Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Miscellaneus

Snickety Snacks Giveaway

Let me start off by saying right away that Brittanie did not pay me a penny for this giveaway.  She is just awesome and she makes amazing treats and I thought a select few of you might want some…for free!  It’s a Snickety Snacks giveaway!  I first ate one of Brittanie’s cake bites at the grand opening of Wild Rose.  I confess…I ate more than my fair share and I bought six more to “take home for my boys and husband.”  They each got one.  I had the other three.  Seriously.  Embarrassing, I know. Brittanie came to my glitter letter workshop and the Swanky Junque Swap and I have enjoyed getting to know her and learning about how she started her business.  She is a normal girl and bakes all of her “snacks” in her normal kitchen.  Other people liked what she made, she turned it into a business and

Read More

Living Room – Finished?

After staying up late last night, I had a “finished” room.  I walked my husband through it this morning and he smiled and proclaimed, “Wow, this room is done!”  I realized I felt uncomfortable with the proclamation.  “Um…well, it’s about 90% done.  I still need to…”  and I proceeded to rattle off a list of about ten things.  He gave me “the look” that all husbands give wives like me.  If you’re like me, you know the look.  He smiled, shook his head and went about the day, allowing me to call a finished room unfinished.  So, here’s my finished room (that we’re only going to call finished and I reserve the right to revoke that title.)  This is a photo tour and I will go into detail in future posts.  I’ll share before and after pictures of the chairs and sofa, how I made the pillows, my finishing technique

Read More

New Dining Table

My friend Donna sent me an e-mail today commenting on the fact that I am busy working on my house and have totally neglected to decorate for Christmas.  Yes, that’s true.  We do have our tree up, which half the lights are out and there are hardly any ornaments below three feet (my boys keep pulling them off), and I did manage to arrange a couple of mantles, but other than that…nothing.  The truth is, I’m about to work on a ton of Christmas projects for HGTV and I’m holding out on buying a fresh tree and greenery as long as I can.  You also have to remember that I started making my Christmas line in September and I got a little burnt out, so I took a break and worked on Halloween stuff in November and now I’m ready for Christmas in January.  Craziness! I’m also about ready to start a

Read More

Raising a Creative Kid

I’ve had several people ask where I came from (in a figurative sense)…including my parents!  A few months ago, one of my readers suggested that I share how to raise a creative child.  Well, my boys are still toddlers, so we’ll see how well I raise creative kids, but I can tell you how my parents did from a kid’s perspective.  Exhibit A: Yep, that’s me…at nine years old playing little orphan Annie.  I had never done anything beyond church  and school plays and ballet classes, but I was determined to get the part and I did.  Aside from being a little bratty and tired during the whole thing, it was a blast.    The first thing my parents did was allow me to fly as high as my wings would carry me.  When I wanted to enter the school talent show as a kindergartner, one of the youngest participants, my

Read More

Guest Room Update & Bird Cage Makeover

I love my guest room, but it’s awkward.  It took about three years to finally give my guests a comfortable space, but one thing was still missing.  The poor person who slept on the right side of the bed has never had a nightstand.  They’d have to pass their glasses or cup of water to the person on the left side.  That’s a pain.  The problem is that there’s an attic door right where a night stand should be.  Like I said, this room is awkward.  Charming, but awkward.  It finally occurred to me that a stool was the perfect answer.  It provides a mini nightstand, but it can be moved to easily access the attic.  I also swapped out the pillows with the unfinished needlepoint pillows I had in the living room.  They add nice warmth to this room and the white ones look better on the living room sofa.  I

Read More

First Come, First Serve

As some of you know, the shop in Gettysburg that originally sold my furniture and accessories recently closed.  I teared up when I collected the last of my things from the shop last week.  I really appreciated the opportunity the owner gave me.  It gave me the confidence and experience to get where I am today.  All of that to say, there were some pieces that don’t fit the style I’m currently selling in Wild Rose and Chartreuse, but I couldn’t handle giving them to a thrift store.  I could, however, be quite content knowing they went to one of my readers.  These are one-of-a-kind wood switch plate covers that I hand painted for kid’s rooms or bathrooms  I am giving them for free to whoever wants to use them.  All you need to do is leave a comment telling me which one you would like.  One per person, please. All

Read More

Sheet Music Dresser – Where is it now?

Remember my sheet music dresser?  Well, I thought you would all be pleased to know that she landed in a good home.  A wonderful woman named Stephanie bought her and loved her enough to have her shipped all the way to Californina!  She is a crazy talented designer of interiors and wedding decor.  She has great taste, so I considered it a huge compliment that she loved my dresser.    She just sent me pictures (credited to her) of where it ended up and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  Isn’t this room lovely? I really like the symmetry, the pops of red, and the amazing trim work.  The dresser looks great nestled between two twin beds and I never even thought of using it that way.    Stephanie collected thrift store finds and arranged them on the top.  Who says you can’t use a kettle in a bedroom?  It was so good

Read More

HGTV.com Projects & Yesterday

As most of you know, I have the privilege of writing tutorials for HGTV.com.  I still have to pinch myself when I think about it and I’m still trying to convince myself that I am a real designer, business owner and writer.  Craziness.  I don’t say that with any kind of false humility.  The sequence of events over the past few months has been insane.  I wake up every day excited about what might happen.  Anyway, I’m in Raleigh, NC for the week visiting family and I won’t have any new tutorials or projects to share while I’m here, so I thought I would give you a preview of some HGTV.com projects.    This bathroom shelf was easy to build and provides amazing storage in a tight space.  Most of the wood can be cut at your local home improvement store, so don’t shy away from building if you’re not a

Read More

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.

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest