decorating the studio & shop with me in Raleigh

by | Nov 20, 2015 | All Things Home, Artistic Endeavors, Decorating, Holiday, Winter | 41 comments

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I was home with a sick kid most of last week and, I have to admit, that once I get out of a routine, it’s hard to get back into it.  I was ready to get back in the studio, but I was dragging my feet at the same time.  On Tuesday, though, I had a full day to crank my music, create and take pictures, and my motivation started creeping back in.

Sometimes I need to work on things that are totally not a priority in order to get myself going.

On Tuesday, that meant rearranging furniture and getting fake snow in my hair and all over myself as I set up our studio tree.

It’s the 6.5′ Flocked Alaskan Tree from Christmas Tree Market.  So, here is the story with this tree.  Christmas Tree Market asked if I would be interested in partnering with them last Christmas.  I had just moved into the studio and I always use fresh trees in my house, so I told them I appreciated the offer and maybe we could work together down the road.

In April, I was hired to write and photograph several Christmas-themed tutorials for HGTV.com and I needed a tree.  Christmas Tree Market came to mind.  I sent them an e-mail inquiring about this specific tree (I have always wanted a flocked tree), but it wasn’t in stock.  It was April, after all.  Well, my contact happened to have this tree at her house, so she boxed it up and sent me HER tree in time for my photo shoot.

I love that this company also partners with bloggers to donate and decorate trees for charities and hospitals.

 

Since it wasn’t on my to-do list, I decided to use our upcoming glass glitter workshop this Saturday as the excuse for bringing out the Christmas decorations.

It was just a happy accident that the quilt I threw of the back of the sofa matches the pom-pom garland I made last year.  The quilt was actually given to me by Layla.  It didn’t sell after the first Chapel Market, so she gave it to me.  I think it belonged to her uncle.

I gussied up this plastic deer last year with some German glass glitter, but he needs a little touch-up.  His body had a fuzzy coating, so I think that prevented the glue from adhering as well as it usually does.

I draped the pom-pom garland over my baker’s rack, a $150 Lucketts score from last spring.

I found this amazing antique cast iron fireplace surround at a local antique shop and it was a perfect little focal point.  Would you believe it was only $40?  I hung the upholstered “happy Christmas” banner I made last year over it.


mms-2585

Decorating the studio has definitely put me in the Christmas spirit and excited about Thanksgiving and then decorating my house for Christmas.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, we’ll be making our annual trip to Raleigh again this year.  A few years ago, I got together with some blog readers and fellow bloggers and we went to the flea market, antique shops and to lunch.  It was such a fun and enriching time, that I thought I would do it again!

If you’re near Raleigh, NC and would be interested in hanging out on Saturday, November 28, 2015.  We’ll meet in the morning at the Raleigh Flea Market at the fairgrounds and then head to SuzAnna’s Antiques and grab lunch somewhere along the way.  If you’re interested, just send me an e-mail at marian@missmustardseed.com and we’ll figure out the details.

Just so you know, shopping with me will mean that I will take you out for a piece of ironstone.

You have been warned.

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    41 Comments

    1. Wendy from OldLakeGeorge.com

      Thanks for the warning! 🙂
      Have fun shopping and we are all looking forward to seeing what treasures you find!

    2. antiquechase

      Everything looks so festive and lovely… and Marian your hair really looks exceptionally great in the photo above! Marcy

    3. Paula aziz

      Hi, just thought I d drop you a line to say , I love your Pom poms !! Ha ha .
      Well done decorations are unique as usual , love paula x

    4. Kristy Jones

      Love what your doing to that plastic deer. It looks perfect with some German glass glitter of course. Good job on the decorations!

    5. dolores

      “…take you out for a piece of ironstone.” Bwhahahaha!:)

      • marian

        Oh, I will.

    6. Leah Prevost

      That flocked tree is gorgeous! I’m usually not a fan of artificial trees but it’s so full! Every year I get a live flocked tree for our house, they don’t need to be watered and they last so long, I love them! I also love the huge lights you have on the tree. And your hair looks amazing in that picture at the end of the post!!!!! The color, your bangs, the cut, it looks fabulous 🙂

    7. Amy Mogish

      Love all the pom-pom’s and especially the image with the quilt and pom-poms…how beautiful! Looking forward to tomorrow’s Glitter Workshop and visiting your studio….and to create together!

      • marian

        We are going to have a great time!

        • Suzi

          Where do you hold your workshops and do you have a list with dates and locations?
          Thanks!

    8. Stephanie Shaw

      I didn’t want to think about Christmas and I surely didn’t want to hear Christmas music…until I just read this post. Thanks for the motivation.

