If you’re in a hurry, here is the short version of the story. I met Wendy when she became a Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint line retailer in her shop in Canada. She became our Canadian trainer and my friend and we traveled all around Europe together. She sold her shop and I sold the milk paint line. I started painting. Her husband, John, takes pictures and I asked to paint one of those pictures. That picture, taken from their front porch, was licensed and made into a pillow. That pillow made from one of my paintings made from one of her husband’s photos ended up in the shop Wendy sold. Wendy bought the pillow. My mom bought the pillow. And here we are.
If you want the longer story behind the pillow, here it is.
Wendy and I met years ago when she signed up to carry the newly created Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint line in her shop, Front Porch Mercantile, in Canada. (You can follow Wendy HERE.) I think we actually met earlier than that at a blog conference, but those are always a blur! Our paths crossed a few times as the line was taking off, but we really became friends when we had the chance to meet in person and she became a part of my staff and the Canadian retailer trainer for the MMSMP line. She even stayed with my parents when she came for a retailer workshop at my studio in PA.
We went to Europe together for milk paint workshops twice and Wendy and her husband, John, stayed with me and my mom in our swanky Paris Perfect apartment both times. During the second trip, they even joined us on a couple of tours. Here’s me, my mom, and John waiting for our Marais Walking Tour with Localers to start. You can read about that tour HERE.
And Wendy, who speaks French, helped me navigate the purchase of an antique fountain pen at a small pen shop.
The four of us also did a private day trip to Champagne & Reims together.
And, on top of that, we paled around in Florence, Barga, and Lucca, Italy, so we got to know John and Wendy well. The thing you notice about John on one of these trips is that he always has his camera at the ready. He takes amazing photos around Nova Scotia and wherever he travels. You can see his photography on his Instagram – @eastcoastphotoguy. I love all of his photos (and he does sell calendars and prints), but I especially love the photos of a restored Canadian sailboat, the Bluenose II. It’s the sort of ship that begs to be photographed and painted.
He generously permitted me to paint a few of his pictures, including this one of the Bluenose II…
Here is my original painting from his photo…
It’s still one of my favorites to this day.
This painting was picked up by one of the companies I license my paintings with and they made a canvas wall print as well as a fringed lumbar pillow. You can find the print at a few small shops online and it’s carried by Antique Farm House HERE. I didn’t know about the pillow until Wendy shared it on Instagram a few weeks ago. A few years ago, she sold her retail stores so she could focus her creative energy on coaching entrepreneurs. (I’ve benefitted from her wise counsel and extensive business experience, so I knew it was a good move for her and many people would benefit from her services.) But, a few weeks ago, she walked into the store she sold and recognized the artwork on a pillow. She sent me a message with a photo of the pillow. Isn’t this your painting from John’s photo? Yes!!
Well, I went online to see if I could find it and I did find one available in a small online shop. Sadly, it was sold out everywhere else and it’s now sold out there, so I don’t have a link to share. I did ask my licensing agent to inquire about its future availability from the manufacturer. My mom wanted the pillow for her bedroom, which has a coastal vibe, so she bought it and I was able to see it in person the last week.
They really did a great job with it and I love how the painting looks on the pillow.
As I’ve shared before with licensing, you just never know where something is going to end up. That was definitely the case with this pillow that seemed to come full circle.
You can see the pillow in Wendy’s home as well as her side of the story here…
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Marian
That painting is my all-time favorite of your work. I could only afford a print from Society 6 but I love it and so many people comment on it when they visit. Thank you for the story, it’s nice to know the name of the boat.
Karen B.
P.S. I hope one day you’ll paint a Christmas tree (in the wild or decorated, either way). I’d love to buy one.
Oooh! Yes! A Christmas tree print would make great Christmas cards, too 🙂
How exciting to see your work on a pillow! I too am from Canada and we went on a family vacation and saw and toured the Bluenose 11 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. We didn’t even know it was in the harbour. I would totally recommend you visit Lunenburg. It is beautiful!
I find your life rather magical😍
I remember when I first saw this painting and sent you a message that simply said “stunning”.
It still is.
I love it on the pillow and I am going to keep up the hunt for one.
Kudos!!
I want one too!
The correct name of the ship is Bluenose II.
https://bluenose.novascotia.ca/
I fixed it!
Marian, I just did a Google image search of the sailboat painting and it shows three are available in a store in York, Maine
https://www.bellfarmshops.com
I couldn’t get to the website from Chrome, but I was able to get there via Safari.
Hope this helps!
Marian, a google image search of the sailboat painting shows there are three available at a shop (Bell Farm Shop) in York, Maine.
Hope this helps!
Your nautical paintings are my all-time fav and that gorgeous boat is no exception. I’d LOVE that pillow and hope somehow it can be available again. You DO realize you’re just teasing us, right? I love the short and long version of your friendship with Wendy and John. Keep painting those pieces, cuz ya just never know, right?
I swear one day to own a Marian original. One day, I truly hope.
Thank you Marian, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I don’t know if it was the crazy one in a million odds of the route this picture has travelled or reliving the memories of us travelling through Europe but I smiled the whole time I was reading it.
The print, but not the pillow, is available through Society 6. https://society6.com/missmustardseed/wall-art
Some of Marian’s other works are available as a pillow.
I have her lighthouse print, might just need this ship to go with it!
Wow, that’s pretty cool! I’ve seen the Bluenose II in Halifax. You can take cruises on it back and forth between Halifax and Lunenberg, which I have not done, but it sounds like fun!
What a great story- and what a Beautiful painting! What size did you originally paint this? And can I ask, what brush did you use to paint the lines & rigging??
I think it was 9 x 12. I actually scratched out the paint for the lines and rigging. You can use anything thin, but I use a porcupine quill! You can find them on Etsy and they are great for making fine lines in oil paint.