Potions & Familiars began as a shared love for creativity, mending, and the simple magic of making a home feel like home and quickly grew into something much more.

 

Jennifer’s Story – The Hearth Witch

 

I grew up in a small, loud, close-knit family where love was abundant even when space and money weren’t. In our tiny two-bedroom house, I shared a room with my two younger sisters. My mom, a stay-at-home mother without a car, created magic out of almost nothing. She walked us everywhere, made our backyard feel like a kingdom, and welcomed every neighborhood kid who wandered to our door. All the kids loved her and looked forward to the times they got to play at our house, From her, I learned warmth, creativity, and the power of making a space feel safe, loved, and lived-in. My dad worked long hours to provide for us and my mom worked around the clock keeping us fed, cared for, and endlessly entertained. When my dad was home, he taught me that being different was the real cool and to always be myself no matter what. 

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I fell in love with art early. Through middle school and high school I immersed myself in photography, ceramics, stagecraft, and any class where I could create. Teachers told me I should pursue art, or even marketing, because I could turn ideas into something people feel. And alongside creativity, I always felt drawn to spirituality to the energy of a room, to clearing and cleansing, to helping a space breathe.

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Today, I pour all of that into my work: decorating, organizing, cleansing spaces, and helping people find peace, comfort, and confidence in their homes. I love bringing warmth to the homes of others the same way my mother did for ours. And one day soon, I hope to expand into offering my own artwork, candles, ceramics, and handmade pieces for the homes I help shape.

 

Dylan’s Story – The Mending Wizard

 

Dylan grew up in a small family with his mother and grandmother, two strong women who started with very little but worked tirelessly to build a life for the three of them. In those early years, money was tight, and the homes they lived in often needed constant fixing. From the time he was about five years old, Dylan was right beside his mom and, learning how to patch, mend, and repair whatever needed attention because hiring help wasn’t an option. As Dylan grew, his mother took a courageous leap and joined the military, determined to create a better life for their family. Her dedication opened doors that once seemed unreachable. Dylan's mom worked tirelessly to give him the very best; her dedication made her able to travel with him to incredible places, make sure he attended exceptional schools, and encouraged every spark of talent he had.  By age 12, he was winning chess tournaments and already a grade ahead. 

 

Those early experiences with helping his mom keep up on home repairs shaped him. He developed an incredible eye for detail, noticing the smallest issues in a home and understanding instinctively how to fix them. As he grew older and life improved, his family was eventually able to own rental properties properties that Dylan helped maintain as a young adult.

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Alongside his handyman skill, he’s passionate about technology, computers, gaming, and painting Warhammer miniatures during his rare free moments. You may even catch Dylan hosting game nights at a local brewery here in St Joseph, MO. 

 

How Our Paths Came Together

 

Before we met, both of us had lived entire lifetimes, marriages, divorces, and the deep responsibility of becoming primary parents for our kids. As single parents, we each built lives centered around our children, choosing jobs that gave us flexibility and stability so we could show up for them fully.

 

When we finally found each other, we found something we didn’t expect: someone who understood building a life from the ground up, someone who valued family, dreams, creativity, and resilience. Over the next three years, we encouraged each other to imagine something bigger, something meaningful that combined both of our strengths. What started as conversations and “what ifs” slowly became plans, and those plans eventually became the spark that created Potions & Familiars.

 

What Potions & Familiars Stands For

 

We believe a home should feel warm, supported, and alive.We believe small spaces can hold big love. We believe repairs and creativity go hand in hand. We believe every family deserves a space that feels like it truly belongs to them. Dylan brings the mending. I bring the hearth. Together, we bring the magic. This is just the beginning  and we’re honored to share our craft, our passion, and our story with you.