Meet Sandy Miller of Earthly Possessions on the South Shore

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Miller.

Sandy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always designed and sold things I make, such as batik scarves at Colby College, Thingies Jigsaw Puzzles after I graduated, soft sculptures, needlepoint designs when my children were small in Virginia Beach, then pillows, bedding, fabric designs for home furnishings when we lived in NYC. When we moved to Boston I had to reinvent myself yet again, this time by opening my store, Earthly Possessions in Milton.

I had never worked in a store, had no idea what I was doing, but leaped into it by doing everything I knew best and always wanted to do such as decorative painting on old furniture, sewing one of a kind pillows and table linens, collecting antique plates for the walls. I quickly discovered that my customers loved what I loved so I continued to make more unique painted furniture and home furnishings from anything and everything I could find.

I arranged the store into vignettes so my customers could see everything in context. They loved it. The physical store moved two times and added another store in Hingham for five years, but the essence stayed the same: one of a kind antiques and home furnishings either made by us, my husband was involved initially making fabulous iron tables, my son made amazing cupboards from old windows and doors, and as the times changed, so did I.

I recognized the need to reinvent the store periodically which is why it lasted almost twenty-five years until my landlord needed my space forcing me to retire. Adding high end, mostly made in America women’s clothing saved the store once antiques became harder to sell. The clothes were great, I made stunning silk scarves to wear with them (2637 of them have sold to date), great jewelry, and my customers really appreciated the help we gave to make flattering choices. I started sewing fleece vests along with the scarves and pillows.

As Earthly Possessions was closing, I had my 1920’s garage converted into Earthly Possessions Design Studio, the most charming place I have ever had in which to create. I have been designing fabric online, over 700 designs thus far. I make things from my own fabric designs, which is thrilling. I have sewed my own clothes since I was thirteen, so it is fun to make one of a kind items to sell using my own fabric.

My old customers come to my Studio to buy gifts (my scarves are still popular), I teach afghan knitting workshops twice a week, and I still make jewelry, often from old found objects and pieces of my wooden Thingies Puzzles. I am slowing down now that I am retired but never out of the game. I always wondered what I would do once the store closed. Now I know: I still make things, design fabric, knit afghans, and make clothes. I guess I will never stop.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was never smooth. We were always hungry, always worried that not enough money would come in to pay everything each month. I always worried that we had to spend to buy new inventory, and with antiques, you had to buy it when you found it, so enough had to sell to pay the bills. Somehow it always did, but I never stopped worrying about it. It was the same with the clothes; I had to order the whole initial order each season, hoping I chose the right styles in the right sizes. Most of the time, I guessed correctly, they sold, and the bills were paid. I never went into debt, paying as I went.

I worked all the time. When I wasn’t in the store, I was home making stuff for the store. By the time EP closed, I had such a bad back, I needed three back surgeries. I am finally feeling better. I also took care of my father in my home for the last seven years, three were while the store was open. It was a major juggling act, but a joy to be able to give back to my biggest supporter and fan. I learned how much of my creativity came from him. Sadly, he passed away in January at 99 years old.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Earthly Possessions – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Earthly Possessions is all me, everything I make or choose to purchase… My customers like my taste, and trust my opinion, to be honest. I do Home Visits, which are decorating consults, sort of like a facial for the home. I can walk into your home and pretty much instantly know what can be done to improve the look, just by rearranging, and editing what is already there. I don’t know how I know how to do this, but I do. I have done 100’s and people always love them.

My Studio specializes in slip dresses and scarves I make from my own fabrics, my silk scarves, which combine three different silk patterns, my flannel vests trimmed with dotted ribbon, my incredible afghans mixing pattern and yarn, pillows, and my jewelry.

I am proud that so many people love the things I make, give them as special gifts, that I have such wonderful friends from my years in business. It is a joy knowing that so many of the things I have made or found are happily residing in so many lovely homes.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Well, the big change has already happened. I managed to make lemonade from lemons when the store closed by creating my Design Studio. My goal is to continue designing fabric online, hopefully figuring out how to market these designs. I can see them used for paper, fabric, or on almost any product.

Everything happens for a reason, and it was time for my store to close because of my back and my father. Now that I am free to travel again, I am going to Paris in June for my 55th American School in Paris reunion. Who knows what great ideas I will bring home with me? My love for silk scarves began all those years ago when my family lived in Paris, and I have been making scarves ever since.

Pricing:

• Silk scarves $95
• My fabric design cotton scarves $38
• My cotton slip dresses $115
• My jewelry $75-95
• Newborn hats and blanket, my designs $68

Contact Info:

• Address: 36 Bass Street Wollaston, MA 02170
• Website: www.shopearthlypossessions.com
• Phone: 617-842-2545
• Email: sandymillerep@gmail.com
• Facebook: Earthly Possessions Design Studio
• Other: Pinterest Earthly Possessions Design Studio (Sandy L Miller)

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