Today we’d like to introduce you to Marsha Schloesser.
Hi Marsha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Always an artist, born drawing and coloring my grade school notebooks were covered in horses. Who knew then I would be making a living loving horses and color. I was and art major in High School, minor in sewing and science. My Father was a manufacturer in the garment district, so I spent a lot of off time learning the ropes there from manufacturing up to designing. That helped me decide to go into Fashion. went to Fashion Instiute of Technology in NYC. Became and assistant designer, then designer in various firms. Designing everything from Womens suits, dresses, sundresses, gowns, western ladies sportswear, and even a never produced Mother/daughter dress line.
21 years later, after working in NYC, Cleveland, Ohio, and Miami I was getting burnout. The business of manufacturing was in the changes of moving to Off shore and China. Now not just in the design room, but sales, and patternmaking I was burning out.
My passion had always been Horses, so I opened a store in a little Antique Village in Cauley Square, South Florida,
Started in one 10×10 room, filled with Equine art, giftware, antiques, and Breyer Horses. One room became 2, 2 became a house there. Then 2 things occurred, Breyers toy Model Horses took off, I was teaching kids and adults to paint them and show them, I loved it.
Then someone brought me in a beat up carousel horse that they wanted redone. LOVE, Love, love….combining the 2 things I love, horses and bright colors!!!! During this time I had started a local trail Riding club, the South Florida Trail Riders, then 3 years later the State Horse Council A.H.O.O.F.
My background would not let me sit in a store waiting for customers, so I started exhibiting at small local shows, realizing quickly that was not the way to go. Go big or go home they say. So I started doing big shows, and developing a mailing list, and later and email list.
Aug. 22, 1992, changed all our lives….before and after Andrew, Hurricane Andrew. I had closed the store About a few months before, realizing not the way to go. Days and months after spent rescuing horses, friends, starting a Disaster brochure, & Planning programs with the state. Had to move away, to get a home and recover.
I threw myself into starting over almost, had some wonderful people work with me. We continued and growing in restoring and painting Carousel Horses and animals, adding antique Rocking horses, Life Size horses, and Kiddie ride horses (because I get board doing the same thing.) Then came the internet, got my first webpage in 1999, after my fathers death, he left me his computer. That opened the world.
We now have our custom painted horses in homes and businesses in the US, Canada, South America, Japan, Europe, Middle East, on cruise ships. Kind of neat to think they may still be around in 100 years or more. The fashion clothing I designed, probably not so.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have been lucky enough to be the generation of women who could have their own businesses.
It was a struggle, getting financing, building a business. But well worth it, emotionally and most fufilling.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Started Drawing horses and carving them in soap as a very young girl … now at 70 plus I still love everyday I am in my studio, turn up my favorite Broadway shows, and paint away.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorites was convincing my parents to take us to a Dude Ranch, to get my fill of horses, and maybe get them to like them and get me one.
Pricing:
- our horses range from $1000. to $15000 and up
- our smaller items are less
- some horses and items can be seen in our booths at the Village Antique Mall in Mount Dora, and the Wildwood Mall in Tavares
- we also specialize in horse art, collectibles and some cloting in the malls. From $15. and up
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carouselworkshop.com
- Instagram: carouselworkshop
- Facebook: carouselworkshop.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=carouselworkshop.com
- Other: pinterest , https://www.pinterest.com/carouseltrader/
