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All Things Home

how to clean & hydrate old wood | diy furniture cleaner

Several years ago, I wrote a post about how to clean and hydrate old wood and it was one of my most popular posts for years!  I decided it was time to do a refresher post on this DIY, homemade natural furniture cleaner and write an updated post that answered a lot of the questions asked on that original post.  I’ve also been using this recipe and technique for years, so I can speak to its efficacy and longevity. First of all, this DIY Furniture Cleaner will work on any old wood that has lost its luster and shine as long as the mixture can penetrate the finish.  If the piece has a thick polyurethane topcoat, the mixture will just sit on top and won’t be very effective.  If the wood is raw or the finish has worn away/evaporated, this DIY Furniture Cleaner will polish it up beautifully.  It is

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July 12, 2021 26 Comments
All Things Home

painted klompen shoes

When I organized the basement storage room, I made a use-it-or-lose-it pile.  I have been holding onto some decor pieces since before we moved and if they’ve been in a box, closet, or basement for 4+ years, then it’s time to either find a good spot for it or let it go.  The whole point of decor pieces is to be decorative!  They are not doing anyone any good if they are in a storage room.  Making some self-imposed rules and boundaries can sometimes sound silly, but they can be very helpful if you’re willing to be bossy and firm with yourself.  Creating this use-it-or-lose-it rule finally gave me the push to give these vintage painted klompen shoes a makeover. The small pair is a souvenir pair that we picked up somewhere…I’m not even sure where or when.  I just remember having them since I was a girl.  I would

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July 7, 2021 32 Comments
All Things Home

furniture makeover | painting an old stool

We had an uncommonly warm weekend, so I decided to finally work on painting this stool that’s been hanging out in my garage, waiting for some attention, for almost a year!  I picked it up on one of my first antique outings when the stay-at-home orders were lifted.  I had no idea what I was going to do with this stool, but I think it was $12 or $15, so it was hard to pass up.  It’s sturdy, has a great shape, and pretty turned legs, and I almost always find a good use for an old stool.  They are a great size and height to use as a small side table or a plant stand, so I have them all over the house! I liked the shape but I did not like the beige paint color.  It wasn’t the worst beige ever, but I wanted to change the color.

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May 4, 2021 21 Comments
Sewing

linen slipcovers one year later

Do you remember the linen slipcovers I made last year about this time?  I made a pair of linen slipcovers to cover the stained end chairs at our kitchen table… You can find the tutorials and sources for these linen slipcovers HERE. They look beatiful and have washed well except for one thing… When I wash them, the ends fray, and the seams come undone in a few places.  I have never had that happen with slipcovers before, but I also haven’t used this specific linen and I have never washed slipcovers this often!  Because these are used all the time, the boys typically eat sitting at these chairs, and the cats love napping on these chairs, I wash them about once every month or two. I just take the slipcovers up to the sewing room and fix the area, so it hasn’t been a huge deal, but I wouldn’t

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April 23, 2021 36 Comments
All Things Home

how to make a gathered sink skirt

I actually made this sink skirt and shot a tutorial for it over the summer, when I was working on a flurry of projects for my book (coming this fall.)   It was supposed to be a tutorial for the book, but I decided not to add it in.  There were a few reasons for that… 1 – I couldn’t get a really great shot of it, because the bathroom is so small, the lighting is poor, and the mirror would reflect the brightly lit foyer. 2 – I wasn’t sure if it really was a good project.  I sort of made it up as I went along, literally using materials I had leftover from other projects. 3 – Because I was making it up as I went, it’s not perfect. 4 – I wasn’t sure it would be practical long-term.  I even planned on making a new one almost immediately

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March 17, 2021 37 Comments
Art

Online Painting Classes

If you haven’t guessed, I almost always have an ambitious list of things I want to accomplish each year.  Some things end up getting kicked down the road simply because I only have so much time and I have to focus on things that are a higher priority.  My little pet projects are the ones that typically get neglected.  One of the pet projects I wanted to finally do this year was to offer online art classes.  This included making new ones, but also putting the free art classes I made last year into a format that was easier to navigate.  I am happy to report that I did it! The first new class available is a master study of Fabritius’ Gold Finch! Here is my version that I did for the class… I absolutely loved working on this painting and filming it for the class.  I review all the

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March 11, 2021 31 Comments
All Things Home

DIY sewing scissors case & hemming linen towels

As I shared in Monday’s post, I’m taking the time to work through small projects as I come across specific materials I purchased with the intention of making them.  I think that’s one of the problems with being someone who likes projects – we’re always collecting materials, tools, and supplies for the next project.  Or 15 projects.  While I had the ironing board out and was already working on measuring, cutting, and sewing for the rice & lavender hot/cold packs, I decided to hem some linen towels and make a case for my embroidery scissors out of some scraps. I purchased a couple of yards of THIS linen toweling when I was ordering some linen fabric for other projects with the intention of making some more kitchen dish towels.  (They have all sorts of patterns and colors, too.)  I washed and cut the fabric, but never hemmed it to finish

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February 10, 2021 22 Comments
All Things Home

how to make a rice & lavender hot/cold pack

A part of cleaning, organizing, and purging is dealing with materials that were purchased with intention.  I buy them because I intend to do something with them.  When I was cleaning out my cleaning supplies, I found the materials for two projects that have been languishing in a closet for too long.  Some of the supplies were purchased to make beeswax food wraps and some were intended for a rice & lavender-filled hot/cold pack.  Last week, I made the hot-cold pack and I thought I would share how to make it.  The nice thing about this project is it’s super quick and simple and it made me wonder why I waited so long! How to Make a Rice & Lavender Hot/Cold Pack | Printable Instructions   How to Make a Rice & Lavender Hot/Cold Pack | Required Materials & Tools 4 lbs rice dried lavender (I used about 1-2 cups,

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February 8, 2021 27 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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