10/01/2026
About 14 years ago, I took a chance on myself and rented my first retail space, a once-a-month pop-up at the Paris Flea Market: Home Decor, Antiques, Whimsy ,Livermore, CA. I'd spent years painting furniture for other people, but never sold anything of my own. By the end of that first pop-up, I'd sold almost everything. I was hooked. (My very first space and things I sold are in the picture, and I STILL love all things French).
Not long after, I connected with Debi Beard of DIY Paint by Debi's Design Diary , and that changed everything. I worked for DIY Paint, became a retailer, and for the last 10 years I've sold it from a variety of locations.
Yesterday marked the end of that era. I'm moving my business fully online, and my last stop was the beautiful Artisan Peacock store.
Today I feel light, but nostalgic, for every customer I've met and every bit of creativity I got to help spark. I'm still doing that, just differently now.
To everyone who has shopped with me in person over the years: thank you. You helped me support my family, pay for piano lessons, even send my kids to college. Now that they're grown, I'm excited for this next season: creating for the joy of it, rehabbing furniture I find for free, and meeting new friends both online and in person.
This isn't goodbye; it's just a new address: shop DIY Paint online, subscribe to my YouTube channel for new tutorials, and come create with me at an upcoming workshop — I've got one later this month.
Sixteen years of retail taught me how much this community means to me. I'm not stepping away. I'm just meeting you somewhere new. All the places you can find me are in the link in the comments! I can't wait to get started -Karen
