MY Studio (Made by You Studio) opened for fun creative projects in June 2018.  It is a cozy little space stocked with an extensive variety of art supplies and materials just for you!

MY Studio has already hosted several birthday parties, ladies nights, creative friend gatherings, couple’s art dates, as well as partnered with Cornell College as part of their new student orientation activities. MY Studio has walk in open studio hours on Tuesdays Wednesdays and Saturdays, and can be reserved any other time for private events.

MY Studio started as a dream of Andi Spencer’s.  She wanted to have an intentional creative space to make art that could be shared with others.  But a seed of an idea/dream is just a seed until it’s planted.  Enter Andi’s friend Braden. When asked by Joe Jennison about what her ideal business would be, she said “Andi’s Art Studio idea!”

The two friends began having a more serious conversation about the possibilities of bringing this vision to life and in late 2017 the seed was “planted”.  With encouragement from family and friends and a newly available space opening up in the First Street Community Center, MY Studio was born!

MY Studio is a Make it Yourself arts and crafts studio with all the tools and supplies you need to make your creative vision a reality.

MY Studio is the place for you IF:

• You are feeling inspired and looking for a designated space with a good, creative vibe
• You’d like to try a new craft, but don’t want to buy all of the equipment you need to get started
• You need a place to make that Pintrest project that you got all the stuff for and but haven’t gotten around to making yet
• You’d like to make a personalized gift
• You’d like to have an art-inspired gathering: birthday parties, team bonding, family projects, time with friends, date night
• Come with an idea, Andi & Braden are ready to help you make it happen…AND take care of the clean up!

MY Studio is located on the basement level near Yoga Studio C and is easily accessed via the entrance via the North Parking lot.  For more information phone: (319) 331-6205.

Andi Spencer

Andi Spencer has lived in Mount Vernon with her husband Jaime and their two children, Connor and Fiona, for 11 years.

Her love of art started at a very early age. She grew up in Grinnell where she took as many art classes as she could while in school and then as a student at Grinnell College and the University of Iowa. She loved to draw and paint and make things with her dad’s wood working tools.

She was also fortunate to have access to a variety of art experiences with artists in Grinnell who opened their studios to her and encouraged her and helped to develop her artistic abilities. The idea for MY Studio really stems from that experience. Andi’s desire to have an intentional space to make art as well as a space that could be shared so that others could have that experience as well.

Braden JP Rood

Braden JP Rood hails from Mount Vernon. After graduating from MVHS she went to University of Northern Iowa and majored in Theatre Performance. She lived in New York for four years to pursue an acting career.  In 2002 she moved back to Iowa and married her husband, Anton and they settled in Mount Vernon with their three boys: Jasper, Atticus & Chester.

Along with MY Studio, Braden also works at the University of Iowa as a teacher and Standardized Patient. She is heavily involved with Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre as well as volunteers for various community groups including: MVL CDG, Mount Vernon Schools, Hallmark and MVAAC. She is proud to call Mount Vernon her home and is thrilled with the prospects of MY Studio.