If you think that getting your hands dirty is sometimes better than being waited on, you’ll probably fit right in at Board & Brush Creative Studio. The franchise is opening a new location in Lakewood Ranch—its first in the area.

If you haven’t heard of Board & Brush, it’s kind of like Painting with a Twist, a hands-on group workshop where you create and take home a colorful painted canvas. However, Board & Brush focuses on woodworking creations, instead. Think signs, planters, trays, boxes, and even wall clocks you transform with stain, distressing, stenciling and more.

The nice thing is that you don’t have to be a Pinterest queen or a DIY king to leave a proud artisan. Board & Brush owner Michele Loudermilk isn’t. 

“Outside of this, I'm not creative and I can’t refinish furniture," she says. "But this is something everyone can achieve. Our workshops are set up in a way for people who aren’t necessarily experienced in art, and people love something that has their name on it.” 

Loudermilk is a recent transplant to Florida, having moved here from Indiana just before Christmas with her mother and aunt to be closer to other family members who already live in the state. 

While many of the finished products could be categorized as “farmhouse” style–picture-perfect signage for an outdoor ranch wedding, for example—the many options for customization can satisfy a modernist, too.

“We have 600 designs, seven different stain colors and 90 paint colors to choose from, so it’s all that you make it,” Loudermilk says. “My favorite is anything with glitter.”

The biggest challenge? Probably patience.

“No part of our workshop is super difficult or labor-intensive, but you need to have patience," she says. On-site assistants can help fix mistakes, and a glass of wine can do wonders. (While some locations are BYOB, this one will sell beer and wine.)

Workshops last roughly three hours, and the cost is $68 to $73 per person, which includes all the supplies. The studio seats a total of 24.

Loudermilk also plans to add to the spring calendar a variety of specialty workshops to create porch planters, benches, and doormats.

Board & Brush Creative Studio is located at 5231 University Parkway, Unit 107. A grand opening is planned for Sunday, March 13, from 2-5 p.m.