Steve's story
For Steve Hampton, Gatlinburg is the perfect community. His love of the great outdoors, combined with a strong business background and a passion for crafts, makes the Smoky Mountains a perfect place to call home. In May of 2021, he officially moved to the area, and in August of 2021, Black Bear Crafts was open for business.
In 2015, Steve, and his friend Stephen, began purchasing rental properties in the area with the goal of retiring and relocating years down the road. Covid, and the loss of his Mom, lead to a lot of soul searching and the reality that life is short, and dreams should not be delayed. Between December of 2020, and May of 2021, Steve and Stephen condensed their retirement timeline to make the move sooner, rather than later.
Crafting comes naturally to Steve. He grew up in a family of crafters, not a day went by without something in the works. “I remember watching my grandma, mom and aunts gathered around my grandma’s dining room table painting ceramics.”
Steve’s Mom was in the Air Force, and Steve moved around. This gave him the opportunity to experience the crafts of different regions of the country, from the gulf coast to the southwest. In fact, Las Vegas was where his interest in ceramics really took off with the purchase of his first piece…a gnome. What followed was a lifetime of painting and crafting.
In order to support his “crafting” habit, Steve had successful careers in both retail and marketing. Steve spent ten years travelling to craft shows all over the gulf coast. He had accumulated a complete workshop for pouring molds, painting, etc. With his mom and Stephen by his side, the crafting market was truly a family affair. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 brought the crafting community to its knees. Steve warehoused all of his crafting supplies with the dream, of someday making crafting once again his focus.
All the stars lined up, and Steve is now happily “retired” and living his best crafting life in Gatlinburg.
In 2015, Steve, and his friend Stephen, began purchasing rental properties in the area with the goal of retiring and relocating years down the road. Covid, and the loss of his Mom, lead to a lot of soul searching and the reality that life is short, and dreams should not be delayed. Between December of 2020, and May of 2021, Steve and Stephen condensed their retirement timeline to make the move sooner, rather than later.
Crafting comes naturally to Steve. He grew up in a family of crafters, not a day went by without something in the works. “I remember watching my grandma, mom and aunts gathered around my grandma’s dining room table painting ceramics.”
Steve’s Mom was in the Air Force, and Steve moved around. This gave him the opportunity to experience the crafts of different regions of the country, from the gulf coast to the southwest. In fact, Las Vegas was where his interest in ceramics really took off with the purchase of his first piece…a gnome. What followed was a lifetime of painting and crafting.
In order to support his “crafting” habit, Steve had successful careers in both retail and marketing. Steve spent ten years travelling to craft shows all over the gulf coast. He had accumulated a complete workshop for pouring molds, painting, etc. With his mom and Stephen by his side, the crafting market was truly a family affair. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 brought the crafting community to its knees. Steve warehoused all of his crafting supplies with the dream, of someday making crafting once again his focus.
All the stars lined up, and Steve is now happily “retired” and living his best crafting life in Gatlinburg.
