Behind the Counter- January

Welcome to the first edition of my new newsletter, Behind the Counter. Take a glimpse behind the scenes at Thistle & Bess to connect with people who inspire, hear the thoughtful stories behind the goods that I love and find out what is currently sparking joy in my life.

Diana Marsh

Owner of T&B

In September I took a business class with Holly Howard of Ask Holly How, which is a culture-first business consultancy founded on the principle that successful entrepreneurship resides at the intersection of self-evolution, business growth, and the creative pursuit. Holly’s name kept popping up among businesses that I admire (thanks, Erica Weiner & Minna) and I decided that after 8 years in business it felt like an opportune time to reconnect with my purpose and goals for T&B.

I came away from the week-long course feeling reinspired, reenergized and reconnected to why I wanted to start T&B in the first place. I have a lot more work to do to piece together all of the ideas that came from the class, but writing this newsletter is a first step. Behind the Counter is a way to connect deeper with my community and highlight our business values at T&B, which are connection, thoughtfulness and joy. Holly isn’t teaching that particular course again until late in the year (and she doesn’t post on instagram!), but if you are curious about business or marketing I highly recommend signing up for her newsletter or listening to her podcasts. She is extremely smart and thoughtful and approaches business marketing and growth in a way that feels really genuine, authentic and inspiring.

One of my favorite products in the shop right now are these Repetition Reminder risograph prints by local artist Avery Williamson. Avery is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores historical and contemporary notions of the archive, domestic space, Black pleasure and spatiotemporal collapse. Her body of work includes weavings, photography, collage, painting and drawing. Through these media she explores the narratives of Black women in personal and institutional archives.

As we start the new year, I am seeking gentle reminders and encouragement instead of setting traditional resolutions and Avery’s art prints are a lovely way to do that. I asked Avery some questions about her inspiration behind these pieces.

What was your inspiration for the Repetition Reminder print series?

I wanted to combine two important parts of my creative process: reminder notes and repetition. In the past few years I’ve been working on speaking more kindly to myself. I liked the idea of repeating a simple message and having a singular focus. I really like the artist Howardena Pindell and her obsessive dots, and John Baldessari’s “I will not make any more boring art” print. These two artists were on my mind as I was coming up with these repetition reminders. In 2022 took a risograph class at Room Project in Detroit and really loved learning more about the history and possibilities of this type of printing. Then my friend Kristen got her own risograph printer and I was able to experiment and make prints where I live and work - Ypsilanti, MI. These repetition reminder prints are Michigan-made through and through! The paper is made in Michigan and they’re printed right here in my neighborhood!

Do you have a space in your home or studio where you like to keep visual reminders?

I like to keep my visual reminders by my desk for writing and also in the studio where I’m drawing and painting. And of course, I keep the reminders on my phone. I like to look back and see what I was reminding myself of a year or so ago. It helps me keep track of growth.

Do you have a favorite reminder for yourself at the moment?

Right now my favorite reminder is “a little bit each day”. I’m not much of a cold weather person so this reminder feels very relevant for January in Michigan. I know I’ll get through these dark cold days but I have to take things one day at a time.

Are you a believer in new year's resolutions? If so, are there any goals that you have for the new year that you are willing to share?

I’m not really one for New Year's resolutions. I mostly feel like any time is a good time to decide to make a change in your life. Moving into 2024, I’m trying to embrace “slow & steady” in my practice. I’m trying not to rush things.

I am a sucker for true-crime. I recently finished a book that I absolutely loved, The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel. This true-crime book about a notorious art thief, Stephane Breitwieser, reads much more like a thriller than a nonfiction. It is a fascinating story about a man who brazenly stole from museums, not to resell and make money, but because of his love and admiration for the art. Breitwieser stole pieces that inspired him, many times in broad daylight, and then displayed all of his treasures in his small apartment in France that he shared with his girlfriend and accomplice. He lived like a king, surrounded by stolen beauty until he was finally caught and his fantasy collapsed around him. This book is an intriguing read for cozy winter nights.

Thank you so much for taking a peek Behind the Counter at T&B. I am really excited for a new year at the shop. Take care and stop in to say hello soon.