Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint Archives | Page 17 of 42

Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint

Artistic Endeavors

photo shoot at the retreat

Let me go back to the Lucketts Spring Market a couple of years ago. Suzanne, the owner of The Old Lucketts Store and Design House, came and sat with me on a slow Sunday afternoon. We were chatting about all of the business opportunities we’re working on and the things we’re dreaming about. And she shared about a manor house she purchased and was renovating. She told me, “The woodwork in this house is so beautiful, it’ll make you cry. I just couldn’t pass it up.” It would be a vacation rental, a venue for small weddings and events and a place for creative retreats. And, it would be something that could be finished. Suzanne has described the antiques/home decor business as an “ice sculpture.” You find/finish pieces, put them together, they are sold, the room is picked over and emptied, and then you have to start over again. Again and

October 29, 2015 26 Comments

All Things Home

Milk Paint on walls & Kriste bought a house

So, Kriste bought a house!! Our little girl is growing up so fast. She and her husband, David, closed on a sweet 1920’s craftsman bungalow just over a week ago. Not a bad first house at all! It has lots of charm and lots of potential as well. (It even has a studio space for Kriste!) And this girl has been dreaming about that potential. Here are a couple of detailed sketches she made for each room… You can click HERE to see all of her sketches and “mood boards”. Literally hours after they closed (maybe even minutes), Kriste and I were in her bedroom, paint rollers in hand. (A girl after my own heart. That’s exactly what I did when we bought our first house!) Kriste asked if we could use MMS Milk Paint for her walls. Of course we can! Now, I’ve never done it, but

October 19, 2015 35 Comments

Before and Afters

farmhouse white table

It was one of those days when I went to the studio, put my music on, and painted. I love days like that. I worked on a couple of pieces for the next MMS Milk Paint look book, but I was also playing around with a new milk paint color we’ll be adding to the line, soon (early 2016)…Farmhouse White. It’ll get a proper “say hello to…” post closer to the release day, but I just couldn’t wait that long to share. I tripped upon this color as I was getting ready for the market and wanted a white that covered better than Ironstone. I loved it so much that I immediately sent an e-mail to my manufacturer, telling them we needed to add this new white to the line. I had some mixed for some metal bins I’m painting, so I decided to brush it onto a table that’s been on

October 16, 2015 25 Comments

All Things Home

market recap & milk-painted wooden toys

We are back home from our trip to Alabama, safe and sound from the Market on Chapel Hill. It is a long trip, but it’s always worth it. The worth isn’t in the profits made. (I told someone I would probably cry if I really took the time to figure out my hourly rate for all of the prep, shopping, etc. that is put into these events.) The worth is in the moments with people…readers, shoppers, fellow vendors, bloggers, the community who hosts this event with so much concern for detail. So often, I’m in a bubble. At my computer, in my studio, in my house. I’m comfortable there. But when I step outside of that bubble, I almost always find encouragement. I feel challenged and inspired in new ways. Most times, there’s at least one conversation or hug or story that moves me to tears. A moment that emphasizes…this

October 5, 2015 22 Comments

All Things Home

Painting with White

When I see someone who doesn’t know what color to paint something, they almost always default to white. It’s neutral. It’s easy. Right? I will admit that it is hard to go wrong with white. I love white and mix a lot of different whites in my home. All three of the whites from the MMS Milk Paint line are represented. Ironstone on the dining table base and chairs… Linen on the jelly cupboard… …and Grain Sack on the 1800’s marble-topped dresser and Gustavian sofa frame to point out a few. So, I’m a fan. But, white is actually one of the hardest colors to paint with. It doesn’t matter what kind of paint it is, white just doesn’t cover as well and almost always requires more coats. This is especially true with milk paint, since it’s thinner than modern paints. Here are some tips and tricks I’ve

October 2, 2015 19 Comments

All Things Home

cleaning & sealing chipping antique pieces

Remember that awesome “cubby” I found a few weeks ago? I spotted it when I was out shopping once, but I passed it up, because it was a little pricey. I kept thinking about it, though, and decided if it was still there the next time I stopped in, I would buy it. Well, it was still there and I snapped it up. (It’s so funny that I get so excited about buying things I’m just going to turn around and sell!) The only problem with this piece is that it was shedding paint everywhere. If you would just breath near it, flakes would fall off. I love the “chippy look”, but I don’t want actual chips of paint littering the floor. So, I have a standard way I deal with pieces like this… Before I get into the process, please check the EPA website for safely dealing with lead-based paint

September 23, 2015 30 Comments

Before and Afters

workbench revamp reveal

Remember this work bench I picked up a few weeks ago? Here’s how it started… I almost passed it by, because it was a little clumsy. It was sturdy as an oak, but wasn’t a well-built piece, if that makes sense. You can tell someone wanted to build a workbench and figured it out as they went along. The finger-holds in the drawers are what pushed me to buy it. They endeared the piece to me. I added the wheels (new from Home Depot) and tacked on some antique wood lath strips to the top to add some warmth and texture. And I painted it in three coats of a custom mix of MMS Milk Paint – 5 parts Grain Sack to 1 part Trophy. It’s a beautiful soft gray that I’m totally in love with! I left the painted finish raw, but I did apply Hemp Oil to the lath

September 22, 2015 20 Comments

All Things Home

repurposed pram

Do you remember that baby pram I shared last week? Well, now it’s a side table! I spot these pretty carriages/prams regularly while I’m out shopping and they always tug at my heart. Those wheels, the craftsmanship, the generations of babies that may have been pushed in them. I almost always have to stop a minute and appreciate them, but I never buy them. The reason is that they aren’t functional at all! What in the world is the average person going to do with it in their home unless they have a doll collection to display. I’ve tried to think of practical uses for them, but I’ve never come up with one. A funny little story… a few years ago, someone gave me a beautiful 1950’s navy blue and chrome pram that was in almost mint condition. I was so in love with it, but I didn’t know what

September 13, 2015 31 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.

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.