Fan Girl Friday: Miss Mindy's Studio

Hey, hey it's JJ! It's time for another Fan Girl Friday, where I'll be your ultimate fan girl, shining a spotlight on some incredible small businesses that have captured my heart.

From artisanal crafts to unique services, these gems deserve recognition. Join me in discovering new favorites, get inspired, and show some love to the businesses that make our communities thrive.

Let's celebrate entrepreneurship, creativity, and passion together. Get ready to meet another business that I'm absolutely fangirling over!

This month, I'm introducing you to Miss Mindy's Studio. She's based in Portland, Oregon, but trust me when I say inspiration has no zip code. And honestly? I'm secretly hoping she makes her way to Phoenix someday.

Meet Mindy and How We Connected

Mindy started as a colleague and has become a genuine friend through our everyday work together. When she launched Miss Mindy's Studio in July 2025, I've been cheering her on from my corner of the desert ever since.

One scroll through her Instagram and you will completely understand why.

Mindy holds a master's degree in inclusive early childhood education and brings that expertise into everything she creates. But the classroom is only part of her story. As a lifelong dancer, she brings music into the studio that parents and kids actually want to move to, there is deep intention behind every playlist, carefully curated to create a seamless flow that keeps the creative energy alive.

And on top of all of that, she brings whimsy, every single day. In a world that can feel heavy and serious, that is a gift.

What Miss Mindy's Studio Offers

Miss Mindy's Studio is an inclusive, free flow art space where kids get to create without limits, without rules, and without anyone worrying about the mess.

She offers:

• Open studio sessions where kids can explore, experiment, and get gloriously messy

• Handcrafted boutique adult community nights/kids birthday parties designed with imagination and intention

• An inclusive environment rooted in her background in inclusive early childhood education

• A space where creativity and whimsy lead the way

  
  

Every video she shares shows kids fully in their element. Laughing, creating, covered in paint, and completely free to be kids.

Why I'm Fangirling Over Miss Mindy's Studio

She removes the one thing that holds parents back.

As a parent to be, I know that "no, don't touch that" and "be careful, that will make a mess" are real. They're protective instincts. But they also put invisible walls around a child's imagination. Miss Mindy's Studio takes that worry completely off the table. When the mess is the point, the possibilities become endless.

She gives kids permission to just be kids.

There is something so freeing about a space designed entirely around creativity without consequence. No limits. No cleanup anxiety. Just pure imagination. Watching her videos makes me want to grab a paintbrush and join in myself.

Her work is personal to me.

Every time I see one of Mindy's videos I catch myself telling her I need more art in my life. And I mean it. I used to paint, scrapbook, and do mosaics. Somewhere along the way I stopped making time for it. Miss Mindy's Studio is a beautiful reminder that creative expression isn't just for kids. It's for all of us. Having a space to let yourself think, dream, and imagine new possibilities is one of the best things you can do for your mind and your heart.

My Biggest Takeaway

Decluttering your mind and your heart sometimes looks like giving yourself permission to create something just for the joy of it. No agenda or finished product required. Just the freedom to imagine.

Miss Mindy's Studio exists to give that freedom to every child who walks through her door. And she does it with heart, expertise, and the most wonderful sense of whimsy I've seen in a long time.

Join Me in Supporting Miss Mindy's Studio

Miss Mindy's Studio is based in Portland, Oregon, but that doesn't mean you can't show her some love from wherever you are. Follow along on Instagram at @missmindysstudio and let her videos remind you what it feels like to create without limits.

And Miss Mindy, if you're reading this: Phoenix is waiting. My future kids are already on the birthday party list.