Friends band together to open The Purple Wagon

Karlee Frein and Bre Degelau have been friends since elementary school.

'We grew up six houses apart from each other and have been like sisters since,” Frein says.

The girls also happen to share a passion for crafts and creativity. At a young age, the girls crafted together and dreamed of one day opening their own shop. They were often seen toting their creations back and forth between their houses in a little purple wagon.

'This wagon made a lot of things possible for us as kid,” Degelau says. 'Although the wagon has been retired for some time now, it still travels with us to every farmers market as a symbol of expanding opportunities and friendship.”

Today, their joint creative venture - aptly named The Purple Wagon - is keeping them busy and providing a lot of fun.

'We're pretty used to most people giving us skeptical looks and responses when they realize just how much time we do spend together,” Frein jokes.

The girls, ages 20 and 19 and originally from Fort Dodge, are now living in Iowa City where they go to school full time and work part time waitressing jobs. They manage to find time to create all sorts of things, from whimsical paintings and typography designs on old scrap wood to painted old windows, vintage jars, cupboard doors and old chairs.

'Most of the time the pieces are left in their original state of ‘distress' and we just add our colors and designs to them,” Frein says. 'We are constantly looking for new things to add a little something to. It is definitely our outlet for some fun, as we both enjoy it so much, so we feel super incredibly blessed to be doing something we love so much and also receive recognition and income from it.”

Q: How and when did you get started?

A: Karlee: When we got to college we realized that we were quickly running out of room on our walls and shelves for all of our creations, so we decided to post a few things on our personal Facebook pages for sale. When the response was positive and quick from our family and friends, we decided to pursue an idea we had always kind of tossed back and forth, and we made an actual Facebook page for our stuff, created a name, posted pictures, and waited. When it seemed to explode with positive feedback, we decided to turn in applications to a few local summer farmers markets, and now, here we are. Our very own little booth at the Downtown Cedar Rapids Market.

Q: If you had only three words to describe what you do what would they be?

A: Karlee: Beautify old trash.

A: Bre: Anything charming and heartwarming.

Q: Where do you find your inspiration?

A: Karlee: Thankfully my mom is extremely creative, and whenever we needed something to do when we were growing up, she seemed to be the source of endless ideas. She was constantly engaging us with new and fun art projects. She also is a huge part of The Purple Wagon, as she is helping us constantly with tons of background work and details. We seriously wouldn't be around without her help.

A: Bre: I think we also feed off each other pretty well, and use each other's creations to inspire one another. Otherwise our other friends and family are constant sources of inspiration, as they are always providing us with new ideas, new materials, and hilarious quotes for us to put on our creations.

Q: What's the best part about being a crafty/creative person?

A: Bre: My favorite part would be the ability to see potential in almost anything. Vintage items would have to be my passion, I love the old paint, cracks and imperfections that come along with the years and years of wear and tear. Me walking into the Habitat for Humanity Restore can be compared to a little kid in a toy store. Finding unique pieces of old wood, windows, and cupboards that no one else wants, and making them into beautiful creations that everyone loves to purchase is the best feeling ever.

A: Karlee: For me, it's just being able to put out there whatever crazy idea is in my head and hope that someone else likes it. Then, when most of the time someone does, it encourages me to just keep on having crazy thoughts, because obviously I'm not alone. I love being able to see a customer smile and laugh when they read our signs. Also a huge perk is being able to have constant access to gifts. Personalized gifts are the best, and it's awesome being able to create something for someone I love.

Q: Do you remember the first craft project you ever tried?

A: Karlee: I can remember making painted macaroni pasta frames with my sister when she would baby-sit me, trying to copy her scrapbook pages, and then learning all of the basics of sewing from my mom at an extremely young age. Making doll clothes was constant in my childhood thanks to her.

Q: When you become rich and famous for your work, then what will you do?

A: Karlee: It's our dream and goal to start donating as much as we can from our funds to supporting a child(ren) overseas through the organization World Vision. We are both super passionate about international adoption and providing suitable living conditions to children who do not have them overseas, and we wouldn't feel as good about our work if nothing from it was helping others.

So not necessarily that we will one day be rich and famous from our booth (although that'd probably be wonderful), but more so that we may use all of the talent we fortunately have to bless others.

OGLE IT

' Ogle it: Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market

'Google it: www.facebook.com/thepurplewagongirls and @thepurplewagongirls on Instagram