Meet Amy Boettcher of Something Unique Studios working for Studio Bella For Kids

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Boettcher.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Amy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story with Studio Bella For Kids starts in January of 2016 when my daughter and friends were chatting around our table and mentioned that the owner, Tammy Bardwell, might be looking for help for her creative, innovative, children’s learning studio. My fairly reserved daughter was excitedly insistent that I should contact Tammy ASAP and assured me this was “right up my ally”. I looked up the location and drove by just to see what it was all about. There Tammy was in her driveway happily greeting children and directing them to her backhouse where she taught her camps and classes. She invited me to come back with her explaining that her class was about to start and suggested we could chat while she set up her class and got it started. Instantly I felt at home and jumped in helping the children create their works of art. The time flew by and suddenly the children marched to their parent’s cars with pride, sharing every little detail of their masterpieces that seemed to come to life out of thin air. At that point since we had no real time to talk yet, Tammy asked if I would like to come back the next day as she had another class to teach. I enthusiastically agreed and raced home to share my day’s escapade. When my daughter asked, “How’d it go?” I said, well, I’m not sure…. but I think I may have a JOB!!

I have been so lucky in my life, skipping and tripping from one artful adventure to another over the years and meeting Tammy was no exception.

You see, I had put my art career on hold during my husband’s ALS journey and after his passing I had considered how to revive my 30 year career that started in Peoria, Illinois where I had lived all my life until our diagnosis of ALS in 2011. We moved to Dallas, Texas in March of 2012.

I started my professional folk art career in the late 1980’s by creating a home party plan with original hand painted folk art creations with one of my high school friends as this worked with our schedules, each of us having 3 small children to take care of during the days. This adventure quickly grew and the idea of a retail gift store with space to teach classes was the obvious next step in my view. My friend Claire continued the home party plan business on her own and I grabbed my sister, Suza, (who loves bookwork, highlighters and file folders) and we started Something Unique Studios. Within 9 months we grew to another bigger location. Just when things were humming along smoothly, I won the attention of the owner of a publishing company for craft books, who just happened to also own the wholesale distributorship where we purchased many of our supplies.

I was asked to write a book featuring my Halloween designs and as you have probably guessed by now NO is not a word I use very well or often. One book soon led to 3 more and just when I thought things were going to become routine my sister talked me into doing a trade show for Herr’s company that sold craft supplies. Our art was an unexpected and surprising smash hit.

Those darn questions came at us again- “Why don’t you wholesale your jewelry and art?” The fact that we had never even considered this avenue before that moment didn’t slow us down and we were invited to share a vendor booth in the Chicago Gift Show to wholesale our products. As we got swept up in our success it became clear we were going to have to choose- wholesale or retail and with children to watch over (and sometimes put to work) we chose to close our retail store to dedicate our time to wholesale. This change led to licensing my art designs to other vendors and traveling to trade shows to do promotions, all of which I loved.

Times and responsibilities changed and I eventually shifted my focus to coming back to what I originally loved and that was creating one of a kind art instead of just mass production. My gloriously fun, funky, folk art gallery and studio was home to my own variety of eclectic whimsical oddities where people could come to enjoy, buy or be inspired to create their own. I painted in home custom murals and created one of a kind furniture pieces until my husband was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2015 when I stopped painting and became full time caregiver through my husband’s illness. I met Tammy just 3 months after my husband’s passing.

So, now you can understand why when I met a likeminded, creative person like Tammy my spirit soared and there was no option but to jump on board to work with Studio Bella for Kids to reach her ever changing and growing goals.

Since I met Tammy she has grown her business from her back yard to a wonderful location at White Rock United Methodist Church (WRUMC) where we teach classes and camps to hundreds of children as well as having birthday parties and events not only at that location and in private homes but also after school programming, girl scout groups, special events and more.

I absolutely love working with the children creating exciting and challenging curriculum and STEAM projects for all of us to enjoy. I especially love to encourage the youngest creatives, infusing them with curiosity, confidence and lots and lots of nonsense! One popular mantra of mine is: Your project is wonderful but where are all your mistakes? To grow you have to try new things so let’s see if we can make MORE Mistakes to see what will happen! Studio Bella is all about being FEARLESSLY CREATIVE!

This journey with Studio Bella has given me the energy and confidence to dip my paintbrush back into the painting world to go back to creating some of my own original works of art for sale. I have always loved to repurpose and recycle (even before there was a hip term for it) so many of my creations are truly Something Unique.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My journey has been a roller coaster!!! If you are not ready for a wild ride you may want to think twice about jumping on board the art train or starting your own business. To me the adventure and surprising twists and turns are what makes life so interesting and keeps me excited to see what the next challenge and opportunity will be.

