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When I’m getting ready for an antique market, most of the things my team and I work on are profit-earning projects.  They are things I plan to sell.

There are other things that we work on just because they make me satisfied as a business owner and designer.  They are things that make for better display, better pictures, better shopping experience for customers, etc.

They are things like branded tape and ribbon-handled bags and white pennant bunting hanging around the booth.   Lugging an antique register along, despite a few eye rolls, just because it makes me happy.

Usually, though, I don’t execute all of those extra ideas.  They end up on the “cutting room floor”, because we just run out of time or energy.

This year, we wanted to get started early enough, so we would be able to do all of the finishing touches we plan when our energy is high and Lucketts is on the distant horizon.  In one of our brain-storming meetings, we talked about painted backdrops for the booth.  One of the things that always bugged me when it comes it pictures and display at an antique market is that your “walls” are the booth behind you, so you have very little control of what your backdrop looks like.

Blue tarps, boxes, tents and trucks aren’t exactly eye candy.  And the back of my booth doesn’t make a good backdrop, either, so it’s not a knock on any of my neighbors!

By creating our own canvas backdrops, we can create a “wall” that stops the eye and gives us control of what is behind the vignettes.

We knew the theme this year was going to be Farmhouse White and liked the idea of using bucolic landscapes to emphasize the “farmhouse” side of that theme.  That idea evolved into the plan of creating two 9′ x 20′ hand painted landscape mural canvas backdrops.

I realized partway through painting the first one that we’re a little off our rocker.

It was big, but it only took a few hours to build up the base layers of paint.  We used milk paint, of course!  It’s Shutter Gray for the sky, Lucketts Green for the grass in the background, Boxwood for the foreground and Curio for the tree trunks.

As I drove home after those few hours of painting this huge canvas, I tried to talk myself out of doing a second one.  It just seemed so overwhelming, but I woke up the next morning ready to finish it and was determined we would have two.

I finished the detail work with some milk paint and mostly artists acrylic.  I really needed those full-bodied acrylics to get a richer color and the kind of detail I wanted.

It’s been a long time since I painted like this and I found myself settling in.  There is a beauty I find in an artist’s palette, even if it’s just a paper plate.

I was able to finish all of the detail in one long day of crawling around on the floor, sometimes laying on my belly.  I tell you that my hamstrings are feeling it!  You wouldn’t think working on the floor would be so taxing physically, but it is!

I think the sheep are my favorite.  They are just blobby little sheep, but I’m pleased with the overall look.

And I initially had whiter clouds, but decided to add some gray to the bottoms.  I love how it looks like a sprinkle of rain might be in the future.

And my little imaginary farmhouse with a slate roof and slightly crooked windows.  I don’t claim to be a fine artist at all, but there it is and I’m happy with it.

It’s so big that I couldn’t get a full picture of it.  You’ll have to wait to see it in place when the booth at Lucketts is set up!

The reason the plan calls for two is that they will be hung back to back.  One will face out and be a backdrop for the “front” of the booth (although my booth this year is open on all four sides.)  We’ll set up a great display in front of it, in the hopes it will draw customers in.

The one hung on the inside will be the backdrop to the counter.  It’ll provide shade and a way to set up the counter without having an ugly backside in view of customers.

This is totally a new thing we’re trying, so we’ll see how it goes!

The work on landscape #2 starts tomorrow along with some sewing/slipcover work that I’ve been putting off…

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    55 Comments

    1. Dorothy Oyler

      Marian, you always seem to be a step ahead of everyone! You’re right the mundane trappings involving containing a “booth” area tend to beak the mood when stepping into a booth. Genius! I have no doubt others will follow suite.

    2. Saskia

      What a great idea! I am sure it will look amazing.

    3. Susie

      Love.

    4. jackie pankuck

      So charming. The devil is in the details…as my momma would say…

    5. Joeleen

      I love it! I think you should price them both. You never know what will sell by the end of your show!

    6. Ariel

      Wow, what a great idea! I love it and love that it’s an ode to where you started. Such a creative & beautiful way to tie everything together. It has the perfect feel to it! Well done.

      How sweet would it be to have those sheep (similar ones) on a nursery wall? I might try to copy them…and probably fail. Hahah.

    7. amy joanne mogish

      Beyond Awesome…..can’t wait to see it! The Decorative Artist peaks out now and again….beautiful!

    8. mercedes

      I absolutely love the idea of a backdrop and what you’ve designed is perfect! can’t wait to see how it all comes together in your booth 🙂

    9. Nan, Odessa, DE

      Love the sheep!
      Need some rows of gardening in the backdrop.
      This will add so very much to your booth!

      Really, do you see these in booths at the shows?

      What are you painting on? Drop cloths?

      Isn’t this paint slow to dry on fabric?

      Wishing I was coming ……..

      Would buy the little tall boy and the small white house, ooops and a wooden hanger.

