Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

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{featured artist :: Mandolin Goose}

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This giveaway is now closed.

This week’s Featured Artist is Mandy from Mandolin Goose, a shop filled with the prettiest, most-colorful spray painted/re-purposed stuff around! Be sure & enter the giveaway below!

♥

Please introduce yourself to us.
My name is Mandy Nevill Goosens and I live in Nashville, TN, with my husband Miles and 4 ridiculous dogs, Ella, Phineas, Banjo, and Posy. My Etsy shop focuses on giving new life to vintage, salvaged, discarded items while still embracing the original character. It’s amazing what a little love and color can do! I also like to think my items can also breathe a little life into the buyer’s space.

What inspires you?
Shape, texture, color, sound… I guess I can find inspiration in just about anything. Oftentimes, the inspiration finds you. You just have to be open to it.

Share something you absolutely LOVE about your shop/your product.
Color! I like to think I have a keen eye for color and color combinations. I love when color can just *POP* and give you a different perspective on things. I’m certainly not the only Etsy seller who ‘paints some old stuff’ but I think my shop offers a unique spin on certain things, and what I do, I do well. I also pride myself on excellent customer service which includes crazy-secure packaging.

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Creative.

Do you have a day job or sell full-time?
Right now I’m all Etsy, all the time. I’ve been a chef for many years and have recently phased myself out of the local restaurant scene… long story!

Based on your answer above, what a current challenge you’re facing?
I’d have to say storage. That’s a boring answer, but so true.

Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
First, feed the dogs. If they don’t get breakfast, nothing else happens, I mean NOTHING. Next, I check emails and see what I need to pack up and get shipped, or I may have to touch up something before it goes out. Some days I spend out at thrift stores bringing home way more than I can deal with at one time. Once I get my haul back here, I have to process each item, seeing if it needs any repair, remove any nails, glass, splinters, etc., see if it needs sanding… things like that. That can be time consuming. Other days, I’m organizing frames and such into groups that complement each other and painting all day. I usually try to wind down “work” by dinnertime, about 8pm, but I may still be on the computer after that, listing items to sell.

Share with us a favorite handmade purchase or shop.
I bought this, and it goes everywhere I do.

What would you like to learn to do?
I think I’d like to learn to sew. My grandmother was a very talented seamstress, and I’d like to be even half that good.

What are you listening to right now?
My taste in music is all over the place, but right now I’m listening to Ghost by Zero 7.

♥

The Giveaway Goods:

Sign your name below and enter to win this 8-piece collection of vintage & rescued items ~

Chesapeake Collection: 8 pieces – 4 frames, 3 candlesticks, 1 basket [$66 value]

Please note, this giveaway is open to US residents only.

More info ~
* The giveaway will close Sunday, May 15 at 10 pm CST* Come on back Friday, May 27 for another Featured Artist post!

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    Oh I am in love with all of the colors! There is nothing a good coat of spray paint can’t make pretty again!

  11. Jen says

    Oh goodness! I love this shop and collection you are giving away! Blue and white are one of my favorite color combos :-)

  24. April in CT says

    Oh my goodness, what cute stuff and such pretty colors. Those frames would be *perfect* for the gallery wall I’m gathering items for.

  31. Adrienne says

    Wow, what cute stuff! I love the Tiffany blue colors of the giveaway, and I know my hubby would love the green set! Thanks for sharing!

  35. Amity says

    Wow! I absolutely LOVE her stuff! She sounds just like me, finding treasures at thrift stores/garage sales and bringing them home for a makeover, I just love doing that! I love her colors, all of them! This is one I would LOVE to win! I am bookmarking her site for sure! Thanks for sharing! :)

  47. Rhiann says

    Love the frames and the color combo! Even more so, I PHL the greens in the picture below!!!!

  51. LeAnna says

    Absolutely gorgeous collection, would love to win! I need a cute frame to turn into a hairbow holder for my little princess. :)

  52. Jessamy says

    Beautiful! Hmmmm, what could I do with these? About a million things! Thanks for doing this…you’re awesome!

  54. Shelbey K. says

    I love these colors! They would look absolutely perfect in our guest bedroom. :)

  56. Amanda says

    LOVE IT. :) Perfect colors and that blue has been my favorite color since I was a teenager. Would love to win!

  71. Brandie says

    OMGoodness! I would absolutely love to win! I’m moving this month and have been on the lookout for the perfect accessories….

