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Furniture Makeovers

furniture feature friday | favorites & link party

 Jeff and I just got back from a nice trip to Charlottesville, VA.  I’ll share more about that in another post, but it was a wonderful time.  Jeff took me to a few antique shops and gave me the chance to mill around.  It hit me again, as I would gasp at an antique table or chest of drawers, run my fingers over the aged, warm wood, and admire details like the hardware, keyholes and joints, how much I love old furniture.  I really do love it and am immediately drawn to it.  That is why I started this furniture party years ago… (I think it’s about four or five years running, now!) And it’s been so fun for me to connect with other furniture lovers out there.  I hope you feel the same way. Here are my favorites from last week… Marianne from Songbird did a beautiful job giving this

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furniture feature friday | favorites & link party

Well, I had an unexpected opportunity come up this week.  Tomorrow, I am heading to New York City for the day to do an interview on FOX about my blog, upcycling and Pinterest.  It’s always so surprising to me where this journey has taken me (and continues to take me.)  Kriste and her husband are coming with me to make sure I get where I need to be (traveling to the city is a little intimidating to me) and I’ll make sure to take some pictures and let you know when the segment will air.  I never know where opportunities like this will lead, but I view it as an adventure and just embrace it.  So, if you think about it, say a little prayer for us as we’re traveling. I need to get to bed early tonight, so I’m rested for the long day, but I did get some favorites selected.

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Before and Afters

painted "swedish" bench

I always have a hard time getting refocused after a big event or project.  I seem to work at my best when there is a date looming, but at the same time, I dislike the pressure of deadlines.  So, I’m conflicted.  I love and hate due dates.  To combat the unfocused work approach, I decided to knock out a few projects that have been on my list for some time.  I grabbed the bench at the table in our family room and dragged it out to the car, so I could take it to the studio to paint.  (I have a knack for moving furniture by myself when I’m determined enough!) Remember this pine bench that we gave to my mom as a mother’s day gift when we lived in Germany? I like the shape of it, but the pine was a little too yellow and shiny for me.  I

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furniture feature friday | favorites & link party

So, there was a bit of a misunderstanding last week when I had Jessica from Dear Emmeline as a guest picker for me.  The post went live automatically before I had the chance to write an introduction for her, so some readers thought I was talking about my girl’s room (which I only have two boys) and were wondering if there was a new addition to our family that they missed!  I think we got it all cleared up.  No girls.  Not pregnant.  That was Jessica talking about her daughter. Anyway, I am finally feeling a bit rested up and ready to get back into my routine after the push to get ready for the Chapel Market.  Although, this week hasn’t been all rest.  I cleaned the house and couldn’t help but start working on the boy’s room, which may or may not have included a day of painting and moving

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Before and Afters

slipcovered ottoman

Last Friday I was working in the studio on some last minute pieces for the Chapel Market.  I usually leave the sewing projects until everything else is done, mainly because it’s not my favorite thing to do.  I’m just dragging my feet.  I finally pulled out the old ottoman that was waiting for a slipcover and started working on it. I decided to use a piece from a cutter quilt I’ve been holding onto for a while  It wasn’t quite large enough, so I supplemented with a piece of antique homespun linen I bought for $5.00 at an antique store. I also used the homespun to make the piping, sides and skirt.  It wasn’t a big piece, but I was able to make it go a long way by sewing pieces together. The patch-worked nature of the piece just seemed to work…mostly I think because I used a quilt and

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furniture feature friday | favorites & link party

We spent the day driving down to Alabama for the Chapel Market.  It was amazing, but we were able to fit everything  in a 4 x 8 open trailer, a minivan and a little overflow in Kriste’s Civic.  I’m pretty impressed with ourselves that we made it work!  And prayers carried our van with 202,000+ miles on it, towing a loaded trailer, here safely.  So, tomorrow is set up day and I’ll also be hanging out with some friends.  I’m hoping to have time to do some decorative painting for Layla (and tour her house) and spend some good time with Shawnna.  She’s become one of my dearest friends and I wish we lived next door to each other. Anyway, tonight’s about furniture, so let’s get to it.  Since I am busy with Chapel Market this weekend, I’ve asked Jessica from Dear Emmeline to pick favorites for me and she obliged.  Here’s

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Favorite Finds

bunny pull-toy

I know…again with the kid’s stuff, but this bunny pull-toy was just too cute to pass up!  I got it at a good price, because it didn’t have its original paint and, unfortunately, someone who wasn’t very artistically inclined tried to paint a face and spots on him.  The eyes were big and black with Raggedy Anne styled lashes.  It was just a little overdone and took away from the beautiful shape and legs of the piece.  I can’t fault someone for trying, though! I decided to give the bunny a softer, less Tammy Faye Bakker look.  I painted the body in MMSMP Ironstone.  It took two coats to get nice coverage.  Then, I used Shutter Gray to paint the spots, ears and very simple oval eyes.  I left the cream paint on the wheels, because they had a pretty patina and I thought complimented the lighter shade of white

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Hand Painted Furniture

child's cupboard

I definitely have a soft spot for things made for children.  The small scale just melts me.  My mom and I spotted this little hutch in an antique store and jumped at it immediately.  It had been painted in a white latex over oil, so the latex was peeling off and it was a little dingy.  We sanded it down and gave it a fresh coat of MMSMP Eulalie’s Sky with the Bonding Agent added and finished it with Hemp Oil.  I forgot to take a before picture of this one, but just imagine it in white.  Here it is now… I love the glass knobs and little latch on the cabinet. When I painted it in the pale blue, I immediately imagined it paired with a red child’s riding toy I bought the same day… I’ve been looking for a pretty red tricycle for ages for photo shoots, since the

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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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May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

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