my business story Archives | Page 3 of 6

my business story

rolling with the punches & paintings for sale

It was just a couple of weeks ago that I announced my very first fabric line presented by Free Spirit Fabrics. I’ve been working on getting this collection launched for two years and was in the final stages of polishing up my second collection, but that work was interrupted by some startling news I received last week. Free Spirit Fabrics is closing. The second collection won’t be made and, since Bunnies, Birds & Blooms was just released, I don’t know what it means for that collection, yet. It’s taken me a few days to process it. I am sad for the people who work for Free Spirit who are losing their jobs and for the designers who rely on that work for the bulk of their income. On a personal note, I felt a pit in my stomach that two years of work might result in zero income. I also

February 21, 2018 57 Comments

Art

Bunnies Birds & Blooms

I have been keeping a secret for almost two years and now, finally, I can spill it! I am so proud to introduce my very first fabric line – Bunnies Birds & Blooms presented by Free Spirit Fabrics! Whew! It’s good to get that one out into the world. So, for those who aren’t familiar with Free Spirit Fabrics, it’s a quilting fabric company owned by Coats (as in Coats & Clark thread). And, you might be wondering, how I got connected with a quilting fabric company. I’m not a quilter. Well, to make a long story short, one of my readers has a sister who started a fabric company – Free Spirit Fabrics. When they would get together for vacations, my blog reader would tell her sister all about Miss Mustard Seed. Fast forward to a couple of years ago and her sister (who retired, but she was working

January 26, 2018 114 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

designing a product

A year and a half ago, I was offered the opportunity to design home decor products. It’s something I had considered. and even hoped for, for a long time, but it just never came together. I was such a hands-on creator that I struggled with trying to communicate my vision to someone else. I also had to learn how to design something that could be manufactured (and shipped) on a larger scale. Well, the opportunity was “learn-as-you-go” and I have learned a lot. It took designing hundreds of products to learn what would sell and finally, some of the products that sold, have hit the market. (It takes a long time!) A few of my products have been floating around for a while, but none of them were branded. The other day, I received a message from a followers on Instagram. She had found some enamel signs at Hobby Lobby

January 22, 2018 103 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

Dash & Albert Rug Design Competition | design process

As I shared in my last post about the Dash & Albert Rug Design Competition (click the link to see what it’s all about), I used an antique coverlet as the starting point for the designs. This one, to be more specific… When I was initially asked to join the competition, these designs, which I had already worked on for a different project (I didn’t end up using them for that), seemed perfect. Prior to submission, I clarified with the competition organizers that reworking antique designs was permitted. They not only said yes, but told me the designs in their existing lines that are based on antiques are often the most popular. So, the design process started out with taking choice pictures of sections of the coverlet. They needed to be sections without stains or holes (or with the least amount) and I had to capture enough of the design to create

July 13, 2017 8 Comments

my business story

why I’m going to China…

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] Next Wednesday, March 15, I am getting on a plane with my mom and my licensing agent, headed for China. And I thought I would finally share more details about what is bringing me to the opposite side of the world. First of all, when I started my business in 2008 in the hopes of making about $200/month to help out with some bills and living expenses, I didn’t even have a whisper of a thought that one day that business would take me to China. Even last summer when the initial invitation was extended, I just sort of laughed it off. Yeah, wouldn’t that be pretty cool?! But the idea of it actually happening seemed pretty remote. To tell this story, though, I need to back up a bit further. A few years ago,

March 10, 2017 119 Comments

my business story

2519 posts

I just happened to notice on my dashboard that I have published 2519 posts. This will be number 2520. We’ve been through a lot together… I’ve written those posts on four different computers. I’ve taken pictures with three different Nikon cameras. I’ve moved from my kitchen counter to my basement to a studio. Hundreds of pieces of furniture have been painted, slipcovered, and/or upholstered. (Remember that one?) I’ve learned how to edit photos and shoot in manual mode. After those 2519 blog posts, over 200 freelance articles, and two books, I’m finally acknowledging the fact that I might be a writer. I’ve gone from selling out of a small consignment shop in Gettysburg to selling in my dream antiques store (Lucketts) to selling my own brand of milk paint around the world. I’ve lost and gained weight. (And lost it again and gained it again.) My hair has been light blonde,

February 28, 2017 88 Comments

All Things Home

Hand Painted Stencils

“Where did you get that stencil?” I’ve been asked that question so many times when I share one of my hand painted pieces. And that has led to people asking if I ever planned to come out with a line of stencils. I have always loved the idea of it, but as someone who works in a freeform way, I had a hard time figuring out how to translate my patterns into stencils. It probably wasn’t as hard as I was making it, but I got stuck on it for a long time. I also wanted to find a way to make my stencils unique. I finally decided to just paint some designs and see how they looked as stencils. Some worked and some didn’t. I worked with a stencil manufacturer who did a fantastic job of guiding me through the process, though, and the result was stencils cut from my

January 30, 2017 31 Comments

my business story

best of 2016

The first week in January is usually when I hit the ground running, but I’ve been in a post-holiday, pre-head-cold funk and have just wanted to curl up under a blanket and ignore the world! I’m starting to come out of that, though, and it actually helped me a lot to put this post together and see everything that happened over 2016. It’s sometimes easy to get lost in a daunting to-do list or pick out the things that didn’t happen as planned or dwell on shortcomings. This post was a great reminder to me to celebrate the victories, accomplishments, and fun stuff! And there was a lot of fun stuff. So, here are the highlights for 2016… We launched Farmhouse White in January and it has been our best selling color by far. It was definitely a home run. I worked on my hardest piece of upholstery ever, a tufted sofa.

January 6, 2017 31 Comments

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.