Meet Ashley

 Meet Ashley, Founder & Director, Free Your Mind 

In a sun-dappled workshop behind rows of painted planks, you’ll often find Ashley surrounded by sawdust, laughter, and the hum of creation. Her hands—strong, steady, and calloused from years of carving, sanding, and building—move with reverent joy. To her, sawdust isn’t just the byproduct of work; it’s evidence of transformation.

Ashley believes creativity heals. After years in the corporate world, she was led by a divine calling to follow her higher purpose—to help others heal through creativity, just as she did. For Ashley, creating is a lifeline. It keeps her grounded, present, and connected to joy. The act of making—whether painting, building, or designing—is her therapy, her meditation, and her ministry.

Her passion for woodworking and power tools extends far beyond teaching practical skills. It’s about building people—helping others discover confidence, independence, and strength through the power of their own hands. In Ashley’s classes, every tool becomes a symbol of possibility, and every project becomes a step toward empowerment.

She begins each session with a breath, a moment of mindfulness, and a question: “What did you love to build as a child?” From that place of remembering, students reconnect with their inner curiosity and courage. 

As Ashley says, “Wood doesn’t judge—it just waits to be shaped.”

But Ashley’s mission reaches beyond her studio walls. She’s deeply driven to address what she calls the creativity crisis—the growing lack of creative thinking and hands-on learning in schools today. In a world where creative problem-solving ranks among the top three must-have skills for future careers, she’s determined to make a change. Through Free Your Mind’s programs, she is reintroducing creativity, curiosity, and innovation into education—helping children and adults alike rediscover how to think differently, build boldly, and create fearlessly.

Through Free Your Mind, Ashley has built more than a studio; she’s built a sanctuary for the soul—a place where art, woodworking, and hands-on learning become instruments of healing, growth, and purpose. Here, mistakes are part of the journey, imagination is celebrated, and every student leaves with sawdust on their hands and confidence in their hearts.

Creating brings Ashley peace, keeps trauma at bay, and reminds her daily of the transformative power within us all. Her mission is simple yet profound:  to help others heal, grow, and reclaim their creative spirit—one project, one spark, and one soul at a time.