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Antiques

Shopping at Lucketts

I’m still recovering from Lucketts. (Well, I guess I need to give myself a break.  It just ended yesterday and I still need to de-Lucketts my house!  Events have a way of taking over.)  My parents are leaving tomorrow to go back to Florida to tie up loose ends and get ready to move up here, north of the Mason-Dixon line for the first time in their adult lives.  We went to see the house their having built today and it’s coming right along. So, I worked on cleaning out my e-mail inbox, which was way out of control.  I shuffled around and picked up some of the mess that was the result of dumping the contents of my van in the living room.  Mini made fun of my squeaky, raspy voice pretty regularly.  My mom and I finally had our bowl of cream of crab soup.  I was in a

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MMS Milk Paint Boxwood dresser before and after - www.mms2.wpengine.com
Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

Milk Paint vs. Chalk-type Paints (again)

The number one question people ask me when I tell them about my milk paint line is, “What’s the difference between milk paint and chalk-type paints?” That’s a fair question!  It seems like boutique paint lines are flooding the market and it’s causing a lot of confusion.  Which one is best for your project?  Why would you choose one over the other?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? First, let’s take a look at examples of pieces painted in milk paint… Now, let’s look at examples of pieces that were painted in a chalk-type paint… Now that you can see the looks that can be achieved with both of them, let’s talk about the similarities and differences. What is milk paint and chalk-type paints?   Milk Paint: Is a 100% natural paint that’s been around for hundreds of years.  It’s called milk paint, because one of the ingredients is

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Before and Afters

white washed desk & tutorial

Thanks so much for all of your sweet comments and encouragement in response to my recent big announcement!  I really do feel like I have a huge group of friends who have been with me through this journey and you’re cheering me on.  It’s an awesome feeling and it means a lot to me. The next three weeks are going to be insane.  I’m getting stocked up for the Lucketts Antique Market, which means lots of shopping, painting, pricing, packing, upholstering, sewing, glittering, gluing…whew!  On top of that, I’m working on rewrites for my book and developing this line of milk paint.  I need to find a way to duplicate myself, so I can get it all done and still make dinner and keep my guys in clean clothes!  I know it’ll all work out.  It always does. So, here’s the latest piece of furniture I just finished today…  

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Antiques

Inventory

Here are some of the recent finds that are coming with me to the Lucketts Antique Market…     …horse show ribbons from 1957 & 1960…         …this petite paper cutter (it’s about 6″ square)…         ..this apparently came out of an old church…         …a hanging scale…     …and a bunch of film holders.  I’m excited about the idea I have for these.  (I hope it works!) In addition to pricing things for the antique market, I did some major cleaning in my house, bought a couple of dressers, and cleaned out some of the basement.  I’ve been wanting to tackle that basement for a while and I’m finally almost back to my full energy, so I got a good start on it.  There were piles of boxes and spilled Styrofoam peanuts everywhere, furniture that needed to go to the thrift

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Antiques

Shopping & Grain Sacks

I’ve been working on some rewrites for my book for the past week, but I’ve also turned my attention to getting ready for the Lucketts Antique Market.  That means lots of shopping.  I’m always afraid I won’t find enough.  Given that I sold almost everything on the first day last year, I am even more stressed about it this year.  I want to have a lot of great stuff and I want to keep the prices reasonable. This is what I managed to come home with today…   I’m really excited about some of the stuff I found.  I have a crazy idea for some antique 5 x 7 film frames I found. Some other things in the haul are four alarm clocks, two type writers, two fans, two wooden totes, some ironstone, a display from an old church, a wooden vent from a 100 year old barn, a cool brass lamp,

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Antiques

Milk Paint Dresser

For those of you who have missed my furniture before & afters – this post is for you!  Today I’m sharing a classic Miss Mustard Seed dresser makeover.   I bought this dresser off of Craig’s List a couple of weeks ago.     It looks like it’s natural wood, but it’s actually painted brown.  It did have the original hardware, though and it’s solid as a rock.     I painted it out in one coat of a custom mix of milk paint by Homestead House and lightly distressed it.  (I’m going to make some video tutorials on milk paint soon.)  Milk paint did the magical thing it does and created this awesome flaked finish.  I finished it off with a clear coat of Annie Sloan’s clear wax, so it’s super smooth, despite the textured appearance.   I decided to paint the top on this one, since it was already painted brown

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Antiques

Latest Ironstone Finds

I don’t try to hide the fact at all that I love ironstone.  I spotted it about 12 years ago in a magazine and the love has remained constant.  I’ve waffled on crazy quilts, baby dresses, milk glass and silver plate, but I have never waffled on ironstone. My collection has grown to the point that I have to pick and choose what I want to keep and what I want to sell.  When I find a new piece I want to keep, I usually get rid of another.  Here are a few new acquisitions I decided to keep…   I’m into sugar bowls right now.  I’ve been through pitchers and casseroles and now my heart beats fast when I spot a sugar bowl.  I sort of like the chunky ones and I don’t mind if the lid is missing, but I love how dainty this one is.  It’s a

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Popular

How to Make Slipcovers – a five part video slipcover tutorial series

A little over a year ago I made a five-part video slipcover tutorial series.  I used a wing chair as an example, but you can take these skills and make a slipcover for any piece of furniture.  I’ve received so many wonderful e-mails and comments from people with all levels of sewing ability who used this series to make their very first slipcover.  Some were even sewing for the very first time. Being able to sew a slipcover is one of the best skills to learn when it comes to buying (or accepting free) used upholstered furniture.  Upholstery can be dated and stained, but the shape of the piece is beautiful and the overall bones and condition are still useable.  A slipcover can give it a new look while addressing those issues.  Slipcovers can also extend the life of a nice piece and tie mismatched pieces together with coordinating fabric. 

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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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May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

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