Diane Hunt Willett
Ross Township, PA
"Painting furniture is something I just stumbled upon after retiring from the Post Office about 4 years ago. Recently divorced and kids grown, I needed a hobby. I discovered Facebook and happened to see a furniture painting video one day. I was hooked! I couldn't get enough of them. I watched video after video. It just amazed me how an old, worn out piece of furniture could look so different when finished. The "Before" and "Afters" were unbelievable! Now I combine my love for going to estate sales with my new found hobby and the rest is history!"
Michelle Felmlee
Franklin, PA
"I have always had a good eye for design and manage a clothing and accessory boutique, which plays into my creative side. In 2015, I decided to really use my spare time developing and practicing my artistic energies.
I began M&M Embellishments, starting with small art pieces and gradually redirecting my focus to creating art on furniture. I refurbish a piece {be it Antique or just a discarded table} using stain as the medium into a one~of~a~kind piece of art. Using a technique, which I call stain shading or stain “painting”, the image/ design is highlighted with great depth and dimension. In addition to my stained art on furniture, I also refurbish pieces with creative finishes using quality paints, waxes, stains and glazes. I hope that my furniture will be enjoyed for generations to come.
I also create a variety of smaller art pieces, custom signs, and perpetual tile calendars. I find gratification in repurposing items, such as my industrial lighting pieces. I am always learning and trying new things as this adventure unfolds!"
www.facebook.com/mmembellishments
Laura Kleber
Valencia, PA
"As a former teacher, I knew when I had children, I wanted to be able to stay home with them as long as possible. After the birth of my first child in 2004, that meant I had to find ways to save money and get creative! Then, my second two children came along, and I found myself elbow deep in craft projects and all things D-I-Y. Eventually, I inherited two reclining tufted chairs and decided, after many hours watching YouTube videos while waiting for my daughter at the dance studio, to try re-covering them myself. The next thing I knew, I had people asking me to do big projects for them and, since I also enjoyed organizing, making wreaths and wooden signs, and making older furniture look beautiful again, a business was born in 2013 and it seemed only fitting to name it MY HOME MATTERS. Now, all three of my children are in school all day, and I am on a mission to balance doing honest, quality work with remaining involved with my children’s schools and activities while they are still young enough to want me there!
My favorite products to use are Annie Sloan ChalkpaintTM and General Finishes Gel Stains. I love a variety of styles which keeps things interesting for me when I create. I feel truly blessed to have found something I absolutely love that has turned into a business of which I am very proud!
*For more information regarding myself and how I can redesign, organize and bring back to life any area of your home, please call me at (724) 991-2202. Thank You and have a wonderful day!"
https://www.facebook.com/myhomematters.kleber/
myhomematters.kleber@gmail.com
Beth Altman
Murrysville, PA
"I have always enjoyed decorating and design, and discovered painting furniture out of a personal need - when I desperately wanted to refinish my rattan sunroom furniture! I discovered Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and I then started painting and transforming multiple pieces for my home, from candlesticks and frames to larger pieces of furniture. I then left my full-time career to focus on two things: spending more time with my first grandchild and allowing myself to focus on my creativity through painting - and I've never looked back.
I decided to take the leap in the end of 2015 and started my own furniture painting business. My theory is that many of us have 'treasures' in our home that are in desperate need of some love and attention - some have been in the basement or garage due to our emotional connection, but they aren't suited for the inside of our homes. Maybe it's an old table that belonged to a grandparent, a beautiful stool that you always loved that belonged to your mother when you were a child, an old mirror that has an outdated finish.....I think many of us can relate!
So, Treasured Accents by Beth was born. I lovingly restore your 'treasure' to match your personal style - I want you to display these old quality pieces in your home, and can help bring your vision to life! I also love hunting for new treasures, and frequent estate sales and flea markets in an effort to find unique, detailed pieces which I transform using paint and/or stain and sell to the public. From classic, mid-century modern, clean lines to shabby-chic, distressed and aged pieces - my goal is to create unique conversation pieces for your home!
