Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

cedar chest – before & after

I am in search for the perfect coffee table for the living room.  I want something interesting…maybe a skirted ottoman with curvy legs or something on wheels.  Whatever it is, I haven’t found it yet.  I’ve had this round side table in the room for a few months and really liked it there, but it was even more perfect for my family room, so I was left with a hole in the living room.  (This is a constant problem for frequent furniture re-arrangers like myself.)

So, I hauled in the cedar chest that was used to store a train set in my family room and tried it in front of the sofa.  Hmm…the scale of the piece is right, but the orange color wasn’t working.  I know you’ll just die of shock when you see what I did next…

 

 

…you know me so well.  Yes, I painted it.  I thought ASCP Louis Blue with Old White might do the trick.

 

I like the chest better, but it’s still not really working in the room.  It’s a little too “sweet”, if that makes sense.  So, it’s back to the drawing board.  I’m going to Lucketts on Thursday to move my stuff from the third floor to the first floor (into a smaller, more manageable space), so I’ll look around for something while I’m there.

Tonight we’re heading back home and I am bringing my secret weapon back with me…Mini Mustard Seed.  Woohoo!  She decided to hitch a ride home with us, so I’ll have my assistant and baby sitter back again (and she’s just a sweet girl to have around, too.)  I love visiting with family, but I’m looking forward to getting back to work.

I kind of like work…in case you haven’t noticed.

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

you may also like

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

August 13th, 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.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories

Looking for more encouragement?

Stories | the time I was lost in Russia

It’s hard to remember how we functioned before smartphones; before we had a map, a full phone directory, Google Translate, and all the information available by tapping a question into an internet browser in our pocket.  Well, this story happened before that time. I was supposed to meet my friend

Read More

why you need to buy books & upcoming new releases

The launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things, is just over two weeks away!  I received my author’s copies last week.  Six heavy mystery boxes arrived on the small stoop by our kitchen door, leaving me stumped until I saw they were from my publisher.  I had

Read More
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This