What started as a small side hustle has grown into one of the most popular Etsy online shops.
Amy and Chris Knuckles of Noblesville launched Vintage Adventures, an online wood wall art and home decor business, in 2015. In 2020, she launched a shop on Etsy and the business became a full-time venture. According to Etsy analytics tools, Erank – is in the top 2% of sellers on the platform.
The couple, who have been working out of a garage at 936 Maple Avenue since 2021, created Key to the City for the late pop artist Jimmy Buffett in 2020, and one of their artworks will be featured in the 2022 film Requin. ” Appeared in “.
“(When we started) we both had very stressful (full-time) jobs and we enjoyed going to auctions and making things, so it started out as a hobby for us at first. It was something,” Amy said. “We were just having fun creating things. Never in a million years did I think I'd be doing something like this. I was the director of nursing when this started. I never thought I would end up[running an art business].”
Initially, Knuckles sold vintage furniture from a booth at an antique mall, which eventually became Logan Village Mall. They started making and selling wall art after deciding to create their own wall art in a booth space they felt was too bare. They started selling on his Etsy after Chris lost his full-time IT job as a project manager during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“[Amy]came into the room and said, 'Let's start an Etsy shop, it would be fun,'” Chris said. “I say that all the time, because every time we come here and we're all sweaty and tired and exhausted, I think, 'Let's start an Etsy shop, that would be fun.'”
Although Amy devotes most of her time to the art industry, she still works part-time at a hospital.
In addition to his Etsy shop, Knuckles also has a website where he sells his art.
The Knuckles said his favorite part of his job is traveling, attending festivals, meeting people, and the adventure of it all. They have been invited to attend the Orange Beach Arts Festival in Orange Beach, Alabama on March 9th and 10th, and plan to attend more festivals this year.
“A lot of great things have happened to us over the years,” Amy said. “When we get to a point where we start to doubt it, something really great happens and takes us to the next step and that's when we think, 'Yeah, yeah, maybe this is what we're supposed to do. I don't think so.''
Amy and Chris said owning and operating Vintage Adventures is a highlight of their lives. We both take pride in our work.
“When I look back at my (old full-time) career, I think, 'I did so much and I didn't do (anything).' All I did was give companies more money. It was just to make money or something, right?'' Chris said. “So now, when I look at what we're doing[in the art business]it may sound cheesy, but I feel like I'm leaving some sort of legacy, a part of me still It will remain.”
Knuckles' art method
Vintage Adventures owners Amy and Chris Knuckles use lasers to create wood art. They usually create a digital design and use a CNC machine to laser cut the wooden board into different pieces according to the design.
Amy paints the pieces of wood, and the couple glues and frames the pieces.
Eventually, the couple plans to create prints of their art and sell them at a discount compared to the original work.
To find vintage adventures on Etsy, visit: etsy.com/shop/VintageAdventuresLLC?ref=Shop header name&listing_id=1027666500&from_page=listing.
For more information, visit VintageAdventureshomedecor.com.
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