Inspired You, by Miss Mustard Seed – a book review
Elizabeth
elizabethcaudell@bellsouth.net
Lori
Operation Magpie
lori@operationmagpie.com
Congrats gals! You have been emailed!
Once upon a time, an online friendship was born. Miss Mustard Seed and Funky Junk Interiors bantered back and forth, soon realizing they wanted to work together in some capacity.
So they created a successful online Workshop Series together, which ran for many, many weeks.
As time transpired, things got a little more exciting… opportunity started to knock for both bloggers. It was if the inbox could become Christmas morning on any given day!
Then one day, I recieved an email that flipped my world upside down. It was a book publisher knocking on my door!
Marian, being the friend that she was, immediately supported me and promised to make way for a place for ‘my book’ on her coffee table. Exciting times!
Well, that book offer fell through for me. But I just couldn’t be more pleased that it worked out for her. Look who has a book on her coffee table now!
So, yes, I’m totally freaking out that my friend got published. But I now have a duty before me. I desired to do a book review so it’s important to be really objective here, right?
So after I (kissed the book and danced around with it) casually cracked open the spine,
… wait. A. MINUTE.
Stay objective, stay objective, stay objective…
Seriously, my eyes stung and I was so very touched. Holding this book in my hand and seeing my name inside was like a message to me. It clarified that Marian would always be rooting for me, and what was possible for any of us through diligence and hard work.
It gave me renewed hope once again that my own book deal may come calling one day.
The ‘objective’ review
If you read Miss Mustard Seed, you know how her writing draws you in. Her words, although perfectly casual, fit together like a well made puzzle. A way with words comes naturally to Marian and she delivers her trademark style throughout the entire book.
The book isn’t just tutorials nor just one big beautiful photo shoot. It’s built like a storybook of sorts. Think of it as an inspiring adventure with both photos and tutorials alongside stories, that gently encourage you to push outside of your comfort zone, and discover what you’re truly capable of. If you give yourself a chance.
There’s sound advice on how to bargain shop, fix things up, and make them yours.
The tutorials come with crisp pictures and clear instruction on how to paint, distress, wax, sew, build, and more.
I’ll be honest. This is the kind of book you wish was twice the size. You’re simply left wanting even more. But there’s MORE than enough to be able to refinish furniture, sew slipcovers, paint, and even appreciate what you already have.
When I received the book, I made sure to treat myself to a hot tea or coffee, warm blanket, ease into a comfy chair and enjoy the ride. It was like a little 1 on 1 conversation with Marian. When I finally turned over the last page, it made me sad. I would miss her. And I do.
Knowing the book is only an arm’s length away is a good thing. This book will always have a special place on my coffee table.
Confession? I was encouraged to build my new coffee table BEFORE the book arrived because I wanted to keep my promise of proudly displaying it on a cool coffee table.
And it’s even big enough for two. 
Well done my friend, very well done. I am so proud of you!
Now please come over and sign it, k?
ENTER TO WIN INSPIRED YOU
Would you like a chance to win Inspired You?
I’m giving 2 away!
Leave a comment, telling me something you wish to accomplish one day, and you’re in!
For a second chance, comment one more time after you social media this event any way you choose. (blog, tweet, FB, pin, G+) Let’s get the word out that her book is released!
Giveaway is avail to Canada and USA. You must be over the age of 18 to win. Void where prohibited. This giveaway will end Saturday, November 10th and be drawn by random and the winner will be named in this post. Please include your email with your comment if it isn’t linked to a blog otherwise a new name will be drawn.
Get inspired by the best!
Socks for Sandy now has it’s own Facebook page! Click above to see their immediate current needs.
The two winners for the FOLK magazine giveaway:
Christmas 2012 – Lavender Dreamer
1 year subscription – Nova
Congrats you two! I’ll be emailing you for your deets!
Winners of Inspired You giveaway:
Elizabeth
elizabethcaudell@bellsouth.net
Lori
Operation Magpie
lori@operationmagpie.com
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pinned! ^(lion5798@hotmail.ca)^
The books sounds so interesting. What I would like to accomplish some day is have all the furniture (projects) I have stored in my husband’s wood shop finished and out of his way.
