In the winter of 2024, I stumbled into creating something I never could have planned. My sister Brianna threw me a birthday party in what was then nothing more than a large, empty workshop left behind by the previous owners of our property. It was bare, cold, and without purpose - until we decorated it for that night. 

 

Somewhere between the laughter, the candlelight, and the way the space seemed to breathe when it was full of people, I realized there was magic here. The workshop was no longer just a room; it had become a place that invited connection, creativity, and warmth. I couldn’t keep it to myself.

 

The transformation was raw and hands-on. I built a compost outhouse entirely from pallet boards and scrap wood. I painted half the interior walls and ceiling black. I hunted for vintage furniture and strange little treasures to fill the space. Every nail hammered, every plank sanded, every drop of sweat and occasional tear brought it closer to what I could feel it wanted to be: a place for people to gather, to be inspired, and to create.

 

I didn’t have a blueprint. I didn’t know what “it” was yet - or if anyone in this small community would see what I saw. But I knew the kind of people I wanted to attract: those visionaries and dreamers who are lit up by ideas, by storytelling, by art in all its forms.

 

The first step was simple: I had a projector, a screen, and a love for cinema. So I started a small cinema club. I served popcorn, wine, and whiskey. Every seat was a mismatched, well-worn victorian style chair. We watched films, and then we talked about them long into the night. People came. Friendships formed. And for the first time, I saw the space alive in the way I’d imagined.

 

Over the next year, the studio hosted music nights, gatherings, and conversations that still linger in my mind. But as beautiful as it was, the effort was enormous, and the return - at least financially - was small. I began to wonder what else I could offer, something uniquely mine that the community might truly need.

 

That’s when the idea for drama classes took hold.  Professionally I have always been a performer - telling other peoples stories, taking other people's classes.  What I realized though was that through guiding others and offering my own experiences, I was giving back to the community and I myself was stepping into a fear I had had for a long time. Using my own voice. 

 

So, I am bringing something no one else is offering - a space for play, truth, and deep creative discovery. After a year of all my offerings at the studio, I've begun to see how many people here were quietly, almost secretly, creative… and how much they craved a place to express it. 

 

Now, that little accidental workshop has grown into something much bigger: a home for storytelling, performance, and artistic connection. It began as a venue for a birthday party. It became a studio. And now, stepping into it's full unwavering potential. 

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Because of what I have done with this space, my filmmaker husband has now jumped on board. Him and I have been a creative team since 2013 and going into this together makes total sense as we continue to bring stories to life and everyone on this journey with us.