Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Howard.
Teresa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always been a crafter, and I love making things and being creative, When I left a very stressful full-time job a couple of years ago, I went back to what I love. Being creative helped me heal from a bad case of burnout and slowly turned into a business. When I ran out of people of give things to, a friend suggested that I teach other people and that’s how my DIY Creative Workshop business got started.
The night of my first workshop 18 months ago 14 people showed up, and I was scared to death. I learned a lot that first night and now hold 4-5 workshops a month in my home studio. I love inviting people into my home and helping them rediscover their creativity. I have met some amazing people who I now call friends.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been easy. I’m a one-woman show who does all aspects of the business myself. I do all the web design, marketing, bookkeeping, designing, purchasing, wood cutting, sanding, building, etc. It can be overwhelming at times, but I love every aspect of the business, so I have a hard time delegating to anyone else.
Sawdust & Swirls – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business is primarily DIY Workshops where I walk customers (friends) through the process of creating their own one of a kind wood sign or project. I do a lot of custom designs and help each person make something they are proud of. I think what sets me apart from other businesses similar to mine is the small class size, one on one attention, and the ability to do custom designs for people that mean something special to them. I am most proud of being able to hear someone say “Look what I made!” at the end of a workshop and see that they really love their project.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
When a sweet lady who was probably in her ’80s came to a workshop, and when she finished she shouted: “Oh my goodness, I made that!” It was so fun to see her joy.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1709 Crescent Dr. Sherman, TX 75092
- Website: www.sawdustandswirls.com
- Phone: 9038156686
- Email: sawdustandswirls@gmail.com
- Instagram: @sawdustandswirls
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sawdustandswirls
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.
Joannah C.
December 18, 2018 at 1:15 am
I’ve now done 4 of Teresa’s workshops and absolutely love it! What makes her different is that we can choose what we want instead of being told you can only make this size, you can only make this sign. There’s no corporate rules she’s required to follow and her prices are way better than the board painting chains. You can let Teresa create your design and choose from them on the website, or you can make it custom and bring your ideas to life. And it’s not just wood signs, she does many other projects and shares them! It’s so much fun to visit and Teresa is such a welcoming and warm person.