Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Teague.
Anna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started Blackbird Grove in 2023, but the roots go back much further. I grew up thrifting out of necessity, searching Goodwill racks for the jeans everyone at school was wearing. When I moved out, secondhand finds became the way I built my own style. I taught 5th grade for five years in small Catholic schools, and although I loved my students with my whole heart, low pay and school closures pushed me to leave. I then moved to the corporate tech world, which freed up a lot of my time. I spent Covid decorating and redecorating the house I was stuck in. Before long, I had more antiques than I could possibly keep, and the idea for Blackbird Grove started to form.
I listed pieces on Facebook Marketplace, then found sellers online who made their shops feel like an experience. That pulled me into the Instagram antique world, where people across the country were connecting through live sales. After months of watching, I felt ready to try. I opened my account, applied to antique malls, and landed my first small case at Warson Woods Antique Gallery. From there, it’s been steady growth and I was able to leave my corporate tech job, and be an antique dealer full time. Today, Blackbird Grove is both a shop and a community, a way to share history through objects while connecting with people who love them as much as I do.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but I don’t think I’d want it to be. Running everything on my own has been a huge learning curve. I’ve had to figure out how to build an audience, create a website, source and manage inventory, ship orders, and create content so people can actually find my page. It’s a lot to juggle, and there are plenty of days where it feels like too much.
At the same time, I love learning almost as much as I love antiques, so even the hard parts feel worth it. I’ll take these struggles over the stress I felt in my past careers. Every challenge has pushed me to grow, and it’s rewarding to see the work add up into something real. There are still more (exciting!) hurdles to overcome, next step: figuring out how to bring containers of antiques back from Europe.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Blackbird Grove?
Blackbird Grove is a shop built around antiques, art, and design. I sell 19th-century English and French pieces through my booth at Warson Woods Antique Gallery, my Instagram page, and my website. I also create jewelry and paintings inspired by antique art. That includes grand tour intaglio earrings and small landscape oil paintings. The mix of old and new keeps the shop distinctive.
I believe styling your home is deeply personal. I want to bring pieces into the world that feel unique and storied. Every object I source or make is done so with intention. My goal is for these pieces to live in the homes of people who value them. I am most proud of how the brand has grown into a community, where people return not only for antiques but also for the shared appreciation of history and beauty. I believe art and interiors should move you.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Start small and stay consistent. You do not need a huge budget or a perfect plan to begin. List a few pieces online, learn how to photograph them well, and pay attention to what people respond to.
I wish I had known how much content creation matters. Photos, captions, and video are what connect people to your work. It feels overwhelming at first, but it gets easier with practice. Focus on progress, not perfection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blackbirdgrovevintage.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/blackbirdgrove_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlackbirdGrove_Vintage
