Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint Archives | Page 30 of 42

Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

videogallery

I feel like I’m back. Since Thanksgiving, it’s been one thing after the other and I’ve been craving a normal week and some kind of routine. When both boys were little, I was used to working on things in bits and pieces and I had a system all worked out to be efficient. Now that they are older, I really depend on the time when they are at school and have trouble getting into a groove when they are home a lot. Don’t get me wrong, it’s sweet time, but…you know what I’m saying. It’s tough to get into a work groove. So, after the holidays and snow days and my son’s diagnosis and all of that stuff, I finally feel like my creativity is waking up. I feel energetic again and ready to dive into projects. I started by making a to-do list, so I could be focused.

January 24, 2014 28 Comments

Before and Afters

the rocking horse – part 2

Here’s what the horse looked like when I received it from Restoration Hardware. I loved the shape, but the wood and finish didn’t have as much character as I was hoping for. I wanted it to look more like one of the inspiration antique horses I shared HERE. Well, that’s not a problem in these parts! So, yesterday I took some time to apply the first coat of paint – MMSMP Trophy. You can read about it HERE. Yesterday, I was a good blogger and took lots of pictures of the process. Today, I hauled the horse to the basement and started working and didn’t stop for pictures. It’s sort of a good thing, because I was in my creative bubble, but it’s not a good thing for blogging! I’ll try to talk you through the process, though, which was basically paint, sand, paint, sand, paint. Now, I’ll tell

January 23, 2014 93 Comments

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

first coat on the rocking horse

I keep hoping and planning to get back into some sort of schedule or groove, but snow days, cold days, hospital visits, doctor appointments, holidays…all sorts of things have prevented that. And this week has been the same story. We had a normal Monday, but then school was cancelled today because of the snow and, as of now, is delayed for tomorrow with the possibility of a closure Well, it is what it is and we’ll have fun with it. There will be more games of “Sorry” and more Rainbow Looms and more of finding ways to fill the time if that’s the case. Even though the boys were home today, I had a bit of time here and there to sneak away and do some painting. I needed that kind of “therapy.” So, I worked on a small project – my Restoration Hardware horse. It ended up looking too

January 22, 2014 40 Comments

Decorating

Boxwood & My Christmas Tree

I just did a photo shoot today for the MMSMP color of the month, Boxwood, so I thought I would share. I think this may be my favorite non-blue/gray color in the line. It’s so rich and pretty. I’ve sold all of the pieces I’ve painted in Boxwood, but I have a dresser in my son’s room that is just begging for it. I was hoping to get to that this month, since it is the color of the month, but with slipcovers and upholstering and decorating for Christmas and the family room trim and all of that, I think it’ll have to wait. Anyway, here are some pictures to give you a good sense of the color… Can you tell I enjoy these shoots? I really do. I think the photography/styling aspect of my job has become one of my favorite things to work on. If you want to

December 9, 2013 56 Comments

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

in my element

It was time to get some updated portraits for my blog and social media pages as well as some shots of me with my milk paint products for the MMSMP website and the look book we’re working on. The last time I had portraits done, I met the photographer at Lucketts. It gave us a lot of different backdrops, but I’ve always wanted to have pictures taken in my house. In my element. Jody, the amazing lady who did my last portraits, wasn’t available this time, so I worked with another photographer I met through Lucketts. Eddie of Jalapeno Photography has shopped my booth at the Lucketts Spring Antique Market for a few years, so she was the first one who came to mind to ask. She came out a couple of weeks ago and took some pictures of me painting a piano stool… …some of me around my house… …some

December 1, 2013 94 Comments

Decorating

Time for a reset & second chances

So, after reading all of the opinions I solicited about my family room, I wrote a post about my thoughts and plans. The post turned into a rather disjointed mess-of-a-conversation with myself about the room and the direction I’m heading. I went to sleep thinking about rugs and fabrics and paint colors and furniture arrangements. I woke up this morning and started rolling up rugs and stared at the room with my head cocked slightly at an angle, thumb on my chin, pointer finger resting on my nose, tapping occasionally as I lulled around the space. I then realized a couple of things… First of all, I need to just step away from the room for a few days, which I am fortunately doing. My husband and I are taking a mini-vacation to Charlottesville, VA for some hiking, good food and to tour Monticello and walk around the beautiful UVA

November 21, 2013 45 Comments

Before and Afters

the old, new dining room table

I’m reading the book Five Love Languages right now (which is a really awesome book, by the way) and I just finished a chapter on the phenomenon of being “in love.” As I was reading it, I actually thought of how that same phenomenon happens in decorating. Or, at least, it happens to me. I make a change or buy a new piece and I get flutters and I walk in the room just to look at it. I want to show it off in my pictures and I feel so warm and fuzzy and happy about it. Then after a time reality sets in. Sometimes reality proves that it was a good move. Sometimes it reveals all of the things I didn’t notice when I was all googly-eyed over it. I see that it’s impractical, it’s wobbly, it doesn’t fit the style of my home, it needs more work

November 12, 2013 83 Comments

Miscellaneus

Mustard Seed Yellow Photo Shoot

Today I’m trying to get back into the groove after being under the weather last week. I’m still stuffy and dragging a bit, but I managed to get some things done. One of the projects I worked on this afternoon was a photo shoot of one of my milk paint colors. I thought it would be fun to have a color(s) of the month to give me a focus for the MMSMP Blog (coming soon) and a way to push me away from using the blues, grays and neutrals all the time. I selected the colors to compliment the seasons. There are two colors for November – Curio and Mustard Seed Yellow. I only got around to shooting Mustard Seed Yellow today, so I thought I would share those pictures… Of course, the inspiration for the color is the mustard seed, which obviously is significant to me. For those who

November 5, 2013 37 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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