Today we’d like to introduce you to Joelle Ebanks.
Hi Joelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Creativity has always been a big part of my life. I’m a mom of three little ones, and I’ve worked in interior design for nearly 20 years, with experience in commercial, multifamily, and residential design across the United States. I also had my own residential design studio, Island Home Interiors, where I specialized in Coastal Modern and Tropical-inspired interiors. I’ve always loved the way creativity can transform not only a space, but also how people feel.
After moving from South Florida to Lake Nona, I found myself facing the same challenge every year. During the summer and nearly every school holiday, I would search for art camps, creative clubs, or hands-on workshops for my children, but I could never find what I was looking for nearby.
We’re a very creative family, and we were looking for an outlet—somewhere my children could learn a new art skill, explore their imagination, or simply enjoy making something fun and useful. Those kinds of experiences were hard to find in Lake Nona, and we often had to drive all the way to Winter Garden to participate in them.
It became a real pain point for our family. Eventually, my husband and I looked at each other and said, “If we’re searching for this, there must be other families searching for it too.” That conversation planted the seed for what would eventually become Créatif Lake Nona.
We began researching the best way to bring more creative experiences to our community, and that’s when we discovered Créatif, a creative arts franchise based in California. We spoke with the franchisor, learned more about the company and its mission, and immediately felt that it was the perfect fit for what we wanted to create here in Central Florida.
Our original plan was to open a physical studio in Lake Nona, and we spent more than a year searching for the right location. Unfortunately, finding a space that was both the right fit and at the right price point was much more difficult than we expected. We had to take a step back and decide whether we were going to continue waiting for the perfect space or find another way to move forward.
We chose to move forward with the mobile studio model, and it has turned out to be such a wonderful fit for us. Instead of depending on people to find us and come into a studio, we’re able to bring the creativity directly to them.
We can create almost anywhere—at schools, hospitals, corporate events, birthday parties, coffee shops, pop-up workshops, libraries, community events, and senior living facilities. The mobile model gives us the flexibility to meet people where they are and make creativity feel accessible and welcoming to everyone.
My favorite part of this journey is watching people’s faces light up when they see what they’ve created. So many people begin a workshop by saying, “I’m not creative,” and then leave feeling proud, excited, and surprised by what they were able to make. Whether we’re creating with a young child, a busy parent, a corporate team, or a senior, that moment of joy never gets old.
Créatif Lake Nona grew from a need I experienced as a mom, but it has become so much more than that. It’s an opportunity to bring people together, encourage creativity, and give our community the kind of artistic outlet my own family had been searching for. Being able to share that experience with families and organizations throughout Central Florida has been incredibly meaningful.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of our biggest challenges was finding the right physical location. We searched for more than a year, and there were so many factors that made the process difficult. Sometimes the location itself wasn’t the right fit, the rent was too high, the landlord terms didn’t work for our business, or the existing condition of the space would have required construction costs that simply didn’t make sense. There were many moments when finding the right space at the right price felt almost impossible.
It was frustrating at times because we had such a clear vision for what we wanted to create, but we also knew we couldn’t force the wrong location just to move forward. Eventually, we had to let go of the idea that our business needed to begin within four walls. Choosing the mobile model allowed us to keep moving toward our goal in a way that was more flexible and sustainable.
Another challenge has been getting the word out and helping people understand exactly who we are and what we offer. Because Créatif Lake Nona is mobile, some people initially assume we only offer children’s birthday parties or traditional kids’ crafts. In reality, we create customized art experiences for all ages and can bring them almost anywhere—from schools and corporate events to hospitals, coffee shops, senior living communities, private celebrations, and community pop-ups.
We’ve found that once people truly understand what we do, they become genuinely excited about it. They can often see a way to use our services themselves, or they immediately think of a friend, school, business, or organization that would love the experience. Building that awareness takes time, but every event gives us another opportunity to introduce ourselves, connect with the community, and show people how meaningful and joyful creating together can be.
The challenges have taught me to stay flexible and not become so attached to one version of the dream that I miss another path forward. Our journey may not look exactly the way we originally imagined, but we’re still fulfilling the same purpose—bringing creativity, connection, and memorable experiences to people throughout our community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Creatif Lake Nona?