      Keep us up to date on the show!!!!!

      • marian

        I’ve never seen backdrops like this at a show/market, so we’re trying something new! I have seen people build “walls” out of pallets, etc and have banners and things, but not hand painted landscapes.

        Yes, we’re painting on canvas drop cloths.

        The paint is a little slow drying, which is why we worked on it over two days and then let it fully dry over the weekend.

    10. Terri

      Brilliant! and your momma is such a trooper!

    11. Becky

      Seriously! So amazing. If I could come to Lucketts I could just sit and look at your booth all day. You aren’t creating a booth to shop in, you are creating a shopping experience, an atmosphere. Enjoy!

    12. Kim

      Absolutely FABULOUS idea and it will make a huge difference! You’ll start a trend!

    13. Nan, Odessa, DE

      Part 2

      Suggestion of additions:

      MUST have an American flag

      Rows of a garden with bunnies

      Bike parked

      Love what you have!

    14. katienearchicago

      Love this idea! I think lots of us could use a backdrop to hide the debris of daily life, ha. In fact I have an entire room that needs this — good thing it has a door. Sigh. Maybe I should paint a mural on the door??

    15. Donna Burke

      I’ve had several very large yards sales over the past years at my 1895 house. I couldn’t bear to have an ugly background for my “treasures” and even the junk, so I to made backdrops, had lighting and snacks and pulled out “props” to decorate the space with. Although everyone wanted to buy my decor- it made me feel good when the “shoppers” commented that they always looked forward to my sales and that they were the most organized and actually pretty yard sales they ever went to. The hardest part was keeping the early birds at bay! I love your mural and your daily posts. 🙂

    16. Julie

      Lovely idea it is going to look great in your space.
      I have a technical question…Can you use a roller with milk paint?

      • marian

        Yes, you can! We talked about using rollers on this, but decided to use brushes to have a bit more control on the canvas.

    17. Carla

      Little white blobby sheep are my absolute favorite.

    18. Mimi

      So beautiful… I absolutely love the painting. What a neat idea. It wil be so fun to see it set up at your booth (in photos ?). I look forward to those posts. Blessings!

    19. Ej moore

      Love the music with the video! Fun watch. 🙂

    20. Marlene Stephenson

      I think it will be marvelous and i know it will draw people to your booth.

    21. Naomi S.

      Marian, your painting has such a charming, sweet look. It’s a version of the painting on that little dresser I love, isn’t it? You know, I would like a similar painting on canvas to hang on my wall. I bet if you did a few they would sell immediately. My vision is that it would be smallish–maybe 8×10 or 11×16 so everyone would have a little space on a wall that it would fit. Of course, I know that this is the worst possible time to suggest anything that would involve more work on your part! Maybe after Lucketts! And btw, I think the murals are a fabulous idea. I believe they just might start a trend.

    22. Carolyn

      Display and Presentation are crucial. It is obvious you are an expert at doing shows. I totally believe Vendors who have mastered this will sell more than others who who do not pay attention to display. Good Luck at Lucketts!

    23. Karen

      Marian, I bet people are going to ask you if you want to sell the canvas paintings! Also the American flag is a MUST!!!!

    24. phyllis henry

      Seeing all of the wonderful things for Luckett’s makes me quite sad not to be able to go. This newest challenge just put me over the edge…but, I will comfort myself in the knowledge that you will be taking photos of your booth for all of us stay-at-homers. As any great artist signs their work, perhaps you should find a way to include yourself and Kriste in the backdrops, even if in an obscure, “where’s Marian” kind of way! I’d also suggest at least one of your signature pieces represented, or one that would be very Miss Mustard Seed, like a mustardized chicken coop. What ever you decide to do, I know that I will find as much enjoyment in your final painting as I do in the inspirational pieces and stories you share with us each day. You are my “Vitamin M”, and I cannot imagine a day without my daily dose.

    25. Angie M

      Oh! The backdrops are going to be perfect! They will give your booth the feeling of being in a Miss Mustard Seed store.

    26. Kitty

      Marian ….. take a photo and make a poster of your backdrop art,
      sign and number them. We’d all buy, frame ~ and hang your artwork !

      Love, Love, Love it all !

      best wishes from Calif.

      • Alison G

        That is a great idea.

    27. Cindy

      You could use a stencil right?
      Drawing is not a gift of mine.
      It is a wonderful idea for many things
      In my backyard..
      Love your website
      Cindy

    28. Jean

      Just love, love, love the sheep. Maybe take some of the ideas and add something new each time you use them, so it is always fresher.

      Even your paint palettes are fab – esp. the green.

      Good luck and happy shopping to all who are going.

    29. Denise Potter

      This gave me the shivers as i did a mural that was the same size for a vacation bible school a few years back. I worked on my garage floor and out in the driveway and I can sympathize with every aspect of the project you described!! I think it’s a great look for your booth! Two of them? Oh my!

