Minnesota Barns Get A New Life Through Creative Artistry

This time of year, aren't we all looking for those unique gift ideas for the special people in our lives? I thought this might be something that would ring true for a lot of Minnesota families.

Friday, November 21st, and Saturday, November 22nd, from 10 am to 4 pm, stop by the Pop-Up Christmas Shop at 7165 156th Ave NW, Pennock, MN. Check out the workshop, buy Christmas decor, and get great one-of-a-kind gifts.

Perhaps you grew up on a farm somewhere here in Minnesota. Meet artist Heather Coleman, who finds barns in Minnesota that have fallen, are falling apart, or are no longer in use. Once she finds them, she gathers wood from these old masterpieces, brings it back to her shop, and begins creating beautiful works of art that can bring a smile to people's faces for many years to come.

THE OLDER THE BETTER

According to an online article, Heather says that most of the barns she gets her wood from are between 100 to 120 years old. She started working with barnwood in 2014, and all of the 20 or so barns that she has gathered wood from are from central Minnesota.

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Heather puts together her masterpieces at her shop near Pennock, Minnesota.

She hated the idea of all those once beautiful barns that stood tall and proud, being bulldozed or sitting there for years until they were absolutely nothing; a reminder of good times gone by.

So by refurbishing these wooden pieces into something new, she combines her love of farm life with a love for lake life. Someone asked her if she could carve a lake out of her barn wood. She took the idea and created something that really worked.

IT TAKES TIME

"Some are intense. Eagle Lake, maybe a half hour. Lake Superior could take a couple of hours because starting from the beginning, then cutting and then sanding, and I'm very particular, so it could take quite a while," Heather said.

It's not just old barn wood that she turns into art. She also sees repurposed items like water skis and hockey sticks.

YOU HAVE TO LOVE GRANDMA'S

"My Grandma always said if you enjoy doing what you do, it's never a job. And I love being in my garage and doing this," she said.

She takes care of the farmers who let her have some of their wood from their old barns. For every farmer who donates barnwood to her for creating her projects, she gives them a piece of Minnesota Barnwood that they can display for themselves.

POP UP SHOP COMING IN NOVEMBER

You can see more of her amazing wood artwork and other crafts by visiting her Facebook Page, Simple Days. You can see her work and schedule a time for in-store pick up if you see something that you like, or perhaps you want to give her barnwood from your old barn for her projects.