Gunning for Glam

Besides the suzanis, Marian's raw materials include acorns, thistles, and even weeds. The trick, she advises, is to find leaves that are somewhat dry, but not too brittle, and to make a tight contact with the canvas when gluing. Marian learned the hard way to factor humidity into the process when, a few years ago, two large mirror frames began shedding their decorative shells. She now glues bits of thick, moisture-absorbing drawing paper to heavier items before attaching them to a surface.

This French shell-framed mirror in her master bedroom is one of the few things she did not make herself.