I am what you might call a self-made artist, and I have always owned my own business. For many years, I was in construction and when my company began to fall on some hard times I began looking for other things to do. It was during this time that I began the art of taking furniture that had long been forgotten and bringing new life into it. My first project was a beat up chair that I purchased for twenty dollars. It was in pretty bad shape, but I loved the design of the chair and the “bones'' of it were good. I took the chair to a friend’s workshop, and I began watching videos and reading books on upholstery. Once I finished the chair, I found that I was getting compliments from not only my friends, but from complete strangers. That encouragement gave me what I needed to experiment with other pieces of furniture.
As I began to develop my style and skills, I found an upholsterer who was willing to let me apprentice. I love “the hunt” of finding just the right piece of furniture to fix up, and I also enjoy spending my time in the fabric store going over different materials and patterns. Restoring and renewing furniture is more than just a business for me, it’s my calling. Now I’m back to being a business owne,r and have built a business from my gifts and passion. I’ve always said “I don’t do furniture for a living, I do furniture because it kept me living”.
What Does Black History Month Mean To You This Year?
Last year, the pandemic had me reading everything about being Black. So this year my biggest commitment to this month was to share information in a fun and creative way. 28 days, 28 different pillows all black and white, 28 different historical Black facts. Some deep and some fun. Our history isn’t all about struggle. Black people are so creative, and after 45 presidents we’re still here creating and growing. This year I’m celebrating Black Americans and celebrating my Black friends winning.
What Is The First Creative Thing You Are Going To Do Post Pandemic?
It’s time to develop my own furniture collection. For 2 years I've been sitting on some designs for a mass production line of furniture. I’ve researched too much, we don’t know what tomorrow will hold so it’s time to take the next big step.
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