Our Story

Modern Burlap began more than 13 years ago because I was making the things I wanted to use with my own son.

I loved simple black and white design, useful pieces for everyday family life, and words that reflected the faith already shaping our home. I made one thing, then another. That became Modern Burlap.

I'm Samantha.

I'm Samantha Lischka, founder of Modern Burlap, wife, mother, adoptee and the person behind many of the ideas you see here. Modern Burlap grew from our family life in Bellville, Texas.

This business has grown alongside our family. Some years had room for a lot of growth. Other years, motherhood and our children's medical needs needed more of me. I learned not to measure a good season only by how much the business produced.

I still think of Modern Burlap as something I get to steward carefully. That means building when it is time to build, slowing down when family needs more of me, telling the truth about what we make, and trying to use the business well.

A little more of my story

My own story began as an adoptee. Faith was not something Modern Burlap introduced into my life. It was already deeply present.

Through hard seasons, I keep returning to what Scripture says about God's character and faithfulness. Those truths have become an anchor for me and continue to shape what I hope Modern Burlap shares with others.

Modern Burlap is one small part of our family's story, and I am grateful for the people it has allowed us to meet, serve, encourage and give alongside.

Why we make what we make

We make our own pieces because the things around a family can be useful and meaningful at the same time.

A swaddle can wrap a newborn and later become nursery art. A doormat can carry words a family wants at the threshold of home. A blanket can become part of bedtime, prayer, photographs and family memory. A small gift can say, I thought of you, when someone does not know what else to say.

We care about usefulness, materials, words, and making things people will actually use, keep and give. Read Why Modern Burlap Is Made This Way for the thinking behind our muslin, black and white designs, organic materials, colors, fabric weights, and mix-and-match wardrobe.

Made to be gifted forward

Some customers have been with Modern Burlap for more than a decade. They bought pieces for their own babies, then came back to give them to sisters, friends, grandchildren, godchildren, neighbors and new parents.

That is one of my favorite parts of this work.

I want to make things that can become part of someone's story and then, sometimes, be gifted into someone else's.

What I hope you find here

Modern Burlap has products to shop, but I also want it to be useful when you need Scripture, prayer, encouragement, a free resource, or a thoughtful place to begin.

Above all, I hope what we share here points people faithfully toward Jesus and helps us love the people in front of us well.

What guides this work

We want to tell the truth, make useful things, care well for people, give generously and make promises we can keep.

We also want to run a healthy business. That lets us serve customers, pay for the work, support our family, meet our obligations and continue giving. Profit is not the whole point of Modern Burlap, but a healthy business makes the work sustainable.

You can learn more about the organizations and needs we support, or submit a request, through Giving Back.

Thank you for being here.

Samantha Lischka
Founder, Modern Burlap