The Woman Behind ‘Southern Beasts’

Positively Inspirational

In this monthly series, local realtor Andrea Schutter Riebeling does a Q & A with local business leaders about what inspires them. This month’s spotlight is on Mary Lou Marks of Southern Beasts in Round Top.

1.) What is your business?

“Southern Beasts” Antiques, Art and Oddities 2.) How did you get started?

Years ago, when I was decorating model homes, I had the opportunity to work with and combine beautiful fabrics for wall coverings and furniture. Later I saw some animals decorated using paper and it led me to the idea of trying my hand at doing this with some of the fantastic fabrics that I owned. It evolved from there as they began to be great sellers at shows in town and around the country. I knew I was on to something great when Dolly Parton bought some pieces at a show in Nashville!

3.) How long have you been in business?

Although many of my business ventures have overlapped at times, I have spent 30 years in the antique business and 25 years as an artist.

4.) Is this a family or Female business?

The business is familyowned. I am the artist who creates the animals and people. My daughter Kellye has recently joined in the fun. She was furloughed from her job as a travel agent during the beginning of Covid, and after a time she and her husband decided to sell their home in Katy and move to Round Top. I began to teach her my process and she has found she has many talents! She has realized that she really loves working for herself. My husband Daniel does the heavy lifting. He’s a fantastic cook and takes good care of us. We all pitch in to make the business work.

5.) What kind of service do you provide?

My beasts have a sense of humor and I strive to make people smile! I also offer workshops from time to time teaching people to decorate one-of-a-kind hats.

6.) Tell me something unique about your business?

Everything about my business is unique. Every piece we create is one of a kind. Our fabrics are vintage, some even going back to the 1800s.

7.) What is your background?

I grew up in Houston and worked for the Debakey family as a bookkeeper. When I was 20 years old, I started a small antique business. I found items at estate sales, antique malls and garage sales to resell at the Common Market in Houston. It was like a treasure hunt and so exciting! From there I opened a store in Meyerland Mall and then Rock a Bye Ranch Antiques where I sold Mexican, Cowboy, and furniture that I painted. I was then discovered by David Marsh Studios and painted furniture for him for ten years. He sold all over the country, mostly in tourist towns. Then it felt like the right time to move to Roundtop which had been my lifelong dream since doing so many of the shows over the years. I actually did the first show at the Rifle Hall 51 years ago. In 2000, we opened Lizzie Lou’s next to Royer’s Café in the old post office building. We were there for 15 years and it was during that time that I began creating the animals in 2012. Now I have a store in Henkel Square in Round Top.

8.) What do you suggest to others who want to venture out and take a leap of action in the future of their career?

This business is a little bit of a gamble. When you create items to sell, you don’t always know how they will be received. Some of my ideas over the years haven’t been as successful, but I never give up. I have reinvented my work life many times in my life, and it has always a leap of faith.

9.) Do you believe in college, trade school, or any training?

I believe everyone has their own path that works for them personally. My training did not come from art school, but simply from a lifelong love for antiques and textiles.

10.) How did you decide to make Round Top your home?

After spending years coming to do the antique show we fell in love with the scenery and the many characters that live in the area. We searched for a home for about four years and luckily found our weekend geta-