Allison Eckhart sits outside on her porch, a makeshift workshop and safe haven for her small business Allison's Reclaimed.

"I worked in recreation for over 20 years," she said. "Being someone that was in that field, I like being outside...and I started kind of just tinkering around."

Eckhart's story is a story of strength. Her passion for crafting came after years of health struggles.

"About six or seven years ago, I started having these back issues," she explained. "I finally got a doctor that would actually look at me, and [they] said, 'You have a ton of scar tissue in your back. You have stenosis, you have an awful lot going on in here.'"

During her road to recovery, Eckhart channeled her recreation roots, reclaiming old pieces of wood and her life.

"I needed something to do with my hands, and I found that by doing something, it actually helped decrease the pain," she said. "I found that the more I did it, the more I forgot about my pain. It became a mental health support for me. It became a physical support for me, and I do keep it lowkey because I cannot be consistent. There [are] days I can do it. There [are] days I can't."

Since then, Eckhart has channeled her pain into her work, turning the old products into one-of-a-kind home decorations loved by residents from all over Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

"By seeing somebody say, 'Oh my goodness, that's amazing, I love it, I'd like to buy it.' I'm more tickled by that," she said.

As Thanksgiving approaches, Eckhart is not only thankful for her little business, but also for the people who have kept her going all these years.

"I'm reflecting on how blessed I am to have the family I have and how much I love them so much," she said. "My wife is an incredible help...I hand-make everything with tremendous help from my wife...And many times I had my two stepdaughters out here sanding."

Eckhart will be taking a break from craft fairs until this spring when she will be at Cherry Blossom Festival in Peekskill. However, she says you’re always welcome to message her with a custom order request. Potential customers can either message Eckhart on her Instagram page or send an email to allison'[email protected].