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I love seeing people doing what they love and using their creativity to make a living. We are so excited for the chance to showcase Salt and Light Designs and their beautiful wood signs on our blog! It was a joy to interview my dear friend and owner, Kait Waggoner. Check our her answers below!
Store Name: Salt and Light Designs
Owner: Kait Waggoner
Product: Hand Crafted Pallet Art
TDC: How did you get started making wood signs?
Kait: We got married in May 2012 and had a DIY rustic wedding. We had tons of extra handmade decor after the wedding so we had the idea to open an etsy shop to sell the excess. It started out with simple wood slice chalkboards and only one wooden sign. Things started to sell, and we were both jobless at the time, so we figured- what the heck, let's get creative. We started by pulling apart pallets and redesigning them. Once we realized what a pain it was, and that pallets contain mold and harsh chemicals that you don't want hanging around your home, we decided to go a different route. We explored options and our first two signs were born, "home is wherever I'm with you" and "all you need is love". They started selling and as sales kept increasing, we realized this turned into our little business. Never in a million years did we think we would be doing this, but we love it and we are so humbled by all of the awesome customers.
Kait: First, Chris collects the wood and measures, cuts, and cleans it up. Anything with serious imperfections or big cracks will get scrapped. After this, we put the wood through a natural staining and aging process to give it the rustic feel. I put everything together and bring it up to the office for painting!
TDC: Which sign in your store is your personal favorite?
Kait: I really love the colorful "let your light shine" sign. It still has that wooden/rustic/vintage feel but incorporates fun color at the same time.
TDC: What is your favorite part of the job?
Kait: I love my job. God is really so wonderful to give me the opportunity to do what I love, which is work with my hands and be creative. Honestly, my FAVORITE part of the job would have to be the fact that I get to meet all of these people from all over the world. Without etsy, I would never come in contact with any of these awesome people. Etsy is pretty amazing.
TDC: We know you recently had a baby, so the shop just re-opened. (Congrats on baby Noah; he is beautiful!) Are there some new products we can be on the look out for?
Kait: Thank you! Yes! I really am excited about re-opening. There are lots of new signs, and I'm super excited. I've been using some new materials, which has been fun. It's really great to have this time to create some new things since I've been making a lot of the same things over the past year. Hopefully the new items are as loved as the other signs. :)
TDC: What is your favorite Etsy shop to visit?
Kait: I love Katie Daisy's work at The Wheatfield. I have some of her art in my office and if I had more wall space I would have more!
TDC: You make all of your products in Charleston, SC. What is your favorite activity to do there?
Kait: Charleston is awesome. As a northern transplant, I really love it down here. The weather is beautiful so I pretty much enjoy anything outdoors. The beach, parks, scenic walks, all of that is fun. :)
Kait, thank you so much for your time! We love your shop and your beautiful craftsmanship!
Visit the store here and like SaltAndLightDesigns on Facebook to check out more images of their products and updates on the store!
All photos courtesy of Salt And Light Designs.