Créatif Lake Nona is a mobile art studio that brings fun, thoughtfully designed creative experiences directly to people throughout Lake Nona and the greater Orlando area. Instead of asking our guests to come to a traditional studio, we bring everything needed for the experience—including the project, materials, supplies, instruction, setup, and cleanup—directly to their chosen location.
We offer creative experiences for children, adults, families, schools, businesses, and community organizations. Our services include birthday parties, school programs, corporate team-building events, private gatherings, pop-up workshops, community events, hospital programs, senior living activities, and more. We can host an experience in a home, school, office, coffee shop, clubhouse, hospital, senior living community, or just about any space where people want to gather and create.
One of the things I really want people to know is that Créatif is not only for children or for people who already consider themselves artistic. Our projects are designed to be approachable, enjoyable, and engaging for all ages and experience levels. You don’t need any previous art experience to participate. We guide guests through the process step by step while still giving them the freedom to make the project their own.
We specialize in creating experiences that feel polished, personal, and memorable. Depending on the group and occasion, we can offer painting, mixed-media projects, seasonal crafts, functional art, and other hands-on creative activities. We also work with our clients to select projects that are appropriate for their guests, event theme, age group, setting, and goals. Whether someone is planning a child’s birthday party, a company wellness event, a senior activity, or a relaxing evening with friends, we want the experience to feel thoughtfully tailored to them.
What sets us apart is the combination of creativity, convenience, and connection. Because we are mobile, we can meet people where they already feel comfortable and bring an art studio experience directly into their space. Our clients don’t have to worry about gathering supplies, planning the project, teaching the activity, or handling the mess afterward. We take care of the details so they can be fully present and enjoy creating with their guests.
My background in interior design also influences the way I approach the business. After nearly 20 years in the design industry, I care deeply about the details—how an experience looks, how it feels, how it flows, and how people interact with it. I want every event to feel welcoming, organized, and visually inspiring while still being relaxed and fun.
What I’m most proud of is that Créatif Lake Nona makes creativity feel accessible. It is incredibly rewarding to watch someone arrive feeling unsure or saying, “I’m not creative,” and then see their face light up when they realize what they’re capable of making. The finished project is special, but the confidence, joy, and connection created during the process are just as meaningful.
More than anything, I want readers to know that we are here to bring people together through creativity. We’re creating the artistic outlet my own family was searching for when we moved to Lake Nona, and we’re excited to share it with children, families, businesses, and organizations throughout Central Florida. Our goal is for every person who creates with us to leave feeling proud, inspired, and excited to create again.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe my attention to detail and empathetic nature have been two of the most important qualities contributing to my success.
My background in interior design taught me to notice the small details that can completely shape how someone experiences a space, a service, or an event. With Créatif Lake Nona, I bring that same level of thoughtfulness to every creative experience—from choosing the right project and preparing the materials to making sure the setup feels welcoming and everything flows smoothly.
My empathetic nature is equally important. I genuinely care about understanding what people need and how I can help create an experience that feels meaningful to them. Whether I’m working with a parent planning a birthday party, a teacher organizing a school activity, a company creating a team-building experience, or someone who feels nervous about trying art, I want each person to feel heard, supported, and comfortable.
I think the combination of those two qualities allows me to create experiences that are not only well organized and thoughtfully planned, but also warm, personal, and inclusive. At the heart of everything I do is the desire for people to feel cared for and to leave feeling proud of what they created.
Pricing:
- Flexible pricing: Pricing is based on the selected project, number of participants, event location, level of customization, staffing needs, and event length.
- Base and Premium options: Mobile parties are available in both 90-minute Base and 120-minute Premium formats.
- Everything is included: Packages typically include project materials, guided instruction, setup, cleanup, and support from a minimum of two Créatif Art Party Assistants.
- A wide variety of experiences: Guests can choose from slime, canvas painting, maker projects, keepsake creations, plush-building, wearable art, and custom workshops.
- Personalized quotes: Custom experiences can be created for birthdays, schools, businesses, community groups, and private events, with quotes tailored to each group’s needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.creatif.com/mobile-lake-nona-fl/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatif_lake_nona/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatif.lakenona
