My name is Marissa Hanker. I am an art education major at Messiah College. Within the next year, I will be getting my degree as an art teacher with a concentration in mixed media.

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved to create new designs and projects out of anything imaginable; papier-mâché from newspaper, collages, origami, dresses out of paper or other medium for my dolls and now myself, to name a few. While immensely enjoying these projects, I learned from them as well. I learn best from "hands on" experience. The assigned "creative projects" in school were the most memorable for me. I even acquired my cooking skills that way. I started at about the age of ten, surprising my parents with breakfast in bed for their anniversary. Every year the meals got more elaborate, starting with pancakes carved into letters spelling out “Happy Anniversary” to a twelve course meal with fruit salad bursting out of a pineapple or melon, crepes with a berry sauce drizzled over them decoratively and much more.

I started applying all this creativity to planning parties for children in my congregation, where I designed invitations, and the interior space, styled hair and make up, came up with crafts and games, and organized music and dancing. I try to have the children involved with as many aspects of the planning as possible, to encourage fellowshipping and learning new skills. For example, one of the table decorations I made was chocolate pretzel bouquets. The Bat Mitzvah girl and her friends all came over one afternoon and not only learned how to make these bouquets, but then produced them en masse!

When it came time for me to pick a major for college, I was faced with the difficult decision of art teacher, culinary artist, or fashion designer. Though I chose the teaching career, I continue to pursue fashion and culinary design, as well.

Having this business, as well as being an art teacher, allows me to use all the gifts God gave me, for His glory! My desire is to eventually turn this business into a school where teens can hone their artistic skills, as well as work with me and my clients to get the experience they need. This would also be a place where both adult and teen can teach and learn from one another, so we will always have new ideas streaming through.

For the time being, it is just me. Lately, I have been working on multiple projects such as the purse-belt and the dress of cards, as well as planning a bat mitzvah or two. This summer, I am studying the history of art in preparation for the praxis 2, as well as thinking of creative ways to apply the art of old to future lesson plans and my business.