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

I’m in the phase of getting ready for Lucketts where I spend most of my day in the basement painting, stripping (furniture), sanding, waxing, distressing…you get the idea.  I get to the end of this kind of day and I wonder what in the world I’m going to post about.  I’ve finished pieces, but they’re still in the basement and I have about seven other things in the works, but they’re really not ready to show.  So, I’m just going to share some of what I’ve been up to today.

When Mini first arrived to watch my boys for the day, I took a long soak in a hot bath.  I was sleepy and a little sore and I just couldn’t face all of the work that needed to be done without a little down time first.  After the bath, breakfast and a quick check of my e-mail and I got to work.  Here are a couple of the new pieces I was working on…

 

I stripped the top of this piece to get it ready for refinishing, but I didn’t get around to painting it yet.

I also stripped the top of this piece and painted the base in a pretty blue (one of the new colors in my milk paint line.)

 

 

This wood is gorgeous, so I had to leave the top unpainted.  After stripping it, I cleaned it with mineral spirits, sanded it smooth and finished it with Hemp Oil.  God knew what He was doing when He made wood grain like that…

 

 

My husband and some of the former youth guys (now in college) came over and watched the boys for a while (while they played on the X-Box), so Mini came downstairs to help me with painting this piece…

 

 I was working on mixing paints for my line and had the perfect color to use on it…

 

 

I added some white accents after I took this picture and I can’t wait for the reveal of this piece (and the color!)

 

I spent a good bit of time playing with colors and I made a real mess of my workbench in the process.  I knew in my head exactly what colors I wanted, so it was just a matter of finding the right mix.  I think I have most of them figured out, but I’m still working on a couple of them.

I did find the perfect green…

I also finished a hutch (with awesome brass chicken wire in the doors), stripped the fabric off a French caned-back wing chair, painted the base coat for three signs and painted a stool.

I don’t think I’m going to have trouble getting to sleep tonight.  Whew!

The winners of the Decor Steals Giveaway are…

Kristin M. wins the desk organizer

and

Jessica from Dear Emmeline wins the butterfly wreath.

Congrats!!

 

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?

New Prints & FrameTV Art

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who shopped my original art sale yesterday.  All of the original paintings are sold out!  There

Read More

Stories | the unreasonable quest for potatoes

I’m assuming most of my readers have easy access to a local grocery store, and if it’s like mine, you can pretty much buy anything you want there year-round.  You might have to hit a few places to find a specific, rare ingredient, but you can probably find almost everything

Read More

Original Art Sale Preview | August 13, 2026

The next original art sale is Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers.  If you subscribe HERE, you can shop the sale at noon before it opens to everyone else.  (This isn’t a blog subscription.  You will only receive emails with presale

Read More
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This