Bare & Wild opens at new location

Among the machines that allow Bare & Wild Creations to personalize gifts and other items, the one that got the most attention Saturday was a laser engraver that zapped a fancy message onto a pumpkin pie.

"We can do anything the size of a peanut to whatever we can shove under the table," co-owner Will Sims said of the laser as it etched out a "Breeze and Autumn Leaves" message on the surface of the pie.

He and his wife Debbie's business opened to the public for the first time Saturday. The Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce commemorated the moment with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

The Simses, which had been operating their shop strictly business-to-business for a couple of months, mentioned the main motivation on why they wanted to move their previously home-based Bare & Wild Creations to a separate location at 423 E. Route 66 Blvd. in Tucumcari.

"We wanted our house back," Debbie said. "We literally were from the front door to the back gate (with the business)."

The Simses were participants in Tucumcari MainStreet's FORGE business accelerator program, where Will said they learned marketing, planning and networking.

"I found it really valuable," Will said of the program.

Bare & Wild also has a custom embroidery machine and a sublimation station. Sublimation is a chemical process that bonds ink to surfaces such as mugs and glasses. It also offers a vinyl-cutting service and custom sewing, including memorial pillows.

It also can make T-shirts, caps and business cards, and it devotes a side of the shop to premade gifts.

Bare & Wild's hours are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. It's also on the internet at bareandwildcreations.com.