Spring is here and summer is coming, which means vintage markets, antique fairs, flea markets, and yard sales are abundant – at least where I live in the Northeast. As someone who works full-time, one of the key things that helps me to de-stress is, well, shopping....
Are you a maker, Creator, writer, crafter, or artist of any kind? I encourage you to understand the importance of cultivating a creative space that is personalized, in which you can work and play. There are many studies on the psychology of space and how it affects...
It seems like everyone has a side hustle these days. While it is easier than ever to run a business exclusively online, there is just something about having a storefront where customers can go see your items in person, and really fall in love with your products....
Kristal Coral Marie Molina is an artist inspired by the tropics of her birthplace, American Samoa. Now residing in San Diego, California with her husband, she is a proud mother of two young adults. In addition to her role as a K-12 art teacher, Kristal also...
The Flowering Farmhouse is a small flower farm located in gorgeous Hood River, Oregon. Jennifer Gulizia, creator and farmer at The Flowering Farmhouse, grows a wide variety of specialty cut flowers. Of course, dahlias have always been Jennifer’s favorite cut flower...
Esther Franchuk is a mixed-media fine artist from Ukraine. She is currently based in Berlin, Germany, with paintings represented in private collections globally. Esther was professionally trained in classical drawing & oil painting at Grekov Odessa Art School;...
Are you considering making a living as an artist? Kari Johnston, Curator for The Turquoise Iris Journal shares her perspective for artists in this space. “I just want to paint,” Gary Blevins says with a sigh. “I want that for you,” I respond, and I mean it....
Workshops can be a wonderful way to add revenue to any retail business. In fact, you don’t even need to have your own space to host a workshop. Many businesses are always looking for ways to get traffic through their doors. Don’t be afraid to ask about utilizing...
The Turquoise Iris Journal Curator Amy Sadler loves to make something fairly new look authentically old. Here she shows us how to take an inexpensive red dresser and make it look like an antique with milk paint. When I was dreaming about this paint finish I was...
If you have ever tried reupholstering a chair or piece of furniture, it can be very time-consuming, frustrating, and sometimes just not worth the effort. I have reupholstered many pieces in my years of “upcycling” furniture, sometimes with excellent results. But...