My biggest challenge has been moving forward and getting back into life without the support of my husband who encouraged me every step of the way in every crazy endeavor I’ve ever dreamed up… Finding others to fill in that gap has been essential in making steps forward, finding and following my new goals.

I funded my first business by having an art/garage sale to get my start up capitol. My sister and I scrounged every scrap of wood we could find from my husband’s construction sites as he was a master builder of fine homes. More than once we jumped into a flaming burn pile to rescue “that Perfect Treasure” most commonly referred to as scrap wood.

We learned about retail, wholesale and the publishing business as we went along. Inviting others to consign their works to our store and taking a small percentage of their sales had its own risks and rewards.

Staying positive and not cynical learning about the realities of theft was a challenge but we chose to treat all of our customers like friends while pursing ALL thefts like they were stealing food out of our children’s mouths- which they were!

We bargained for damaged merchandise that we then dismantled to recreate into new works of art.  Word of mouth was our advertising as we had no budget for extras. It is ALWAYS the best form of advertising starting out in business in my opinion and experience.

My sister Suza and I both had 3 small children to raise and husbands to adore in the midst of creating and maintaining this everchanging art extravaganza. Many laughable catastrophes and long nights have made for some fun stories over the years. A sense of humor is a MUST in business we have found.

But when you love what you are doing and who you are working with even the most challenging days are good days.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Something Unique Studios is a FUNky whimsical folk art business that specializes in selling one of a kind custom gifts and décor. I hand paint wood and fabric of every kind as well as teach others how to do the same.

I think one of the things I am most proud of is that customers that have become friends still display and brag about works they adopted from me more than 20 years ago. ART does not go out of style with trends. It is a display of passion and a form of communication.

The other wonderful gift I receive is that the next generation has now come to me to paint for their children. The children that enjoyed my murals and paintings now want their own children to share in that experience. I have in some way become part of their family, history and stories. It is such an honor.

I think what sets my art apart from many other artists is that I do not create my custom commissioned works alone. WE DO. My clients share their ideas, feelings and desires and it’s my job to turn their intangible ideas into tangible expressions of their memories and passions.

As a hypnotist (certified in 1991-2011) I believe I have a different viewpoint than most on just how important even one word or thought can be. Shining a light on ideas that maybe overlooked can often bring such a magical amazing surprise and meaning to a work of art.

At the center of every successful society you will always find support for the arts because it is the innovative thinkers that recreate and grow communities when times get tough. We add to the quality in life. Artists are involved in every facet of our society’s development from marketing, to entertainment, to architecture and economic development. How a community represents itself to the public in order to grow and entice others to spend their education or entertainment dollars relies on decision made from the creative community. I feel strongly that every artist should respect that responsibility and give back to the communities that support them.

What were you like growing up?
As a child I was the one who happily pranced around with my head in the clouds, loved to play in the dirt, climb trees and create, create, create. I was/am a tomboy that was/is willing to wear anything that makes me feel happy.

I was always at the tops of the trees and crawling under the bushes and would make my mother crazy because she didn’t want me to LEAVE the house looking dirty if I had to come in to use the restroom. My appearance was not a priority if I was creating, playing or/and having fun. I have not changed in that way.

I have always loved to laugh and rough house.

I was and am in my own little world most the time and the rest of the world is invited in.

I am fascinated by everything and everyone and have no sense of time or direction.

I have always been tenacious when I have a goal- even and perhaps most especially when people tell me something is impossible.

I have never needed to be good at things to enjoy them.

If I love something be it a person or a dime store trinket I will love it fully and passionately for all time.

 I never like/ liked to waste anything. Everything and everyone has value to me which is why I find it hard to discard anything. I am still my 4 year old self which may be why I find it so easy to teach the young kids. I understand them completely as I have had 56 years of experience at being a 4 year old.

Pricing:

• Painting classes and Parties for Adults $25-$150
• Hand painted gifts $10-$250
• Custom furniture can range from $25-$5,000
• Hand painted fabrics, tea towels, clothing, pillows etc, $20-$300
• In home custom murals $100 and up

Contact Info:

• Address: Dallas, TX
• Phone: (309) 635-1551
• Email: susbyme@gmail.com or amyboettcher@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/something_unique_studios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/str/Something+Unique+Studios/keywords_search

Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.