A Maryland artist has found a way to repurpose old wood to make functional, artistic pieces for an at-home business, according to Broadneck.patch.com.
Six months ago, Hilary Joyce started Vintage Chic Creations and she has already developed a huge local and online client base. She sells many of her creations at Etsy.com.
She takes old wood dressers and spruces them up, painting stripe patterns and interesting color schemes. She makes large rustic wood signs with motivational and celebratory phrases. One of her most popular items is a dress-up closet, a miniature closet for children complete with a rack for clothes, where parents can display their kids' outfits in a fun way.
Joyce said as soon as she posted a photo of the closet, she had dozens of requests for it.
"Why throw out perfectly good wood when there's still a way to use it?" Joyce said.
In her home in Cape St. Claire where she works, she has refinished every piece of furniture. She said it takes long hours and determination, for she is her only employee. It is because of her new daughter that she decided to start a business from home.
Joyce is open to the possibility of creating anything when it comes to reclaimed furniture.
"If you think of it, I can make it," she told Mlive.com. "It doesn't matter what I'm making so long as I'm creating something. It's stress relieving."