Downingtown Board and Brush is OPEN!

The other night, a friend and I experienced a workshop at Downingtown Board and Brush.  This new store is in the newly rebuilt strip across from Minquas Fire Company in the borough of Downingtown, right near the Downingtown Library and Kerr Park.  A terrific location since it is right off of highway 30- easily accessed from a variety of locations!!!!

To register for a workshop, simply go to their website and select the date you’d like to go.  Unlike the canvas places, EVERY class is a you-pick class!  There are dozens upon dozens of wooden artwork to choose from.  I can’t wait to return and make something for the holidays.  You can make a gift for a new couple or housewarming or baby, indoor or outdoor house decor, photo hanging pieces, holiday pieces, etc.  Seriously, TONS of options!  And regardless of what you choose, it’s always $65.  (Unless they have a special, in which case, follow their Facebook page for announcements.)  This cost includes everything you need to make a complete piece, including the assistance of their staff.

When we arrived, we checked in and then were told which table we were assigned to.  There was a bit of confusion at first, but then all worked out and we were placed at the table with the “veterans”.  These ladies knew the ropes very well!  Each table is also assigned a staff member to assist them.  We were assigned the manager, who was the instructor this evening.  Since my friend and I were the only ones at our table who were totally clueless, we needed help, ha, and sometimes the manager wasn’t available because she was instructing and managing, but the “neighboring” assistants were super helpful, as were the veterans at our table!

Step 1:  We have our wood boards already cut and prepared.  Time for us to distress them!  Using nails, screws, chains, chicken wire, mallets, and hammers we could go to town doing however much or little distressing we wanted.  Due to the noise level with a room of people pounding on wooden boards, there was a canister of ear plugs available.  Brilliant!

Step 2:  Stain the board.  The sample boards all over the storefront lent some inspiration.  I stained my board red but then dry brushed it with black.  This was scary and I definitely made mistakes.  Thankfully, the staff helped me correct it right away.  They truly can fix almost any oops you make, which helped me relax.

Step 3:  Peel the backing off of your custom stencil and stick it to the board.  I had help with this, as I was worried about tearing, and my friend and I struggled a tad with measuring to ensure mine was even.  Let’s blame it on the wine.  Either way, we were helped with that too.

Step 4:  Fill in the stencil with paint color of your choosing.

Step 5:  MISSION COMPLETE!

Downingtown Board and Brush is a BYOB.  Since we went to dinner prior, we didn’t feel we needed to bring more drinks.  However, we were pleasantly surprised that they had some red wine, zinfandel, beer, and water in their mini-fridges there for anyone to enjoy!  Plus the nice ladies at our table brought quite the spread of food and wine and offered it to us several times.  Everyone who was there was super nice!  It was really fun to walk around and look at the completed work that others made.

This would make a great Moms Night Out, Bachelorette Party, date night, or birthday event.  They even book private events!  Hopefully we’ll see you there sometime, I definitely can’t wait to return!

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary class in exchange for my honest experience in a review.  All opinions are my own.  I received no monetary compensation for this post.