As Blain and Thanh Bastow recall, they were well into the process of planning their wedding in 2017 when a unique business opportunity presented itself. A month before they were married, they secured a storefront in Plano and opened a board painting studio. The couple has run Texas Wine & Wood in Plano for two years while working separate full-time jobs. In April, they opened a second location in Dallas. They teach most of the board painting classes together, often working 100-hour weeks to make it all fit, Blain said. “I have had a number of businesses since college,” said Blain, a commercial property manager. “I’m just always trying to work for myself. I’m driven to be free of employment, I guess. And I love people. I love talking with people. I love interacting.” Texas Wine & Wood specializes in helping customers paint their own boards with special designs and messages to hang up in their homes. The company supplies instructors, design options, raw materials, templates and a workspace. Customers may bring their own beverages and, with advance notice, even work with the instructors to prepare custom designs. At the end of each party, the customer walks out with a custom board they selected, stained and painted themselves. The company’s signature event is “Brunch and Boards,” a weekly session on Saturdays with breakfast food and complimentary bottomless mimosas. All other events feature a bring-your-own-beverage policy. At the original Plano location, all board-painting sessions are done by appointment. The couple does not have the time or staff to keep it open for walk-ins. Walk-ins are an option at the Dallas location because they have a near-full-time staff member working there now. Thanh said the couple’s packed schedule is part of the draw. She prefers to stay busy.