The creative part of the Story Pieces business has come easily to me. I am always thinking about the next piece to make or a new technique to learn. A big learning curve for me has been the website. I have decided on best colors for the great logo made by my daughter. I’ve tried out various fonts. I’ve learned the best background and lighting for photos. I’ve measured and weighed pieces to figure out shipping costs. I have cracked the code on listing multiple varieties of coasters in one listing. I work on precise and fun descriptions of the pieces. I am proud of what I have accomplished and hope you enjoy exploring.
Color Matching
I use acrylic paints to enhance my Story Pieces in a variety of ways. In the Ada Twist, Scientist footstool, I used paint to extend the pictures to flow over the edge. Eloise has its signature pink and red throughout the book, and I have done my best to match those colors. For Guess How Much I Love You, I used a shade of green that makes the lovely illustrations pop. There’s a lot of fun trial and error in the process.
Holiday Market Success
I went to my first craft fair on December 13, 2025. It was sponsored by Arlington Brewing Company. The registration proceeds went to Arlington Eats. It was a big success, with most popular item being the coaster sets. I also sold some trivets, boxes (Eloise and Frog & Toad), tissue box covers and more.
Coasters & Trivets-The Story
Guess what else I up cycle? Tile coasters that people on my town list are giving away. When I first saw a post about tiles, I remembered seeing someone making coasters with decorative paper napkins. It was probably Angel from Escape to the Chateau. I watched various YouTube videos to figure out the best method and products to use. About 100 tiles in, I have some beautiful sets to sell, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Check out the autumn and new holiday ones in the shop. I also have lots of nice spring floral designs and other patterns that I will be posting in January. And local friends, stay tuned. In March I’ll be teaching a family class on coaster making through Arlington Community Education.
Custom Orders
I’m very excited to have the Story Pieces shop open. I hope you will find something nostalgic to use in your home or find a truly unique gift to give. As I mainly use reclaimed furniture, most of the pieces for sale are one-of-a-kind. Some exceptions (purchased new then painted and decoupaged) are smaller pieces: boxes, frames, tissue box covers. Not seeing the perfect piece? Please reach out so we can discuss a custom creation just for you. Maybe you have a favorite book in mind, and I have the right reclaimed piece waiting to be decoupaged. Or I can source something similar to what you’re looking for. Local friends, do you have an old (smallish) furniture piece that needs new life? I really love to work on wooden footstools as shown below. But I’m always on the hunt for the next cool way to show off a beautifully illustrated book.
Step-by-Step Guide to Revamping Playskool Wagons
One of my favorite Story Pieces to work on is vintage Playskool wagons. I’ve completed a few sets now, sometimes using the original blocks and sometimes new ones, as shown below.
Author/Illustrator Spotlight: Ian Falconer
Ian Falconer was an American author, illustrator, set designer and costume designer. His Olivia books were a favorite of my kids (or maybe more a favorite of mine?). This “high energy little pig, with a huge imagination” has inspired three pieces.
Customer Reviews
I absolutely adore my Grand Central footstool story piece, which my son uses to give him a boost climbing up to his bed. It’s like having all the bright colors and goofy joy of a great children’s book accessible ALL the time, not just when we pull a book from the shelf. I’d never seen anything like this before, and I love knowing it’s one of a kind. A year later, there is no damage and no wear, so it’s very sturdy and feels like it’s going to last like this forever. Saving up for my next piece!
Debbie created a delightful custom block set using a vintage pull toy wagon and Sesame Street book. Not only is it great for toddlers to pull, build, and stack, it is a nostalgic ride down memory lane for adults who loved Sesame Street growing up! The brightly colored and decoupaged blocks are so fun to sort into colors and characters…just so many ways to play with this toy! We also appreciate the fact that this is a upcycled item saved from the landfill and brought to life again in such a creative way. Thanks, Debbie!
Backs and Bottoms
When using one illustrator’s pictures on one piece, I give credit in a few ways. The first is by having the author or name of the book in the shop’s website listing for the item. The second involves decoupaging the title of the book onto the back or bottom of the piece. Additionally, I add the author and illustrator’s name. I wouldn’t have Story Pieces without the stories, after all!
Splatter Paint
I paint a solid background color (usually white) for many of my pieces. For This Day in June I splattered/flicked the paint from a brush to represent the confetti in the illustrations. I love the result. I think it captures the joy of the pride celebration depicted so wonderfully in the book by Gayle E. Pittman (illustrated by Kristyna Litten). This piece makes me happy–so much that I’ve kept it, and it sits near my workspace.
