Building Connections Through Creativity: The Business of DIY Workshops with Lynette Stewart

What happens when a military spouse of 27 years finally plants roots and brings her creative passion to a new community? Lynette Stewart's journey with Board Brush Creative Studios reveals the challenges and triumphs of building a business focused on creativity, connection, and handcrafted wooden treasures.

After relocating 14 times throughout her husband's military career, Lynette found herself in Asheville, seeking a business that would provide both personal fulfillment and community engagement. Opening in 2021 as people emerged from pandemic isolation, Board Brush offered exactly what many craved—a space to gather, create, and connect. Unlike traditional paint-and-sip experiences, Board Brush workshops guide participants through creating personalized wood projects from signs and porch leaners to functional items like coat racks and clocks.

The conversation dives deep into entrepreneurial insights that resonate far beyond the world of DIY workshops. Lynette candidly shares how she balances family caregiving responsibilities with business ownership, the challenge of building community connections as a newcomer, and the unexpected difficulty of managing social media marketing authentically. Her practical approach to staffing—requiring all employees to experience a workshop as customers first—demonstrates how empathy drives customer service excellence.

Perhaps most valuable is Lynette's honesty about the emotional reality of entrepreneurship: "Nobody really said you're going to have sleepless nights," she admits, describing the constant mental engagement that comes with business ownership. Yet the rewards are equally powerful, creating a space where solo visitors form friendships and groups strengthen bonds through shared creativity.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a creative soul seeking community, or simply curious about the intersection of art and business, this conversation offers practical wisdom and heartfelt inspiration. Discover how wood, creativity, and determination combine to build not just beautiful objects, but meaningful connections in a post-pandemic world still hungry for authentic community.

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Bill

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All the best!

Bill