From Textile Apprentice to Entrepreneur: My Journey to Starting My Own Business

After college, I worked with two prominent textile designers. First, I worked with Judy Lichtenstein in her Lakeview studio in Chicago. She taught me her style, and I helped fill orders for Barney’s and luxury boutiques around the world.

Years later, Liz Wain hired me as a studio painter. My specialty was painting patterns, especially colorful polka dots and whimsical flowers. We shipped our hand-painted luxury table linens and bedding to stores like Gump’s and Saks Fifth Avenue all over the world.

Eventually, these experiences inspired me to start my own line of hand-painted handbags and pillows while living in Galena, IL. I teamed up with Beth Kropp to sell our items under the name GraceEMae.

We sold our hand-painted bags, pillows, and decorative items at local retail stores and the Galena Country Fair. Eventually we moved on with different ventures and continued to raise our busy, young families.

I still have a desire to design and paint, and First Seed Flowers are a direct result of these experiences.