From Painted Ceramics to Laser-Cut Wood: My Journey as a Creator
How a Birthday Gift Changed Everything
People often ask me how I got started with all this—the wood crafting, the laser cutting, the endless creative projects that fill what my husband Joe lovingly calls the "Craft-Tastrophe Room." The truth is, I never set out to become a creator or start a business. I was just a mom who loved making things.
The Early Days: Painting for Love, Not Profit
For years, I painted ceramics. We're talking years—starting back when my kiddos were babies. Now they're all grown up, and some have babies of their own. (How did that happen so fast?) During all those years of painting, I never sold a single piece. Not one. Every project I made was a gift for someone I loved. I simply enjoyed the process of creating something beautiful with my hands, something artsy that brought joy to people I cared about.
That was my creative life for a long time, and I was perfectly content with it.
Cheeky Ornaments
The Paper Quilling Plot Twist
Several years ago, everything changed because of my sister. She mentioned wanting to learn paper quilling, so naturally, I bought her a quilling kit for her birthday. But here's the thing—I also bought one for myself. We sat down together to try our hand at turning those super thin strips of paper into art.
The results? She hated it. I loved it.
My sister quit pretty much immediately, but I was hooked. I dove in headfirst, learning everything I could about paper quilling. Before long, I wasn't just making quilled pieces—I was teaching other people how to transform those tiny paper strips into lovely pictures, flowers, and ornaments. Then I started pushing further, designing my own 3D items.
That was really the beginning of the artist I've become. That moment when I realized I didn't just want to follow patterns—I wanted to create something uniquely mine.
Down the Rabbit Hole: Paper Crafting and More
Once I started with quilling, I couldn't stop exploring. I ventured into paper crafting, then ink and stamping, then using dies to cut some really cool stuff. I made greeting cards by the dozens. My paper craft and quilling supplies grew and grew until, let's be honest, they reached maybe-hoarding status. (But it's very well-organized hoarding, thank you very much.)
I thought that was as deep as this creative journey would go. I had my thing. I was happy.
And then came the engraver.
The Game-Changer: My Laser Engraver
Oh my gosh, the engraver. That machine opened up a whole new world I never imagined possible. (There's actually a whole story about how I came to purchase it on my website—it's quite the tale!) Now I spend more time creating things out of wood, slate, and other materials than I ever dreamed possible.
I still pick up my quilling tool and "twist some paper" from time to time, but wood crafting has become my primary passion. It's amazing how one tool can completely transform your creative path.
How These Wooden Wonders Come to Life
Starting with a Simple Sheet of Plywood
Here's something that surprises people: most of these wooden items start out as a flat sheet of plywood. Yep, that's right—just a regular sheet of plywood. No fancy exotic woods, no pre-cut kits. Just plywood and a vision.
The magic happens when you combine that humble plywood with a computer, the right software, and carefully designed patterns. You work your program, adjust your patterns, set everything up exactly how you want it, and then... well, let me be honest about what happened at first.
I threw away more than I kept.
Those early attempts were humbling. But as time went by, I started learning the settings, understanding how to change this and tweak that, and eventually I began creating some truly awesome items. These aren't made from precut kits you buy online. I cut them out myself, right here in my studio (aka the Craft-Tastrophe Room, according to Joe).
Creating My Own Path
All those wood cutout shapes you see in craft stores? I make things like that. I purchase most of my patterns—I'm not going to pretend otherwise—but I've learned to change things and make them different. I've designed some things on my own now, though I'll admit that designing from scratch isn't really what I like to do.
Here's the truth: I will manipulate a pattern all day long to make it exactly what I want. But doing the design from the very first line to the finished product? That's not my cup of coffee. (And yes, I said coffee, not tea—I'm a coffee person through and through.)
Grinch Christmas Ornaments
The Fun Part: Bringing Wood to Life
After the Cuts Are Made
This is where I truly come alive. Once those pieces are cut, oh, let the fun begin! I love this stage.
Sometimes I stain the items, and sometimes I paint them. When I paint, I use acrylics. I don't use spray paint—that's just not what I'm good at, and I've learned to stick with my strengths. Give me a brush, some acrylic paint, and maybe a paint marker or two for those tiny spots where even a detail brush won't fit, and I'm happy.
Staining is a little different. I have several colors of stain in my collection, but I seem to go back and forth between three favorites. And if I'm being completely honest, natural wood is my absolute favorite. There's something about letting that wood grain show through that just speaks to me.
The Finishing Touches
After the pieces are stained or painted, we clear coat them—either with marine grade for extra durability or just a matte finish, depending on the project. Then come the finishing touches: strings, gems, ribbons, whatever details the piece needs to be complete. Only then are they ready to be sold.
Joe makes most of my show display stands, which is a huge help. He's got his own role in this creative operation, even if he does insist on calling my workspace a disaster zone.
The "Made in China" Moment
Let me tell you a story that perfectly captures why what I do matters.
We were at a craft show, and I had my ornament wall set up—a 2.5 by 4-foot display of bagged ornaments. I'd made toppers using purple cardstock with my shop logo, folded over the top of each bag with a hole punched for hanging. Everything looked professional and polished.
Two ladies were browsing my booth. The first one picked up an ornament, examined it, then turned to her friend and said, "Don't buy those. They're made in China."
I couldn't believe it. Here I was, standing right there, having made every single piece by hand just eight miles away in Fredonia, Pennsylvania. These weren't mass-produced imports—they were lovingly crafted in my studio, one at a time.
I politely corrected her, explaining that everything was made locally, right here in PA. She did not appreciate being corrected and stomped away in a huff.
But you know what? That moment taught me something important. Now my new toppers have "Made in Fredonia, PA" printed right on them. No more confusion. No more assumptions. Just the truth: these are handmade, local, created with care by someone who genuinely loves what she does.
Why I Create
Looking back at this journey—from painting ceramics for my babies to laser-cutting wood in the Craft-Tastrophe Room—I realize that the common thread has always been joy. Joy in making. Joy in learning. Joy in sharing what I create with others.
I never set out to build a business. I just followed my curiosity from one craft to the next, learning as I went, making plenty of mistakes, and gradually discovering what I was truly meant to do. Those early days of throwing away more pieces than I kept? They weren't failures—they were lessons. Every botched cut taught me something. Every experimental finish showed me what worked and what didn't.
Now, when someone picks up one of my pieces at a show or orders something from my website, they're not just getting a decoration. They're getting a piece of my journey. They're getting something made by hand, with intention, by someone who still gets excited every single time a project turns out just right.
From my sister's abandoned quilling kit to the hum of the laser engraver in my studio, it's been quite a ride. And honestly? I can't wait to see where it goes next.
Want to see what I'm creating these days? Visit my shop to browse handmade wood décor, ornaments, and more—all crafted right here in Fredonia, Pennsylvania. No China involved, I promise.