About Us

RUSTIC refers to something that is natural, home made, primitive, simple and plain.  I think about furniture in this way and how the wood seems to come together with picturesque sleek lines (but when you look at the process of making furniture there are so many details about how it comes together, fits together and the craftsmanship that it takes to bring all the parts together).  Now combine this simplicity with a little creativity and that is where Ingenuity comes into play.  INGENUITY refers to creating, transforming, and a sense of resourcefullness, intelligence and brilliance.  By combining the two ideas you take something that is quite simple and beautiful by itself and transform it into something that is brilliant and artistic.  

Every individual has a "process of thought" to create and explore and this is what makes us who we are. There is something awe inspiring about combining the organic beauty of reclaimed wood/lumber adding a touch of creativity with a new finish and making each piece unique.  

My process started when I came across a large quantity of used furniture while searching through online auctions.  My plan was to start with one piece and make it look... for lack of better words... "better."  It turned out that I had a lot to learn, and then the research began. I threw myself into the world of creating and refurbishing furniture (and my over-packed dirty garage can attest to that).  I have had a lot of fun and have great expectations for the next step in the process.  

My dream is to continue building and shaping rustic pieces into ingenious unique creations.  I hope that this website can be a combination of what I have learned and a stepping stone for whomever wishes to start making their own creations.

Vintage Style
Every project is executed with precision and style. Capturing a particular look is important and makes each project unique and special.  Maintaining the vintage or aged look adds to the character of each piece.

Custom Living
Staying true to yourself and your style-of-living is important.  Customizing furniture, painting to exact specifications and custom color combinations really create a unique piece of furniture.  Matching this to your exact liking makes it possible to customize your living space.

Create an Image
What does a piece of furniture or a fixture in a house say about who you are?  If it excites or creates a "warm fuzzy feeling" every time you look at it, then it is that feeling that makes it worth the time and effort.  Ask yourself.... are you staying true to yourself??? It doesn't matter what others say or believe, it's how you feel.  

About ME: I am a creator at heart.  I absolutely love it.  I have always loved art and making "things".  I want to see how they work and why they work, then I transform them into something new and make 'em work for what I want them to.

 My family grew up in the Mountains of Colorado.  My dad, naturally, bought a fixer upper and I think this is where it all began.  I watched him build and create and if I was lucky enough I would get a chance to help.  Once, we had some stuff to gather under the foundation of our house, and being a small child I was able to crawl into the space, complete the task and scurry out. (trust me, no danger was encountered, very safe).  Then I couldn't seem to get enough during high school and college making art projects and attending painting classes.  I would work on a project here and there when I had the time, and I'd always enjoy being busy doing something.  

A couple of years ago, I started making Steam Punk jewelry which was a perfect fit for me.  Watches with all their gears and me trying to figure out each and every tiny piece, taking apart watches and putting them back together artistically for people to wear. 

You can check out my jewelry on my Etsy sight @STEAMandaPUNK by going to the main Etsy sight and typing in the search my store name.  I also have a RusticIngenuity sight which is not quite up on Etsy yet.  ***  

 MY LOYAL COMPANIONS
I have four, yes four, dogs.  They are all chihuahuas.  Their total weight equals to around 23 lbs, if you add up all of their weights, but who's counting. 

KINZIE is the eldest, my favorite (i said it and i meant it!).  She is the old lady of the group and can be pretty bossy.  She is, as my husband calls her, "chub-chub" because she is the heaviest at a total of 7.5 lb.  All she wants to do is eat at least twice a day and more if you let her and sit between your legs to cuddle in.

KORBIN is a shy guy.  He absolutely LOVES to cuddle.  He is happiest when he has an arm to lay his chin upon.  He grew up going to class with me and sat in my lap while I listened to lectures.  

CORONA is our adopted dog and up until recently used to be the youngest in the group.  She has the most energy and we call her a boomerang.  If we put her down she'll be right back to your lap in seconds.  She is the fastest and has been known to run around the lawn singing "I'm a cheetah."

TIKKA is the youngest and newest addition to the family.  She filled the space in my heart after Mingus passed away.  She has topped out at 3 pounds.  She came all the way from Louisiana from BG's Chihuahuas.  She is so full of energy and bugs the older dogs into playing with her.  Her favorite toys are hair ties.    She likes to take them apart and steal them from me.

MINGUS passed away in late 2016 after a tragic accident when he jumped out of a girls arms and died.  He is dearly missed. 

 MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND
Michael or Mikey as I like to call him, is a wonderful man.  He gracefully puts up with my antics of building and creating.  In every space of the house, I have a collapsible table that I can tote around to work on my newest project.  Mike works around these spaces as I move from project to project.  He provides down to earth insight and keeps me grounded.   

Picture explanations:

 THE WHOLE GANG.  Somehow my sister was able to get everyone lined up on the poker table when we lived in MN and she got them all to look at the same time.  AMAZING. 

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 This is one of my favorite pictures of Tikka.  She didn't want to be in her sweater, but it was below zero in MN.  She decided to give up and laid right next to Mikey at the Verizon store.  She is so stinking tiny. 

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 Above: It's always a mad dash for the best seat in the house when we are in the car.  Kinzie found her spot on my shoulders then Tikka snuck up on the other side and wiggled her way in.  These guys are just great. 

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 Little Mingus hanging out with me while I was installing windows at a friends house.  He was under foot so I put him in the bathroom but he kept whining.  He just wanted to be with me, so I put him in the dish drying rack on the counter with a towel so he could be close.  He never moved or made a peep after I put him in there.