      I come to your blog at least five times per week. You are doing a great job. I appreciate how you represent Christ in what you do – both in tone and in actions.

      Recovering Scrooge! 🙂

    9. Cheryl Licht

      Love it all, so so beautiful. I can’t wait to decorate next weekend.

      The tree is gorgeous! But speaking as an Alaskan, looking out at a world covered in white, I find it hilarious that they named the tree Alaskan. For the majority of our trees (except far south on the Kenai peninsula and South East) are really ugly and scrawny (think Charlie Brown). They suffer from to much permafrost, and they’re far uglier than any artificial tree. Anyhow, struck me as funny, because that is a beautiful tree!

    10. Denise

      Aww, the baker’s rack . It brought a lot of memories: My grandparents had the bake shop in Kannapolis, N.C. They moved from Massachusetts to set up their own business in N.C. My mother was working with her parents and she was a great cake decorator. My hubby and I will be in Cary, NC for Thanksgiving, we are going to take my mother out for lunch.

    11. Janine R

      Love this tree. Not decorating for Christmas this year, but I will definately consider this tree for next year.

    12. MaryLisa Noyes

      I love the blue’s in your Christmas decorating…

    13. Janet Lomajan

      I’ll be in Angier for Thanksgiving week. It sounds like so much fun to do the Flea with you! I will try to talk one of my daughters to participate since I don’t drive “country”. I have a YouTube channel but no blog. My YT is nanajl54

    14. Marlene Stephenson

      Your photo’s were wonderful and wish i were close but,i am not so have fun for me too!

    15. Anne

      I live in Hillsborough and work in Durham but unfortunately have to work that Saturday – or I would hunt you down at the Flea Market! Have fun and welcome to North Carolina – God’s Country!!

    16. Consuela Agayoff

      It may have been too much when I called my husband and exclaimed Miss Mustard seed is coming to town! He may think I’m weird but I’m so excited! Suzanna’s has a couple of new vendors that I love!

    17. Donna Doble-Brown

      I wanna go . . . I wanna go! Darn that I live in RI! Well, at least in this instance anyway! Have a blast and happy shopping!

    18. Hannah Rose

      Seeing these pictures has put me in the Christmas mood, too! I’m excited about decorating this year because we moved this summer and I have a whole new house to make festive. On another note, I received my MMS package of baker’s twine and hemp sheet! The sheet is as gorgeous in person as it is in the pictures! Worth every penny! Can’t wait to use it on my french bergere chair…

    19. suzanne morse

      We were at SuZanna’s 3 weeks ago…we purchased a piece that originally was the side-lite on a door…it has been turned into a king sized headboard piece for our bed…my husband sanded it and I used chalk paint in a light grey and then MMS’s dark wax…I just finished it today and it is gorgeous….it has leaded glass with an all wood border….he turned it side-ways and also made a shelf for the top….we’ll be in Raleigh on Nov. 27 for the Christmas Craft fair at the fairgrounds…as we live close by in Clayton, we make it a girls day and do the fair and then lunch! I do love your wax product…it really is superb! Happy Thanksgiving and God speed in your travels!

    20. Richelle Nicole

      What what, could I seriously hang out and antique with my home decor HERO?? I live past Fort Bragg, so I’m in the area. Yay! Hopefully you’ll take pity on this poor Vet and not take me down over the precious, oh so beautiful ironstone. ? I’ll be emailing you!

    21. jackie pankuck

      Hi Marian,
      Your upholstered Happy Christmas banner was so touching to me. We were all born in Ireland and my mother would always say “Happy Christmas” rather than “Merry Christmas”. It’s a very Irish thing to say… Brought back such lovely memories. Thank you. I’ll have to make one myself.
      Jackie

    22. Barbara Bussey

      I just landed on the wrong side of the country! Enjoy Raleigh without me. 🙁

    23. Lorraine

      Hi, Marian! Thanks for the lovely post. Your blog is so refreshing and uplifting! I cannot begin to tell you how many days I’ve been blessed by you and Christie and the creative vibes. Thank you for being so real! Sorry I had to miss your workshop today … 🙁 Enjoy NC!!

    24. Stacey

      How lucky for you that you have your studio to decorate! Love Everything!!!

      But I totally get what you’re saying about being out of the loop after being sick, or helping out too many days at school (that always wears me down), or maybe being away for a short trip. I get off track and feel removed from my home and all the things that must be done in it. Like you, I often get my mojo back by doing something that’s totally Not a priority and it usually involves rearranging furniture. HA!

      Anyway, I would so LOVE to join you in Raleigh!!! SHeeSH! Too bad it’s right after Thanksgiving and my family will still be here. OH Well, Another time!

      Wishing you and your Family a Very Happy Thanksgiving!
      P.S. Don’t you just love how I’m talking like we’re ‘ole friends’?

    25. Angela Boone

      Oh, I’d love to hang out in Raleigh with you. I live about an hour east of Raleigh and enjoy your blog. I have a two week old so I probably won’t be able to. Will you come back to NC at any point?

    26. Kim

      Marion, you somehow continue to outdo yourself! Let’s see, I’m in love with the quilt, the gifts in the doll bed, the yarn pom pom, and, oh yeah, the lamp shade “skeleton” cloche.

    27. Patricia

      Love that you will be in Raleigh next week. If the in laws ( bless their hearts) get on the road early, I would love to race on over to the flea market.

    28. Kely

      I hope to see you there as I now live in Raleigh and work part time at SuzAnnas.

    29. Amy Rhodes

      If I didn’t have to work that Saturday I would have loved to have gone with you!! Next year I will have to remember to take off! Post some pics! And safe travels 🙂

    30. Karen

      I always wanted a flocked Christmas tree too, and was fortunate enough to stumble on a “used” 12′ Flocked tree that was being sold by a boutique shop that was going out of business. We moved to a home that had 12′ ceilings, and a downstairs entry that had just the spot to put it by the spiral staircase, which has about 20′ ceiling. It is a challenge to set this tree up, and yes, the flocking gets into everything, and I definitely have to use a ladder and need more ornaments than you can imagine, but WOW, once it is up and decorated, what a beautiful sight! All white lights!
      We put up an 8′ green faux tree upstairs with colored lights and a different theme, so we can enjoy the Holiday season. I find that an investment in a decorative wide ribbon with the metal ribbing can be a thrifty way to quickly change the look of a decorated tree from year to year, and I use it by spiralling it through the branches around the tree. One year it maybe a plaid, the next a glittery silver and gold.

    31. The Urban Peddler

      Hi! I was at the workshop and book signing on your first trip to Suzanna’s right after your book came out. It was so nice to have met you. I had a space there at the time – Geek Girl’s Vintage. I have since moved to another shop in Fuquay Varina, KnB’s Marketplace. It’s about 45 min South East of Raleigh – cute shop off the beaten path (120 Raleigh St., Fuquay Varina). I love our network of junkers, pickers, flea market addicts – there is not a more welcoming, creative, and postive community than ours. I’m sure you’ll have a busy schedule while you’re here but another great shop in the area is in downtown Wake Forest, Lulu’s Vintage (317 E. Roosevel Ave.). I’ve found cool fence gates, stools, cool metal old-school wrought iron projector bases that turned into beautiful tables once a solid wood top was attached, and anything with chipped paint and patina to make you drool. It’s worth the trip. Have a safe and wonderful time while you’re here. -The Urban Peddler- (Kwane Neely – pronounced kwah-nee) 🙂

    32. Jennifer Lutz

      The tree looks fantastic in your studio! Such a fun tree. I just decorated a slim Flocked Spruce tree that I think you would also like–it has a wood trunk. : ) Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

    33. Sue P.

      We have one of those antique cast iron fireplace surrounds with the front piece as well. It’s black…not sure how to use it, so it’s in the basement storage room. I like the way you used yours. Any other ideas from anyone?

    34. Amber from MishMashers

      I’m thinking of glittering up some mini plastic deers and making a garland of them after reading your post! Last yr I followed Kristie’s post on Rosemary and Thyme and made the clay tags/ornaments and really liked that project.

    35. Susie H

      I wanted to comment about your kitchen post. You may enjoy seeing the kitchens by Workshops of David T. Smith in Ohio and by Kevin Ritter, Timeless Kitchen Designs. They may give you more ideas and inspiration.

    36. Hippie's Chick

      One of our local shops that sells new and used is a great source for Iron Stone. I have been picking up a few pieces at a time. The great thing about it is that so far everything has been under $5.00. I’m close to Williamsport PA Marion if you want to check it out!

    37. Madeline

      Hello Marian,

      Just want to tell you how much I enjoyed to meet you at the Raleigh Flea Market on Saturday! It was a very pleasant surprise to see you all walking by my booth. Thank you for being so inspiring and encouraging! I love your blog and all things MMS! Lol Hope you had great fun! See you next time! 🙂

    38. Lauren Baxter

      Your studio looks great!! What a beautiful tree I love that it looks so full and wintery (that can be a word right?). I am also a fan of white trees too.

      Ohh I wish I was closer to you, I would shop till I drop!

      Lauren Baxter | Lovely Decor
      xx

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