By LAURA BROOKHART / Community Columnist

A colorful striped wooden cross inversely framed with natural slats caught my eye at last week’s Helena Farmers Market.

It was the creation of Jen and Scot Newman, owners of JnS Treasured Creations, a business the couple began earlier this year.

“I am a big reader and I saw a bookcase made out of pallets I really liked. I asked Scot to build it and it turned out great,” Jen explained. “Then, I saw a farm table, bench and chairs that I loved, so I asked Scot to attempt it.”

Previously, Scot had only built the bookcase, but it turned out better than expected, and friends and family said the couple did a great job, Jen said.

“Then a friend asked us to build a dog bed–any style we wanted. So we created our own design, with Scot building and me sanding and staining,” Jen recalls. “At first our dog beds were the most popular, but we have made other requests, from coffee cup holders, garbage can holders to hat racks and headboards.”

Their painted plaques feature motifs of trees, birds and kid favorites such as super hero and Pokémon plaques.

“Photo transfers (your favorite photos transferred onto wood frames) are available and also make great gifts,” Jen notes.

Treasured Creations also makes a Sweet Home Alabama sign and once posted on their Facebook page, by request they branched out to Sweet Home Michigan for friends, as they are originally from Michigan.

A job change for Scot brought the family to Helena.

“We love Helena,” Jen said. “We heard nothing but good things about Helena, so we came to check it out.”

“Schools are very important to us. We also love sports and our seven-year-old, Bryce, loves playing baseball, football and soccer. We also have an eighteen-year-old son who will be attending Bowling Green State University in Ohio this fall to study music composition and education.”

Upcoming events for Treasured Creations are: Helena Farmers Market through the end of August; Helena First Friday, Aug. 5; T-Town Trade Days, Tuscaloosa, Aug. 6-7; Party Zumbathon Pelham Park, Aug. 19; Two-by-Two Animal Rescue Barktoberfest Oct. 15.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/jns.treasured.creations/.