  72. Dawn says

    Awww, I’d LOVE to win this amazing giveaway!! Next weekend the painters are coming to repaint my house – I cannot wait to start the redecorating process with these lovely pieces. :)

    dawn.lares@gmail.com

  73. Lacey says

    Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! I love your work. It is truly amazing what a little sprucing can do to an otherwise discarded item, and you’ve got the knack! :-)

  80. Jenn Prather says

    LOVE this collection and the PERFECT colors! Would love to win this! YOu have inspired me to paint many things!!

  81. Megan Boden says

    Oh my I am loving the green and robin’s nest blue!! I have been wanting to paint so many things these colors lately! These would be perfect!! :)

  85. Lori Tacchino says

    Love it! Off to check out your shop. I am a photographer and am thinking your stuff would be great for props !!!!

  91. Melissa says

    Wow!! Love this. You have an eye for creating a beautiful vintage arrangement that is totally appealing. I see your pictures and want to see more!!

  110. heather cloudt says

    How talented! I love all the color! These would make a very welcomed addition to the new sewing studio space that I am creating next to the playroom! It is going to be a great summer of sewing and creating with my 4 little ones!

  111. Cristy says

    Holy moly!!!!!!!!!!! What an awesome giveaway!!!! I’m going to go check out her shop, but for the record, I just got a new job as a teacher starting in August, and HOW COOL would it be to win and have some items to decorate my new classroom?!?!?!

    …here’s hoping!!!

  122. tiffany kraght says

    oh, i just made new slipcovers for my couches and i could use some cute things to add to my newly redone living room!!! thanks for the chance to win!!

  123. Kalee says

    I absolutely love that littlest frame. It just screams, “Buy me for the nursery!” So, um, if I don’t win and whomever does wants to sell me that lil one I would so buy it!

    Her pieces are awesome!

  126. Sarah says

    LOVE these. I just bought a new house and now have lots of room to showcase photos. These frames are just up my alley and color palette. Hope I win.

  129. Annie says

    BEAUTIFUL WORK!!!!! I’d love to win! These would be a great start to my BRAND NEW CRAFT ROOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  131. Noelle says

    Love these frames!! It’s so fun to refinish something and make it your own style :) would love to win this!!!

  133. JESSICA says

    I love the idea of reclaiming things and making them useful again! Great eye for possibilities.

  134. EFY says

    These colors are PERFECT for the bathroom remodel of which I’m in the middle…well, honestly, maybe I’m in the first quarter… :) Blessings!

  139. Lib says

    Oh so good to find out about a creative artist like Mandy in my backyard!! Can’t wait to add her to my list of who to buy unique b-day gifts from!!!
    Blessings!

  149. Johnna Joseph says

    What a beautiful collection! I would love to have it for my master suite.

  155. Alicia B says

    I admire her work, lovely pieces, I’m doing that same thing right now, up-cycling anything I can get my hands on. It’s so FUN!

  159. Brittanie says

    Absolutely in love with the chic/vintage look to these frames! Love the colors and hope I can put them up in my soon-to-be-new-place :)

    Have a fabulous weekend!

  160. april c. says

    these are so gorgeous! i love the vintage feel with the current “it” colors! <3

  183. Ana G says

    Oh. Man. I love her stuff! Her color combos are great! Here’s hoping I win! :D

  196. Deidre says

    oh my gosh these are great and would be a wonderful addition to my upcoming wedding that has a vintage-rustic feel to it! :0)

  206. Laurie E says

    These vintage items are so charmingly awesome! I would SUPER LOVE to win them and put them to beautiful use! Thanks so much for the giveaway opportunity :)

  212. jacqui says

    oh my this set is so cute!! it would look perfect in our living room!! thank you for opening my eyes to mandolin’s beautiful talent!

  213. Frances says

    Oh- all the walls in our bedroom are blank, waiting for the perfect “things” this would match so perfectly! Love the whole collection

  214. Sae says

    My husband and I just painted our bedroom a light blue. If I won, these would look awesome on our birch floating shelf. :)

  217. Ann says

    This would be PERFECT! We’re having an anniversary party in these exact colors!!! Hope I win! :)

  219. abbey lewis says

    Adore your stuff!!! The colors are fabulous! We may be moving into a new house and I am so looking to revamp my style… your stuff is what I am looking for!!!!

  226. Denise Crabtree says

    I love the color combinations. I went “treasure” hunting last weekend looking for frames, thinking I was going to rescue and renew these treasures. It is truly amazing what color can do!! Very inspiring!

  231. Ashley Dawn says

    Mandy’s stuff is absolutely beautiful! I adore all the fun and bright colors :) (obviously the same goes for you Gussy ;) )

  234. Rachel K says

    I love the fun, bright colors that Mandy uses! This white and aqua set would look great in our master bedroom!