I reside in Murrysville, PA with my husband, Pete. We have two grown children, and two grandchildren (and #3 on the way!) "
Https://facebook.com/TreasuredAccentsByB
Treasuredaccentsbybeth@gmail.com
Lee Ann Heydt
Harrison City, PA
"My creative side emerged 20+ years ago after I married and had my own home. I began dabbling in interior design, completely restyling my home as well as those of my family and friends. Limited in time, I stuck with that but had interest in possibly restoring furniture. After my son left home for college I found that I had an abundance of free time. That is when I purchased my first piece of used furniture. It was an old buffet that was in rough shape. Upon inspection, I discovered that with a lot of time and love, this piece could be beautiful again. The wood was sanded and painted, the top was stripped and stained and new hardware was added. When the piece was finished I just stood there staring at it and could hardly believe the transformation. I put it up for sale and shortly thereafter it sold.
That was the summer of 2015, and this one piece of furniture forever changed my life. I have completed and sold or gifted over 30 pieces of beautifully restyled furniture since then.
In January 2017 I decided to take my passion one step further and began Simply Divine, my hobby, turned passion, turned profession. I am continually challenging myself by learning new techniques to be able to create unique, one-of-a-kind items. I have also began doing commission pieces for those who are seeking that special, personalized piece."
https://m.facebook.com/simplydivineytr/
Holly Beers
Cambridge Springs, PA
"I grew up around antiques, amazing high quality antiques, the kind you looked at but never were allowed to touch, if you did why it was time to hide from the wooden spoon! We went to auctions, antique shows, junk stores, you name it! I would hide my teenage face while my father pulled out his jewelers loupe to examine some piece of trash; ugh the humiliation!
FFW a "few" years. We lose our home and everything to fire....after that finances were rough, really-really rough. So in effort to make ends meet and not have to get another job away from the kids I decided to try my hand at refinishing a $10 antique dresser. Well that dresser was the beginning of a whole new life for me. I started scouring every ad, store, Craigslist posting for cheap dressers. Then I found one for $15 ahh perfect price! There I found a little piece of heaven TONS of dressers!!!! Reasonable dressers! And over the years we became friends, now he is the love of my life, we go to antique shops, auctions, consignment stores, junk shops, you name it!!! And yes he carries a jewelers loupe in his pocket! So that is the story of my humble beginnings. My life has come full circle but my furniture can be touched.
So that is how I started my little "hobby" that now encompasses my entire basement, garage, and half my living space. My style is a little rustic, quirky, glam-nature. I truly love redoing furniture it's definitely my passion but in light of finances I still work full time as a pediatric RN and do furniture in my spare time!"
Gwyneth Miller
Oakmont, PA
I’ve always loved creating art, no matter what form it may be in. After high school, I chose to be an Art teacher. I’ve taught for many years, in those years, I’ve continued my personal passion in Art, may it be quilting, stain glass, and/or refurbishing antiques. I believe that it was the antiques that sparked something in me to refurbish furniture. I’ve been refurbishing furniture for at least the last 9+ years — going more whole-heartily the last 4 years. I’m still teaching, but am finding that I really enjoy the furniture side of it more and more! I’ve saved or resurrected many questionable pieces, probably majority being fire starters instead of furniture! I can see the possibility and uniqueness in old furniture and know that I’m able to bring out the beautiful detail that the old pieces have.
Joleen Betancourt-Vongray
Beaver, PA
"My name is Joleen Vongray and I'm a stay at home mom with a background in nursing. I live in Beaver, PA with my wonderful husband and two children. I became involved in refinishing furniture two years ago when I took my first chalk painting class with my neighbor. I instantly fell in love with refinishing furniture; and since haven't put my paint brush down! I've always had an artistic side in me; and I feel it is my passion to find vintage and unique pieces to look more trendy.
