Our Founders

Créé à la main was founded in Redding, Connecticut by Michele and Ryan Offenhartz.

Michele Offenhartz

Michele brings a disciplined business foundation and a refined design sensibility to Créé à la main, balancing analytical rigor with an intuitive eye for detail and style.

She holds an undergraduate degree in the science of accounting and a master’s degree in finance, with professional experience spanning both private and public accounting as well as financial management. A graduate of Siena College, Michele developed an early entrepreneurial instinct while still in school, launching an online reselling business that funded extensive travel throughout Europe. Those experiences deeply shaped her appreciation for proportion, craftsmanship, and timeless design. These influences continue to inform her work today.

Michele plays a central role in shaping the studio’s aesthetic, operations, and standards. Her approach is defined by precision, consistency, and an insistence on thoughtful execution, from product selection and presentation to the subtle details that elevate everyday objects into lasting pieces. Michele is also endlessly inspired by European culture, frequently weaving Old World aesthetics, restraint, and timelessness into the studio’s craftsmanship and design language.

Her favorite title, however, is mom of three, a role that influences how she thinks about home, legacy, and the objects that fill daily life. Outside the studio, Michele can often be found walking outdoors, tending her garden, or refinishing antique furniture, restoring character and function to well loved pieces. She is a passionate advocate for rescue dogs and proudly shares her life with Caroline and Margot, their two black rescue pit bulls.

Michele dreams of one day becoming fluent in Italian, deepening her connection to the culture that continues to inspire her creative eye.

Ryan Offenhartz

Ryan is the creative force behind Créé à la main, blending a lifelong devotion to art, design, and craftsmanship with a career spent serving some of the most discerning clients in the world.

Educated at Avon Old Farms School, Ryan went on to earn a double major in Studio Art and Art History from Hobart & William Smith Colleges, grounding his work in both classical discipline and visual storytelling. He began experimenting with digital art at the age of five, an early curiosity that evolved into a lifelong exploration of form, texture, and meaning, now expressed through tangible and enduring objects.

In his early career, Ryan spent a brief but formative period working as a chef in New York City. That experience instilled a lasting appreciation for process, precision, and the quiet discipline behind exceptional work. These values continue to shape both his creative practice and his enjoyment of cooking today.

Alongside his creative work, Ryan has built and participated in a range of entrepreneurial ventures across design, manufacturing, and service based businesses. He also brings decades of experience in sales and marketing, having worked closely with highly discerning, ultra high net worth clientele. This background informs every detail of Créé à la main, including an uncompromising standard of quality, a deep respect for materials, and an understanding that true luxury is felt rather than announced.

Outside of work, Ryan is a devoted father to three children and has a lifelong love of cars and motorcycles. Weekends are spent with his family, often centered around an exotic car, a long drive, or a shared appreciation for beautiful engineering. It is this same reverence for design, craftsmanship, and authenticity that defines his approach to handmade goods.

For Ryan, Créé à la main is not just a brand. It is the intersection of art, legacy, and the belief that the objects we live with should be as meaningful as they are beautiful.