Green girl: Tiffany Vance crafts a business out of handmade decor from locally grown and upcycled treasures

On a quaint piece of land just hugging the edge of downtown Platteville, Wis., sits a small yellow workshop, converted from a garage.

This time of year, Tiffany Vance can be found inside, weaving together twigs and greenery to form holiday wreaths, occasionally taking a break to throw another log into the wood-burning fireplace or take a sip of her homemade tea.

“I like to make use of what I already have around,” she said. “I also like to find second-hand or thrift store items. I like knowing that I’m giving these items a second life.”

Vance, 53, is the owner of Green Girls Wreath Co., an effort she began more than 15 years ago with friend Lea Droessler, who formerly owned L.May Eatery in Dubuque.

“I worked at L.May in several roles for years,” Vance said. “Lea is an amazing entrepreneur to her core, and she and I were the original Green Girls. We started it as a garden shop. During the holidays, as a promotion at the restaurant, we decided to sell wreaths as gifts.”

As a result of that promotion, Mary Gronen, of Gronen in Dubuque, became a fan of the wreaths, ordering several for herself, as well as for friends and family members.

“It kind of took off,” Vance said.

However today, Vance maintains Green Girls as a seasonal and solo operation, taking some special orders, but focusing most of her efforts on events, including the Merry Millwork Market in Dubuque’s Millwork District and Platteville’s Holiday Magic on Main.

“I like to keep it small and simple,” she said. “Otherwise, it feels like too much and isn’t as enjoyable.”

That philosophy speaks to Vance’s lifestyle.

Vance graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, eventually studying theater at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She worked professionally as an actress in Milwaukee, splitting time between that and teaching at University of Wisconsin-Platteville before re-establishing her roots in Platteville full-time.

“I like that it’s a university town because there is a lot to do,” Vance said. “But I also like that it is a small town, where you can make connections. It has all of those Midwestern qualities and values. And I love being able to be in nature and in this wide open space. It fills me up.”

A senior lecturer of speech and communication at University of Wisconsin-Platteville for more than 20 years, she and her husband of 20 years live in a newer home on the five-acre property, built by her step-father, David Canny, who was the mastermind behind his namesake Rountree Branch pedestrian and bike trail, connecting Platteville to Belmont, Wis.

Vance’s mother also lives on the property in a 170-year-old rock home.

“There’s something nice about being right next door to your mom,” Vance said.

In preparation of upcoming events, this year, along with her wreaths, Vance also will be displaying and selling reindeer busts she has crafted from chicken wire, complete with faux greenery, ribbon and lights.

“It’s fun to see what new things you can come up with,” she said. “It makes me happy to think that people can make this a part of their holiday.”

Megan Gloss writes for the Telegraph Herald.