Artistic Endeavors Archives | Miss Mustard Seed

Artistic Endeavors

Art

antique-inspired color charts

I’ve been making and selling color charts on linen for a few years. My first one was inspired by color charts found at an artist’s estate sale. I was so smitten with them when I first spotted them online – the colorful squares in oil framed by age-stained fabric – that I decided to make some of my own. I made small color studies on antique linen and hemp scraps, testing different ways to tape off the squares and apply the paint. As I was working on a new batch for my original art sale earlier this year, I had an idea. What if I could stamp a color chart template onto paper and/or fabric and then apply the colors? Would that work? Would it look good? I tested out stamps I already had to label the back of my paintings to see how well the ink would transfer to

June 16, 2026 14 Comments

Art

Live Painting at Lucketts

This post has been sitting in my drafts for weeks! I know some of you must have been losing sleep because I left you hanging about the Lucketts Spring Market. I will not torture you any longer. Here’s how the afternoon of painting went back in May… After my triumphant antique find and a morning of scurrying from shopping the Lucketts Spring Market to selling paintings, I settled into my space to do some live painting. I decided to do a still life, since it’s a subject that would come together pretty quickly, and I would be okay starting and stopping. Animal portraits require a bit more focus. I printed out the reference photo ahead of time and made a loose sketch, so I wouldn’t totally choke on the spot! I set up my tripod and travel easel in the shade under a tree among the tables of the wine

June 15, 2026 5 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 1

Welcome to the first of several Move Slow & Make Things giveaways! To celebrate the book and introduce the themes explored in these pages, we’re going to give away products and gift cards that highlight small creative businesses and showcase analog tools and materials that perfectly complement living a delightfully fulfilling creative life. We’re talking fountain pens, inks, journals, heirloom gardening tools, antique-inspired small-quantity clothing, handmade pottery, and more. I’m excited to partner with some of my favorite makers to offer up some beautiful products while also championing people who live out moving slow and making things. If you’ve missed it, you can read about the book and preorder it HERE. You can also sign up to receive preorder bonuses, like a podcast-style series on creativity, a fine art print download, and a few other goodies. For this giveaway, I’m highlighting the maker Susan Dunn of Dunn by Designs. Susan

June 9, 2026 8 Comments

a slice of life

the notesbooks on my desk

I take a hybrid approach when it comes to running my life and organizing my thoughts. I like paper, pencils, and pens for writing down ideas, planning, and managing my day. While old-fashioned notebooks are my preference for most things, I rely heavily on a digital calendar and reminder alarms to make sure I don’t miss appointments, important deadlines, or even mundane weekly chores like putting the trash cans on the curb and changing the pool’s chemical cartridge. (Yes, despite being the only female in our household, I am the pool boy.) As I was looking around at the collection of notebooks I interact with each day, I thought I would share each one, why I like it, and how I use it. Practical Planning | Full Focus Planner This is the daily planner that I use to manage tasks and larger projects. I also use it for meeting notes,

June 8, 2026 7 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

Move Slow & Make Things Preorder Print Bonus

In case you didn’t hear, my new book, Move Slow & Make Things, comes out September 1, 2026! We’re getting into the final weeks before the launch, so I’ll be releasing more preorder bonuses, running giveaways, and sharing more about it in the lead-up to the release date. Of course, I’m sharing the book because that’s part of my job as an author, but I’m also sharing it because I am so proud of this book. I loved writing it, and I hope it will be a great encouragement to those who read it. If you weren’t aware of the ins and outs of the book world, preorders have become a key part of a book’s success. Of course, you have sneak-up, surprise bestsellers, but booksellers rely heavily on preorder numbers to decide which books to put on their shelves and feature online. Strong preorder sales get a book

June 2, 2026 5 Comments

Art

Original Art Sale Preview | May 20, 2026

I typically post my previews a few days ahead of an original art sale, but May has been so busy that this sale snuck up on me! The next original art sale is tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers. If you subscribe HERE, you can shop the sale before it opens to everyone else. (This isn’t a blog subscription. You will only receive emails with presale information for this and future original art sales.) In this original art sale, I have pieces ranging from some Index Card Art Project landscapes ($65) to a 12 x 16 black lab portrait ($650). This collection includes still life paintings featuring clementines, blueberries, and cherries. There are landscapes from Maryland, South Carolina, and England. And I have a few animal portraits available, including Cotswold cows, sheep, and a couple of dogs. As usual, this

May 19, 2026 1 Comment

Art

learning charcoal

A few weeks ago, I was thinking to myself, Marian, you simply don’t have enough hobbies. You should pick up another one. Okay, not really. I have hobbies coming out of my ears. In actuality, I just found myself thinking about charcoal as an art medium and felt a pull to it. I struggle with drawing, specifically with a pencil or pen. I am much more comfortable working with paint, where I can focus on shapes instead of lines. Charcoal is a drawing medium that seems to lend itself to that approach, so I decided to give the medium a good, solid try. I would watch tutorials, read books, test out different hardnesses, brands, and types of charcoal and paper, and see if I find something that resonates. Fortunately, I have a plethora of art supplies to get me started! I shopped the studio and found different types of charcoal,

May 12, 2026 9 Comments

Art

Lucketts Spring Market Preview (available original paintings)

As I shared a couple of weeks ago, I’m heading back to the Lucketts Spring Market as a semi-vendor. Since my business has changed so much over the past eight years, I’m just testing the waters to see how my original art will sell at that venue. I’ll be there just one day, Friday, May 15, from 1-4 pm, to do a bit of painting and be available to say hello. I’m also bringing along some of my original oil paintings to sell. As is my custom with Lucketts (and my online art sales), I’m posting a preview of the items I’m bringing along with measurements and prices. I do this so potential buyers have an opportunity to consider the piece without the rush and pressure of the market. They can consult their significant other, if necessary, their budget, and make sure they have the perfect spot for it. Since

May 11, 2026 5 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

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