THE BUSINESS of BLISS
“I feel very lucky to be able to share this craft with such an amazing community of interested ladies and men.”
MARIANA BARRAN DE GOODALL
HIBISCUS LINENS Houston, Texas
Embroidery artist Mariana Barran de Goodall describes Hibiscus Linens in Midtown Houston as “50 percent shop, 50 percent work in progress, 100 percent me.” And that’s a marvelous thing, because the space brims with creativity, from a collection of painted tole trays on the wall to a table replete with assorted fabrics and skeins of colorful thread—much of it in her beloved hues of blue. “I am a very visual person,” she explains, “so the table is always a cluster of things we are working on at the moment.”
Born into a creative family in Monterrey, Mexico, Mariana was introduced to sewing at a young age, when she helped repair tutus for the performing arts school her mother owned. From her father, she gleaned an appreciation for beauty and details, and considering the artistic path she’s following, it’s clear she has taken the lessons of both parents to heart. She started Hibiscus Linens four years ago as a way to share her love of embroidery, as well as her hand-embellished products featuring this ornamental stitchery.
The company name hearkens to her childhood, when her mother served hibiscus tea whenever they had guests. Since the first items Mariana offered for sale were cocktail napkins and hand towels, the entertaining connection just clicked.
