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All Things Home

Hand Painted Tole Chandelier Makeover

I went out to some yard sales on Saturday to hunt for some additional things to take with me to Lucketts next weekend.  I was all excited about going to this 1000+ home community yard sale only to find out it’s not happening until next weekend.  After a late start and no yard sales, it looked like the day was going to be a bust.  Then, I found this great tole chandelier at my local thrift store. Well, it didn’t look great at first.  It was spray painted a tacky gold and the previous owner stuck some crystal cups and swags on the candles.  It was very strange, but I could see the potential. I first removed the crystals, which are glass, not plastic, so I’ll use them for something else.  I generally love crystals on a chandelier, but it was not working in this case.  Look how the crystal candle cup is

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Ask Miss Mustard Seed – Answers to Painting Questions

These are all paint related questions asked by my readers last week and my answers to them.  Feel free to ask more questions as they come up or for clarification, if needed.  When you paint furniture, do you wax it or poly as the final coat? Or something else? It depends on the piece.  I know that kind of answer stinks, but I use a lot of different techniques on different pieces.  Here are some examples… For my Bird and Branch cabinet, I didn’t want it to be chippy, so I used one coat of bonding primer (SW Water based Adhesive Primer) and latex semi-gloss paint (SW ProClassic in Creamy.)  Once the paint was dry, I applied the decorative design in acrylic paint and sprayed on a water based top coat (Polycrylic by Minwax in semi-gloss.)  The reason I didn’t use polyurethane is it would make the white look yellow.  Polycrylic provides

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$3.00 Well Spent

I found a yard sale this past weekend that was right up my alley.  It’s the kind of sale where I walk around picking up things as fast as I see them and I make a huge pile at the “counter.”  This yard sale was held behind an antique shop, so vendors put rock bottom price tags on things they just wanted to unload.  I was happy to take stuff off their hands. I bought this old metal scoop for $1.00.  This falls under my love for things that are humble and utilitarian.  I’ve wanted a grain scoop for a long time, but they are ridiculously priced.  Although I’ve always wanted one, I think I’m going to sell this at Lucketts.  It’s such a cool piece. The second thing I found was this petite trophy from the 1950’s.  It was $2.00 and so tarnished you couldn’t even read the inscription.  I don’t mind

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Ruffled Pillow Tutorial

 This week has been a flurry of DIY activity in the Mustard Seed household and my guest room is almost completed.  This was a totally unexpected makeover that grew out of one idea, but aren’t those the best?  Here’s a little sneak peak for you… Such a tease, I know.  A makeover that started out with painting and construction soon called on my sewing skills.  I made these curtains with upholstery webbing trim… …and I made a coordinating ruffled pillow for the bed.  This is the tutorial I’m going to share with you today. First of all, measure the pillow you want to cover.  In my case, it was a standard bed pillow that measured 19×24″.  Measure and cut your fabric, making sure you leave about an inch seam allowance.  For my pillow I cut two 20×25″ pieces of fabric, one for the front and one for the back. For a

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Workshop Series – Somewhat Simple Organization Tips

Welcome to the workshop series brought to you by Mustard Seed Creations and Funky Junky Interiors!  A quick reminder: the voting for the  So You Think You Can Decorate competition (Donna and I are both competitors) is open through Friday, so make sure you vote for your two favorite “fabric” entries this week. We’ll continue our furniture refinishing and painting journey together next week, because this week I have a special guest who is going to share some great tips about organization.  After all, what good is a beautiful piece of furniture that you painted yourself if it’s buried under clutter?  Donna is covering lighting this week in her series on photography, so make sure you visit her blog after you read this post. When I “met” Stephanie from Somewhat Simple, I knew we were two peas in a pod.  We share the same love of running an organized household.  I used to clean our

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Etsy Finds

This is the last day to vote for your favorites on So You Think You Can Decorate’s white week, so make sure you pop over before the polls close at midnight EST.  I have really loved being a seller on Etsy and joining an amazing artistic community.  I wanted to introduce my readers to two new friends I’ve made through this site.  The first talented lady I’d like to introduce you to is Erin Flett.  She makes these graphic and retro inspired pillows that are fun and sophisticated.  I love the bright colors she uses to give these designs some punch.  This gray pillow is my very favorite one.  Eventhough the design is modern, it would fit in with my French Country style nicely and add something a little unexpected and unconventional. I also recently fell in love with the sketches by Michelle Palmer.  Most of her subjects are birds, feathers, and

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Florida Finds

I can’t help but hunt everywhere I go and this trip is no different.  My mom and I have ventured out when my boys are asleep and hit Ikea, Home Fabrics, TJ Maxx, and Ross.  I came up empty at Ross, but I found some great things everywhere else.  Well, I did find a really pretty glass cloche with a bird on top, but it was chipped.  Bummer.  Anyway, here’s what I did buy… Some artificial blue speckled eggs at TJ Maxx for $6.99 Some ceramic, lettered spheres from TJ Maxx for $10.  The set was opened and incomplete, so it was reduced. A pair of plate shelves for $4.00/piece.  They are a little chipped, but nothing that paint can’t fix!  I thought they were a great find. I purchased two monogrammed pillows from Ikea for $10.49/piece.  I love how they look like old tea towels and I also love

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Painting & Refinishing

Workshop Series – Furniture Stripping 101

Welcome to the workshop series brought to you by Mustard Seed Creations and Funky Junky Interiors! As a continuation of the furniture refinishing and painting series, I’m going to cover furniture stripping.  Donna is dishing some great photography tips, so make sure you visit her blogafter you read this post. When I did a post on stripping furniture several months ago, I shared my hatred of it.  That post certainly did not inspire people to go out and try it on their own.  Since then, I’ve warmed to the process.  I learned that my hatred of it stemmed from using the wrong products and working on intricate pieces with a billion coats of paint.  Only the bravest and/or stupidest DIYers should tackle those.  (I fall in one or both of those categories frequently, but not when it comes to paint removal!) So, the first rule to DIY furniture stripping is to find

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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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