Run a marathon (even if it means getting off my couch)
Someday I’ll finish a slipcover I started years ago.
Love MMS! She is so awesome! Can’t wait to own her book! Someday I would like to find my niche refurbing found furniture (kind of like Marian!). Thanks for the opp!
I would love a copy of miss mustard seed’s book! I also hope to have a successful booth ay our local antique mall full of lovely painted things. :0)
Just posted this on FB! Thanks!
I would love to have my own Etsy store one day! My goal is by the end of the year. Thank you for the book giveaway!
I would sooo like to go through my treasures, just keep my special pieces and pass the others on to someone new. Enjoy ur blog!!
Boy, would I love to just keep my special treasures and pass the rest on to others to love.
Enjoy ur blog!!
Someday I’d like to have a huge workshop to work on projects just like what I imagine are in this inspiring book.
pinned it!
i love resurrecting old furniture and having it adopted by an enthusastic new owner.
There are so many more pieces of lovely old furniture looking for new homes. I need more inspiration to transform those pieces and would love for it to come from miss mustard seed. sharon at konyha@hotmail.com
Just pinned the book in my book board. Can’t wait to see it in person (the book that is).
i’d love to win miss mustard seed’s book! i’ve been a fan for so long…and found you through her!!! one day…i’d like to be finiancially independent. after many years as a stay at home mom and trying to work again…and taking much lower pay than i was making 15 years ago, it seems almost unreachable…but that’s my goal.
We are a military family so I would love to someday have a house that I live in for more than 3 years and that I can do more than “temporary decorating”. I want to make it my home!
I hope to get my bedroom furniture painted!
I shared on FB! Thank you.
I plan to paint my dinning room suit with either MMS paint or Chalk Paint.
I would love to win a copy of Marion’s book.
Creative Hugs,
Yay! Please add me to the ever growing list of admirers to her book and your blog. I would love to be able to look
at a book of all your top projects too. Can you tell we all love a good project? hahaha….Procrastination is gone forever, I’m
now rushing to finish one project just to start another one I have seen on your blog. Maybe if I had a staff I could get things
done quicker!
Have a great weekend.
Debbie
One day I hope to own my own home and dive in to the decoratin g.
I would love to win her book! I refinished several pieces of furniture following her instructions, and can’t wait to use her milk paint in my new home. Thanks for the giveaway
I’m also pinning to my Pinterest
Looks fabulous, and one day Donna, in Gods time we will all be clammering for FJI’s decor inspired project book sitting on our coffee tables. But for now, your kind heart is offering this amazing give away of MMS book and I would so love to win. One day I too want to write a book. On what…I do not know just sounds so exciting. Thanks for all that you do to inspire, motivate and encourage us. You are a doll. Be blessed!
I think it’s going to be a good one and it’s seems quite promising too.
I have been pretty good about checking projects off of my list lately. Two I have left are to paint the inside of my wardrobe (I painted the outside white) and to update a little sweater armoire in my bedroom.
I love Miss Mustard Seed. She is such an inspiration !
Kristen
searchforgod@yahoo.com
Your books is amazing. Its very inspiring and makes me want to have a book of my own. I hope I can win this giveaway. I’ll tweet right away.
Ecommerce Australia
My accomplishment…
To walk into my house after a long day and to feel like it’s mine, a true reflection of me and my family.
and tweeted!
I would love to win Marion’s fab book. Thanks to you both for all the wonderful inspiration! I would someday like to refinish a piece of furniture with chalk paint! Thanks, Kathy kradams54@hotmail.com
I love both your blog as well as Marion’s blog! So inspirational…..and I need a lot of inspiration right now as my husband and I just bought our first home. And I need to furnish and decorate every inch of it from scratch. On a VERY tight budget. I am in the process of refinishing my first piece of furniture, a dresser my momma had for years. She went to be with the Lord recently, and I am excited to breath new life into a piece she dearly loved. I will think of her every single time I look at the dresser. The problem is I have a perfection problem, and can’t seem to finish the dresser. I need to get over it!
I hope to find and redo an old hutch for my kitchen!
