Running a Business Archives | Page 32 of 49

Running a Business

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

Running a Business

writing a book | how it happened

Despite the fact that I just wrote a book I feel like I’m totally the wrong person to give advice to an aspiring author on how to get published. I thought it might be helpful, though, or at least interesting, for me to share my experience and the process. So, here we go… I’ve shared before that I’ve never thought of myself as a writer. I was never good in English at school, disliked writing papers immensely and have always been lousy at spelling and grammar. I have always thought it would be fun to put together a decorating book, but that thought was the kind of thought you have like – it would be so fun to own a horse farm or it would be fun to live in Paris. It’s something you talk about and think about, but it’s something other people do. Not you. I started to think it

October 28, 2012 No Comments

buying & selling antiques

shop & shop for inspiration

I know that Lucketts isn’t a chain store, so unless you live within a comfortable driving distance of the DC metro area, you probably weren’t able to make it to the October Design House. Well, if not, you can check out some of the items featured in that beautifully decorated farmhouse at Shop Lucketts. I have only bought a few small things from the Design House, but I go in for a look anytime I can. Why? Because there is so much inspiration packed in one place. That has translated to the online shop as well. Suzanne and Amy picked out these lights for their cool industrial quality. You can use this idea to create your own fixtures out of an old fry basket or antique egg basket and a kit for a hardware store. I think this cloche set is an awesome piece, but as an alternative, you

October 21, 2012 No Comments

Running a Business

from blogger to author

November 17, 2010, I put it out there – I said I was going to start working on a book and just see where it took me. In November 2011, I had a book contract in hand from Thomas Nelson. In November 2012, I’ll be at my first book signing. Totally insane. I finally have my book, Inspired You, in hand. I posted it on Facebook, but haven’t mentioned it otherwise. My friend Barb Blair texted me last night, asking why I didn’t call her screaming when I got it in the mail and she called me a stinker. Once I got the giggles out about a grown woman calling me, also a grown woman, a stinker, I thought about it. Why didn’t I? I’m in love with the book. I’m proud of it. (I can, of course, see tons of things I would do a little differently, but

October 10, 2012 No Comments

Antiques

Friday Finds

I know it sounds funny to say, but I really needed to go shopping. I wasn’t seeking retail therapy, but I needed cool stuff to sell in my space. I’ve lately been so busy with milk paint stuff and everything else that I haven’t had the time to shop as much as I need to in order to keep my space stocked. So, I set out on a shopping trip with my mother-in-law yesterday and found some great stuff… …a great fan… …some wooden gingerbread work from a house… …and this amazing wire skirt form with the original measuring tapes. I found several other smalls, which is mainly what I needed to buy, but I also unexpectedly scored some great pieces of furniture. I bought an empire dresser with original glass knobs, an antique wardrobe and I was having heart palpitations over an 1840 step-back

October 7, 2012 No Comments

my business story

“There. I said it.”

I have to come clean on something. I was getting ready for my vacation…packing, getting stuff done, making sure my blog posts were ready. In the midst of all of that, I only skimmed Jami’s guest post. I already knew her business story, so I didn’t feel the need to read every sentence in great detail. Well, I checked my e-mail as I was on the way home from Maine and I started reading all of the comments. I could see how people were so encouraged and inspired. I figured I needed to go back and really read the post, so I did. It cracked me up when Jami said, “I actually have a pie in the sky dream for the “softly spoken” collection too. Hmmm. You know what? I’m going to share it with you. Marian seems to have a magic blog over here. Everything she writes happens. (Kidding, of course. Every

October 1, 2012 1 Comment

Running a Business

Running a Creative Business | The Lucketts Store

Well, I am back home from taking a week vacation to the shores of Maine with my family. I’ve been blogging for over three years and haven’t gone “unplugged” for that long and it was about time! There are all sorts of reasons why I haven’t taken the time off, but the main one is that I LOVE what I do. I love this blog, selling antiques, painting furniture, taking pictures, shopping, social media and everything that goes along with this business. But it was really good for me to step away for a few days. While I was away, I asked some of my entrepreneurial friends to write a post sharing their business story and advice they had for those currently running a business or those wanting to start a business. The response has been great, so I’m going to continue to share some stories. (I find them pretty

September 30, 2012 No Comments

Running a Business

Running a Creative Business | Freckled Laundry

The next amazing entrepreneur I’d like to feature is my sweet friend, Jami of Freckled Laundry. We became friends almost two years ago and it has been so inspiring watching her business, ideas and confidence blossom. This is a real mom of three kids (one set of twins) who has stepped out and pursued her dreams with purpose. I’m so excited that she took the time to share her story and her advice… Hi. I’m Jami, the laundry lovin’ blogger behind freckled laundry. I can’t even tell you how honored I am to be among the business bunch here this week. Thank you so much for having me, Marian! I still consider myself a bit of a rookie when it comes to my business, but I have a story nevertheless, and I hope that by sharing my story, you’ll walk away with more confidence to start your own creative business. Over the past year

September 27, 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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