Just Open the Jar: A DIY Path to Creating a Life You Love

Sometimes the most powerful transformation starts with the smallest action—and you already have everything you need to begin. From a high-school dropout turned multimillion-dollar entrepreneur, a powerful memoir about creating lasting change without starting from scratch.

Paula Blankenship, founder of Heirloom Traditions paint company and Forbes-dubbed “Queen of Paint,” had an unconventional path to building a business empire, all while navigating many of life’s unexpected turns. Her story is a blueprint for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or convinced they need to tear everything down to start over. As Paula’s life proves, meaningful change doesn’t require a complete life overhaul, unlimited resources, or perfect timing.

Through deeply personal stories spanning decades of entrepreneurial ventures, relationship challenges, and single motherhood, Paula reveals how she built her empire, one small creative step at a time. From mixing paint in her kitchen to help her teenage son adjust to a new city, to creating a revolutionary product that eliminates the need for primers and prep work, her path demonstrates that transformation often begins with the courage to simply start where you are. Paula’s honest and unflinching memoir sheds light on how to:

• Recognize opportunities for change in your current circumstances without waiting for ideal conditions
• Transform creative impulses into sustainable business ventures and personal growth
• Navigate major life transitions while building something meaningful
• Develop confidence to trust your instincts and take calculated risks
• Create lasting impact through small, consistent actions rather than dramatic overhauls

Just Open the Jar is more than a business success story—it’s a nudge for anyone ready to stop waiting for permission and start painting their own masterpiece, one brushstroke at a time.

In 2013, Paula Blankenship found herself in a relatable position: she was in a rut. In her 50s, she was  coming out of a bad marriage and living in a new town as a single mother, taking care of a teenager who seemed to really want to become a redneck. At the time, she worked as a commercial interior designer. Before that, she had owned and operated retail furniture stores in her hometown in Tennessee. Her passion for home interiors, DIY projects, and design culminated into the unique way she got herself unstuck: To keep her son busy after school, Paula started revamping furniture around the house. One small project led to another, and the magic of seeing her impact around her place did the rest. She came up with a paint business to engage her son with something entrepreneurial—then realized that there should be a product that eliminated the need to prep surfaces before painting. Paula’s original invention, the Finish All and All-In-One paint lines, allowed customers to simply wipe off a surface and proceed with painting. Armed with a high-quality product and significant social media savvy, she expanded her business, Heirloom Traditions Paint, which remains one of the very few women-owned companies in the industry and is now worth millions.