We’re looking forward to introducing you to Angela Mabe. Check out our conversation below.
Angela, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
People often assume our business is only about selling furniture. But the heart of March Legend is really about connection. Every piece we build carries our family’s story, but it also becomes part of someone else’s story—family dinners, holiday celebrations, quiet mornings with coffee. We also give back to our community through the Stokes Arts Council and our local makers’ group, because we believe that handmade work has a way of bringing people together. Furniture just happens to be our medium.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Angela, and my journey as a furniture maker really began in 2005 when I married my husband, Mark. I like to say I didn’t just marry the man—I married the craft, too. Together, we started what became March Legend Furniture, building heirloom-quality pieces on our family farm in Danbury, North Carolina.
What makes our work special is that it’s rooted in both craftsmanship and lifestyle. Every piece is built by hand using traditional joinery and eco-friendly finishes, but our story goes beyond the shop. Life on the farm inspires so much of what we do—from gardening through the seasons, to making jelly from the wild muscadines that grow on our land, to even experimenting with ginger and turmeric. That connection to the land fuels the way we create furniture meant to last for generations.
Recently, we’ve also expanded our offerings with the Forest Luxe collection, a line that showcases the natural beauty of wood with a more modern, refined touch. At its heart, though, March Legend has always been about connection—our family’s story blending with the families who welcome our pieces into their homes. That’s what keeps me passionate: building something that matters, something lasting.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a kid, I thought everything had to be perfect before I could share it with the world—whether it was a school project, an idea, or even just myself. I don’t believe that anymore. Over the years, I’ve learned that life, like woodworking, is all about process. The knots, the grain, the imperfections—those are the things that give a piece its character. And I think people are the same way. It’s the flaws and the lessons that make us authentic and beautiful.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
When our shops caught on fire, I thought it was the end of everything we had built. In that moment, it felt like failure in the biggest sense—you pour your whole heart into something, and suddenly it’s gone. But what I learned is that failure doesn’t mean it’s over; sometimes it’s the beginning of a new chapter. That fire forced us to rethink, rebuild, and refocus on what mattered most. I changed my mind about the idea that setbacks define you. They don’t—they refine you. Out of the ashes, we built something stronger, and I carry that lesson with me in both business and life.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
Fads are loud and flashy—they’re like that one-hit wonder song you danced to in high school but would never admit to now. Foundational shifts are quieter, but they endure because they truly matter. In our world, shiplap might come and go, but mortise-and-tenon joinery is forever.
At March Legend, we’ve learned to ask: Will this still matter in 20 years? If not, it’s just noise. If yes, then it deserves a place in our work. That’s how we keep building pieces that outlast trends and end up being part of someone’s family legacy, rather than the next yard-sale find.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I built more than a business—I built a life full of meaning. Mark is the one who brings the furniture to life in the shop, and my son and I handle the finishing, but I also run the day-to-day operations and dream up the vision that keeps us moving forward. In a way, we all build—Mark with his hands, my son and I with the finishes, and me with the story and the heart that ties it all together.
When I’m gone, I’d love for people to look at one of our pieces and say, ‘This didn’t just come from a workshop—it came from a family.’ And beyond the furniture, I hope they remember me for pouring into people, for building connections, for making things—whether it was a table, a tradition, or even just a laugh—that truly lasted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marchlegend.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marchlegendhome/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marchlegendhome
Image Credits
I am the photographer/creator.
