Artistic Endeavors Archives | Page 47 of 55

Artistic Endeavors

All Things Home

styling the jelly cupboard

I’ve been under the weather for the past few days. I’m getting better, but hanging out in bed doesn’t make for very fun blog posts. I checked out my draft folder to look for posts I started, but never finished or posted, usually because something more exciting comes along to write about. As I was digging through the drafts folder, I found this one… I have written about styling before and I thought I would share the process I went through styling this primitive jelly cupboard I sold at the Chapel Market last October. I started out with a large market basket sitting on top. I’ve learned when it comes to styling that a lot of little things can get lost in a picture. It’s better to use pieces that make a bigger statement. I think this can also translate to styling a piece for your home. Imagine this jelly cupboard with

January 29, 2015 24 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

the first workshop

We opened the doors for our very first workshop in the Mustard Seed Studio on Friday. It was so much fun getting ready for it and a great incentive to get things in the studio finished. My goal for these workshops is to educate, but also to share this amazing creative space with others and make our guests feel pampered…in a DIY sort of way! I know many of them are taking a vacation day or hiring a sitter or getting this for a birthday present, so I want to make it worth it! Each space was set with a look book, a note card for taking notes, an apron and a hand painted linen name tag. I found these adorable mini wood clothes pins in the office section at Wal-Mart and they were the perfect way to clip the tags onto the apron. Attendees wrote their name on their tags

January 25, 2015 21 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

getting ready for company

I’ve lately turned my attention to getting the studio spruced up and ready to host our first workshops. I’ve loved the space from the moment I first set foot in the door, but it’s really starting to come alive now that we’re working on the details. Here’s how it looked a few months ago when we had only been in the space a few weeks. I whitewashed the work tables that Jeff built and finished them in a gray wax (a mix of Antiquing Wax and Furniture Wax.) We added rolling chalkboard walls behind the counter to hide the shipping/office/storage area and provide a nice backdrop to the counter. On Friday, we added curtains to further divide the space. Since we had to span over 7′, we ended up using a piece of metal pipe held in brackets used for dowels. My dad referred to it as the “anti-tank curtain rod”.

January 21, 2015 43 Comments

All Things Home

more furniture to paint…

I have had a tough time getting back in my groove since the Christmas holiday. It’s mostly because of this… No, not an amazing old mill. The snow! The boys keep having two hour delays and full days off from school for snow and ice. I love my days off with them, but it’s tough trying to balance work with two boys home all day, especially on the heels of a long school break! We’re managing, though. There’s lots of Lego-building, movies, games, “guy battles”, snacks and lunches and I’m sneaking work in when I can. I did get a few days in at the studio last week and I enjoyed them so much after my time away… One of the top things on my to-do list is to finish introducing the European color line for MMSMP before they are released (Jan 24, 2015), so I’ve been stocking up on

January 13, 2015 22 Comments

Photography

photo styling gone wrong

I love looking at catalogs and magazines where the styling is creative and artfully done. Of course, one I enjoy most is Anthropologie. Their presentation is amazing and always so inspiring. When I saw the use of a hand mannequin in their gift look book, I thought it might be fun to get one to use for pictures of our milk paint and products. It’s hard not to have a little fun with a hand mannequin. Kriste and I clapped with it. We “raised our hand” and gave a thumb’s up and even saw if the wooden thumb could bend at an angle as freakish as my thumb. My thumb won. Then, we tried styling it in pictures with the products. Holding a brush seemed like a no brainer, but who holds a brush like that? And why is a wooden hand holding it? Maybe showcasing the logo on the

December 30, 2014 61 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

ramblings, workshops & open by chance

As we work in the studio, Kriste & I talk a lot about decorating. We chat endlessly about styles, trends, what’s inspiring us now, blogs we like, what we think is being overdone, etc. Having worked alone for such a long time, I love the interaction and find it makes me think through my own tastes and choices and it broadens my horizons a bit. One day, we were chatting and I stopped what I was doing and looked up at Kriste. “We need to put this on camera.” And that was it. We decided that day that we would start a weekly video series called “Design Ramblings.” Actually, we tried to come up with a name that was more clever, combining our blog names, Rosemary & Thyme and Miss Mustard Seed, but everything that combined those two names sounded like we would be talking about gardening or cooking. We also like that

December 9, 2014 32 Comments

Photography

shooting for cottages & bungalows

A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from the editor at Cottages & Bungalows magazine. I started working with her a few years ago when she reached out to me, asking if I would contribute a DIY article for one of their issues. After I went into total freak-out-pinch-me-did-she-send-the-e-mail-to-the-right-person mode, I said yes and submitted my first freelance magazine article a few weeks later. When I look back on it, I can’t even believe she hired me to write more! I’ve grown so much as a writer and photographer, but it’s fun to see the reminders of where I started and my growth. Anyway, that first article turned into becoming a contributor to the magazine for over two years. With the launch of the milk paint line and the growth of my blog, I had to resign from that monthly gig. After writing almost 20 articles for them and over 125

October 26, 2014 37 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

cha-ching

I keep a running list in the back of my mind of antiques I’d like to buy if ever the piece, price and timing are right. Through the years, I’ve found some of those pieces…an industrial cart, a dress form, an ironstone cake pedestal to name a few. One thing on that list was an antique cash register. I thought it would be so fun to use at sales and events. And honestly, it would just look amazing sitting on a counter. Of course, I didn’t have a shop/studio space or a counter for that matter, until a few weeks ago. And, just when the timing was right, I found a beautiful antique cash register, in working order, for an amazing price. About a fourth of what they are usually priced when I spot them. This beauty is everything I wanted…the ornate case, the wood base, the original glass case, functioning keys and

October 18, 2014 52 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.