that.  Woohoo!  I bought it from my friend, Karen.  She’s told me so many times that she would never sell that piece, so when she mentioned to me that it was for sale, I jumped on it.  “Put a hold tag on it, so I can measure it when we go down there tomorrow!”  I became very paranoid that someone else was going to buy it.  I had to make sure it would work for where I needed it and it will.  Perfectly.  My husband is going to build a shelf to go on top of it to make it even more substantial.  It’s going to be painted black with a

Read More
June 3, 2012 No Comments
Decorating

Christmas in May & an Amazing Sky

 I wrote an entire post and then I posted it and the content vanished.  Argh!!  So, take two.  This weekend has been pretty low key and uneventful.  I have some Christmas freelance projects due this week, so I’ve been working on those over the last few days.  I have one more to finish up tomorrow.  My poor boys.  They were outside swimming in our kiddie pool today in almost record high temperatures and then came inside to me hanging stockings.  “Mommy, why are you decorating for Christmas?”  That’s a good question and one that’s hard to explain to a five year old.  They are getting used to the decorating and redecorating that is a pretty regular thing in our house. One project I photographed today is perhaps one of my favorite Christmas projects ever. I can’t wait until it’s published.  Here’s a sneak peek until then… Even though I’ve been working

Read More
May 29, 2012 No Comments
Antiques

Who are you…

…and what have you done with my husband? That was my thought when my husband called me at 7:30 am this morning.  (He is preaching this Sunday, so he went to the church super early to practice.) “Hello?”, I answered in a groggy voice letting him know I was sleeping soundly when the ring of the phone woke me up. “There are tons of great yard sales out here today.  I stopped at one and bought a set of router bits, two pipe clamps and eight locking casters for $32!!  You need to wake up and get the kids ready to go!” “Okay…just….give….me…a….minute.”  I hung up the phone.  Did I just dream that?  Was that perhaps some other husband meaning to call his wife and reached me instead?  Had I slipped through some wormhole while I was sleeping and was in a parallel reality where my husband has to wake ME

Read More
May 27, 2012 No 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.

Facebook Instagram Youtube Pinterest Amazon

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Get Early access →

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.
Explore the shop →

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.
Shop Now →

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest