Back in December, I took a whirlwind trip across the continent to the beautiful town of Petaluma, CA. One of my Milk Paint retailers, Genevieve of Gracefully Worn, invited me out and she certainly rolled out the red carpet! It was an amazing trip. It started out with a super early flight from Virginia that got me to San Francisco about 9:00 am their time. We went straight from the airport to Gen’s church, where I taught two workshops. I had some time to change, take a few bites of food and then it was show time.
I cannot thank Gen and her team enough for all of the special touches they worked on to “Mustardize” the space. There were sheet music garlands, custom stamped tags with my logo, German glass glitter and a huge chalkboard listing all of my products they were selling. It was a little overwhelming and I got choked up at one point during the milk paint workshop.
Once the milk paint workshop was over, we went straight into a Christmas decorating workshop where we made paper garlands and glittered ornaments as well as talking about some budget-friendly and beautiful decorating ideas for the holidays.
(This is one of Maria’s lovely daughters.)
From the workshops, we went to Summer Cottage Antiques, the retail space where my paint is sold, for a book signing and hangout.
And guess who lives right in Petaluma…?
That’s Kate, the Centsational Girl herself. It was a low-key event, so I had to chance to mingle, chat and do a little shopping as well!
Despite being a zombie after being awake for about 23 hours straight, it was such an amazing trip. The highlight was definitely meeting amazing women like Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made. She came to both of the workshops and made me nervous! Well, she didn’t. She was very sweet and I felt at ease after talking to her, but she’s a craft contributor to Country Living and is basically amazing. That made me a little nervous. I also got to spend a good amount of time with Maria Carr of Dreamy Whites. We’ve been blog buds for a long time, so it was awesome to see how the friendship picked right up when we met in person.
(From left to right: Cathe Holden, Michelle of Summer Cottage Antiques, Maria, Kate, and me.)
Gen and her husband took me and my husband out for a delicious dinner at a local joint and then I crashed at our hotel. (You can read my post about the hotel HERE.)
Thanks so much to everyone who came out to the workshops and the book signing. Also, a big thank you to Gen of Gracefully Worn for being such a great hostess, Summer Cottage Antiques for hosting the book signing and Maria Carr for being my honorary photographer.
My next trip is to The House Special Interiors in Fayetteville, AR on February 22-23. The details are on my side bar!
One final thing… I’m honored to share that my home is featured as the Cottage of the Month over at the Old Painted Cottage. You can check out the full feature HERE.
Looks like a very fun time 🙂 Your outfit is darling – love that scarf.
Dear MMS, Glad you enjoyed Petaluma – it’s a great town to do some antique shopping. The pictures of your home at The Old Painted Cottage are fabulous. Your home is so beautiful, so “you”. I love your style. Hugs, Anne Boykin
Looks like a fabulous time. You are such an inspiration.
After a long time on the market my home just sold. I’m moving south to Florida. Moving from Illinois to Florida is an adventure for sure. Part of that adventure involves learning how to decorate in a different manner. I’m going for the shabby chic, beachy look. With a blank slate ahead of me, I plan to take my time finding just the right pieces of furniture and accent pieces. To get me started, I just ordered your wonderful book, “Inspired by You” to help me along the way. Thanks for being you!
You deserve to be featured there!
After looking at the pics of your house, I was inspired by your guest room cream color. I’ve looked, but can’t find where you have the name of it. Can you tell me what it is, please? Thanks! 🙂
Looks so fun! I am jealous! 🙂
Ah i grew up near Fayetteville. Now I live near Indianapolis…I need to figure out how to get you out here so I can meet you!
xo Rachel
Thank you for sharing your adventure! I clicked over to “The Old Painted Cottage.” Such a lovely home. The photos were remarkable. They really captured the essence of your home, and YOU!
I loved meeting you in Petaluma, you were so inspiring! And I really enjoyed your worskshop!
hi there,
looks like a terrific trip for everyone! i had a customer come in today, who had just finished your book and was so inspired, to start painting!
thanks, Marian!,
Barbara
Loved seeing your home featured over at The Old Painted Cottage. Your home is amazing! Do you have Atlanta on your schedule? I’d love to see you in person and get a signed copy of your book!
Dear Marian,
It was so delightful to see your beautiful home. The colors of my home are in the same palette these days. I love French and Country too of course. (and I get to spend time in Europe each year to pick up more inspiration)……I finally get the Miss Mustard seed name…..how wonderful to have Faith as your center inspiration for your business that is blessing so many people, me included! And the way you framed that gold chalk board so you could have your favorite Bible verse for the day at all your meals to meditate on!!! Wow…
I only just discovered your paints and have painted to large beds now and a desk. Posted on my blog…I love it thank you so much.
I still want to post on FFF if I can figure out how and when. I can’t email you and am not sure …what to do yet. Maybe there is only one day a week I can post my perma link?
Anyway…Gods Glorious Blessings to you as you spread His joy of color and beauty!!
Love,
Deirdra
Hellooooo my friend, so nice to see you mention Petaluma again, I loved your post about the Metro Hotel a few weeks ago. I’m so delighted you came to my little hometown and I got to hang out with you if only for an hour. I cannot wait until our paths cross again!
xoxo and big hugs
~ Kate
Congrats on the cottage of the month!!!
. All the photos were sooo beautiful. Thanks for all the inspiration you pass to everyone, touching and changing lives as you go:)
Because of you I slip covered a not so pretty wing back chair! I just followed your easy videos and wow I now love the chair and getting ready to do a second. By the way I have never sewed a thing in my life!! You made it look so easy so I just went for it!
Love your site and book!! Thank you, thank you.
Barb
Really Barb? Never sewed in your life? I would love to try to slipcover but I have no confidence I could do it…..
Marian,
I adore your home, and your slipcovers are so beautiful! You are such an inspiration!
I’ve had many people tell me they have made slipcovers following my video tutorials and that’s the first sewing project they ever attempted. I do think it’s a good idea to try to make a pillow or something simple first, but slipcovers are very simple if you take them one step at a time.
The “Mustardize” is cracking me up! Years and years ago my aunt referred to the (unfortunate) “Mauving of America”. Remember the years when soo many did the mauve and country blue? Well…perhaps we will see the “Mustardizing of America”! Now that would not be a bad thing–how can you go wrong with a classic, timeless look? You are getting to more and more people and your style and energy is contagious!
Marion, I just wanted to pop over and tell you that I saw your BOOK featured in an Amazon ad on FACEBOOK on my sidebar! I thought that was super exciting. Congrats. I love my copy 🙂
Yay! I hope you enjoy it!!
I got a beautiful book in the mail today! YOURS! I cannot wait to read it from cover to cover. 🙂 I was so excited…that I had to stop by and tell you. 🙂 k.
oh my what a lot of fun! Pictures are wonderful!
Well YOU just made MY day!! It was absolutely delightful to spend the day with you, the other Petaluma creatives, and the fabulous crew from Summer Cottage! Your visit meant so much to all of us. I can hardly wait until our paths cross again. I saw our mutual friend Karen (aka: Graphics Fairy) at CHA and of course we both gleamed talking about you! Hope to see you out West again soon! XXOO
Hi, Miss Mustard Seed~
I’m so delighted you came to my little hometown and my church, too! I was so sorry I had to miss your visit. Since you seemed to enjoy it so much I am hoping that you will be back. 🙂
Isn’t Cathe Holden one of the nicest ladies you’d ever met? I’m glad you all got to meet in person. I look forward to another opportunity to meet you, as well!!
Thanks from a fellow Petaluman and Blogger!
~Theresa