ReCreate Ocala was founded in 2026 by 3 friends who are passionate about creativity and the planet. Bridget Kiefer, Joanne Cornell-Ohlman, and Suzy Heinbockel are excited about the mission.
About us
Bridget Kiefer
After retiring from a 36-year career with the State Attorney's Office, I was ready to trade the stress of management and deadlines for something that nourishes both the mind and the spirit. Although I grew up watching my mother sew, knit, crochet, and even dye and spin her own yarn, I had let those creative skills fade over the years. Thanks to my friend, Suzy, who helped me pick up knitting and crocheting again, I rediscovered not just a hobby, but a source of peace, purpose, and joy.
That experience reminded me how powerful it is to create something with your own hands. I'm thrilled to be part of this creative reuse thrift store, where we hope to inspire others to explore their creativity, give new life to overlooked materials, and discover the satisfaction that comes from making rather than simply consuming. I believe creativity has the power to connect people, reduce waste, and enrich our lives, and I'm excited to help build a community where everyone feels welcome to create.
Joanne Cornell-Ohlman
ReCreate feels like a full-circle moment for me. As a clinical child psychologist, I have experienced the joy of using creative arts with children and families in my private practice, as well as through community programs such as Art 4 All, The Pearl Project, and Arts in Health Ocala Metro. Time and again, I have witnessed the healing, connection, and hope that emerge when people have access to creative materials, encouragement, and a supportive community.
Perhaps this journey began when I was a young girl visiting my grandmother. She would lift the lid of a wooden barrel filled with pipe cleaners, fabric scraps, cardboard tubes, and countless other treasures that sparked my imagination. She gave me both the freedom to create and the confidence to believe my creations mattered. Those gifts have stayed with me throughout my life and continue to shape my work with children, families, and our community. Helping bring ReCreate to life feels like a way of passing that same gift on to others—and I know my grandmother would love that.
Suzy Heinbockel
I’ve loved making things with my hands for as long as I can remember. My first project was a needlepoint bunny that my mom helped me with. Not long after that, I was crocheting with her in a women’s group, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Over the years, I’ve tried a little bit of everything—embroidery, cross stitch, knitting, crochet, quilting, and sewing. I studied interior design at the University of Kentucky, where I developed a love of fabrics and a deep connection with people who have been weaving & knitting fabrics and making things for the home and the people they love for thousands of years. I feel a deep connection to that history and a sense that I am continuing the tradition.
After college, I started sewing my own skirts for work using fun, interesting fabrics, and when my kids were little, I also made a lot of their clothes—back when they didn’t have much say in what they wore! As they got older, I picked crochet back up and have been working on improving my knitting skills too. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with dyeing yarn, and I’m excited to keep exploring different ways to dye fabric.
I love learning new techniques and sharing the joy of creating with others.