So how did you guys connect?  

Amy: At her backyard BBQ and immediately realized we have a lot in common. moms trying to build brands at work and families at home. I think that’s why we both started talking about our workshops. We became good friends and also our kids formed a natural bond. We aligned in our parenting values and shared similar passions and interests.  

What’s your background? 

Amy:  By day, I’m an Art director and designer for beauty brands and tech companies. Also by day and night I'm a mom which is the most creative hat I wear. It has given me a glimpse into the mind of a child’s learning process. Kids have complete freedom and it is priceless. My goal and passion is to nurtured an interest into a real life skill.

Tamira: I’m a mom to a curious, creative 8-year-old girl who inspired me to get back to working with kids. Seeing the world through her eyes reminded me how fun and meaningful hands-on learning and playing can be. I also have a background in culinary arts, theatre, and education, and I currently work in the beauty industry as an educator and events/account manager. No matter what I’m doing, I’m happiest when I’m sharing what I love and learning from the people around me, especially kids.

Why did you start this? 

Amy: We started this because there's definitely a gap in our neighborhood for real life skill learning and also we have a space at court tree gallery. Then I found my partner in crime, Tamira! I noticed her natural ability with children and learned about her background in education. We both have passion to create an experience where children can use their natural abilities, stories and interests to create and acquire real life skills.

Tamira: Not only will the kids get to work together, and bring their ideas to life, they’ll also get the chance to learn from real experts in a fun, masterclass-style way. We’re bringing in working artists, chefs, designers, and other creative professionals to share what they do and answer questions. It’s a great way for kids to see what’s possible and get inspired by people who actually do this work every day.

What’s the age group?

Tamira: Age group 8-12. The name mini muse comes from our tagline which is Inspire, Discover, Imagine, Dream!  And of course have fun!  Our goal is to create a community where kids learn and support each other. We feel this age group 8-12 is perfect for that and we want this program to be an extension of us and our kids.  They are so curious and excited to discover their passions and talents.  

What’s your first series of workshops?

Tamira: It’s called: Memories Through Food.  We both love to cook, and share recipes that reflect our culture and traditions with our children and friends. So, we thought it would be fun to have our first workshop focus on connecting food, ingredients and recipes to family traditions and celebrations.

Amy:  We will be creating art that ties to recipes. We hope that each student will choose a recipe that ties to their traditions or something they are connected to . They will also have the opportunity to meet a professional chef and author to inspire them. Together, they will concept, design, create a cookbook of their compiled recipes and present their dishes at a potluck celebration and their cookbooks at the end of the program.

What is on the horizon, future plans? 

Tamira: Each session will explore a different theme—like mixed media, performance and production, or even product design from creation to packaging. The idea is for the classes to be child-led, with kids collaborating, experimenting, and ultimately creating something they’re genuinely proud to share. All of the sessions are unique but also connect to one another, almost like chapters in a story. And after this first year, we’ll see how it grows and what it blossoms into based on the kids’ interests and creativity.