Rustique c'est Chic

Hi guys!
It's time I updated you all on the past few months! It has been a rollercoaster of a ride starting with a positive exciting first half of the year to a traumatic life changing experience. Life is full of lessons and it is up to us to work out what the bad times teach us and move forward with strength.
As you know I started the Furniture Painters Unite FB groups in 2018 as a place for Furniture Painters in different parts of the world to communicate and make connections as it is a very lonely job. I am of course a furniture painter too and have done this in 4 countries UK, Jordan, South Africa and a little in Oman since 2014. Since moving to the middle east I have not been able to continue my business so I dedicated my time on the groups and they have grown as well as the instagram and FPU has now been more of an advertising platform for Furniture Painters worldwide. A place where we feature their business and try and get the word out there on the talent out there. For the past few years I have dreamt of having a website for our community. A one stop shop for furniture painters. A place where we can sell our furniture, buy products and most important of all be found by potential customers. I was not sure how I was going to do this having no idea how to build a website or who to ask. The whole idea was daunting and I kept putting it off. Procrastinating Gemini🤣
With a nudge from my daughter we started it together last august 2024 and launched it in May 2025 whilst in France on holiday.
The vision was actually created and the start of something amazing that I hoped would help our industry be seen.
We have started a Directory where customers can find a furniture artist closest to them worldwide. We wanted each painter to have the most out of their directory ad so they send us their own description (no matter how long) 4 pictures chosen by them and all their social media links and services they offer. Also if they have a shop they can add the picture, location and opening hours.
Once we have a few more listed we will go ahead and advertise it everywhere we can regularly. We will get the word out there! If you wish to be listed go to our website link below and go to Apply🙂
Other features on the website include info on our Masters and Mentors and an application to be featured on our instagram. We also have sustainable Merch perfect for those social videos showing you are part of a worldwide community and a blog coming soon where we will highlight as many painters as we can!
There is going to be so much more on the website but this is just the beginning...
I am currently in the UK and have been for 3 weeks now. When we came back from holiday Steve had to rush back to the UK as his mum was very sick in hospital (95 years old). 2 days later she passed away and I left the next day to be there for him or so I thought..
We were staying in an airbnb and I got up in the night and fell straight down a wooden staircase with 18 stairs They were literally right outside our bedroom door and turned the wrong way in the dark. A dislocated elbow (my right arm) and surgery has made it hard for me to do as much on the groups and the website in the last 3 weeks but this experience has made me grateful to have survived a fall like that and excited to push forward with the directory and get it out there! You really never know when your time is up so make the most out of each day and be grateful for the parts of your body that work!
If you are a furniture painter anywhere in the world and would like to be featured on our directory or our instagram apply on our website!!
www.furniturepaintersunite.com