We recently connected with Brenda Reinhard and have shared our conversation below.

Brenda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Ever since I was young, I loved drawing, painting, and just making things by hand; mostly to see if I could do it. When I got my first apartment, I made the decision to make all the decor myself, instead of buying it from the store. I made this decision partly to save money; but if I am being truly honest with myself, I made the decision because I loved the challenge. Trying to figure out how to build a shelf or recreate a painting I liked was fun! I never honed in or mastered one skill, but enjoyed learning new techniques and exploring ways to incorporate them into different projects. And no project was too big for me; once, I went as far as collecting hundreds of bottle caps just to decorate the top of my second-hand coffee table with a St. Louis Cardinals design.
The best part of my creations would be when friends or family complimented me on them and wanted one for themselves. For years, I enjoyed making personalized gifts for my friends and family for the holidays or birthdays because I loved being able to give them something meaningful and special. Whether it was a growth chart for a baby shower gift, nursery name signs for friends having babies, or lyric signs for weddings/anniversaries – the happiness I felt when the recipients opened their gifts was second-to-none.
Many of the gifts I made would be put on social media, which led to more requests for custom pieces. Very quickly, my “hobby” became a “side gig” and was all I ever wanted to do when I got home. Despite already having a full-time job, I always found myself getting excited to come home after a long day to make a personalized gift for a friend, family member, or a logo sign for a small business. No matter how tired I am, I always make finishing a project my top priority because I love seeing my clients smile and loving their sign or gift – it really is the absolute best feeling. Despite the quick success and many requests for projects, it wasn’t until I was in my 30s that I finally decided to pursue this passion professionally. Having my own business is amazing and although it takes
up a lot of my free time, it’s worth it. At the moment, I plan to keep my full-time job since it is what I went to school for and is my dream career; but one day, I hope to be able to turn my business of making people happy through my handcrafted and personalized items/signs into my only job.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am, and always will be, just a small town girl from Iowa who just wants to try everything. The best way I could describe myself is through the famous phrase, “Jack of all trades, master of none”. Although some may view this saying as a negative, I think it is one of the best compliments I could be given.
My parents put me in every activity they could think of – I was in dance, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, softball, etc. When I look back at all the activities my parents put me in I realized how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to experience so many different ones. The exposure to these various activities allowed me to learn and understand myself better. And through these exposures, I learned where my strengths were and what I really loved and enjoyed to do. However, it wasn’t until I started making personalized signs and/or crafts for friends, families, and even myself, that I realized I thoroughly enjoyed being creative. At that time, I found a sense of pride in myself that I had yet to discover through any other activity I participated in. I would also refer to myself as a “perfectionist” and my handcrafted projects allow this quality and my love for fine, intricate details to shine! Most of the signs I make are custom, because it makes every project personal and special. I turn into a kid on Christmas morning when I finally complete a project; the big reveal and presenting the project is something I look forward to every single time…knowing that the sign I put all my time and energy into will be hanging up in someone’s home, someone’s nursery, or possibly
at someone’s wedding is amazing.
The sky’s the limit with the pieces I do. Any idea, no matter how big or small, can become a reality – I am always ready to try something new! I thrive on new ideas and enjoy playing around with different designs and mediums. I enjoy brainstorming and creating designs with my clients; I’ve never been a fan of monotony, and I try hard not to make the same exact sign twice. Let’s just put it this way; I have yet to tell a client no, and don’t intend to if I can help it.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I always find myself saying “We only have one life to live” and it’s true! I want to see the world and experience new things, and make the best of life for myself and my family; I do not want to have any regrets.
I am incredibly lucky to have a career that I love, but the only time I get to spend being outside in my own space or thinking of new ideas for new pieces is when I take a vacation day for relaxation. I would love to be my own boss and be able to spend more time with my kids and doing things that give me joy and creates excitement. Ultimately, my goal is for Savvy Saw to become my full-time job, so I can wake up every day and be excited to go to ‘work’ and do something that I enjoy. One of these days, I plan on being brave enough to take that leap and commit to my business full time. Even though this would mean giving up my career that I’ve spent years in college for – and leaving a job that I will definitely miss – it would also mean I would have more time to do work that fulfills my creative side.
It might sound cliché, but above all, my goal is to show my girls that they can do anything they want to do if they put their minds to it. I want my girls to understand that regardless of the risk or the challenges they may face, their happiness and fulfillment in life is what matters the most. And sometimes, getting to happiness takes risk, but the reward is a life you will enjoy more.
I am also lucky to have my husband’s full support and one day, when the time is right for our family, I’m hoping that my dreams for The Savvy Saw will finally come true.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

No matter if it’s a nursery, family, or wedding sign or even a business logo, sports logo, or simple home décor project, I always have a sense of pride in creating them. However, seeing the excitement on a client’s face when they finally see the completed product will always be the most rewarding part of my business. There is honestly no better feeling than knowing I helped put a smile on their face, even for a second.
I especially love and appreciate being able to be a part of my clients’ special moments. When I follow up with a client after delivering their sign, it makes me feel good to know they are happy with how it turned out – or that they gave it to a friend or family member for Christmas and the recipient loved it. But the best moments I love being a part of are the personal ones. I love the looks on soon-to-be parents’ faces or seeing tears in their eyes when they finally open their first ever nursery sign after years of infertility. I’ve lived this moment, and I completely understand the level of joy, excitement, and pure happiness it brings; it means so much to be able to see the name of your baby, that you wanted so much, up on the nursery wall.

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