Running a Business Archives | Page 43 of 49

Running a Business

One Week

The Lucketts Fair is in one week. I can’t wait and I hope time slows down both at the same time. I still have a lot to do, but I really love the stuff I am bringing. I’m also excited about some plans I have and people I’m going to meet. Some plans… I’m baking mini-cupcakes and topping them with a fondant circle stamped with my logo. They will be a free offering to people shopping my booth and I think will be a welcoming touch. Thank so much to Baby Jewels for the custom stamp. I’m also going to give out free rolls of Frog Tape. If you read my blog and would like a roll of Frog Tape, just ask for one when you visit my booth. I will give them out while supplies last. In addition to the freebies, I have a lot of fun things I’m working

May 14, 2011 69 Comments

The mom behind Miss Mustard Seed

A lot of people have supported and encouraged me in my business, but I never would’ve taken the plunge without my mom. My husband always helps me with woodworking projects, moving furniture, running errands, proof reading articles, brainstorming, watching the kids, and setting goals. My Dad encourages me, was one of my investors and sat with me in the rain at last years May fair. My aunt has given me free furniture. My brother hosts my website and helped me develop my name. But it was my mom who said, “Do it.” She took me shopping for the equipment I needed to get started. She took me from shop to shop to find a place to sell my work. She bought me Quickbooks and training with an accountant. She reads every single blog post and calls every day to see if I have any new opportunities or sponsors. She reads most

May 8, 2011 61 Comments

I had no idea…

I started my blog at the urging of my friend/web designer and a bit of a whim. I really didn’t know what I was in for. I had no idea… …I would have to be a hand model. This is a cruel twist, because I do not use lotions or cuticle creams. I do not give myself manicures or pay someone else to do them. My nails are always uneven or cut really short, so I can play guitar. There is almost always stain, paint, dirt or some other foreign, crusty crud under my nails as well. To make it even worse, I have horribly double jointed fingers. I actually have to tuck my thumb upside-down against my palm when I’m opening jars. It just collapses when I try to open it like a normal person. And I get “ews and icks” when I show how I can bend my thumb

May 3, 2011 77 Comments

how to start a business on a tight budget

I was looking through my old posts to gather everything I had written about pricing furniture pieces and I came across this half-written post. I decided it was a good day to dust it off and finish it. The economy has hit a lot of families hard and SAHMs are trying to find ways to help out. Here are some thoughts on starting a business on a teeny tiny budget. I know you’re out there. Yes, you…right there. Reading this. Thinking, “I really want to start a business, but I don’t have the money to do it.” If you want to open up your own shop right away, yes, you need money, but you don’t need a lot of money to put your toe into the world of being a “business owner.” Every business is different, but if you want to get into a design/antique/painting/crafty sort of business, the list of

May 1, 2011 58 Comments

Thursday Finds & My Space

Thursday was my day to take a trip down to Lucketts to refill my pavilion. When I have a chance to be out of the house sans kids, I have to try to eek out a stop at an antique store. Here are some things I found… Antique European grain sacks (I actually bought these off a fellow vendor at Lucketts… A pair of scalloped ironstone bowls… …and I practically stole this yellow ware bowl. This vendor didn’t know what they had and I snapped it up. I always look at these and they are always too expensive. Like, ridiculous expensive. I found one a couple of years ago at a thrift store for $7 and was giddy about it…until my son broke it a few weeks later. I glued it back together, but it was still a bummer. And here’s a peek at my pavilion space. It was a

April 22, 2011 49 Comments

Secretary Before & After and Lucketts

I mentioned last week that I had painted a secretary to sell at Lucketts. Well, it made it to the Lucketts parking lot, but I had a buyer before I even posted the pictures. The before wasn’t too bad, but it was a little scratched and the finish looked a little dated (in my opinion.) I thought the fretwork looked a little busy and the wood tones didn’t match. A reader named Erin sent me an e-mail, inquiring about the secretary I mentioned. I sent her some quickly-snapped pictures and it was just what she was looking for. We met this morning at Lucketts and both left happy. I must admit, I left the interior natural wood out of laziness. It’s a pain to paint all of those cubbies and it’s hard to do it well, even with a sprayer. I ended up really liking the warmth of the wood

April 9, 2011 55 Comments

Restocking

Today was a good day. I had my foot x-rayed (after dropping two sheets of bead board on it last Friday) and it’s badly bruise, but not broken. Yay! I was having nightmares of a paint-splattered cast. I bought a great French chair off Craig’s List. And, I turned thirty-three today. My husband did a grand job with it, too. He bought me a spa day and some gift cards, so I can shop. My boys signed cards for me and sang the cutest version of “Happy Birthday” ever. I had to bake my own cake, because none of my boys can bake. I made a Texas Sheet Cake, like my mom used to make. I had no idea there’s half a box of butter in that cake. AND Crisco. Oh well. It’s once a year. I also got the weekend totals for my Lucketts sales and…well…let’s just say I have A

April 4, 2011 101 Comments

market sign & my pavilion

I finished this sign the morning I brought it to Lucketts, so we didn’t have a chance to do a proper photo shoot together. Sorry! I really love how this one turned out, though. The bead board door was already painted a cream color, so I simply painted over it with Antibes Green with lettering in Old White and shadow in Graphite (all chalk paint.) Once dry, I used a palm sander to use and abuse the sign until it looked how I wanted it to. The piece was finished with a mix of clear and brown wax. Check out my Waxes 101 video if you’d like to see my technique. I just bought some huge barn doors today to paint some signs on. They sell well and it’s fun to create my own “art” to sell in my space. Some of you were a little confused about the “pavilion” idea, so I

April 3, 2011 52 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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