Artistic Endeavors Archives | Page 43 of 55

Artistic Endeavors

30 day watercolor challenge update

I started the 30 day watercolor challenge last month as a way to push myself as I’m learning this new-to-me medium. I have gotten way behind, though! I knew when I started that even though it was a 30 day challenge that certainly was meant to be done in 30 consecutive days, I probably wouldn’t be able to keep that pace with everything else happening. So, I’ve made a point to not get stressed about it and just work through the list as I have the chance. Here are the days I’ve done, picking up from where I left off on my last watercolor post… day 4 | book That’s the Hunger Games Catching Fire, in case you didn’t know! day 5 | drink (Izze is my favorite) day 6 | fruit day 7 | nuts (No, I don’t have an announcement!) day 8 | mess or spill day 9

October 3, 2016 51 Comments

a slice of life

things have changed…

I’ve been needing to write this post for a while now, but the words were just never there. I have felt stuck with my blog for a few weeks, though, and I knew I would feel stuck until I made myself sit down and write. I need to tell you, my readers, that things have changed. Don’t worry. It’s all good stuff. I’m not dropping any bombs, here. I just need to put it out there, maybe more for myself than anyone else. After Lucketts, I had a lot of ideas on the “what’s next” list. I had some plans in the works that would involve tons of hands-on work – furniture painting, shopping, putting rooms together, styling, photography, etc. Those plans meant loads and loads of blog content, like the weeks leading up to Lucketts. I was headed towards those plans at a steady pace and then, like I

September 16, 2016 137 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

fall porch photoshoot

Thursday morning, I hit the snooze button a few times and then lazily scrolled through Instagram with one eye open until I felt like I could function enough to coax myself out of bed. My throat had been sore for a couple of days and now I could feel that I didn’t just have a dry throat from the A/C running or from a couple of short nights of sleep (from getting up to check blood sugars and make corrections in the middle of the night) I was getting sick. I had slated Thursday for a fall porch freelance photoshoot, but I just didn’t think I could swing it. The sky was threatening rain on top of my stuffed sinuses and it seemed like everything was pointing to rescheduling. Netflix, soup, and pajama pants were beckoning. Well, I tried my best, but I couldn’t fit it in another day to

September 6, 2016 9 Comments

All Things Home

30-day watercolor challenge

Hang in there with me while I experience my own personal renaissance! I am just having such a wonderful time allowing my creativity to spill into other mediums. This seems to be what happens to me and I’m going to embrace it fully with a 30-day watercolor challenge. Music and theatre were always my creative outlet when I was younger, but when I finished college and decided not to pursue a career in performing, I needed a new outlet. So, I started working on my home and learned how to sew, paint, and refinish furniture, and became obsessed with all things decorating. I picked up decorative painting when we lived in my in-law’s basement, as Jeff finished his undergrad degree, and I didn’t really have a space to decorate. I picked up cooking and baking when our first townhouse was painted and decorated and I needed something to learn

September 2, 2016 85 Comments

All Things Home

studio flooring options

In my post yesterday, I shared that we’ll be installing some new flooring in the studio. Well, not in the entire studio, but a corner of it, so I can use that area for photo shoots. The corner we’ll be installing it in is this one… You can see that the flooring is a bit of a mish-mash; some of the old pine and some plywood, so I haven’t used that corner for photo shoots despite the nice light and big, blank wall. So, I’ve been planning to float some flooring in that corner, so I can create “rooms”. Rooms that I can design, put together, photograph, and ultimately, sell everything in them. Doesn’t that sound like fun?! So, I was looking for a few specific things. First of all, I wanted a floor that would be neutral and wouldn’t cast any sort of hue, specifically red, orange or yellow. (The floors

August 15, 2016 22 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

behind the scenes | producing videos

I have been asked several questions about the videos I make, so I thought I would answer them all in one post, for those who are interested. Videos have been an on-again-off-again thing for me over the past few years. I started them initially when I wanted to share how I made slipcovers. I tried to write posts detailing how, but once I got into the thick of “pin the inside arm piece to the side piece…” it just got overly complicated. Some things are just easier to show. I also like video, because I can really talk to you, my readers. I write the way I talk. I have a running conversation going on in my head and I just type it out. But when I can talk directly to the camera, you’re getting to know me even more. I often leave in mistakes and when I crack myself

July 27, 2016 10 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

prove yourself wrong

I have some things to share tonight, but I’m going to do something I don’t usually (or ever) do. I’m going to ask you to watch this video first and then read the post. The reason is that I’m going to talk about the video and I don’t want you to read all about it before you watch it. Okay? Deal? Did you watch it? Okay, now you can read… So, Saturday morning, I was showering to get ready for the day and I was thinking about the landscape dresser that I just finished. I was smiling at the fact that someone was coming to buy it that morning, despite all of my doubts and struggles as I worked on it. I was intimidated by that piece and I told myself that. You’re going to mess this up. You aren’t good enough to pull this off. But I pushed through it and,

July 6, 2016 183 Comments

All Things Home

cross-stitch patterns | B & I

Before I get to the cross-stitch patterns, I wanted to share that I actually scheduled some milk paint workshops at the studio! I get asked about it a lot, so I finally pinned myself down and put some on the calendar. Friday, July 15, 2016, is a Milk Paint 101 Workshop from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm. In the past, my 101 workshops have been learning to use the products on sample boards, but I’ve mixed it up, so we’ll work on three small projects for you to take and use in your home or give as gifts. Slots are available to purchase HERE. Saturday, July 16, 2016, is a BYOF (bring your own furniture) Workshop from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm. These are so much fun, because you can bring a piece to paint and we’ll work on it together. You learn while you finish a piece. You can purchase a

June 26, 2016 28 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.