GREEN — An illness led to an art business for a family in the Douglas County town of Green, just south of Roseburg.

It started a few years ago with Erika Church, who began covering furniture with decoupage a few years back when she became ill and needed to find work that she could do from home.

As time went on, family members were called in to help as demand for her unique art increased. Now four generations and eight artists strong, the group has dubbed its endeavor “Family Hands.”

The family sells its wares once or twice a month around Douglas County and on the Oregon Coast. Recently they visited Gold Beach for the Coast Wine, Art and Music Festival.

The family takes old, thrift store or discarded items — from chairs to birdhouses to boat oars — and decorates them with what they like to call “extreme decoupage.” The time-consuming process involves gluing, firing and glossing.

“If it was new, you wouldn’t want anything done to it,” said Cindy Icenhower, the matriarch of the business and Church’s mother.

Prices vary, depending on the item. A bracelet might cost $6 while a carousel horse goes for $270. Tables range from $30 to $80 each.

“It’s made to be used,” said Church. “It’s functional art.”

Church first recruited her young daughters to help with the gluing. At their first show in Bandon, they nearly sold out.

Now the family is looking toward selling its art on the Internet.

“We’ve involved everyone from our spouses to our children,” said Church. “It’s something we like doing.”