Drew Brophy working on a mural on the side of a restaurant.
/ Lisa Edge
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) - Every year Labor Day is observed the first Monday of September. While it serves as an extension of the weekend, the holiday was created during the labor movement to recognize the achievements of workers.
Some of those workers have branched out to start their own businesses, and they say turning a passion into a business doesn't feel like work.
"It allows me to be creative and bold and vivacious as I want to be," explains Cathy Hatch, a jewelry designer.
About five years ago Hatch turned her love for accessories into a jewelry business called Bold by Kattour.
"I was somebody who always loved jewelry and wore tons of jewelry. Big, small, colorful, whatever and started making jewelry that I couldn't find anywhere else. And then people people would say 'oh my gosh that's great, where'd you get that?' and I'd say I made it and they would be like 'can you make me one, can you make me one in blue, can I have one in red' and I started the business that way," says Hatch. "I love the stones. I use lots of semiprecious gemstones. Mother nature is an amazing artist. And the colors and the feel and the shapes, it's amazing to work with and it's fun to put them together and have people really enjoy them and wow them."
Over time, Cathy's popularity has grown and she's now sold hundreds of her one of a kind handcrafted pieces.
"It doesn't feel like work, no. It's fun and it's energizing. And it's a wonderful stress reliever too," she adds.
"I tell people it's my job to make things look cool," says Drew Brophy, an artist.
His story is similar to Hatch's. Brophy, an avid surfer, began customizing his surfboards. As he competed in events, his artwork drew more attention than his skills on the water.
"I think what's really neat is people recognized in me something that I didn't recognize. I did it because I was naturally good at it," he adds.
Brophy, a Myrtle Beach native, says with community support he's been able to pursue what he loves. Right now he's working on a mural on the side of Lulu's Café. He travels the country creating custom art.
"I'm fortunate that I can do something that I'm good at and that people appreciate. In a sense it's work but at some point it stops being work and it's just fun," he says. "Nothing is better than seeing somebody shine at their best."
Both say things weren't easy in the beginning, but worth it in the end.
