Running a Business Archives | Page 9 of 49

Running a Business

the next chapter

Change is a delicate thing. If you don’t change at all, things feel stagnant and boring. Been there done that. If you change too much, well then, you’ve changed. And not everyone is going to like that. I shared last year that my business was changing and even though I voiced it in a blog post, I still struggled against it. I was afraid of changing too much, too fast. I would start to move forward and I would retreat back to what was comfortable and familiar. All the while, there was this understanding that things will change with or without me. The blog world will continue to evolve. Decorating trends will come and go. And I was going to need a change of pace at some point. Then, we made a huge change – picked up and moved halfway across the country. I traded my big, off-site studio for a

October 10, 2017 55 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

Dash & Albert Rug Design Competition | design process

As I shared in my last post about the Dash & Albert Rug Design Competition (click the link to see what it’s all about), I used an antique coverlet as the starting point for the designs. This one, to be more specific… When I was initially asked to join the competition, these designs, which I had already worked on for a different project (I didn’t end up using them for that), seemed perfect. Prior to submission, I clarified with the competition organizers that reworking antique designs was permitted. They not only said yes, but told me the designs in their existing lines that are based on antiques are often the most popular. So, the design process started out with taking choice pictures of sections of the coverlet. They needed to be sections without stains or holes (or with the least amount) and I had to capture enough of the design to create

July 13, 2017 8 Comments

All Things Home

Dash & Albert Rug Design Competition

I have been a long-time fan of Annie Selke and Dash & Albert, so when I was invited to participate in their rug design competition, I was all in! Fifteen digital influencers, including some of my blog buddies, were invited to submit three rug designs that are reflective of their personal design aesthetic for a chance to have their rug come to life. The designs will be posted on the Annie Selke Instagram page (@AnnieSelke), where the public will cast their vote as to which designs they would like to see made available for purchase. The 10 designs that receive the most votes between July 6 and July 20 will be entered in to production, and then sold online by Dash & Albert, an Annie Selke Company. I’ll keep you posted on the voting, but I wanted to share the designs I came up with as well as the inspiration behind those designs. Of

July 2, 2017 70 Comments

buying & selling antiques

Lucketts 2017 | part 3

On Saturday morning, the Lucketts Spring Market didn’t start until 10:00. That gave my team a chance to catch a collective breath. We all slept in a little bit later and were treated to an amazing breakfast by our hostess at the Zion Springs Bed & Breakfast, Chris. Waffles topped with strawberries and whipped cream served with a side of bacon was the most decadent breakfast I’ve ever had on a morning of a market! And, it was all served on blue & white dishes, which is a small thing that made me smile. We also gained two more helpers, Stephanie (of the blog Stephanie Spring) and her husband, Eric. When I met him, I immediately realized he was an unspoken answer to the question, “Who will be able to take my mural down?” (He’s 6’7″!!) Anyway, the handiness of Eric’s height aside, it was nice to have some fresh energy, given

May 25, 2017 47 Comments

buying & selling antiques

Lucketts Recap 2017 | part 2

If you missed part 1 of the Lucketts 2017 recap, you can check it out HERE. Friday was VIP day, but it was a little different this year. The VIP tickets were essentially for early admission from 8:30 – noon. At noon, the gates opened to general admission, so we were expecting a morning rush and another possible rush in the afternoon. Our space was as ready as it could be when the gates were opened to the VIPs. (And we were excited, as you can clearly see!) At our old location on the Lucketts grounds, we were pretty close to the entrance, so we could see the wall of people approaching. At this new location, we were a bit of a hike from the entrance, so the crowd was diffused a bit once they arrived to our booth. We later heard from vendors near the entrance, though, that there

May 24, 2017 13 Comments

buying & selling antiques

Lucketts Recap 2017 | Part 1

The story of Lucketts 2017 is a big one! There’s all of the stuff, the great customers, the new venue for the market, our gracious hosts, and my amazing team who helped me pull it all together. When I last posted, I shared pictures of our set up in the Show Barn at the fairgrounds Thursday, the day before the market. I was so tired and it was late and I was just trying to communicate some things that would be helpful for shoppers the next day, so I didn’t share the details of the set-up day. So, let’s back up and I’ll start the story there. We loaded two 20′ trucks with all of the things from the studio that we’ve been working on and collecting and drove them down to the Clarke County Fairgrounds early the next morning to unload the trucks and set up the large pieces. (You can

May 23, 2017 60 Comments

All Things Home

Lucketts Guide 2017

I’m getting this guide in at the last minute! It’s just been that kind of day! Since it’s late and I’m pooped, here are the details… LOCATION Just a reminder that the Lucketts Spring Market isn’t at Lucketts any longer! It’s at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Berryville, VA. That is where we’ll be and that is where you’ll want to be! More specifically, I’ll be in the “Show Barn”. DRESS CODE… Obviously, there isn’t really a dress code, but I’ll tell you that there is a lot of dust that gets kicked up on the grounds, so wear some digs that you don’t mind getting dirty! You will be wearing the Clark Country Fairgrounds home. CHECKOUT… You can pay for your purchases with cash, checks, or credit/debit cards. We will have FOUR checkouts running during the busy times, so we hopefully will get you out and on your way

May 19, 2017 53 Comments

buying & selling antiques

Lucketts set up

Last year, I thought my new digs for Lucketts, a 20 x 40 “circus tent”, sounded enormous. I kept adding more and more stuff to the “pile”, so I made sure the space would be filled. Well, two rental trucks later and the space was certainly full! It was overflowing, in fact, and trying to find a place for everything was nuts. We worked it out, but the tent was crowded and I would’ve been up a creek if it had rained before we moved some serious merchandise. So, this year the Lucketts Spring Market moved to an entirely new location and I am in a large pavilion called “The Show Barn”. I had a chance to see it a few months ago, but I really didn’t grasp the size of the space. The stuff we’ve been working on over the past few weeks and months filled two 20′ rental trucks this

May 18, 2017 33 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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