The Sprucettes
L to R: Chris, Meredith, Amanda, Clar, Katherine, Frank
Amanda Brown, Owner
Let me set the scene: It was 2006, and I was working as Development Coordinator for the Austin Symphony. Although surrounded by the arts and creative individuals, I knew I needed more than the occasional symphonic concert to keep my interest.
Since childhood, I had been decorating my personal space. I had the room I shared with my twin sister divided down to the lampshade on the table between our beds. I would spend hours putting together the perfect arrangement of stuffed animals, artwork and small ceramics on the shelves my dad hung for me.
As an adult, I was constantly picking up old furniture, refinishing and reusing. I suppose my deep interest in history lent itself to collecting old furnishings, each one with its markings and layers of paint that told the story of its past owners. This combined with my need for a more creative job led to my enrollment in upholstery classes at Austin Community College which led to the creation of Spruce in 2007.
What started as a small garage operation is now home to a team of five, independent, creative, and hard-working Sprucettes/Sprucer. I could not be more thankful for the successes and customers we have earned since Spruce began and am excited to lead this dynamic group and expose more people to the wonders of upholstery.
My life couldn’t have taken this turn without my handsome husband, Keith, and my supportive family. I am also the proud parent of three babies, Pixie (toy poodle), Bonnie and Clyde (cats).
Meredith Carmichael, Client Services Manager
Sprucette since December 2009
Hey! My name is Meredith, and I am the front gal of this operation. When you come into our studio, I will be the one you get to see and work with on all your creative projects! I am a native Texan from Dallas but have been living in Austin for the last five years. Prior to becoming a Sprucette, I worked in the advertising fast lane. Life at Spruce isn’t much slower, but it is definitely more fun! My business degree from Texas A&M comes in quite handy at Spruce when making sure this ship runs smoothly. Other than LOVING Spruce, I love to create things! If you find me arranging flowers, cooking, or doodling on canvases, you will see one happy chic.
When I am not at Spruce, you will probably find me out grabbing a slice with friends or snuggled up watching my favorite musical (I can’t help myself).
I look forward to seeing you all in the studio, and hopefully we can transform a great piece of furniture for you!
Clar Mapes, Production
Sprucette since June 2010
Like many of you, I have been a fan of Spruce since I discovered them on Etsy a couple of years ago. I am so happy to have found my way to Austin to be a part of this brilliant team!
I was born in Thief River Falls Minnesota, lived in Bentonville, Arkansas, and Tampa, Florida, but have spent the better part of my life in Dallas, Texas. I’ve always been into drawing, doodling, crafting, but I got the interior design bug in high school. My senior year, I interned for a designer/retailer in Dallas and was hooked. I studied interior design at the University of North Texas, and gradually switched my degree plan to something more hands-on and do-it-yourself. My focus became studio fine art with a focus in fibers and textiles. I relished in print design, screen printing, and alternative methods to manipulate and print textiles.
After school, I dabbled in gallery work, participated in art shows, and taught art lessons to children in different formats. Eventually, my path crossed with Pat Reese, a master slipcover maker in Fort Worth. I became her shop apprentice, and learned to make professional quality custom slipcovers, drapes, bedding, pillows – all sorts of soft goods for the home. I decided to strike out on my own and sew from home in Dallas, and continued to sew custom home goods for Dallas/Fort Worth area designers and residents. Craving to work again in a team environment, I contacted Spruce to see if I could join the club. I am happy to enter into Austin’s growing design community, expand my skill set, perfect my craftsmanship, and work for a team with such great and current taste. I daydream about all the awesome things in Spruce’s future…field trips, a textile line, perhaps a furniture line – you’ll have to stay tuned to see!
Frank Barnhouse, Production
Sprucer since January 2011
I found Spruce while looking through the Los Angeles craigslist. I learned the upholstery trade as a teenager between 1972 and 1975 in West Germany and have been doing upholstery ever since. For many years, I have owned my own upholstery business but decided to move to Austin for the opportunity at Spruce.
I was born in a military hospital in Germany to an American father and German mother and am fluent in German and Spanish. I have a wife named Waldina, a son named Brian, and a daughter named Brigitte, as well as a white German Shepherd and three cats!
I have a positive outlook in all that I do and believe in persevering through any setback and to always keep learning. My goals are to love my family and be happy in the things I do.
Katherine Baronet, Production
Sprucette since January 2011
Yes! You read that correctly…I’m a stripper, although my tips don’t come in the form of dollar bills. No! I’m the kind of stripper that finds guitar picks, Legos, loose change, and years’ worth of popcorn that didn’t make it to your mouths. If you’re still confused, allow me to clarify. I am the Sprucette stripper…as in the person who strips all of the furniture down to the bones so that it can be resurrected by our skillful upholsterers. How does one become a stripper you might ask yourself. Well, Let’s start from the beginning…
I was born and bred in the small town of Crowley, Louisiana. I’d say that I had a fairly traditional southern upbringing. My father was, and still is, a farmer of rice, soy beans, and crawfish and my mother is a jack of all trades. My early interest in woodcrafts and fabrics is easily attributed to the countless hours I have spent in fabric stores, lumber yards, and in my mother’s wood shop. After high school, I attended and graduated from Louisiana State University. Throughout college I always hated the question “so what do you want to do?” I never knew the answer. Of course I always had the fantasy of becoming an upholsterer but I never imagined that it was something within reach for a young twenty-something girl. After searching and searching for ANYONE who would be willing to take me under their wing and show me the magical world of upholstery, I stumbled upon Spruce. It was just like in the movies where the scene is illuminated and everything suddenly makes sense. Long story short, I moved to Austin in August of 2010 and started stripping furniture at Spruce in January of 2011. I’ve always been one that enjoys getting my hands dirty and playing with tools. So it seems that it was a perfect fit!
Chris Hatcher
Producer & Director
for Spruce TV
Chris Hatcher is a video producer, director, and teaching artist based in Austin, Texas. After earning his BFA in Theatre Arts from Texas State University in 1998, Chris continued his training at Mike Nichols’ New Actors Workshop in New York City and has performed in nearly 1,000 drama-based-instruction programs ranging from anti-bullying for 4th graders to ethics in science for undergrads. Chris completed a video producer apprenticeship at San Diego’s Producers Workshop in 2001; ten years later, he has produced hundreds of videos for clients around the world, including SBC, Bluetooth, AVEDA, Spruce, Down Home Ranch, and The University of Texas at Austin. Through classic storytelling and modern technology, Chris is committed to work that informs and entertains.
In the spring of 2010, I teamed up with Amanda to create Spruce TV and begin showing off some truly remarkable furniture. Amanda is willing to go anywhere to find pieces in need of a makeover, and I’ve been lucky enough to document some of her latest adventures. Horse farms, barn attics, abandoned mental hospitals… And we’ve only just begun.
This year, we’ve released our first upholstery DVD, and we’ve worked hard to pack in all the necessary information to make upholstery understandable and fun for DIYers of any skill level.