Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
Scroll through Chaos To Art’s offerings on Etsy and you’ll see that, indeed, one person’s cast-off can be another’s treasure … at least with a little TLC. Since 2005, Oklahoma native turned Charleston's Jessie Maynard has been transforming well-loved antiques into gifts and décor that are ripe for the wedding world. Our favorites? The embroidered linens and colorful quilts she transforms into precious lavender sachets (how smart for a lingerie shower favor?) and heart-shaped patches (hello, escort card idea!).
After stumbling upon more vintage treasures than she could find time to repurpose, Jessie—a homeschooling mom who crafts on the side—launched a second shop, Chaos Supplies, in 2007. There, she sells old-school lettered tiles, fabric scraps, and more to fellow makers, like DIY brides. Here, she shares how she can make your wedding a standout.
Charleston Weddings: How did you get into recycled crafting?
Jessie Maynard: I’ve always been a crafter, so take one lazy college summer spent in a small town in Minnesota (they have the best estate sales), add inspiration from Internet crafting forums, and bam! It’s been 11 years and I can’t stop.