Each piece is inspired by my love of color and interior decorating. I like to think that I have an eye for color and I can spot the potential of each piece when I first see it. I love taking pieces from the past and transforming them into treasures of today. My facebook page is called Modernly Old Fashioned."
https://www.facebook.com/joleenvongray/
Jelena Turcinovic Cvetkovic
Upper Saint Clair, PA
"Two years ago, a friend of mine told me about Annie Sloan paints and she explained "no prep and quick drying times". Next day, I checked online and discovered different palettes of color - I fell in love. I first tried to paint some of my own furniture, as I wanted to introduce new color schemes to my house. I like different and unique designs. I am a stay at home Mom, and within this past year I had more time to explore different activities. I found FFFP (Flipping Furniture For Profit) and started following and learning. That's how "Crazy Brush Design" was born!!! "
Jelena's Facebook Page is Crazy Brush Design
Denise Conrad Bowen
North Huntingdon, PA
"Art has captivated me from childhood, whether studying or applying it, both for hobby and business. Recently, I launched Junque Genius Studio & Marketplace, where I upcycle and refinish furniture and auction finds, conduct paint classes for fundraisers and work with Interior Design firms who request decorative artistry projects for their clients. Currently I’m a decorative finisher of furniture, walls and cabinetry.
Years ago, we were called “faux painters” and worked with a sea sponge, latex paint and handful of homemade tools. Now I work with paints of all kinds, stains, shimmering plasters, metallics, micas and more fancy tools than fit in my van! I’m blessed to have been able to return to a field, where all walks of artists from Crafters to Masters make something beautiful every day.
Over the years I’ve been actively engaged as an Account Executive in the Gift and Home Décor Industry, where Artists license their work to manufacturers, producing everything from mugs to rugs. It’s been exciting to help take product to market and set merchandising plans as a visual staging expert. Retail is my world and I’ve truly seen it from all angles. I believe this valuable experience has provided me with a unique perspective on being creative and effectively marketing my work. What I’m most grateful for is to be able to apply my college and continuing education, always in a creative way and with laser focus on keeping my skills sharp and on-trend. I’m excited to be a part of The Artisans Styled Home site and hope to intrigue you with beautiful furniture finishes. Be inspired!"
https://www.facebook.com/junquegenius/
Ruth Miller
Bedford, PA
"I love doing projects. Just ask my husband! I get a lot of satisfaction out of waking up early and putting in a hard days work. I've been refinishing my own furniture for over 30 years as part of a staggering number of personal home projects. As a mother of four kids (all grown now), I needed a way to keep my home looking fresh on a serious budget. Plus, did I mention I love projects? I remember trying out my first "crackle" technique on a china cupboard over 20 years ago.
Of course back then, refinishing furniture was just a way for me to be creative and have fun with my own belongings. But, after being a nurse for 20 years, I decided I needed a change. I officially started "Sweet Baby Jane's" five years ago to paint furniture and repurpose items for the home. I love picking, painting, and seeing the end result. The feeling I get when I've completely transformed a piece, fuels me to start another one. And every project is so different that I could never get bored. I enjoy the creative process of trying to envision what a piece can be when it's finished and seeing what I can do with my own two hands. Of course, life isn't all about work. I love spending time with my five beautiful grandkids. And my favorite place away from home is the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where I'm more than happy to park my butt in the sand for a week every year."
https://www.facebook.com/sweetbabyjaneshomedecor/
Karen Willoughby Wappler
Zelienople, PA
"Facing my empty nest years as a young widow with time on my hands and no idea what I wanted to do, I was forced to “repurpose” myself. It all started with the desire to change my surroundings. After painting every wall in my house in a new color scheme I started on the decor. My first project with chalk paint, was painting and distressing all of my gallery wall picture frames to go with the new colors. I enjoyed that so much I moved onto my bedroom furniture, kitchen cabinets, a trunk, side table and hutch my gramma bought me in 1986 as a house warming gift. Once I had my own furniture done I started combining my love of yard sale-ing with repurposing and refinishing my finds and giving them away to family or friends.
I joined The Artisan-Styled Home of Western Pa to get public exposure for my work and to cross over from a hobby to a business. The name I picked for my budding business is Shabby with a Shimmer, twice loved furnishings. Most of my pieces have a metallic component, reminding me that no matter how shabby things are, look for the shimmer and make it shine and just like my pieces I have created a new life and love."