About
Why Ya Ya's
I think, like many women, opening up a little shop somewhere is intriguing. Darren & I have been entrepreneurs from almost the beginning of our marriage-December 1986. We opened a little heat & air shop in 1988 and ran it from our home until 1992. We bought a little building on South Main in Blanchard America and remained there until 2006. In 2006, we moved to a 6000 square foot building across the street. Upon moving in, Darren stated that we would never fill the space. Flash forward to 2018, we have not only filled the 6000 square foot building, built another building of equal size just south of us, and now are in the process of completing a 2100 square foot building just North of us that will be the new Home of Ya Ya’s. We have also always been huge DIYers long before DIY became a thing...I think we called it sweat equity. Inspired by "This Old House" and "Home Time," we remodeled our first little home. I found through this experience that I was pretty handy with a paint brush. Not only handy, but I enjoyed it! Since then, I have painted most of the rooms in the homes we have built at least once. I love how paint can completely change how the room feels without changing anything else.
Back in 2002. We had a beautiful dresser that we used in the boys baby room through the years. However, through many moves and the boys growing up, it found its residency in our garage. When Darren would have a clean out the garage party, I would insist that I was going to do something with this sentimental piece. Well...finally I did! I fell in love with the Pottery Barn look and experimented with ways to achieve it...flat paint and wax. I added glaze to my repertoire, and that was it, I was hooked! I had not even heard about chalk and clay based paints until a few years ago...story of my life...I'm always the last one to know!
Well, back at the ol' heat and air shop 2015, we started yet another remodel project. The shop was getting a major facelift-I can lose myself in building and renovating. After the reno was done & I moved my new office, Darren rekindled the idea of me opening a little shop. I was so busy with our other little business ventures, not to mention Yarbrough & Sons, that I was unsure whether or not I would have time...but a seed that had been planted many years ago received a little water.
So many pieces to this puzzle started falling into place...ever so slowly, that only in retrospect am I really able to see the picture & how God has a timing that is impeccable, nothing short of jaw dropping amazement. Though I grow weary, impatient, and anxious at times, I am reminded...the beautiful nuggets & the mere breadcrumbs let me know that I’m on the right path. These are the things that keep me up at night...both in excitement and anxiousness. Darren once ask me what I wanted to sell & I told him that I wasn’t sure, but I felt strongly that it would have something to do with painted furniture and words...random & vague,right?!?! But in retrospect, this is exactly how it has turned out.
I literally fell into selling CeCe Caldwell’s paint in the spring of 2016 & we started making metal signs. Ya Ya’s is about to move into our new little shop! I am so excited! I’m not going to lie...I’m not 100% sure where this is leading but I can guarantee this, it will be strongly influenced with care & thoughtfulness.We are still operating in our Y&S building, ready to serve & inspire you. Come by and see us!
I think, like many women, opening up a little shop somewhere is intriguing. Darren & I have been entrepreneurs from almost the beginning of our marriage-December 1986. We opened a little heat & air shop in 1988 and ran it from our home until 1992. We bought a little building on South Main in Blanchard America and remained there until 2006. In 2006, we moved to a 6000 square foot building across the street. Upon moving in, Darren stated that we would never fill the space. Flash forward to 2018, we have not only filled the 6000 square foot building, built another building of equal size just south of us, and now are in the process of completing a 2100 square foot building just North of us that will be the new Home of Ya Ya’s. We have also always been huge DIYers long before DIY became a thing...I think we called it sweat equity. Inspired by "This Old House" and "Home Time," we remodeled our first little home. I found through this experience that I was pretty handy with a paint brush. Not only handy, but I enjoyed it! Since then, I have painted most of the rooms in the homes we have built at least once. I love how paint can completely change how the room feels without changing anything else.
Back in 2002. We had a beautiful dresser that we used in the boys baby room through the years. However, through many moves and the boys growing up, it found its residency in our garage. When Darren would have a clean out the garage party, I would insist that I was going to do something with this sentimental piece. Well...finally I did! I fell in love with the Pottery Barn look and experimented with ways to achieve it...flat paint and wax. I added glaze to my repertoire, and that was it, I was hooked! I had not even heard about chalk and clay based paints until a few years ago...story of my life...I'm always the last one to know!
Well, back at the ol' heat and air shop 2015, we started yet another remodel project. The shop was getting a major facelift-I can lose myself in building and renovating. After the reno was done & I moved my new office, Darren rekindled the idea of me opening a little shop. I was so busy with our other little business ventures, not to mention Yarbrough & Sons, that I was unsure whether or not I would have time...but a seed that had been planted many years ago received a little water.
So many pieces to this puzzle started falling into place...ever so slowly, that only in retrospect am I really able to see the picture & how God has a timing that is impeccable, nothing short of jaw dropping amazement. Though I grow weary, impatient, and anxious at times, I am reminded...the beautiful nuggets & the mere breadcrumbs let me know that I’m on the right path. These are the things that keep me up at night...both in excitement and anxiousness. Darren once ask me what I wanted to sell & I told him that I wasn’t sure, but I felt strongly that it would have something to do with painted furniture and words...random & vague,right?!?! But in retrospect, this is exactly how it has turned out.
I literally fell into selling CeCe Caldwell’s paint in the spring of 2016 & we started making metal signs. Ya Ya’s is about to move into our new little shop! I am so excited! I’m not going to lie...I’m not 100% sure where this is leading but I can guarantee this, it will be strongly influenced with care & thoughtfulness.We are still operating in our Y&S building, ready to serve & inspire you. Come by and see us!