Running a Business Archives | Page 38 of 49

Running a Business

buying & selling antiques

{right back where I started}

This phrase is usually about something negative. Oh, like…I lost 35 lbs, but now I’m right back where I started. Not that I have any idea at all what that feels like. But in this case, it’s a great thing. Many of you ask how I do all of the things I do. When I sleep. Is my energy for sale. Am I bionic. (I’m double-jointed, but I’m not sure that does anything for me other than making my thumb bend back at an angle that grosses people out.) I wrote a post answering that question a while ago, but since then I have taken on even more and despite my boys in preschool and bringing in babysitters to help out, I’m still struggling to keep up with everything. AND I have more exciting things around the corner, so the time came to reassess things. What can I give up?

November 5, 2011 81 Comments

buying & selling antiques

Lucketts Holiday Open House

Yesterday was all about Lucketts. I went down there to get my room ready for the open house. (Minus the sofa. Poor Ruthie was up until 3:30am on Thursday working on that thing and just couldn’t make it to Lucketts in time, so she’s bringing it early tomorrow and will help me haul it up the stairs. Talk about above and beyond.) I did have some great help today, though, and we got the place looking sparkly and ready for Christmas. OK, I have to explain this tree topper. I know it’s ridiculous on that dinky tree. I had planned on getting a lush, live tree, but it just wasn’t going to fit and the thought of dragging it up the steps and everything that was involved just didn’t seem worth it. So, I pulled this little guy out of my basement and the paper star I had intended

November 4, 2011 111 Comments

buying & selling antiques

shopping while hungry, snow & speculoos

You know the saying, “Never shop for groceries when you’re hungry.” Well, I went “shopping while hungry” so to speak. My space at Lucketts was empty and I was pretty anxious about getting it stuffed to the gills for the holiday open house (November 4-6.) Well, I shopped and sourced and scrounged and made bins and bins of ornaments and now the place is definitely stuffed. Busting at the seams. And I still have more at home. I was planning on bringing in a live tree, but I think that will just take up too much space (I still have to fit a sofa somewhere in this space!) So, I’m going to bring in the plastic slim tree from home. Not exactly what I wanted, but it will fit a lot better. Here’s what the room looks like now… All in all, I’m really

October 31, 2011 122 Comments

buying & selling antiques

a dealer’s life for me

Before I get into it, I wanted to share that The Lucketts Store Blog is currently running a gift card giveaway through Saturday. If you aren’t close enough to shop at Lucketts (in Leesburg, VA), you can enter to win a “prize package” that will include one of my ornaments in addition to more shippable goodies from other vendors. My life as an antiques dealer has been an interesting one. It’s all happened very organically…and a little by accident. I started my business as a “mural and decorative painting” business. It took me a while to realize that I wasn’t passionate about murals. I have dreamed about and talked about being an antique dealer for years, but I always assumed that was something I would do after my kids were grown or after I got some kind of official degree or after I was in the right house or after whatever… I

October 26, 2011 72 Comments

painting my room at Lucketts

I had an amazing day. It was busy, but I had a successful shopping trip and had dinner and a movie with my hubby. That’s a great day. I’ll share some pictures of some of my latest favorite finds in the next few days. As some of you know, last Thursday Mini and I set out to paint my room on the third floor at The Lucketts Store. After much patching, one coat of Satin True Value Easy Care in Owl Gray mixed at half strength on the walls and one coat of water borne semigloss Impervo paint in bright white on the trim, here is what it looks like… The change isn’t too dramatic, but here is the before… I actually really liked the color, but the walls and trim were so filled with holes that I really just needed to start over. I wanted to use a

October 21, 2011 52 Comments

growing

When I first started my business about three years ago, I basically had no budget. Now, my wee little no-budget, counter top business has grown far beyond expectations and beyond what I can handle myself. I’ve struggled over the last year to know what to drop, what to outsource and how to best prioritize. The time finally came when I realized that, while I need to be the driving creative force of Mustard Seed Interiors, I needed to let some things go. It may sound like a no-brainer, but I’m used to touching everything I make and sell. I’m used to doing the sewing, stripping, upholstery, painting, sanding, staining, refinishing, crafting, writing, styling, moving, shopping, scheduling…everything. I decided I needed to look carefully at everything I was doing to see what I could let go. I had been printing and hand punching all of my tags…OK, I can let that

October 18, 2011 74 Comments

the art of styling

When I first started my business, I would paint a piece, pull out my camera and snap a picture of it…just right where it was. Usually the lighting was poor, so I used a flash. I would send the picture to my web designer and ask her to put it on my site. I didn’t realize what a poor representation of my work it was. I just didn’t think of the fact that I should take the time to stage the photo and light it properly. I really had no excuse, either. I had taken a photography class and knew how to take decent pictures, but I didn’t think I could achieve “magazine quality”, so I didn’t even try. Then, I stumbled upon the wonderful work of Shelter Blogs. There were girls just like me, taking really great pictures of their home and their work. I was immediately drawn to

October 16, 2011 109 Comments

The General

As some of you may know, I’m good friends with Barb Blair from Knack Studios. She called me up one day out of the blue (creeper) and I felt an immediate connection with her. Barb has since been one of my go-to girls to call when I need to chat, vent, celebrate or get some sound advice. Her work and style, which is very different from mine, has also been an inspiration. Enter…The General. I “met” him on her portfolio page a few months ago and he sent my heart a-flutter. I loved her technique of allowing the stripe on the piece to be wood. Genius. Brilliant. I knew the day would come when I would find the right piece to make my own version. Here’s a sorry iPhone picture of the before. It was an extremely sturdy, heavy dresser, but the finish was pretty tired. I taped off all

October 8, 2011 58 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.