FrogTree Designs offers custom pieces at reasonable prices

Published 1:36 pm Monday, August 29, 2022

Brit Gardner is a special education teacher who has been teaching in the Baldwin County School District for 16 years, but others might not know that she also runs a small business. 

Gardner has always been creative and she has done a little bit of sewing and monogramming, photography and painting. However, about three years ago, she says painting became her primary creative outlet. 

Gardner’s business, FrogTree Designs, launched in 2009 when she began doing embroidery and monograming from her home for friends and family. As time passed, FrogTree transformed into a door hanger business. 

“I started painting as an outlet for myself and my kids. I would look at fancy door hangers online but couldn’t bring myself to spend the amounts of money being asked for them. The first piece I painted was a patriotic star that my husband cut out of scrap plywood for me,” Gardner recalled.  “The simple enjoyment that gave me had me hooked. I dove head-first into researching and teaching myself the ins and outs of painting on wood, joining a few amazing painters’ groups for inspiration, motivation, and learning.”

Gardner runs FrogTree Designs out of her home and doesn’t really have set hours. She sells custom wooden door hangers and signs, in addition to offering paint parties. Gardner said that she also often has pop up events during the holidays for parents to bring their children to create unique keepsakes. Unless she has a scheduled party or event, Gardner usually paints whenever her teaching and family schedules allow. 

Having planted her family roots in Milledgeville, Gardner said it just made sense to open FrogTree Designs here. She may ship all over the country, but her customer base is the Milledgeville area. Gardner wanted to offer home décor at a comfortable price. She said that the local community has been very supportive of FrogTree Designs, and that without it, she wouldn’t have met so many people in and around Milledgeville. Gardner also is thankful to fellow local business owner, Julie Crane of Magnolia Rea, for hosting markets where she has been a vendor and for selling Gardner’s signs in her store. 

Building her business is an ongoing process nd her family has been supportive. 

“My husband has become my self-appointed business manager and helps me keep my creative mind in line. Without him, I would not be at the caliber of sales I am these days. Our three kids are always willing to help the business too,” she said.

The name FrogTree Designs stems not only from her childhood love of frogs, but also from Gardner’s love of the outdoors. 

“In thinking of names for my business, I wanted something that was fun, unique, and could cover whatever I was offering,” she recalled. “FrogTree popped up and the rest is history.”

“I adore creating custom pieces for people,” she said. “It’s so much fun to put their personality onto a sign for them to proudly display.”