When Shannon Schlosser was in her twenties, she decided to surprise her mother by transforming their garden. While she was away, Shannon redesigned the space and brought new life to the garden. When her mother returned to their Mill Creek home, the reaction stayed with her. “I remember her coming home and I think that was the first time I realized how hard beauty can hit a person,” Shannon said. In that moment, she saw how beauty, whether through flowers, thoughtful spaces, or simple care, can change how people feel in their own homes, planting the seed for a lifelong passion.

Shannon’s mother, Patricia Brady, has always been a source of graceful guidance, encouraging her to be cautious and value stability. These lessons shaped her more than two-decade long career in telecommunications. While the job offered security, it also placed Shannon in a setting she loved most, people’s homes. “I’ve always, thanks to my mother, been interested in how homes function and how they feel,” said Shannon. When homeowners asked for advice on furniture placement or wall colors, those moments stood out. They combined what she enjoyed most, design and conversation within the structure of a steady career. That stability, however, came to an abrupt end when she was laid off, leaving Shannon at a crossroads.

Her mother’s mantra Shannon remembers, was to “miss nothing and appreciate everything.” This value quietly shaped how she approached design. “My mom just has such an amazing eye for beauty and for balance,” Shannon said. It became a shared language between them, expressed through everyday moments. “My mom and I would discuss the merits of hanging a picture here or there, occasionally fighting over throw pillows,” she added with a laugh. For both women, a home was more than a place to live, it was a canvas for expression. So when Shannon found herself at a crossroads later in life, it was her mother, once the voice of caution, who encouraged her to take a leap of faith. In pursuing her passion for design and human connection, the idea of opening a small home goods boutique began to feel less like a risk and more like the natural next chapter.

In spring of 2025, Shannon was walking toward the Everett Farmers Market and noticed a building for lease. Built in 1906, the space immediately stood out. “It was loaded with charm,” she said, pointing to its tall ceilings, large windows, and exposed brick wall. Once the space was secured, the reality of owning a small business set in. She had never done this before and had to learn as she went, assembling each piece step by step. “How do you eat an elephant?” she asked herself. “One bite at a time. You just get after it.” With that mindset, Shannon spent the following months navigating permits, planning, and logistics, slowly turning possibility into something real.

By fall, that work culminated in the opening of Moss + Marigold. For Shannon, the shop reflects a long held belief that homes are not static, but constantly evolving. She often returns to plants as a starting point. “One of the best ways to do that is with smaller items, not the least of which are plants,” she said. Long before opening the boutique, plants and flowers had shaped how she understood the emotional impact of design. As she often reminds visitors, “Our homes are always changing. Whether it’s because of the people in them, the seasons, or what we’re cooking. It’s always fluid.”

In the months since opening, Shannon has been met with an outpouring of encouragement from the community. “The welcome that I have gotten not just from the city, but also from the residents and from people coming in, makes me want to cry,” she said. “It’s been beyond my expectations. I could not have dreamed of having more support or having more enthusiasm.” Many visitors return not just to see what’s new in the shop, but to ask for her thoughts on their own spaces and projects. For Shannon, this early momentum reflects a definition of success rooted less in sales and more in connection. “I want people to feel like they have a friend in the design business,” she said.

As she looks ahead, community remains at the center of her work. Ideas like outdoor gardening, design workshops, and in-home consultations create additional opportunities for connection. For her, building a business has never been just about objects, but about how people feel in the places they inhabit. Beauty may exist in the material world, but Shannon believes it is most powerfully felt in the space between people, where care, attention, and community take root.