Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve & Joyce Baker. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Steve has enjoyed creating art since he was young. He painted several murals and some backdrops for productions as a young adult. Joyce has always had a great eye for design, a love of history and all things old. As our children were growing up, these skills and interests were put into practice by teaching the children or helping put together props for their school events.
Once we were empty nesters, we began to pursue our interests more out of fun and the love of creating. We’d scour junk stores, thrift stores, and antique shops for beautiful pieces of the past to update &/or create a new functional item. To date, Joyce’s favorite items created are a table lamp from an 1880s hay trolley, a console table from a c.1900s painter’s scaffold, and ink drawing on roof tins.
Our hobby grew and we began to move from special orders to market days around the Hill Country. About five years ago, we moved our hobby into a brick & mortar. We currently have space in The Sanctuary in Boerne on “The Magnificent Mile”.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
During the first couple of years when we were participating in a lot of markets, it was definitely a learning curve as to what types of markets were best for the unique reclaimed/upcycled pieces we create. We had some pretty fruitless markets and a few that were a success for us. Lula Bell’s market, which ran concurrent with Magnolia Silobration, in Waco was very good for us. Not only were the crowds good, but the shoppers were very interested in unique, quality handcrafted items.
The pandemic was a challenging time as we had just transitioned into a brick and mortar along with a select few markets. Of course, all of that was shut down for a time.
Our most challenging time came last year in 2021. Joyce was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Steve teaches full-time and is also the primary caregiver. For several months Joyce was unable to work at the shop, freshen and rearrange the shop regularly, go on the hunt for treasures, and help create items for the shop. We managed to keep it all going together as Steve did the physical work and Joyce would help with the creative end as she was able. We would go to the shop and Joyce would sit and direct arranging the furnishings and art as Steve did the physical labor. It worked the same in the workshop as pieces were created. We are so thankful that Joyce is now cancer free and recovering from all the treatment enough to be more active in our work again.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Steve is the artist and the craftsman behind our work and Joyce has the creative and critical eye for making the projects. We specialize in taking vintage / architectural pieces and turning them into creative furniture or home decor. We are known for creative lamps, original art, and furniture & decor pieces such as standing desks, benches, hall trees, & fireplace mantles with surrounds created from reclaimed architectural pieces. Our son is also an artist and creates pieces for our shop and commissioned pieces. He specializes in pen & ink Texas map drawings and Texas flag skylines. We are most proud of our teamwork that brings it all together. If anything sets us apart, it is our desire to produce high-quality merchandise as well as unique design full of love of creating and of history.
What makes you happy?
The thrill is in the hunt for antique & architectural salvage pieces to rescue and give new life & purpose. The enjoyment comes from creating together and with our son. What makes us happy is seeing our work go to someone who loves and appreciates the history and uniqueness of our creations.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: oak.bend
- Facebook: @OakBendVintage
