Inspired You: Letting God Breathe New Life into Your Heart and Home

by Marian Parsons, Miss Mustard Seed

Some girls get giddy over a new pair of shoes. Marian Parsons gets giddy over room makeovers. With a lot of ingenuity, a little bit of effort, and a tight budget, she has transformed her home into a beautiful space and filled her heart with a lot more contentment. Thousands have found inspiration at Marian’s blog, missmustardseed.com , and now she shares dozens of new projects, ideas, and DIY adventures in the pages of Inspired You . Marian will remind you that homes don’t have to be magazine material to be special, comfortable, and inviting. The goal you’re working toward is home. Not a perfect home. Not an “impress the neighbors” home. Just home―one whose walls and rooms tell the story of the family who lives there. Beautiful homes start with inspiration and a willingness to try. So uncover your God-given creativity. Be encouraged, be willing, and be inspired.

Genres: Nonfiction, How To

239 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 2012

About the author

Marian Parsons is a paint & textile enthusiast and lover of all things home. She started her business, Mustard Seed Interiors, in 2008, as a way to earn extra money for groceries and diapers. What started as a local decorative painting and mural business has grown into a popular blog, Miss Mustard Seed, a fine art and design business, and a podcast – The Creative Exponent with Shaunna Parker. In addition, Marian created and launched a paint line that is sold around the world - Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint. Her original products and fine art have been sold at Hobby Lobby, Creative Co-op, Décor Steals, and more. Her first book, Inspired You (Thomas Nelson, Nov 2012) was nominated for the ECPA Christian Book Award in the category of Best New Author. Marian currently lives in Rochester, MN, with her husband and two sons.

Marian regularly contributes articles and photographs to Cottages & Bungalows, Romantic Homes, Land Leben, Traumwohnen, and HGTV.com and her work has been featured in Country Living, In Her Studio, Women’s Day, Better Homes & Gardens, Romantic Homes, American Farmhouse Style, Cottages & Bungalows, Where Women Create, Fresh Style, Make it Over, Watercolor Artist, Mary Jane’s Farm, Country Chic, French Style, Washington Post, Fox News, NBC, CBS and on The Nate Berkus Show.

Reviews

[Diane Caron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Book

I like this book very much. It was a good read! It’s much more that a rule book about decorating. It’s written in a very personable style. Like a friend talking to a friend or good neighbor to a good neighbor. It’s loaded with thoughtful insights as well as projects and tutorials. It’s definitely a keeper!

[Trudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done!! Lots of good inspiration, lovely insight into what makes decorating and decorators tick. Loved it!! Lots of tutorials, too!!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired You: Breathing New Life into Your Heart and Home would be helpful to those on limited budgets who want to refresh their decor and enjoy flea markets, second-hand furniture and DIY projects.

[Shani Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything Miss Mustard Seed does is incredible. Her blog and social media are a haven for fresh ideas and her book is a great addition to any creatives shelf!

[Sari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy of this on NetGalley.

Marian Parsons has written a great book for the average person who wants to be able to redo their home without breaking the bank (as any of us with kids will identify with!). There are a ton of beautiful photos and great tips on how to shop your own home and find the potential in objects that we may already have or may not have looked at before.

I was surprised to find there were great tutorials on things like how to build your own ottoman, make pillows and even a tufted headboard! Very impressive.

We've been trying to reorganize and decorate and I'm inspired now to take a look around and find what I can do to repurpose and reorganize using things I already have.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested this and read it through NetGalley. I've visited the Miss Mustard Seed blog several times and always enjoy being inspired by the projects, pictures, and postings. This book combines a lot of DIY & "you can do it!" encouragement that would be very useful to most of us. As a long-time DIY decorator in various apartments and houses I have had some false starts and happy accidents, so it was fun to read some of Marian's adventures; I laughed out loud imagining the scene when she was staining the floors! Overall a good solid addition to most libraries, both public and private. Anyone afraid of any religious overtones can relax; this is inspiring and your conversion will be for improving your home and maybe opening your heart.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had read this book a few years ago I think I would have loved it even more, because I would have needed it more. I love how she advises and suggests in regards to our homes and what we can do to make it better. Of course, start where you are is the best advice, but she goes room by room with suggestions and helps. Her pictures are gorgeous, and I loved how she dispelled the idea that her house looks like those pictures all the time. I think this is an excellent book for anyone wanting to work on their homes.

I didn't do any of the projects, only because I don't have the time, ability, or inspiration to do them. This would be a good book to come back to when I am ready to diy a few things around here.

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this stuff, even if I'm not so much in the DIY, well to be precise I'm not able to do anything at all, but I like the picture of this cozy house, so it was a worth reading.

Mi piacciono davvero queste cose, anche se non sono molto addentro al "fai da te", anzi per essere precisi non sono in grado di fare niente, ma le fotografie di questa casa così rilassante valevano la pena.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THOMAS NELSON FOR THE PREVIEW

[Beckey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was easily able to relate to the author and her giddiness about repurposing items as well making over rooms…
This book will be great for someone who is willing to step out of the preverbal box to transform something with truly inspiring.
I really enjoyed the ideas and creativity in the book. I am even looking forward to maybe trying the chalkboard backsplash in my own kitchen.
The full colored pictures were amazing…

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It really didn't have as many pictures as I would like or a lot of fresh decorating tips. What was different was her focus on using your home to serve your family and others. I really enjoyed that. I think she's right - what we do to make our home lovely is a gift to our family and guests. I liked that. And, her realistic focus on right priorities.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this fun little book about redecorating on a budget. Also, the author's instructions on how to use a sewing machine, refinish furniture and construct an ottoman from scratch sound really easy.

[Ericka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite Decor Book for DYI

I loved everything in this book. Great ideas and even greater money saving recommendations. The author is simply inspirational. Most of the decor ideas are French Country, but her techniques can transfer to other styles.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas gift. I really enjoyed this book. I do like to spend time decorating and keeping my home. There are lots of good suggestions in this book.

[Karen (Living Unabridged) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos, inspiring & encouraging words. One of the better examples of a blog turned book.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of good ideas in this book.

[Teri Halsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book on decorating ideas and how-tos. Excellent!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read some negative reviews on this book, but it actually liked it. Pretty pictures are a given.