Greenport Couple Opens New Business, Island's End Woodcraft, Breathes New Life Into Beautiful Pieces From the Past

GREENPORT, NY - The July 4 weekend marks a dream come true for East Marion's Rachel and Mark Mysliborski .

On Friday, July 1, the couple sees months of hard work realized when they open the door to their new business, Island's End Woodcraft, at Sterlington Commons in Greenport.

The shop offers beautiful new custom, hand-built furnishings, gifts, repairs, closets, built-ins, vintage pieces, candles — and the chance to breathe new life into pieces of yesterday, with a loving focus on upcycling treasures from the past.

"We feel that many long respected traditions and trades in the United States have been pushed to the wayside, in favor of big box stores selling cheaper items, and furniture or décor that is made overseas. We want to do our part for the 'buy local' cause," the couple wrote on their website.

Many of their pieces are made using wood from locally downed trees on the North Fork. "Re-claimed wood from an old barn that had to be taken down, always makes for the best creations, both large and small," they said. "At Island's End Woodcraft, we believe that people should have the opportunity to own well made, quality furnishings and décor for their home, at a reasonable price."

The words "the smell of salt air and sawdust" are at the heart of all the business symbolizes and means.

"The smell of salt air and sawdust is something I came up with to signify that the smell of the salt air on the North Fork of Long Island is like no other smell on this earth. Since I was a little girl, summering in Greenport, it has always been a scent that signified happiness for me," Rachel said.

She added, "There is so much that goes along with that smell, one could probably write a book about what 'North Fork salt air' means to the people of this community. Everything from fresh fish on the dock, to jumping off the docks into the bay on hot days, nights of bonfires at the beach, the breeze through your window on a wet summer night . . .it has always signified 'home' for both myself and for Mark."

The two also believes in using wood to express themselves in a way that is inspired by the area where they live.

A lifetime love of woodworking

Mark, Rachel said, has always had a passion for working with wood.

"We still have the first butcher block"clock he made in his high school wood shop class at Greenport High School. So, in essence, North Fork salt air and wood are our favorite smells."

Before embarking on their new journey, Mark was a plumber, beginning from when he graduated from Greenport High School to when he turned 35, but always had a wood shop set up to do woodworking projects in his spare time.

Rachel graduated from Manhasset High School on Long Island and all summers since birth were spent in Greenport. She went to the University of Connecticut and double majored in sociology and criminal justice, graduating in 2000.

In 2001 her mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she said. To stay close to her, Rachel was licensed as a paralegal, working in a firm ijn Old Saybrook, CT and then, in real estate.

But her passion for artistry is a legacy passed down from her mother and grandmother, both of whom were gifted artists, she said. Her mother, Rachel said, was a decorative painter, and was a large part of the Folk Art revival of the 1980s.

"As a child I was surrounded by antiques from various time periods in history," she said; her family had a Manhattan business that dealt in buying and selling estate jewelry and pieces.

"I was taught to appreciate the history behind a piece of furniture or art or jewelry, not for what is just on the surface," she said.

The passion for working to restore beautiful pieces from the past is something she shares with her husband, she said.

"This is another reason we work so well together. I have the vision and Mark has the know-how. One does not work without the other. He truly is gifted at his craft. We have even discussed the possibility of offering woodworking classes in the future. He is patient, thorough, and a great teacher, as he knows what he is talking about, inside and out, backwards and forwards."

The materials for the pieces they create come from a myriad of locations. "With upcycling, you just never know when something will come our way. In this business, our eyes are always open."

Preserving the past, with love

Saving pieces from the garbage heap is something very close to Mark's heart, she said. "For years, being in the trade business, he has seen people carelessly throw out beautiful heirlooms and pieces of furniture simply because it had a broken leg, or a scratch on the surface. These are things that can be fixed and restored if just given the chance. This is a large part of what we offer. Either fix the old piece, or make it into something else if it can no longer serve its purpose."

Wood today s is nowhere near the quality it was 25, 50, or even 100 years ago, Rachel said. "Give Mark a few pieces of old farm equipment, and some wood, and before you know it, there's coffee table in front of you," she said. "Throwing that stuff out is like throwing away a piece of history to us. There are so many options. If you don't like dark wood, we can paint it. Just don't toss it."

As for seeing a dream born, the couple said much is to be done and accomplished before that moment takes place. " As my mother used to say 'petit a petit loiseau fait son ni.' Little by little the bird builds its nest."

The perfect location

The new shop in Greenport is the ideal spot, Rachel said; Mark also has a woodworking shop in East Marion, where they live. Their goal was to find a spot within walking distance of downtown Greenport. "What specifically drew us to this particular spot was the fact that it is walking distance for not only tourists, but just enough on the outskirts of town to make things a bit more accessible for locals like us."

An added bonus is that they're near businesses that they have frequented since they were kids, places such as Sterlington Deli and Brick Oven Pizza, she said.

Just being able to start their new business venture on the North Fork is a blessing, Rachel said.

"Living in East Marion, having the means to create and restore the pieces that we do for people, and having a shop that will help us spread our message about melding the past with the present. To me, that's priceless," she said.

Their deep appreciation for the past has been passed on to the couple's daughter Skylar who is, her mom said, an "old soul. Even at 10 years old, she has had a connection and an appreciation for history since she was young. Maybe it's genetic?" She laughed. "Not only is it instilled in her already, she is often the one who finds 'the diamond in the rough' when we go on a search for new/old treasures."

With opening day Friday, Rachel and Mark are excited. They owned a store briefly in Connecticut selling similar items before returning home to Long Island. "I know how rough the retail business can be but I am optimistic and confident, as there is no doubt in my mind as to what Mark and I can achieve if given the opportunity," Rachel said.

Customers should bring their beloved pieces to the shop to see what their options are, Rachel said.

"When Mark says 'the possibilities are endless', we mean that literally," she said. "For example, unless people come and talk to us, how would they know that Mark specializes in fixing screen doors? How many people do you know with a blown out screen door? I know many, but they stay broken, because no one seems to offer that service around here."

Their shop, she said, does.

Wedding accessories is another area that has also become quite popular.

"Bring us a photo of what you want made, and we will give you the options, plain and simple. If it's broken, we fix it. We are also honest people. If we see that it would cost more to fix/restore something than it's monetarily worth, we will tell you. In many cases, and we agree, a family heirloom is priceless, so we leave the decision up to the customer, of course."

The theme is local, with a focus on the "farm to table movement," Rachel said. They've created a few solid wood unique serving pieces out of local wood from downed cherry trees in Orient. "We would like to make these pieces available for the local restaurants to use as serving pieces," she said.

A couple united

Working side by side has proven only to be a boon to their already strong marriage, Rachel said. "Mark and I have always had a strong foundation from the beginning. We are not just husband and wife, but also the best of friends. Do we have disagreements about how a project should be designed at times, of course, but mutual respect, trust and compromise play a big role in running a business as a married couple. We both thrive on what the other brings to the table — no pun intended. The thrill I get from watching him bring our visions to life, is like no other. His favorite part is seeing the way I put it all together in the shop. He loves to hand me a new piece and say 'Okay, baby, it's all yours, go do your thang.'"

The joy they find in their work is palpable.

"We aren't looking to get rich. We want to live a comfortable life, surrounded by our amazing friends and the beautiful people of this community," Rachel said. "Simply existing in a place like this is not enough these days — we want to show people that they have other options, and that ordering furniture pieces off the internet, only to have it fall apart almost immediately, just isn't economical for them, or good for the environment."

Island's End Woodcraft is located at #14-4 Sterlington Commons, off Third Street in Greenport. For information, call 631-477-6427.