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Running a Business

buying & selling antiques

Lucketts 2015 day one | what’s left

The first day of the Lucketts Spring Market 2015 is in the books! Since the fair has never been opened on Friday, I had no idea what to expect. It ended up being a low-key day, but we had good sales and really enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere. I think adding this day and kicking Saturday off a little earlier (8:00 am) will end up giving the customers a better shopping experience, so things aren’t so crazy. We’ll see how Saturday turns out! For those who are shopping tomorrow (Saturday), I know you want to know what’s left! As sold tags were being tied onto one piece after another today, I was wondering if my booth would look a little pathetic Saturday morning. We ended up selling the perfect amount, I think. There is still tons of ironstone, many painted pieces of furniture, lavender, cool accessories, t-shirts, MMS Milk Paint

May 16, 2015 18 Comments

Before and Afters

Lucketts Eve 2015

Today is about resting up for the three day marathon that is the Lucketts Spring Market. I lingered in bed, took a long soak in a hot bath with lavender epsom salts and had a nice breakfast. I’m getting my post done early, so I can get a full night’s sleep before the big day tomorrow. We do have to pack up the van with the final things to take down to the market, but that’s pretty much all that needs to be done. I can honestly say that I have never worked so hard and so focused on a specific event. Now, all I can do is watch how it all unfolds over the next three days. The weather, the crowds, how things sell… I’ll keep you posted. Before I go, I realized I had one more piece of furniture to share. It’s this sweet little wash stand… Here’s how

May 15, 2015 17 Comments

buying & selling antiques

Guide to shopping my booth at Lucketts – 2015

THE WHERE For those who have attended before, I’m in the same place I’ve been for the past four years. If you’re new, I know an overhead view of the event might not help very much, but here it is. My booth is located in the red circle. So, I’m located on the gray gravel at the corner of the pea gravel. If you’re in grass, I’m not there. If you’re in pea gravel, you’re getting close. My tents are white with white bunting and we’ll even be flying a Miss Mustard Seed flag that was custom made for me. If you can’t find it, the best thing to do is to ask at the entrance and most of the folks working will know where I am. The fair is happening rain or shine and I will be at my booth all three days. THE WHEN The event is this weekend, May 15-17, 2015. Friday

May 14, 2015 41 Comments

buying & selling antiques

answers to questions

Well, it took a few hours to put together the puzzle, but we were able to fit almost everything in a 20ft truck, my van and my mom’s car. We still have a few things to take down on Thursday and Friday, but it was really amazing how much we were able to fit in that truck! We have dressers stacked three high in some places. And loading was so much easier now that we don’t have to carry everything up our basement steps! I have been so thankful for the studio as we’ve been getting ready for Lucketts this year. My boys were there, helping with the small boxes, and then playing in the studio when things got boring. At one point, my eight year old bent his knees slightly, cocked his head and softened his voice. “Oh, look. There’s a little cat…” I looked under the edge of the

May 13, 2015 18 Comments

All Things Home

pedestal table & balloon back chairs

The Lucketts Spring Market is just days away and I still have things to show you! I’m going to share more details about the sale, answer your questions and share pictures of everything all set up over the next few days. Until then, here are a few more things that are coming to the sale… When I purchased this table a few weeks ago, it looked so sad. With missing veneer, water damage, a wobbly base and a thick layer of dirt, it was hard to see potential, but the shape of that pedestal was irresistible! Here’s how it looked before… I tightened down the top, so it was sturdy, and cleaned it up, but I left the other dents and dings alone. The top was missing all of its veneer, but no one would ever notice that once I painted it. I applied a coat of MMSMP in a mix

May 12, 2015 31 Comments

All Things Home

the chairs with the ticking skirts

Sewing slipcovers is not my very favorite thing to do, so I saved these until the very end. I kept looking at them, debating if I should just upholster them, which would be much faster or if I should push through and sew the slipcovers. I had a vision for them from the very beginning…ticking slipcovers with ties and ruffled skirts. I knew if I did anything different than that, they would look “off” to me and I would be disappointed that I didn’t just get it done the way I planned. So, I pinned myself down on Thursday and worked on making that vision happen. Here’s how they started… They were sturdy, the wood is gorgeous and the upholstery was in good shape. Of course, I needed to add my touch, though! I made the slipcovers out of a ticking duvet cover that was dated 1913, so both

May 10, 2015 22 Comments

Before and Afters

boxwood highboy

When I bought this piece, I honestly didn’t think too much of it. My parents went to pick up a few pieces from a seller on Craig’s List and they sent me a picture of this one that was for sale, but hadn’t been listed. Sure. Throw it in the truck. I’ll do something with it. This is what it looked like when I got it… I really did hit the jackpot on this Craig’s List listing. A man had a bunch of furniture he was planning to refinish, but got partway into a few pieces, like this highboy, and realized it wasn’t for him. So, he sold them off at a good price. I love it when I can get five pieces from the same place! One stop shopping. That day, anyway. I sanded down this piece and then painted it in two coats of MMSMP Boxwood (I’ve been

May 10, 2015 17 Comments

All Things Home

the bergere chairs & design ramblings

Well, the bergere chairs are finally done! They were some of my earlier upholstery subjects. I was still at the stage when I would take apart a chair and then I would wonder what in the world I was thinking and how I was going to get it all back together. At the time, these were the most complicated pieces I had worked on, so I chickened out and didn’t take them apart all the way. That meant the fabric on the seat back and arm interiors was just tucked in at the bottom. Now that I’ve gotten better at upholstery, I redid them in antique hemp sheets and grain sack…double welting and all. And here they are… It makes me a little sad, but after several years of enjoying them, I’m ready to let them go to a new home. They will be for sale at the Lucketts Spring

May 8, 2015 11 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.

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