Jody at djlfindlay@telus.net
I would LOVE this book!!
DBruns51@gmail.com
*after dancing around the room and kissing the book*
ROFL!
I would love to love to read her book
I have just the place for it on my table.
(fingers-crossed.)
I would like to finish nursing school.
jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com
Oh my goodness! So many things I want to accomplish! I would love to start by having my home look as nice as those pics; maybe a book could help me out!
I would love to win a copy of Marian’s book. Thanks for the chance.
Suzanne
Your blog is such a great inspiration. I LOVE creative people! I am inspired by you! I have been fine tuning my goals over the past year. My first goal was to start a blog – which I did. Now, I want to work on fine tuning the blog. My over the moon dream would be to one day write decorating tutorials or be published in a magazine. It kind of feels strange to share that “out-loud!” I would love to have a copy of this great book! Just a regular girl with big dreams and willing to do the work to get there! INSPIRING!!!
This is awesome. You and Marian are such inspiring women. It’s been a pleasure watching you two attain your dreams. The skill I’d really like to have is to be able to sew well enough to do slipcovers and other household items.
I would love to win this beautiful book!
I would like to have a business wherein you decorate a client’s home using what they have and styling their home.
I have so many projects I want to get done around my house! My family has ranched for over 100 years and I KNOW there are amazing items laying all around but my eyes don’t SEE the potential… I’d love to be able to see through someone else’s eyes on what I could accomplish!
I have so many projects I want to get done around my house! My family has ranched for over 100 years and I KNOW there are amazing items laying all around but my eyes don’t SEE the potential… I’d love to be able to see through someone else’s eyes on what I could accomplish!
What a great early Christmas gift that would be ! I ‘d dream to be as talented and creative as you are, and your blog inspires me.a lot! A felow Canadian !
I pinned your giveaway ! Thank you so much for sharing this book, it looks amazing, very inspiring, as your blog is, as bewuty in nature is too!
I would love to accomplish my dream of owning a working farm. For now, I’m settled on Brown Acre=).
WOW! How exciting!
I’d like to re-upholster a couple of old/antique chairs I picked up on Craig’s List… they are like one I inherited years ago, from my mom-inlaw (was severly damaged when I moved).
I’m looking forward to seeing this new book! from Miss Mustard Seed…
hugs
arlene
pinned also
I’d love to win the book and it’s nice of you to offer this give away. I hope you get your book deal some day. I have an old wooden rocker I want to refinish but I’ve never done anything like that before.
Oh my yes, I’d love to have Marian’s book; I read her blog daily. It might give me the confidence to try my hand at making dropcloth slipcovers. Our cat-clawed loveseat is embarrassing but too comfy and solid to replace. Thanks for this giveaway. (Wish I used social media for a 2nd chance at winning, but I don’t.) P.S. Nice to read about your history with Marian–gave me an extra-big smile.
i wish to accomplish hanging photos in our new house, we have been in one year and I am scared to punch nails in the walls
This book looks fabulous ! I am hoping to take a carpentry class and make a piece of furniture from salvaged pallet wood, one day.
Thank you so much for the great giveaway!
Goal: continue to grow my art,and my online exposure.
Broknmemorez@AOL.com
I also pinned it to Pinterest – jns vintage design
Thanks!
I want to finish all of the “works in progress” that I have EVERYWHERE! I know this book will inspire me!! Thanks you so much
I would love to accomplish what both you and Marian have. Online and offline success at doing what you love. I would love to win Marian’s book. Congrats to her and to you for your encouragement, as it is evident that she greatly appreciated it!
Liked this event and tweeted it.
I have never done anything with furniture except re-webbing my Shaker chairs. No painting, no upholstery, no slipcovers. I want to start. NOW!!!!!
My fingers are crossed….I’d jump for joy to receive Marian’s beautiful book!
Thanks so much for entering, everyone! We have two winners!
Elizabeth
elizabethcaudell@bellsouth.net
Lori
Operation Magpie
lori@operationmagpie.com
Congrats gals! You have been emailed!
Donna
I would love this book to have on my coffee table and read with a good cup of somethin’ on a chilly, winter day. My goal is to continue to learn new skills on new tools!