Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Amos.
Christina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I remember telling a friend in my first year of college that I wanted to be a painter. I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant at the time, I just knew that I loved to use paint to bring ordinary objects and spaces to life. My mom was so gracious with me in high school and let me sponge paint my bedroom walls, twice! (It was a popular look in the 90s!) She let me paint an ocean of fish in the bathroom and even let me paint a green geometric wall in the living room (all of these she has since repainted and I don’t blame her!).
Over the years since college, I worked various jobs which I enjoyed, but none of them evoked my true creativity. I’d always known, even as a little girl going door to door selling whatever creation I had come up with that week, that someday I was going to be my own boss doing something I loved. Fast forward to 2015, when I decided to take an intro to chalk paint class at a local paint supply shop. That one little class opened doors, I never knew were possible. I started reading blogs, watching YouTube videos and following other painters to learn everything I could about painting and restoring old furniture. I was thrifting for furniture at our local shops so much that they started to know me by name. I couldn’t believe my work was selling and then calls for custom work started coming in. I eventually quit my day job to focus on my furniture business. It’s the most amazing feeling to go to bed a night and know I get to wake up and just paint!
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?
I don’t know if the road to entrepreneurship is ever smooth. The biggest obstacle is overcoming fear and the way to do overcome fear is to confront it head-on. You have to stop worrying and just go for it. The hard work makes it all worth it and you’ll succeed as long as you never, ever give up. Another thing you have to overcome is enduring through the hard times, like when sales are low or a client isn’t happy despite knowing you did your best. How you treat others and who you surround yourself with will play a huge part in your success. I highly recommend joining groups that have similar interests and values. Find people who will encourage and build you up. Set goals and find others who will hold you accountable for meeting those goals. One aspect that plays an important role in my business is my faith. I did a lot of prayers before I quit my day job. Giving up a stable income for an unstable one takes a giant leap of faith and it’s only because of God’s grace that I’ve made it this far.
We’d love to hear more about Amost Simple Home.
I find vintage and thrifted furniture pieces and restore them using paints and various stains and finishes. When I first started, I was picking up all styles of furniture, but I found that I really gravitated towards the clean lines of mid-century pieces. Although I still sometimes will do a more traditional piece, I’ve found my niche in the mid-century pieces. They are hard to find so I have friends who have eyes out for me. It’s great having a network of people in the same industry who are willing to help each other rather than worry about competition. There are so many good furniture artists out there and everyone has their own style and technique. We learn from each other and I love that. What I like to do with my pieces is try to keep as much of the original piece as I can, but often there is damage such as chipped veneer or deep water stains that can only be covered by paint. My favorite design look is painting the top, sides, and base of a piece white or black and staining the drawers to showcase the original veneer or wood. It’s always a hit!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7199302544
- Email: christina@amostsimplehome.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amostsimplehome/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/amostsimplehome/
Image Credit:
Reneejael.com
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