Meet the Maker

Hi, I’m Jess (and this is my dog Dusty)! I’m the hands, heart, and creative chaos behind JJ. Handmade. I’m a Primary Care Paramedic who’s spent years in the unpredictable: long nights, heavy calls, quiet drives home, and the kind of moments that stay with you long after the shift ends. The job is meaningful, but it’s also weighty, and I learned quickly that first responders are great at helping others and terrible at giving themselves permission to slow down.

JJ. Handmade grew out of that tension.

Crafting became my way to breathe again, a reset after tough calls, a place to put the things I couldn’t always say out loud, and a way to create something steady when life felt anything but. What started as personal decompression slowly turned into a mission: supporting first responder and military personnel mental health and rehabilitation through creativity, honesty, and practical encouragement.

I’m also working toward my First Responder Trauma Prevention & Recovery certificate, through SFU, blending education with lived experience so I can offer resources that actually make sense in real life, not just on paper. My goal is simple: help people feel seen, supported, and less alone in the work they do.

When I’m not on shift or creating, I’m usually outside with my husband Zack and our dog Dusty, hiking, camping, fishing, or just enjoying some quiet. Those moments remind me why this work matters: everyone needs a place to rest and reset, especially the people who spend their days showing up for others.

JJ. Handmade is my way of building that place.