Two talented brothers have been raking in the extra pocket money by launching their own restoration business on Fitzmaurice Street.
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Wagga Public School student Ruben Sleeman and his 12-year-old brother Griffin Sleeman have been salvaging old pallets and discarded furniture and turning them into handcrafted pieces of art.
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The business idea came about when the two boys started making artisanal wooden Christmas trees from old discarded pallets and displaying their creations at their mum's shop, The Huntress xx.
The trees were intended for window display only, but so many customers tried to come in and buy them that the boys decided to start their own restoration business within the shop.
"We like to make stuff, because we like helping our mum. It's also pretty fun," Griffin said.
"One thing I might like to buy is a motorbike."
Griffin said he wanted to use his handyman skills in the future to become a tradie just like his dad, who works as a mechanic.
Ruben said he liked the idea of becoming a builder one day, saying that he enjoyed tinkering around in the shed with his brother.
The 10-year-old has sold so much furniture that he says he had no idea he'll spend the money on.
"I sold a stool the other day for $40," Ruben said.
"I wanted the extra pocket money. Not for anything in particular."
The two artisans learnt their craftsmanship from their mother, Crystal Preston, who teaches such crafting skills at her shop.
Ms Preston taught Ruben how to take apart an abandoned chair piece by piece, sand it down, paint it, and put it back together again.
The proud mother said her boys had a natural knack for the craft.
"They picked it up very quickly," Ms Preston said.
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