Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Trecozzi.
Kimberly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi, my name is Kimberly, and I am the founder of Crystal Canvas Creations, a diamond art studio located in Whitehouse Station, NJ. I host guided workshops, birthday parties, private events, and create custom designs!
I have loved crafting and art for as long as I can remember. I must have been at Michael’s every single weekend as a kid! I was always looking for my next craft project. One of my favorite YouTube channels to watch was Do It, Gurl by Jamie Petitto. I worked on the most random projects, from making a candle out of an orange peel to creating a wallet and purse out of duct tape! I loved the sense of accomplishment and happiness that came from completing something with my own hands.
But then life got busy, and my mom got sick. She was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer when I was just 14 years old and passed away when I was 16. She was the strongest woman I have ever known, and no matter what life threw at her, she remained optimistic. I know I got my creativity from her because she was incredibly talented.
For every birthday or special event, she would make the most extravagant cakes—you know, Cake Boss-level cakes—with fondant characters and insane attention to detail. I always thought she should have opened a side business designing cakes, but she truly just loved doing it for free for the people she loved. I loved seeing the smiles and gasps of awe when people saw her cakes for the first time.
After losing my mom, I put crafting on the back burner for a long time. I might have completed a couple of projects a year, but more often than not, I would start something and never get around to finishing it. I put most of my focus into school and work. I chose to go to Radiation Therapy school because I wanted to help cancer patients just like my mom.
People often tell me, “I don’t know how you do that job. Working with sick people all the time must be so depressing.” But the truth is, it is all about how you choose to view it. It can be one of the most rewarding jobs, knowing that you are helping people through one of the toughest periods of their lives. You are helping to cure cancer, prolong someone’s life, or relieve their pain in palliative cases. You can make someone smile or laugh, even if just for a moment, and give them a chance to forget about their prognosis. You can ease their nerves during a time when everything feels scary and confusing.
I have now been a full-time Radiation Therapist for about a year, but I always told myself that once I had my full-time job and routine down, I would make more time for myself and do more. I have always pushed myself to grow and take on new challenges. I wanted to get back into art and find passions outside of work.
In March 2026, I started brainstorming. I had always dreamed of opening my own art studio, but there were already plenty of competitors—paint-and-sip studios, pottery studios, and similar businesses. I kept asking myself, “What would make mine different? What isn’t out there?”
At the time, I was working on a large, daunting diamond painting that I had been slowly chipping away at for years. Then it hit me: That’s it! Diamond art, but with small, cute designs that people could complete in a single workshop. I wanted people to experience that same sense of accomplishment I loved as a kid, without having to spend weeks, months, or even years working on one piece.
I immediately got to work. One thing about me is that when I have an idea, I tend to follow through before my brain has time to convince me of all the reasons it might not work. I researched for HOURS about starting an LLC, the logistics of opening a business, and everything else that goes into opening an art studio. Then I got right to planning.
By April, I was touring places to open my studio. I found the perfect spot in Whitehouse Station with a month-to-month lease, so if things didn’t work out, I wasn’t locked into a long-term commitment. I am a firm believer that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and that if you are committed enough and willing to put in the effort, you can truly accomplish anything you set your mind to.
I went into this with an open and optimistic mindset. I knew I wasn’t going to have hundreds of customers right away, but I promised myself that I would stay consistent no matter what happened and that I would never give up.
During the first two weeks of May, I was at the studio every single day, turning an empty space into my dream diamond art studio. I set up the tables and chairs, added decorations, and watched the space slowly come together. When I finally stepped back and saw what I had created, I felt an incredible sense of pride.
On May 15th, I had my grand opening weekend, surrounded by supportive family and friends. From that point forward, I was constantly looking for ways to improve. I found new, more time-efficient methods, advanced my designs, and continued growing my studio.
As daunting as it was, I even stood on a packed Main Street before the Memorial Day parade and handed out flyers to get the word out about my business. It was scary putting myself out there, but I did it! And I actually got customers from those flyers, so it was completely worth it.
The absolute best part of this business is getting to meet new people from all walks of life, chat with them, hear their stories, and then see them smile as they hold a brand-new piece of art that they completed themselves.
I love the idea of an art studio because it encourages social interaction and creates a sense of community. I have had people stay at the studio for hours simply chatting and enjoying each other’s company, even after they have finished their piece. I love seeing the pride on someone’s face when they complete their canvas. Those moments remind me exactly why I do this.
