May 16

May 16 Bristle + Pine Artisan Market opens uptown

Hand-painted home décor, products from area artisans and women’s clothing and accessories are featured in new uptown store. {Contributed photo}

The name of a new Lexington business, Bristle + Pine Artisan Market, sums up the eclectic range of product offerings in this innovative uptown Lexington retailer.

Located in the former Olde Homestead store at 114 S. Main St., the home interior and women’s accessories shop is owned by Bobbie and Bradley Key, who recently relocated to Lexington from Asheboro.

Bobbie said the “bristle” in the name refers to her love of painting on everything from canvases to old window frames and home furnishings. The “pine” refers to Bradley’s choice of wood for the home furnishings he makes, such as dining room/kitchen tables, kitchen islands, bars and potting benches. Often, they collaborate on projects, with Bobbie doing custom painting on pieces Bradley crafts.

Bobbie and Bradley Key have opened Bristle + Pine Artisan Market in uptown Lexington. (Contributed photos)

A mechanical engineer for Energizer in Asheboro, Bradley uses computer-aided design to make the machines that build batteries so his background is in precision. Bobbie said she is more of “the bull in the china shop” who loves to jump at a creative challenge.

“We love to do projects together,” she said, noting they have complementary skills. “That’s our fun.”

The Artisan Market in the business name refers to the wide variety of home décor and accessories in the store as well as women’s clothing and accessories.

“I look for sustainable suppliers and people who give back,” Bobbie noted.

The shop carries Roma rain boots, made from recycled material. The company gives away a pair of boots for each one sold. Clea Ray handbags are fashioned from recycled material from military tents and rug clippings. The material in the outdoor pillows and blankets comes from recycled plastic bottles.

Bristle + Pine carries a number of products from local and regional artisans, such as scented candles and teas from Carolina Nectar Co. in Tyro and pottery produced by Tyro Pottery Creations. A line of locally-made cutting boards will be added soon.

“We want to be a platform for artisans who want to share their work with the community,” Bobbie added.

The women’s clothing is casual and comfortable and some of the jewelry lines are from artisans she knows from Asheboro. The La Cole line of jewelry features natural materials - bone beads, wood beads, sea glass.

“It’s super affordable and unique,” she assured. “It’s handmade and she doesn’t make the same thing twice so it’s really a piece of art.”

There are gift items in the shop such as knot blankets knitted by a 15-year-old in China Grove who calls her business Kreations by Katie. She can do custom colors and additionally makes a line of baby blankets, which are on display in a baby section of the store that features whimsically-painted furniture and crib bedding as well.

“I enjoy displaying items like you would in different rooms of a home because it feels like home here,” Bobbie said, noting she appreciates all kinds of design, from English cottage and French country to old farmhouse styles. “This is a collection of the things we love that reflect our style and brand.”

Bristle + Pine is an official merchandiser of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for those who like to paint themselves. Bobbie said she has been using the popular brand for years, ever since she opened her first business, Window Workshop in Asheboro. There, she sold paintings on vintage windows and offered classes in painting and sign making.

“It really is the best quality chalk paint and it lasts,” she said. “It’s easy to use and dries quickly.”

Bobbie said she may offer similar workshops in the back of the building in the future.

But for now, Bobbie said she and Bradley are busy working to renovate the new store space as well as an older home on Vance Circle they recently purchased.