Recreating Vintage Charm with a Little Ingenuity & Creativity
Text by Hayley Leray | Photo by Jesse Martinez
So you’ve got a creative itch and are looking for a way to throw that talent into a DIY project. Why not funnel that creativity onto the varied knots, cracks and imperfections of recycled wood. If you stroll through any craft or home décor store chances are you’ve eyed up the fun and whimsical wood signs that line the aisles. They may offer warmth to the walls of any home, but wouldn’t it be fun to create a treasured piece of personalized artwork that coordinates nicely with your home décor?
There is something about vintage wood signs that bring back memories of the good ol’ days. Whether it’s a General store, Mercantile or Welcome sign, the originals are hard to find. If you are lucky enough to stumble across one – watching an episode of American Pickers will give you an idea of how expensive they can be to purchase.
Fueled in part by the do-it-yourself movement, and partly by the mere fun of getting together with friends and family, many are taking to the sign painting craze which has been sweeping the boards of Pinterest. Great Falls retailer, Rachael Kerkes, owner of B Creative Design & Décor, says, “With a little ingenuity, some tools, paint, and old wood, you can create your own for a fraction of the price of originals.”
B Creative Design & Décor offers sign workshops that get the creativity flowing. Customers choose from multiple designs, paint colors and techniques while trained experts provide one-on-one help to make sure the desired look is achieved.
“Our signs make wonderful gifts whatever the occasion from weddings, Christmas, anniversaries, or birthdays, or we can custom make designs if you have something specific in mind,” says Kerkes.
The concept is ideal and relatively simple. Workshops are offered Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for individuals, groups or there is even an option to host your own party. They don’t offer walk-ins but they do take reservations. Careful, one swipe of the brush and its instant addiction!
