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a slice of life

isle of palms | the shell collection contest

As I shared earlier this week and in my Instagram Stories every day, the main activity that my mom plan around is shelling.  We set out at low tide each day and spend an hour or two combing the beach to add to our shell collection. For me, it hits a lot of things.  Of course, it appeals to the collector in me.  I get to hunt and peck and celebrate great finds.  I also love being at the beach (when it’s not too hot!)  As with many, many other people, I find the sound of the waves, the sand beneath my feet, and the water lapping around my bare legs to be relaxing.  It’s what I look forward to anytime a beach trip is on the calendar.  When I’m by myself, I’ll put on a podcast or some music and just melt into my own world.  When I’m with

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March 31, 2022 25 Comments
Antiques

antique ivory/bone notebook

“You pretty much have it all by now, don’t you?” Julia often states this when she asks what requests I have when she is at antique markets in the UK.  I assured her that there are always new and different things for a collector like me to latch onto.  Such was the case when I came across an antique ivory notebook. I was looking through a beautiful book about Jefferson’s and saw a picture of an ivory notebook he carried around in his pocket.  He would use it to write down notes, ideas, reminders, and fleeting thoughts.  It’s sort of a 1700s combination of a pocket journal and a whiteboard.  Quite clever, actually.  Jefferson’s was used so often that lines of writing have been etched in the ivory. I snapped a picture of the ivory notebook in my book and sent it to Julia.  “This is a long shot, but

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March 30, 2022 21 Comments
a slice of life

shelling tips on Isle of Palms

Shelling is my favorite thing to do on the beach.  I’ll roam along the shore slowly, picking up whatever catches my eye and that I might want to add to my collection of shells that I’ve been working on since I was a girl.  My Oma was a big sheller and my mother after her.  And I’m carrying on the tradition with enthusiasm and I poke around with my toes anytime I’m on a beach.  Isle of Palms is one of the best shelling beaches I’ve been on, but I wanted to share some helpful tips based on my experience.   I’ve been shelling on Isle of Palms twice now, so you can keep that in mind.  You’ll certainly get a lot more insider tips from people who live here, but I can share some lessons learned from shelling here as well as on many other beaches in the Carolinas. Last

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March 28, 2022 25 Comments
Antiques

the brush holder by the kitchen sink | antiques

I’ve received the same question a few times on my blog and Instagram, so I thought I would answer the question for everyone in a post.  The question is, “What is the pot/jar holding your brushes by the sink?”  It is an antique sugar bowl/jar that I found years ago at an antique store.  I don’t remember how much I paid for it, but I think it was around $10 due to the fact that it was missing a lid and had a broken handle.  But, as with most old things, I didn’t mind the imperfections it was bringing to the table. I put it next to the sink to hold my dish brushes and it has been there ever since – in our previous house in PA and in our current house in MN.  It’s one of those decorating decisions I don’t even think about.  Well, the broken sugar

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March 23, 2022 16 Comments
Decorating

refreshing painted kitchen cabinets

Let’s talk about something that isn’t often talked about when it comes to interior photographs for magazines, online publications, social media, etc.  Yes, we all know about styling and filters, clever cropping, and fancy photoshopping.  But let’s talk about the fact that you just don’t get the full picture in a picture.  In some ways, you can see more in a photograph, like if something is crooked or if a space is too cluttered.  You just have more time to study it and see those things that are off.  But, in other ways, you see less.  You don’t see the little details that you see in person.  The little stains, chips, dirt, and imperfections that come with using a space every day.  So, let me give you a little peek to confirm that our house gets wear and tear just like any other house.  In today’s post, I’ll focus on

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March 22, 2022 28 Comments
All Things Home

antique french finds & handmade goods

I spent the morning packing up all of the paintings from Friday’s original art sale.  Thank you so much to everyone who shopped.  We had over 3,000 people on the site at one time, so if you had trouble getting the painting you wanted, that’s why!  I am also pleased to share that all of the paintings sold and I was able to donate $1250 to Samaritans Purse for their field hospital in Ukraine.  Thank you for being a part of supporting that.  So, I need to paint a lot more, which I’m not mad about.  I’m heading back to Isle of Palms later this week, so I hope to get in a lot of beach paintings while I’m there. I will be listing some of those paintings as prints in as well. I spent the weekend mostly on errands and this morning packing up the paintings to ship out,

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March 21, 2022 3 Comments
Decorating

elevating the look of an artificial plant

I haven’t taken much time to wander around in a store like Target for quite a while.  I’ve gotten used to placing online or curbside pick-up orders, which are convenient, but I’m realizing I really miss getting out and about regularly.  I’m a homebody, so it’s very easy for me to fall into a pattern of just staying home.  But getting out of my everyday environment (more than just going for a walk around the neighborhood) provides so much inspiration, even if that isn’t the intention.  I can’t help but see things that get the creative wheels turning – color combinations, textures, new products, and books naturally.  I ran a quick errand to my local Target and decided to mill around for a while, looking at things I wasn’t shopping for and didn’t need.  It felt good to not be purpose-driven but to just allow myself to stroll and browse. 

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March 16, 2022 29 Comments
Decorating

the sewing room makeover reveal

The sewing room makeover was another project I worked on specifically to share in my book – .  For that reason, I haven’t shared the full reveal on the blog yet, even though this room makeover was finished in 2020.  A few photos of the room are shared in the book, but it’s nice to share more detail about the makeover here on the blog so that I can share links to tutorials, projects, and sources.  It just tells more of the story for those who are interested! So, let’s start this room makeover by looking at what the room looked like when we moved in almost five years ago. It’s a pretty basic room with cream walls and trim and beige carpet.  We added the chandelier, swapping it out for a typical builder-grade fixture. I knew I wanted to make this room feminine and like a little jewel box,

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March 14, 2022 43 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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