Running a Business Archives | Page 31 of 49

Running a Business

buying & selling antiques

Lucketts Latest | Mercury Glass & Hats

I know it is total torture to those who aren’t local when I show pictures of the Lucketts Design House. I hate to tell you that it’s even more beautiful in person! I know…rub it in. Well, if you weren’t aware, Lucketts has opened an online shop where they sell some of the beautiful pieces that are featured in the Design House. Here are a few of my favorite things… I just love mercury glass and that first pedestal is gorgeous! It’s a nice way to add some sparkle to the holidays. Shop Lucketts has also started carrying hats! I actually sat in the “hat tent” when I was doing my book signing and it was so fun watching everyone try on the hats. This one was my favorite… …and I thought this one was cute as well. A little quirky, but classic at the same time.

November 21, 2012 No Comments

Miscellaneus

Running a Creative Business | On Sutton Place

I think that stories are a powerful thing. I love hearing a good story about how someone got from point a to point b. There’s something encouraging about it. If she can do it, maybe I could too. I’ve asked some of my friends and fellow entrepreneurs to share their story and now it’s time to hear from Ann of Sutton Place Designs. She is one of my sponsors, but this is not a sponsored post. She’s a business woman who has impressed me every step of the way and I wanted to share her story and advice with you. Enjoy! Hello everyone. Before I get started I have a confession to make. I was shaking in my boots and so nervous with just the thought of guest posting on Marian’s blog. After all, like Jami Clune said, it’s a magic blog. Now that I’m actually here, the

November 14, 2012 No Comments

Running a Business

Today is THE day!

Today is a big day! Not only is it election day here in the US, which affects a lot of people, but it’s a big day for me personally. Today is the official release date of my book, Inspired You. The book has actually been available for a couple of weeks, but now it’s widely available and the e-book is now available. The enhanced e-book will also be available soon through Apple. The enhanced e-book is more than just the book in an electronic format. There is a video for each chapter that shares additional tips and ideas. I think Thomas Nelson also shows more of the pictures I submitted as well. (I turned in over 500 and I think there are about 250 in the final copy of the book.) To give you an idea what the videos will be like, here is the Chapter 1 video – How to

November 7, 2012 No Comments

buying & selling antiques

my first book signing…

It was wonderful. It was a little chilly, but I brought an antique wool “car robe” I bought at a yard sale for $8.00 years ago. It’s pretty toasty. So many wonderful ladies came to visit and buy the book or bring a book for me to sign. Thanks to all who came to hang out today and for all who left sweet comments on my post yesterday. Made me feel like a million bucks. My husband came around lunch time to bring me some food and help out. He was so sweet. I was a little awkward with the self-promoting thing and just sat behind the table and smiled at people who were shopping in the tent. When he came in, he started propping my book up around the tent. “People need to see them. We should put up a banner

November 3, 2012 No Comments

buying & selling antiques

Lucketts Holiday Open House 2012

Not only is tomorrow the first day of the famous Lucketts Holiday Open House, but it’s also my very first book signing. I feel sort of nervous about it…well, really nervous about it. I don’t know what to expect. I do know that I’m just going to enjoy the ride. I also know that I am going to be sitting at this table in a beautifully-decorated tent tomorrow at 10:00 am. I couldn’t have imagined a prettier place. I love the painted shelf behind and the blue-striped grain sack runner. Perfect for me. Yes, I am in a tent in northern Virginia in November, so I will be dressing WARM! I was going to try to look really cute but I think a sweatshirt will be required. Oh well, that’s me anyway and I’m going to be sitting behind that table tomorrow because I’ve just been me through

November 2, 2012 No Comments

Running a Business

Writing a book | Now I actually have to write a book…

The impossiblepossible thing had happened. I had received a book contract from Thomas Nelson and I signed it. (You can read about how it happened HERE.) It was now my job to produce 35,000 encouraging words and over 250 inspiring photographs in 10 chapters. And I only had about 3 months to do it. AND I’ve never written a book before. Oh crap. Lots of deep breaths and tears and prayers and pep talks came after that realization. I kept bringing myself back to taking one page, one photograph, one chapter, one idea at a time. I also kept reminding myself that the people at Thomas Nelson are good at what they do and they had confidence in me. I can do this. The first thing we did was put together an outline for the book. I sent along my initial ideas and then went back and forth with my

October 30, 2012 No Comments

Running a Business

the world tour!

I’m being a bit facetious with that title. Or perhaps hopelessly optimistic. The amazing thing about this blog journey is that it always surprises me. I think, “Oh, such-and-such would be pretty far-fetched, so it probably won’t happen.” But then it does in some unexpected and amazing way. So, will my book end up taking me on a world tour? Who knows. Probably not, but I’m getting an updated passport just in case I have the chance to visit our northern neighbors or visit my girls in the UK! I don’t have a grand book tour scheduled through Thomas Nelson, my publisher. This is going to be a grassroots “book tour.” Me coordinating with people who want me to come to their place of business to sign books, teach a workshop, give a seminar, or to fetch coffee and doughnuts or all of the above. Having never done this before, I’m totally

October 29, 2012 No Comments

buying & selling antiques

glittery & Sandy

The Lucketts Holiday Open House is next weekend and it really crept up on me. I usually start making ornaments in September, but I didn’t start until last week this year. Because of my late start, I’m just making German glass glitter ornaments and won’t be making any of my sheet music ornaments. In addition to glittered stars, words and pretty shapes, I’m making a bunch of over-sized glittered pine cones. (My entire dining room is sparkly.) I’m bringing 25 huge rolls of 2″ burlap ribbon. This stuff is great for trimming a tree, garland, swags, and making wreaths. (Oh!! I bet it would even look cool woven and then sewn into a tree skirt or a stocking lined with cotton…hmmm…) I’m also selling some beautiful Christmas cards by Jennifer Carrol Designs. When I was shopping last week I found an adorable antique berry tote that is perfect to

October 29, 2012 No 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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