Celebrating Creativity and making meaningful connections to the local community are core values at La Dolce Vita and it is my honour to introduce you to the special guest who will be guiding us as we stretch our creative muscles.

Oct 4-11, 2025 Retreat Special Guest:

I am incredibly excited to welcome Marian Parsons to La Dolce Vita. She is a prolific artist whose passions include painting, home decorating and renovations. She has been on Carolyn’s wish list as a special guest since 2017, so needless to say both she and Marian are thrilled that this October Marian will finally share her creativity with the attendees at a Prone to Wander Retreat!

Marian is a paint enthusiast, artist, author, & natural encourager.  She is the epitome of a multi-passionate entrepreneur with a spiderweb of creative endeavours including writing, photography, styling, design, fine art, furniture refinishing, and renovating her 1970 home.  Marian has been sharing her creative endeavours and projects on her blog, Miss Mustard Seed, since 2009 and is the author of two interior decorating books – Inspired You and Feels Like Home.

Marian’s designs, photography, and writing have been featured in Where Women Create, Country Living, In Her Studio, Watercolor Artist, Women’s Day, Better Homes & Gardens, Farmhouse Style, and The Washington Post.

Her artwork has been sold in Target, HomeGoods, and Hobby Lobby.

She currently lives in Washington County, Maryland, with her husband, two teenage sons, a dog, and two cats.

Marian’s website is: misssmustardseed.com

Marians’s Instagram: missmustardseed 

To learn more about Marian’s creative workshop, which will be a collaborative project with local Florentine artisan Maria Giannini, please CLICK HERE to visit our workshops page.