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Running a Business

market sign & my pavilion

I finished this sign the morning I brought it to Lucketts, so we didn’t have a chance to do a proper photo shoot together. Sorry! I really love how this one turned out, though. The bead board door was already painted a cream color, so I simply painted over it with Antibes Green with lettering in Old White and shadow in Graphite (all chalk paint.) Once dry, I used a palm sander to use and abuse the sign until it looked how I wanted it to. The piece was finished with a mix of clear and brown wax. Check out my Waxes 101 video if you’d like to see my technique. I just bought some huge barn doors today to paint some signs on. They sell well and it’s fun to create my own “art” to sell in my space. Some of you were a little confused about the “pavilion” idea, so I

April 3, 2011 52 Comments

what you don’t see & a dresser makeover

I probably have enough content for two blogs, but I only have the time to keep up with one. And sometimes I can’t even do that! There are so many projects and makeovers I work on that you never see. I just don’t have the time to stage them, photograph them, write about them. I sort of hit my favorite projects and what I’m feeling most inspired by on my blog. One of the things I didn’t share was this union jack sign I made out of an old dutch barn door. It had the original red paint on it, so I kept the red and painted the blue and white in craft acrylics. It looks like it came off an old ship or something. I also recently painted that French mirror with gold leaf detail and the small shelf to the left of the dresser. Speaking of the dresser…

April 2, 2011 50 Comments

Pavilion of Dreams

Ok. It’s cheese ball to call this the pavilion of dreams. I acknowledge that, but I’m feeling sentimental and optimistic this evening. After a long day of hard work, I am moved into my space at Lucketts. My space. It’s amazing. I welled up when I stepped back and looked at it. (There was going to be a mahogany library table in the middle, but that sold before I could get set up!) The space is big, allows in great light and is filled with character and charm. I love, love it and am so excited to be a part of the antique store that I have loved and shopped at and drooled over for about ten years. It truly is a dream come true and a business goal I can check off the list. I made some hand painted banners to hang from the ceiling and I’m going to make even more

March 26, 2011 113 Comments

Living A Dream

I vividly remember starting my business. I remember having a nervous tummy and sweaty palms as I filled out my PA-100 to register my business with the state. I remember sitting in bed after midnight scribbling things in my idea and to-do notebook. I remember brainstorming with friends and family members about a perfect name. I really had no idea what was in store. A business that started with a decorative painting and mural emphasis evolved into my true passion – antiques, home decor and refurbished furniture. A surprising thing also sprouted out of my business, this blog. I was sort of poking along until August 2010. Then, things started happening that were beyond my wildest dreams. HGTV asked me to write for them, Romantic Homes and Flea Market Style wanted to feature my blog, Lynette from Wild Rose asked me to be a part of her shop and booth

March 9, 2011 201 Comments

Miss Mustard Seed Makeover

If you’re an avid, or even a casual reader of my blog, you know that I love a good makeover. Well, a pretty obvious one just happened. My blog, Miss Mustard Seed, has a new look. Before I talk about the makeover, I need to share how I got here. My wonderful friend, former youth group student and web/brand designer, Laura Dreyer, was the one who encouraged me to start a blog. When I started my business a couple of years ago, she was one of the first people I called for help. I asked if she would design a website, logo, business cards, marketing materials, all of it, for me. She has been in school studying graphic design, so I was a perfect guinea pig for her. She drew all of my illustrated buttons and created my entire marketing look. I love her and her work. Laura is an amazing

March 3, 2011 81 Comments

The Numbers Game

This morning was gloomy, grey and rainy and I felt sluggish. Around noon, the sun came out, the snow was melting and I felt like a new woman. I baked some bread, filled a bowl with bright green apples for my kitchen counter and was ready for Spring and all that comes with it…the birds chirping, the swing sets in motion, the daffodils peeking out of the soil. I took advantage of the mood and the pretty light and completed one of my Spring project photo shoots. I wish I had a project to share today, but I’ve been spending most of my work time lately on projects that will be published down the road. I am going to pick up the slipcover tutorial series in the next few days and I have some new sign creations and furniture makeovers waiting to happen, so stay tuned. Until then, I recently

February 25, 2011 83 Comments

Dreaming Big

Today I have been sick in bed, but it has still been an exciting day. My mom called mid-morning and proclaimed, “I found them!” The two magazines I’ve been looking for at newsstands finally showed up at her local Barnes and Noble. My first monthly article written for the DIY Essentials spread in Cottages and Bungalows magazine was published in the April 2011 issue. I told you I would let you know where to find a step-by-step tutorial on how to make my dining room chair slipcovers and here it is! I can’t tell you how exciting it was to see my dining room, my photography and my writing on a glossy magazine page. Well, I’ve only seen a scan of it, but I know I’ll hold it in my hands soon. I also got to see my blog featured in the Spring 2011 issue of Flea Market Style magazine. My blog was

February 20, 2011 61 Comments

Enjoying the Fruits

This was the last day my mom was here. I dropped her off at the airport after our last busy day together. We really packed a lot of work into five days. Tonight, I’m crashing. I’m tired. Exhausted. Done. I just finished editing photos I took today of my booth at Wild Rose. Beneath my heavy eyes and fuzzy brain I feel satisfaction. Even joy. I love what I do. I worked hard this weekend and I had a lot of things to take to my space. It was over-flowing. The cherry on top was the beautiful stuff Jami from Freckled Laundry delivered over the weekend (like the gourmet suet cake pictured above.) The antique Empire table I refinished is the centerpiece and it provides a perfect place to display some of Jami’s shoes and suet cakes. I painted this side table over the weekend as well. Today, it was fun seeing it all come

February 16, 2011 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.

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