“We can make it ourselves,” was the motto in the Dragar household in Pittsburgh PA when Marlene   Dragar Whiting was growing up. Her mother taught her to sew, knit and crochet, and, assuming that anyone could accomplish intricate handwork, Marlene studied organic chemistry and English in college.

It was only after marrying Air Force pilot Truman C. Whiting Jr. and finding herself coping with frequent moves and separations that Marlene became hooked on Tole Painting. To afford classes, she designed appliquéd infant quilts, seat covers, burp cloths and bibs in Phoenix AZ. Marlene designed & sold gingerbread houses and kits and made and sold macramé to support her painting habit. When the family was transferred to Yorktown VA, the humidity foiled her oil painting.

Marlene invested $50 in acrylics and brushes to paint Tru’s wooden cutouts of cows, ducks and hearts. Miniature buildings soon followed and Brandywine was born.

“I’ve always been fascinated with Americana, the shops and businesses and homes that small towns   have in common,” Marlene says. “From childhood I remember how the shops were operated by friends and family, people I knew for years. These   memories stay with you forever, and they're the   ones I incorporate into our buildings.”

In recent years, Marlene’s creativity has expanded Brandywine’s offerings with new products: House signs, Door Toppers, Hearts and more. The Whiting’s Military experience is reflected in our “Home is Where...” line, and in many other patriotic items.

Twenty-six years later, Marlene is still going strong. She’s still got legal pads full of ideas she hasn’t gotten around to developing yet, and she still loves what she does: “I guess we could retire, but I don’t know what on earth we’d do with ourselves!”