Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammy Bardwell.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Back in 2008, my husband and I moved into our house with our two young boys, 4 and 7. Summer camp was soon approaching and due to the house purchase, the boys were only able to choose one camp each for the summer. Seeing the disappointment in their eyes, I opened summer camps in the back of our house and our big backyard (2 acres) to friends in the area. The goal was to teach the kids conceptual ideas and problem solving through fun projects…so they were having a blast without realizing how much they were learning along the way. The boys had a blast and so did their friends. I love seeing those gears turning in the kid’s heads, watching them learn new processes and becoming proud of their accomplishments! Being Fearlessly Creative and Fun became our motto.
The camps continued in the backroom and the backyard, adding after school classes’ art and working with kids who wanted to get into Booker T. Supplies were filling our house and our garage!
We moved the camp to the back house and along the way, began working with preschools and serving kids in local public schools once an twice a week and added another location.
In 2016, we officially moved our main office to WRUMC and in one studio room. And our amazing year round staff has continued to grow!
Fast forward to 2018- WRUMC has been a great partner to work with. We now occupy the upstairs north wing. We have over 75 summer camps, serve 8 schools with weekly art and STEAM classes, and have added Studio Bella Explorers to our programming. With Explorers, we will be serving around 150 children daily. We host birthday parties and Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops and partner up with organizations such as Southwest Airlines, the Vickery Meadow Foundation, the Anatole and the Crow Museum, and as an independent artist, I have been lucky to receive two grants from the Office of Cultural Affairs to be able to serve 150 girls in South Dallas. Studio Bella for Kids would not be where it is today without the strong support of my family and the wonderful families that believe in what we do!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Building Studio Bella has been a great gift. My education served me well with a bachelor’s degree in education and a Master’s degree in design- a perfect match. The biggest learning curve has been the business side and delegating, delegating. Before Studio Bella, I worked in a boutique graphic design firm and then stayed home with my boys.
I could not have done this without my husband, a business owner himself, who has guided me along the way through the ups and downs and been my mentor, my construction partner and someone to bounce all my crazy ideas on… My husband and two boys have been my biggest cheerleaders and support.
And I have to say, I have had a wonderful staff who has ridden the waves as I learn to be a business leader that a strong creative business needs.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Studio Bella for Kids story. Tell us more about the business.
Studio Bella for Kids is a progressive arts and enrichment studio that fuses the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering Art and Math with the Creative problem solving process. We serve kids of all ages and encourage their passions and interests in the projects.
We host summer camps, doing 5 day a week afterschool programming, weekly classes in art, science and STEAM at area public and private schools, partner and collaborate with businesses and organizations such as Southwest Airlines, The Vickery Meadow Foundation, The Crow Museum, the Anatole and more. We also host Girls Scout and Boy Scout Workshops, and create and host personalized birthday parties.
We are known for our creativity and our passion for helping kids reach beyond their expectations. Customization. Taking art to that next level to make it even better with those conceptual ideas. Mixing and matching and believing in crazy ideas of the world.
What are you most proud of as a company? Seeing those lightbulbs turn on when kids grasp the art of conceptual problem solving process, giving kids opportunities and new experiences, and the smiles we bring to kids’ faces when they have thought out of the box and have become proud of their ideas and projects.
What sets you apart from others? Customization. Working with the whole child. Although there are many others that focus on STEAM or STEM, we focus on the creative process, the principles and elements of design and conceptual thinking.
What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
I was lucky to have found my husband when I dropped a penny and he picked it up for me (true story!) Add in two great boys- heck they were the reason Studio Bella was founded.
And I feel lucky to have been born creative with a crazy work ethic and passion for what I do.
If there was any bad luck, I look at as more of a learning experience that can only make me stronger.
Pricing:
- Summer camps range from $150-$225, depending on the kind of supplies and staff needed.
- For after school classes at the main studio, an 8 week session runs around $125
Contact Info:
- Address: 1450 Old Gate Lane Lane
Dallas, Texas 75218 - Website: studiobellaforkids.com
- Phone: 469-878-8056
- Email: tammy@studiobellaforkids.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/studiobella_forkids
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studiobellaforkids
Image Credit:
Studio Bella for Kids
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
