Friday — March 12, 2004

Flair becomes business

Decorating ripens into family endeavor

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Some people throw parties, some decorate them. And sometimes those prima-decorators are so able that what began as a lark becomes a business. So it is for Tina Quarles, who just completed the enormous task of creating the ambience and environment for the second annual Share Your Heart Ball in Sun Valley.

Shane and Tina Quarles work on their furniture line. Express photo by David. N. Seelig

Quarles loves to create. Her home in Hailey is a mix of styles: craft, vintage and quirky. Her kid’s birthday parties are famous for their abundance. "I really go for it."

Frequent guests Rob and Kris Cronin, the organizers of the ball, recognized her talent. In fact, they asked her to do their wedding. "They just have faith in me. I’ve always done the seasonal decorating, flowers and planters for their restaurants (Zou 75 and Red Elephant)."

She also did the upholstery and painting for Zou 75 and, with her husband Shane, created and built it’s outdoor deck.

Married for 13 years, the Quarles have six kids between them. He came with three, she came with one and they had two more. They range in age from 5 to 18.

"Now my kids help me, Shane helps. It’s totally a family affair," she said.

This was true especially for the Share Your Heart Ball, which she turned into a Mardi Gras extravaganza, complete with a float, street songs, lampposts and a cobbled Bourbon Street. "Shane built the float in a day. He’s my right hand man."

Quarles also had a decorating committee of 12 women helping her create the centerpieces for the ball, the decorations, a gossamer night sky and the parade float.

"They were so dedicated and hard working. They cared so much about the cause and that’s why they were there," Quarles said. "Even though it was freezing cold in there they just did whatever needed to be done."

Kids at the Share Your Hart Ball last weekend ride on a Mardi Gras float created by Tina Quarles. Express photo by Willy Cook

The women worked long nights in the old and empty Drug Store in Hailey for a week. Quarles spent well over a month doing research, paper work and ordering. Most of the items found their way into her house where she could work around the clock.

"I felt really at home," one of the committee members, Heidi Albrecht, laughed. "I always have a hundred projects going at once like she does, kids and family and stuff. She’s just hugely creative."

Up until now, all Quarles work on the two Share Your Heart Balls has been as a volunteer and will likely remain so.

"That’s the way I can give," she said. "I always wanted to help at Camp Rainbow Gold, but I have all six kids here in the summer."

She also cleans houses and was a waitress at Zou 75, which the Cronins and Ramey and Brandon Dennehy own.

"I’ve been serving in this valley for over 12 years," she said. "But I quit. It’s just time for a new direction."

The new direction is also a family affair. She and Shane are building original furniture in their home workshop, under the name Quarles Collection. By trade, Shane is a finish carpenter.

"We decided to commit ourselves to one thing instead of three jobs a piece. It’s all happened just by word of mouth. We’ve made a desk for a Realtor’s office, a table for Bud Bolan and a bed for Kris and Rob."

With a workshop in their garage, which they’ve already outgrown, the couple decided to pour it all into a their own business.

Quarles now creates the pieces she’s loved for years. Her style is kind of craftsman meets country.

The Quarles Collection is "kind of country style family furniture, all hand done, created and mostly designed by us," she said. "We can do just about anything."

Pizzazz included.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.