    30. Cheryl

      Seriously ROCKIN!…your connection with Source? as always❤️??. Dosen’t get much better than that!, except when your sharing it. Thank you for the inspiration you share.?

    31. Jill

      Wow Marian. You are so talented!! I bet this will be a new line in your amazing collection of things. Miss Mustard Seed Backdrops!!! So bummed I will not be at Lucketts this year. Have a great time!

    32. Krista

      That is so awesome! You never cease to amaze me with your ideas, creativity and talent! I agree with others, you could sell these in miniature versions. Your booth will be the most adorable one there. Wish I could see it in person, but I will so look forward to photos of it on your blog!

    33. Marianne Davies

      Marian , those back drops are beautiful!! Don’t sell them use the for next year! Such a good idea ! You will have the best booth of all!

    34. JoAZ

      Beautiful and so very special. You have such talent, love the sheep and the clouds so appropriate since you had rain last year. Once again I wish I was close enough to come shop! It’s going to be an amazing weekend for you!

    35. Sindy Anderson

      Marian, It’s breathtaking! If I could do it to MY booth I would~!

    36. Liz

      Marian, this looks so lovely in a ‘Grandma Moses’ primitive way, you totally could sell it!! I sure buy it! 🙂

    37. Patricia V.

      Marian:
      I would like to buy the back drop when (if ever) you are done with it. Will you consider selling it?

    38. Debbie Klausing

      Love it! You could add something new every year to your backdrop. Love the flag idea for sure! Two little boys would be cute also.

    39. Donna

      Wow! Looks wonderful. I love it!

    40. Mary Stewart

      Love it! Wish I were much closer~
      Always honestly inspiring for me in my little shop in South Dakota!

    41. B Folk

      Marian,
      Some years ago, I was involved in an annual event that had been presented for years before I got involved, and it continues to this day. That organization had an advertising poster made each year, and the ones from the early years were true works of art. The later ones, not so much. The organization started framing them and displaying them at the event site (lovely 100-yr-old buildings), and selling the leftovers as a fundraiser. Guess which ones they sold out of? The early posters are actually sought now by collectors. Perhaps you could do the same type of idea with your backdrops; sell the prior years’ backdrop as limited edition prints. Would it be worth the time and trouble each year to create a new backdrop just weeks before Luckett’s? Only you could answer that question…
      The blobby little sheep are beautiful!

    42. Jean

      Love the aforementioned POSTER idea. I would buy one instantly. Good luck at Lucketts, can’t wait to see all the photos.

    43. Edee Zwiefelhofer

      I love watching what your creative mind comes up with! Good luck at Lucketts can’t wait to see all the pictures.

    44. Julie

      Could you share your technique for painting the sheep? Thanks

    45. Cynthia

      WONDERFUL! Loved the Video : )

    46. Sue Davies

      I love it. It has that Grandma Moses look that I love. She’s my favorite artist. It will make a beautiful booth!

    47. MimiMatthewsPassionistaAtLarge

      This is really funny, as I used canvas drop cloths at my vendor show lasst year. They helped with the sun and helped to keep my things “contained”. Also helped keep the wind from blowing my cards all away. lol I didn’t paint mine. What a process, but it looks wonderful! I think you’ll love them. FYI I used curtain clips that were then attached to the frame of my pop-up with those binder rings that open then snap closed. They worked great!

    48. Naomi S.

      I just came back to this post and read Kitty’s idea for a poster. I think that would be great! And less work for you than doing little paintings. Geez, will I EVER get to the point where I am a 21st century citizen! Why didn’t I think of a poster? Excellent idea, Kitty!

    49. Patricia

      I was so intrigued by your post. I paint winterguard dance team floor mats ( 50feet X 80feet) so i completely understand those aching hamstrings! I would love to use your paint on one. Btw. we paint over old billboard signs that are gaff taped together to make the larger size we need. The best part is that the old vinyl signage is free to us and they are light weight.yet very durable. Does the canvas stiffen much after painting or did you add textile medium to your paint?

    50. adesigndiary

      I LOVE your mural Marian….I can SO relate to the hard work involved in painting on the floor…a few years ago I painted 19 antique kelims on concrete floors for a hotel client and after about 4 months of working on my knees, I have never been able to kneel since! I damaged my poor knees beyond repair!
      I think your murals will be absolutely lovely in your stall and I am fairly certain that by the end of the market, they will both be sold!
      I am so looking forward to seeing your photos of the whole set-up and the finished booth….

    51. Jen

      Marion
      You are a true artist and a visionary for women. You inspire so many people with your creativity and love for your business and the pieces you touch!

    52. Frederika

      I love your “décor peint”, especially the little sheep. It’s a great result and very inspiring indeed! Frederika from L’Atelier 13, Belgium

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