Dazzling Together The Barnhorsts’ Jewelry and Woodworking Businesses

Dazzling Together

The Barnhorsts’ Jewelry and

Woodworking Businesses

Gwen Akers

The Ashland Beacon

Carol Barnhorst’s happy place is her sunroom: sitting with her cats and looking out over the green of her backyard, watching the deer graze quietly, the birds flitting around the trees, listening to her audiobook, and working on her jewelry. Jewelry making has become an outlet for her—a time for peace and happiness—and she never would have found her passion for it if it weren’t for her desire to serve and help others through a class at her church.

A retired marketing manager, Barnhorst had never done any craft work with beads until one of her friends asked her to help teach a class at their church on how to make Protestant prayer beads. For a while, Barnhorst taught the class with her friend, but when the class ended, she found herself left with a box of beads.

“I got to looking at the box that had all my beads in it one day, and I thought, there’s no sense in just letting those beads go to waste. So, I went out to Hobby Lobby and I bought some stuff, came back home, and I made two pairs of earrings that afternoon, and it was fun!” expressed Barnhorst.

From there, working with beads and creating pieces of jewelry became such a light for Barnhorst. Sharing them with her friends and enjoying her pieces on her own, she had never thought of taking the step of selling her jewelry—until her husband approached her with an idea.

Michael Barnhorst, retired from the military, wanted to help one of his friends out by fixing up a table, and has since become a wonderful woodworker. Whether it is furniture restoration, furniture construction, or custom pieces, Barnhorst Custom Woodworking became an outlet for Michael, and he knew that both he and his wife had something to share at craft fairs.

“I can't tell my story without telling his, and that's one of the things that's really great. We're both supporting each other. It is totally a labor of love for both of us. It's just something we really enjoy,” commented Carol Barnhorst.

From there, the two packed up their small Hyundai Accent and hit the road, bringing their two businesses to different craft and vendor fairs across the state.

“He has branched out and branched out, and he makes all kinds of things now,” explained Barnhorst about her husband’s woodworking skill. “It's wonderful for me, because if I want a particular display for my table, I go to him and tell him what I want, and he makes it for me.”

This summer will be the fourth summer the couple have traveled to craft and vendor fairs, and with 29 years of marriage behind them, they look forward to spending many more spreading their passions for woodworking and jewelry. Every piece of jewelry sold at Dazzle! Beads is completely unique, and so is each piece of woodworking at Barnhorst Custom Woodworking—each piece imbued with the love and teamwork of this crafty couple.