Board & Brush Creative Studio opens Saturday at 20 South Main in Downtown Statesboro. Local franchise owners Johnna and Justin Eaton are excited to introduce their new store to our community during their grand opening on Saturday, March 9th from 1-3pm. Gift bags will be given to the first 50 people and attendees can register for a chance to win a sign-making party for six valued at $390. This is your opportunity to get a first look inside the studio, decorated with lots of their signature signs, to get your creative juices flowing, with workshops that begin Saturday evening.
Woodworking techniques combined with the latest home décor trends and custom graphics have made the Board & Brush Creative Studio concept the fastest growing chain of its kind in the country, with more than 200 locations in just four years. Board & Brush offers a wide variety of hands-on experiences including workshops, private parties, bridal showers, bachelorette gatherings, corporate events, and fundraisers. All projects have a flat fee and include everything you need to leave with a piece of art that looks professionally made.
No need to be a master craftsperson. Novices feel right at home at Board & Brush thanks to the instructor-led format of the workshops. During the workshops, attendees are guided through the ins and outs of power tools, paint, art and assembly. In addition, the studio supplies all of the materials. Each workshop lasts approximately three hours and attendees can select from hundreds of design templates, with new ones added each month. The company works with top graphic designers around the country to create the designs, most with a vintage farmhouse look. A workshop is $65 and pre-registration is required at www.boardandbrush.com/statesboro.
Johnna Eaton is a college professor at East Georgia State College, her husband, Justin, is a firefighter, and together they also own a frozen yogurt shop and café in Swainsboro. “We like to keep busy,” said Johnna. She went on to explain that they fell in love with the concept after their own date night at the Board & Brush location in Johns Creek, Ga., owned by a friend. Later they made a return visit with their three children for a family “Make & Take” workshop.
“There is nothing like this in the area, so we thought, what a perfect idea for Statesboro,” said Johnna. “We’re seeing wonderful growth in the community, so the timing is perfect.”
It is worth noting that both Johnna and Justin are also longtime “DIYers”. “My husband was in the military, and we got creative in making our housing feel like home and doing it on a budget,” shared Johnna. “That combined with renovating our own home and refinishing furniture all turned out to be great training for owning a Board & Brush.”
Yet Johnna was quick to mention that even DIY newbies will leave with a lovely piece of art. “It’s really fun to watch customers go from ‘I’m not very artistic’ to ‘I can’t believe I actually made this,’ with the finished product always turning out better than they ever imagined.”
Board & Brush designs that Johnna is expecting to be popular are the coat rack and the new designs playing off that, plus signs with inspirational messages.
The studio is located in a building dating back nearly 100 years. As Johnna explained, the only thing left in the building after the previous tenants moved out was an antique wooden ladder.
“The owner offered to remove it but we told him no because it works perfectly with the Board & Brush décor theme, and now it hangs on a wall in the studio as a reminder to us that this business was meant to be.”
The Eatons appreciate the renaissance they are seeing downtown too with the Blue Mile and Creek project bringing a fun vibe. “We love the downtown atmosphere and my husband really felt this was the right place to be, in the heart of the city.”
The couple plans to support local charities with fundraising workshops and donations, starting with the downtown Relay for Life event next month.
For more on the new studio and to register for a workshop to create your own home décor piece of art log on to www.boardandbrush.com/statesboro
As seen in DeWayne Grice’s Inside Business column in Tuesday’s Statesboro Herald: https://www.statesboroherald.com/local/inside-bulloch-business-board-brush-makes-us-all-artists/
