A lifetime love of arts, crafts in The Fun Company

When the Bloomin’ Festival opens April 6, two talented Cullman natives will be making their 34th appearance under the name of The Fun Company.

That’s “Creative Brian” — Brian Greer, and “Precious Paige — Paige Greer. They are married and a family team that makes The Fun Company one of the festival’s favorite artists each year.

Crafting unique, sometimes whimsical jewelry from recycled items such as coins, keys, silverware and more, Brian learned the art from his father, Jack Greer, who also dubbed everyone involved with nicknames.

“My dad would nickname all of us, it was always a lot of fun. He was Happy Jack,” Brian said.

Brian’s father, who worked as a meter reader for Cullman, divorced and after that time journeyed to Key West, Florida, where he unlocked his talent for craftsmanship.

“He met a man named Ernesto Gonzales, who was from Cuba and had worked for Castro,” Brian said. “He was tremendously talented in arts and crafts and my dad learned a lot from him during that time. Dad always said everyone is an artist and what he had in him and what he learned was incredible.”

Brian and other family members went with his father to shows and began learning the craft as well.

“I know I just start looking at some materials and the ideas happen and I start working,” Brian said. “I don’t sit down and look at plans, it just comes from what I see.”

With Paige handling many of the business affairs and assisting Brian, they take The Fun Company from Maine to Alaska for festivals and other events. But there’s no place like home.

“The Bloomin’ Festival is one of our top 10 events, business-wise. But it’s also a great setting. Joyce Nix has done a tremendous job to bring the festival to where it is today. People come in from all over,” Brian said.

Paige agrees. “Living in the area and then traveling for much of summer and fall, the arrival of the Bloomin’ Festival is a special time.”

Both Brian and I have our roots in Cullman,” Page said. “My dad and mother (Ed and Barbara Burrows) had the Globe Restaurant for 40 years, where Pizza Hut is now located. Going to the festival is a great time to see people and share a lot of memories.”

Jack’s mother, Bonita, is also part of the team helping for several years.

“With dad, it was a family business and fun,” Brian said. “I learned from him, how to be a visual artist.”

The Fun Company’s creative products also has drawn the attention of the National Rifle Association, which commissioned the Greers to make earrings for a fundraising effort.

“We made 1,150 of the earrings a few years ago, and we may be asked to do some other things for the organization,” Brian said. “That’s something we really enjoyed.”

Editor’s Note: This article appeared first in The Times’ 2019 Profile edition that published in late March.