A Lifetime of Creating.

I've never been someone who could separate creativity from everyday life.

For as long as I can remember, I've been making, designing, decorating, organizing, imagining, and finding new ways to bring ideas to life. Whether I was transforming a room, planning an event, creating handmade gifts, solving design challenges, or building a business, creativity has always been the common thread.

What many people see today is the result of decades of experiences that may seem unrelated—but together, they've shaped everything I create.

Throughout my career I've worked in hospitality, retail, customer service, marketing, event planning, merchandising, visual displays, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. Every role taught me something valuable: how to connect with people, solve problems, manage details, lead projects, create memorable experiences, and find beauty where others might not see it.

Those experiences eventually came together in Design & Up!—a creative business built around helping people celebrate, create, and connect.

As my journey continued, another dream began taking shape.

I realized people weren't just looking for beautiful events or custom artwork. They were looking for a place to slow down, make something meaningful with their hands, meet new people, and rediscover their creativity.

That dream became The Re-Creation Studio.

More than an art studio, it's a welcoming creative space where people of all ages can explore, learn new skills, transform forgotten materials into something beautiful, and leave feeling inspired. It's a place built on the belief that creativity has the power to bring people together and help us reconnect—with ourselves, with others, and with our community.

One of the greatest inspirations behind everything I do is becoming a mom to my daughter, Journey.

Motherhood has changed the way I see creativity. It has reminded me that some of life's most meaningful moments happen when we slow down, play, explore, and create together. Watching Journey discover the world has deepened my passion for building experiences that families, friends, and communities can share.

Today, my work blends many passions into one creative mission.

Through Design & Up!, I help clients celebrate life's milestones with thoughtful event design, planning, and custom creative experiences.

Through The Re-Creation Studio, I teach workshops, host community events, create custom artwork, and encourage people to rediscover the joy of making something with their own hands.

Through TiJo Emporium, I transform reclaimed and repurposed materials into one-of-a-kind handmade art and gifts, giving forgotten objects a new story.

At the heart of it all is a simple belief:

Creativity isn't reserved for artists. It's a way of living.

Whether we're designing a celebration, creating a keepsake, building community through workshops, or reimagining something that was once overlooked, every project is an opportunity to create joy, connection, and lasting memories.

Thank you for being here.

I hope you'll stop by the studio, join a workshop, collaborate on a project, or simply follow along as this creative journey continues.

Let's create something meaningful together.