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All Things Home
All Things Home

antique jelly cupboard

This antique punched-tin pie safe has always been one of those pieces I just didn’t want to let go.  I purchased it a few years ago from an antique store in Maryland with the intention to sell it, but I decided to keep it for myself.  I put it in the family room in our last house and we stored movies and games inside.  When we moved to Minnesota, I wasn’t sure where I would put this piece or how it would work in our new house, but I just wasn’t ready to let go. We hauled it over 1,000 miles and, as I suspected, I struggled with where to put it in our new house.  Not only did I struggle with where to put it, but I struggled with how these tall ceilings and new finishes made the piece look grubby instead of chipping and charming.  It just didn’t

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August 28, 2019 37 Comments
All Things Home

the melodeon

You caught a glimpse of the melodeon I purchased from the old schoolhouse/music hall in yesterday’s post, but it was buried under a bunch of stuff.  Here is where it ended up in our house and how it looks after a good cleaning and polishing with some MMS Milk Paint Hemp Oil. I have been looking for something to go under the master bedroom window since we moved here and I haven’t found anything that hit the nail on the head.  I had a $50 thrift store desk there for a while, but it was more of a place-holder than anything else.  I moved that desk into the sewing room and put the melodeon in its place. (I wrapped some fabric around the seat cushion for now, but I’m going to fix the seat and upholster it.) The style of this piece fits much better with the French wardrobe and

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August 27, 2019 41 Comments
All Things Home

the old schoolhouse/music hall

Before I share about the old schoolhouse/music hall I visited during Gold Rush, I wanted to let everyone know I listed a bunch of paintings for sale on Daily Paint Works.  This latest sale includes eight 5 x 7s from my “Out the Window” series, a calf, a country church, and I finally felt like I could let go of one of my sepia-toned rabbits. These paintings are sold auction-style, so I don’t have to set the prices and so everyone has time to place a bid if they are interested in owning an original painting.  You can bid on the animals HERE and the landscapes (including the church) HERE. Thanks to everyone who bids and buys!  It means a lot to me that you support this new venture into the world of fine art. As Cheri and I were making our way around the town of Oronoco to check

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August 26, 2019 24 Comments
All Things Home

Gold Rush | Aug 2019

Last Friday, my friend Cheri and I hit Gold Rush Days in Oronoco, MN.  It’s a huge antique event that takes over the entire sleepy town.  I’ve gone the past two years and found some fun things, but for some reason, I wasn’t enthusiastic about going this year.  I’ve been busy, I was certain it would be hot and humid, and I wasn’t optimistic that I would find anything I was looking for.  Great attitude, right?  I couldn’t believe I was feeling that way about antiquing!  Jeff encouraged me to go, though. I almost bailed, but I didn’t and I can’t tell you how glad I am that I went.  It was the best Gold Rush, yet!  (You can read about previous years HERE.) Right off the bat, Cheri and I were making a beeline to a couple of vendors.  I spotted a bunch of gilded frames leaned up against

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August 21, 2019 23 Comments
a slice of life

tips on decorating cakes with flowers

Before we chat about flowers and cakes, two things…  The winner of the mini landscapes is Ann Stuart Cassell!  Congrats!  And yes, for those asking, I will do more of those minis and have more giveaways in the future. Second, a new The Creative Exponent podcast is available – Episode 5: Don’t Wait for Perfect.  You can listen to it HERE. As soon as I put the in my shopping cart, I envisioned a four-layer naked cake decorated with flower sitting on top.  I have long loved that look, specifically done by Courtney of French Country Cottage.  She just has a knack with flowers.  And cakes. I initially started thinking through my cake pans, figuring out how I would make this cake and then I remember the time I baked 5 dozen mini cupcakes the night before the Lucketts Spring Market and realized I should just hire this out to

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August 20, 2019 15 Comments
All Things Home

green & white summer tablescape

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by .  All opinions and ideas expressed in this post are, as always, honest and my own. Last week, I shared a tutorial for some mini landscape “place cards” and here is the tablescape that goes along with them!  I was challenged by to show vintage style using some of their home products and, given that Walmart hasn’t been my go-to place for vintage style, I had to do a bit of recon before I accepted that challenge! Well, I browsed around Walmart Home and was pleasantly surprised with the wide array of vintage-style pieces that could be found both in the store and online.  I zeroed in on these beautiful .  They definitely “speak vintage” and happened to match my dining room as well as dishes I already owned perfectly.  I have a “dish” thing and I love it when I can integrate new

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August 19, 2019 85 Comments
All Things Home

how to dry annabelle hydrangeas

I have been patiently waiting until my Annabelle hydrangeas were just right, so I could cut off the blooms and dry them.  I did this last year and I have been so pleased with how long the dried flowers have lasted!  I cut them almost a year ago and they still make a nice bouquet.  So, for those who have asked, this is how to dry hydrangeas.  I’m specifically working with the Annabelle variety. how to dry hydrangeas | when to cut them Wait until the blooms turned pale green and are a bit dry to the touch.  They don’t feel completely crispy and have not started to brown, but they are not as soft as they were when they were white and freshly bloomed.  These are definitely ready to cut and probably could’ve been cut a few days sooner to minimize the brown/dried petals. how to dry hydrangeas |

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August 15, 2019 23 Comments
All Things Home

mini landscape “place cards” & a giveaway

While the boys were at the climbing lessons, I mingled around the nearby , looking for inspiration and pieces to use in an upcoming post about a summer table setting.  I found beautiful as a great launching point, but I wanted to add a whimsical element to the table beyond fruit, flowers, and a pretty cake for the pedestal.  This particular Walmart has a pretty robust art supply section and, of course, I meandered through there to see if any new art supplies caught my eye.  I found some mini stretched canvases and cute wooden stands and the wheels started turning.  What about painting mini landscape “place cards” as a little takeaway for guests? I put them in the cart and couldn’t wait to get started on them the next day. are the mini canvases I purchased for the landscape place cards  They are about 2 x 2″. I wanted

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August 12, 2019 605 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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