My Story
Hi there, Sweet Friends, I’m Cynthia Nessel, the founder and editor of Create with Cynthia. While you are looking around, my hope is that you will be inspired to create with me.
I started this crazy website of mine in April of 2015. As I begin to update the website now with new content and removing some of the old content, I am thrilled to take a look back and share with you my story.
I started this website to show off my favorite vintage furniture makeovers and diy home decor projects. I love showing you how I decorate for the seasons; inside and outside my home. Whether you’re re-designing your front porch or your dining room table, the process is such a thrill. I love sharing tips and step-by-step tutorials for my readers.
My dream continues to be to partner with Brands to showcase their products on the blog and in my videos.
Of course, I love bragging about my Little Family and our beautiful home. What would life be like without those that you love? My two boys; Luke and Troy and our pups get me out of bed each morning and provide exactly what I need to gain a sense of happiness and fulfillment.
Finding junk on the side of the road and repurposing it into useful decor is what I love to do. Creating seasonal home decor keeps me busy when there is no junk to be found! Being out in the garden feeds my nature loving soul. Adventuring through the world gives me something to look forward to. Practicing yoga and meditation keeps me centered. Floating on the water fills my nature loving soul.
After spending over 20 years in the Corporate World as an Human Resources Recruiter for companies like Kaiser Permanente, Stanford Health Care and University of California, San Francisco, I escaped Cubicle Nation to work on my Website and You Tube Channel full time in the year 2018.
In 2022, I found myself missing Cubicle Nation and went back to the Corporate World as a Recruiter. My full time corporate world job keeps me very busy.
I grew up in a small town full of grape vineyards, called Lodi, California. After high school escaping to the big city of San Francisco, California, was a dream turned reality.
In Lodi, the weather was hot and while Dad worked in his garden, I spent time in the pool or at the lake with my sister, Michelle. Mom was usually in the kitchen baking up delicious desserts from the garden’s bounty.
After college, I spent many years in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2020, after divorce, and needing to help my aging parents, I packed up and left the Bay Area for new adventures. I returned to my hometown of Lodi…40 years later….to buy my own home. It was not something I ever planned, let alone as a single Mom, but it was a great decision. Thankfully, I was able to spend quality time with my parents the last few years, before they passed.
Walt Disney said it right when he said, “All Our Dreams Can Come True, If We Have The Courage To Pursue Them.”
After buying my “Home on Northwood by the Lake” in the year 2020, life got very busy taking care of my parents. I was blessed to find a home in the neighborhood I grew up in and just three blocks from my Mom and Dad. Being less than a mile from the Lake allowed me lots of water time.
Unfortunately Mom passed on Valentine’s Day in 2021. Taking care of Dad became a full time job.
In May 2021, I was lead to have a space in an Antique Mall. I began at the The Red Door, Antiques, Vintage & More in Elk Grove, California. Primarily selling and teaching classes with Iron Orchid Design products.
Taking care of Dad, the work at Antique Mall, and re-entering Cubicle Nation kept me very busy with not much time for anything else.
After almost two years with The Red Door, I decided to retire. I packed up and moved out on March 31st, 2023. I miss all of my Red Door friends, but know that our paths will cross in the future. Closing my space at The Red Door opened other opportunities to be creative.
In March of 2024, my Dad passed away and I decided to move into my childhood home, “GOW by the Lake”. This home is a true oasis of love with a big vegetable garden, a pool and a jacuzzi and access to a private beach on the Mokelume River.
My home on Northwood has become a rental property.
Now I spend most of my days (after working my full time job in cubicle nation – from home) at my home, “GOW by the Lake,” being creative and adventurous.
Through my creative endeavors, my hope is that you’ll be inspired to create with me, whatever that may be.
This space is an expression of who I am and what I love to do. ♥️
I will always write about my favorite things and make videos about my favorite projects using products which I believe to be top notch. All in hopes that I can inspire you to Create With Me!
My dream is to continue to partner with Brands to showcase their products on the blog and in my videos. Reach out if you have a product you think would be a good fit here.
Thanks for being here with me.
Photos courtesy of TreeSwing Photography.