Of course, balancing a full-time career at a cancer center with my own business can be challenging. My hours at the studio are limited to evenings and weekends, but I make it work! I genuinely enjoy every minute of it, and I can’t wait to continue growing Crystal Canvas Creations and see where this journey takes me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a brand-new business will always come with struggles. You can think you have everything figured out, and then BOOM—an issue comes up that you never even considered. I have definitely learned that things don’t always go according to plan, and you have to be able to adapt and keep moving forward.
I can distinctly remember my website crashing right before my grand opening weekend. I spent the entire morning on the phone with customer service, and no one could figure out what was wrong. Eventually, they told me I needed to call another department that, of course, was closed until Monday—after my entire grand opening weekend!
After a brief freak-out moment, I had to take a breath and remind myself, “Okay, my website is down, but it is not the end of the world. What can I do right now?” I posted on all of my social media accounts explaining the technical difficulties and shared my direct booking link so people could still sign up for classes without going through my website. And guess what? It all worked out fine. I called on Monday, and we got everything sorted out.
There have been plenty of other little things along the way. My business email stopped working, I ran out of storage on my domain and my website went down AGAIN (which meant I had to pay for more storage), my air conditioning wasn’t working and the studio was absolutely scorching hot… and that’s just to name a few!
But those are all minor hiccups, and I have learned that you just have to remain positive no matter what happens. Unfortunately, not everything can be fixed instantaneously. Sometimes you just have to work with what you have, do what you can in the moment, and figure out the rest as you go.
I have also had weekends where I didn’t have any customers. Although that can be a little disheartening sometimes, I try to turn it around and ask myself, “How can I advertise more? How can I get the word out? What new ideas can I try?” Just because customers don’t show up doesn’t mean the work stops. I use that time at the studio to get other things done, work on new designs, plan future events, and think about ways to improve the business.
Most importantly, no matter what, I still show up.
I think a majority of people don’t even have the courage to start a brand-new business, so I try to celebrate every little win and keep pushing forward. I remind myself that I have already had people who I don’t know personally come into my studio because they found me through social media or saw one of my flyers. To me, that is a huge accomplishment in itself!
I know I still have a lot to learn, and I hope to continue growing my business, getting the word out, and focusing more on advertising and networking. The road hasn’t been completely smooth, but I don’t think it is supposed to be. Every challenge has given me an opportunity to learn something new, and I would rather keep moving forward than let a few bumps in the road stop me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create custom diamond art designs and host guided workshops, birthday parties, and group events. I take care of all the preparation ahead of time so that when customers walk through the door, everything is ready for them. They can simply sit down, focus on bedazzling their canvas, and enjoy chatting, relaxing, and spending time with the people around them.
What I am most proud of is that I started this business completely on my own. From coming up with the concept and creating the designs to setting up the studio and figuring out all of the behind-the-scenes logistics, I have built Crystal Canvas Creations from the ground up.
What sets my studio apart from other art studios is the experience itself. Instead of a typical painting class, we use colorful gems to create sparkling pieces of art. Diamond art is also something that anyone can enjoy, regardless of their artistic ability or experience. You don’t have to consider yourself “artistic” to create something beautiful. I love that someone can walk into my studio with little or no experience and leave with a finished piece that they are genuinely proud of.
I want my studio to be a place where people can step away from their busy lives for a couple of hours, relax, connect with others, and create something they can be proud of. Whether someone comes in for a birthday party, a night out with friends, a private event, or simply wants to try something new, I want them to leave with more than just a finished canvas—I want them to leave with a fun experience and the feeling of “wow, I made this.”
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
When I was 5 years old, my mom asked my siblings and me to help her bring the groceries in from the car. As soon as I opened the car door, I screamed—not because I was scared, but because there was a little puppy sitting inside! I had never felt so happy or excited in my life.
He was the sweetest little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and we decided to name him King. He quickly became such a huge part of my childhood and our family. I have so many wonderful memories of playing fetch with him, taking him for walks, building him a little cardboard house, and playing with him by the pool during the summertime.
He was always there for the little everyday moments that made my childhood so special. Looking back, I realize how lucky I was to grow up with him. He truly was the best addition to our family, and bringing home King is one of my favorite childhood memories.
Pricing:
- $30 per workshop, includes a 6×6 canvas and all supplies
- $17 for our mini 4×4 canvases
- Custom pricing for custom designs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://crystalcanvascreate.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalcanvascreate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61589339155444
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@crystalcanvascreate?fbclid=IwY2xjawUBVOJwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4gSHedzQgEOi2dsipQia1r7nPpTwc0gyrs0WL5Ux6SJfunNLVS56s0-R1C8Q_aem_TVh8EdTCapixFzlP67oo2Q
