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Crochet & Knitting Patterns

crochet vs. knitting – updated

Over three years ago, I wrote a post sharing my thoughts on crochet vs. knitting.  You can find that original post HERE.  I had just learned how to knit, so it was perhaps a little premature to make the comparison, but I wanted to share how I initially felt about the two yarn crafts.  I had been crocheting for over a year and was excited about testing the knitting waters.  I’ve now been crocheting for just over four years and knitting for just over three, so I feel like I can make a better comparison and offer some tips, patterns, tutorials, and other resources if you’d like to pick up one or both of these creative hobbies. I’m going to go through the same comparison questions I wrote in my initial post, share my previous answer, and then what I think now. crochet vs. knitting – which one is easiest?

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Artistic Endeavors

antique shoe cart reproduction & inspiration

Over the years, I have bought and sold more antique “shoe carts” than I can properly remember.  These antique shelves on wheels are called shoe carts because they were often used in shoe factories to transport shoes around the factory.  I have found carts that are all different shapes and sizes and made in different styles.  Some have spindles making the “shelves” instead of a board (like the first shelf.)  I always preferred the ones that had solid shelves (or could be adapted with boards) so they were more versatile.  I’ve mostly used these antique shoe carts for retail display or storage in my old studio in PA, but I did use one or two in my home over the years in my kitchen and home office. When I was an antique dealer, I bought and sold a lot of ironstone, so these carts were fantastic for displaying stacks of

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Crochet & Knitting Patterns

easy crochet bauble garland tutorial (two ways)

I spotted some crochet garlands when I fell down an internet rabbit hole a few years ago, but I never got around to making them and I then got sidetracked by other things.  Then this year, I saw my friend Cheri from This Cottage Life making and selling some and I got the itch to make them.  I looked at a few different tutorials to get me started and then played around with techniques, designs, yarns, and hook sizes until I found a couple I liked.  So, in this post, I’ll share two different crochet bauble garland tutorials (a printed pattern and a video tutorial.) bauble crochet garland tutorial no. one – chunky bauble For this version of the bauble garland, you’ll need Lion WoolEase Thick & Quick yarn (or a similarly chunky yarn), scissors (THESE forged scissors are my favorite), and a 6.5mm crochet hook.  THESE are the ones

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All Things Home

how to make a dried orange slice garland

For the past few years, I have used dried orange slices in my Christmas decorating in various ways.  I’ve tucked them into garlands, swags, and wreaths and made them into ornaments to hang from the tree.  This year, I decided to make them into a garland to hang in my kitchen and, I love them so much, that I’m making more to hang on our tree this year.  I have used two different methods of making the garlands and I thought I would share both of them along with some tips I learned in the process of making them. You can find a tutorial on making the dried orange slices HERE and in THIS POST, you can find details and materials for making the wreath hanging on the range hood. The first method I used (shown above strung along the pot rail) was made with jute twine and hot glue. 

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1970 home renovation

Building our new antique-style mantel

Several of you guessed we would build fireplace mantel option number one and you were right.  All of the antique-style mantel options I shared in THIS POST were strong contenders, but I kept coming back to the first one.  It was the first picture I saved as inspiration and the one that I imagined in our living room.  I think the others would’ve worked, but there was something about this one that I just couldn’t shake.  So, I went with my gut and this is the one we built. Photo via Becca Interiors Because our fireplace had three two-by-four supports for a mantel shelf built into the brick, it made the most sense to work around those.  We could’ve simply cut them off and then build whatever mantel style we wanted, but having support foe a shelf built into the wall was a better option than trying to build up

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All Things Home

custom garland for a headboard (or mantel)

When I shared about our winter bed last week, I said I would share some more details about the garland draped over the headboard, so that’s what this post is about!  Before we get into the details of the garland, I want to address the practicality of having a garland draped over your headboard.  Our headboard is very high, probably about 5′ tall, so the garland is up and out of the way, even if we’re sitting up in bed to read.  The greenery used for this project is also artificial, so we’re not going to get any shedding.  If the garland was going to get tangled in my hair or drop needles all over us, it wouldn’t be a viable option.  But, as it is, it works and I really do love the way it looks.  If your headboard is shorter, you can always drape the garland on the

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1970 home renovation

tips on painting wood paneling

I know that some people are scared to paint paneling or perhaps are against it, especially if it’s wood.  As with any to-paint-or-not-to-paint debate, I take this stance.  If you love it as is and/or you think that painting the subject of the debate will devalue or damage said subject, then don’t paint it.  If you don’t love it as is and it’s a good candidate for paint, then paint it.  There are always what-ifs to consider but the thought that someone else down the road might not like it painted isn’t a good reason to not transform it into something that feels more like your style.  And I am no stranger to painting paneling so I figured I would share some things I’ve learned. The first paneling I painted was in my friend Shari’s farmhouse.  Not to confuse her with my Minnesota antiquing buddy, Cheri.  Shari and Cheri are

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Before and Afters

the vintage Drexel dining set & recovering a chair seat

A few of you noticed the new dining room set when I shared the fall tablescape earlier this week.  We bought an antique dining set last year just a few days before Christmas off of Facebook Marketplace for $40.  I had been searching for a dining set since we moved into the house and I just wasn’t finding the one.  I was feeling a bit bummed about not having a table and chairs for the dining room for Christmas, though, so I jumped at the chance to get a set for $40.  That was less than we would spend on a dinner out for our family so it was worth it. We made a few initial repairs to some of the chairs as well as to the stretchers on the table and it was good enough, but the table was just a little bit too wide for the room and

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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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