Artistic Endeavors Archives | Miss Mustard Seed

Artistic Endeavors

Stories

Stories | Our Apartment in Izhevsk, Russia

All of our fellow travelers from the US and Canada stayed with Russian families for our summer in Izhevsk. Since I was under 18 and my dad had his own apartment, I would be staying with him. My dad rented this apartment for a few years, so he had his own place to stay when he was working in Izhevsk. You might think it was outfitted with American luxuries and amenities, but it was bare-bones and typical of a working-class Russian apartment. It might’ve even been a step below the apartments of most of our Russian friends since my dad was always happy to make do. Now that I think about it, I don’t ever recall my dad splurging on material possessions. He’s never had a fancy car, designer clothes, a tricked-out man cave, or even a really nice TV. His guitars are probably the only place he’s ever really

July 28, 2026 13 Comments

Writing a Book

Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 4

The launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things, is just a few weeks away! September 1 feels like it’s far on the horizon, but it really is right around the corner. I’m excited to share our next giveaway to celebrate the book’s launch, showcase some of its themes, and highlight another artisan who shares her creative gifts with the world. If you haven’t already, you can preorder the book HERE. Don’t forget to sign up to receive your preorder bonuses HERE. When I was thinking about small businesses I wanted to partner with for the book giveaways, Maryfrances Carter was at the top of my mind. I’ve enjoyed watching her work and creative evolution for years. She is an artist and ceramist whose love for blue and white first drew me to her. What has kept me intrigued is how she continues to find inspiration from a wide

July 22, 2026 4 Comments

a slice of life

stories | 17-year-old me travels 6,000 miles

If you missed the first installment about my trip to Russia, you can find it HERE. Our first flight was from Orlando, Florida, to Miami. It was a short flight and a small plane that had me blaring music in my headphones, closing my eyes, and gripping the armrests, pretending I was anywhere else. I was relieved when we landed and had some time on the ground before we boarded our first international flight. We would first stop in Shannon, Ireland, for a layover, followed by another flight to Moscow. A couple of days of rest and brief sightseeing were planned in Moscow before catching a 24-hour train ride east to Izhevsk. Everything was planned and timed with some breathing room and breaks, but the flights needed to go according to schedule. Our quick flight to Miami was the last leg of the journey that went off without a

July 21, 2026 9 Comments

a slice of life

stories | 17-year-old me goes to Russia

I’ve actually considered sharing some of my personal stories here on the blog before. When I was organizing our house in Minnesota from tip to toe, I came across so many bits and pieces that brought stories to mind. I considered writing a Summer Stories series about some of my childhood summers. But, I didn’t. I was still in the season of my business when my blog felt like something that needed to stay exactly as it was at all costs. I was honestly too scared of straying too far away from what readers expected from me. Or what I assumed they expected of me. One of the stories I wanted to write about, which has popped up time and again in my mind over the years, was about my summer spent in Russia as a teenager. As I’ve been considering sharing stories, my memory of a July 4th spent

July 13, 2026 28 Comments

Creativity

telling stories

I’ve been telling stories here on this blog since 2009, but they’ve mostly been stories about furniture, about my business, my work, and my creative endeavors. About refinishing floors as a novice, about my first magazine feature, about the exciting firsts for my business that unfolded as I shared online. As this blog continues to morph and I continue to evolve as an artist and a person, I have decided to start sharing some of my personal stories here. These are the stories I tell when sitting around a table with friends, ones that Jeff has heard repeatedly through our 27 years of marriage, ones I revisit because they are funny, memorable, or a part of what has shaped me to be the human I am. While I do hope the stories entertain, encourage, and offer something to those who still visit long-form blogs like mine, I think I’m doing

July 8, 2026 14 Comments

Gardening

Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 3

Welcome to giveaway number three leading up to the September 1 launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things. This giveaway is in collaboration with Erin Callahan of Garden & Guild. I’ve been following Erin on Instagram and have purchased several heirloom garden tools and classic gardening books from her since learning about her small shop. Since I reference many gardening stories, analogies, and parallels in the book, it seemed fitting to have a giveaway centered around gardening – a creative endeavor that requires both moving slow and making things. In addition to managing her shop, Erin tends a garden with her family in their 1949 cottage, Plot 49. “I think the best part about what we are doing here is the simple fact that we are doing it together. From digging holes, to planting new flowers and shrubs, and everything in between. The whole process is a

July 7, 2026 1 Comment

Art Supplies

Peg & Awl | Small Business Spotlight

There are times when I have fleeting thoughts of quitting the online space. I think about how much time is sucked into the rabbit hole of Instagram or YouTube when I could be doing something more meaningful and productive… But then I think about the beautiful people I’ve met, dear friends I have made, and endless encouragement and inspiration I have found from like-minded creatives and all-around awesome people. I know I would miss that community, and leaving social media would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. (It’s also a pretty key part of my business, so there is that aspect as well!) One of those people I have had the pleasure of crossing paths with on Instagram is Margaux Kent of Peg & Awl. I have followed her business and account for a long time. I don’t even know how many years. What she shares has always

July 1, 2026 3 Comments

a slice of life

proof of life & productivity

One of the little tidbits I jotted down in my phone and then in my commonplace notebook (a place where I collect quotes, lyrics, words, poems, thoughts, and such) recently was this: “A clean barn has no oxen.” I am going to confess that, as a pastor’s wife, I didn’t know that little nugget of wisdom was directly from the Bible. Well, it is. It’s from Proverbs 14:4. When I heard it, though, it resonated with me right away. I have gone through various seasons on the neatness scale in the span of my 48 years. I was pretty messy as a young kid, and my mom would have to bribe me to organize my room instead of shoving everything under the bed and calling it clean. Somewhere along the way, though, my picky, fastidious nature came to the forefront, and I embraced the satisfaction that came with being

June 30, 2026 16 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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