From Willacoochee to the White House, local’s art draws national attention

Several times a day, on a dirt road in Willacoochee, Georgia, there are UPS and FedEx delivery trucks leaving dust trails behind them as packages are picked up from a residence.  The packages are shipped all over the United States and, most recently, to Washington, D.C. to be delivered to the home of the Vice President of the United States.  Professional athletes, families in Colorado, hotels in Florida and the vice president have sought a very talented individual to make hand-crafted wreaths and decorations. 

Lori Russ Howard is an artist who creates beautiful, unique, hand-crafted and personalized arrangements.  Her work includes bridal arrangements, wreaths and home decor.  Lori simply loves to make things. Lori has a gift for making small things, large things, fancy things and simple things.  She is a meticulous artist with an eye for detail and she devotes her time to hand crafting special arrangements.  She even creates her own methods for constructing her work.  Instead of using glitter for a certain project, Lori decided small glass beads would be classier.  This is how her signature topiaries were created and now showcased in the Biden residence.

Lori onced joked that her goal was to “decorate the White House.”  It appears that she is well on her way.  Joe Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, hosted a Christmas reception for miltary personnel, their families and veterans on December 3 and her home was decorated with items that were made in Willacoochee, Georgia.  Lori’s decorations can be seen on HGTV on December 14, when the White House Christmas Special will air.

Lori’s company, DyJo Design, is the epitome of a small town success story.  Lori’s family is not surprised by her success and achievements.  Her younger brother, Mathew, recalls what a talented person Lori has been throughout her life.

“Lori has always had a gift. She has always been so creative.  The things that she makes are incredible,” he says.

Lori surrounds herself in family, nature and peace.  Lori admits that she is slightly introverted and reclusive.  Lori’s sister-in-law, Erin, remarks, “You would imagine her house to be decorated and cluttered with crafts, but she is a minimalist and she would rather create beauty for other people rather than make things for herself.”

Erin and Mathew are not the only loved ones of Lori’s who admire her craft.  Velma and Larry and are very proud of their daughter.  Lori’s parents have adored her since birth and they have always been grateful for their intellingent, thoughtful and artistic oldest child.

Lori does not follow the designs of others; she creates her own methods for designing beautiful arrangements.  A very amazing brain child of Lori’s is her wedding designs.  Instead of using live flowers, she constructs bouquets, bridal hair accessories and wedding decor from leather, lace, satin, beads and pearls.  Her wedding creations are a stunning and innovative approach to personalizing the traditional wedding floral arrangements and having keepsakes.  From lace roses to ivory leather hair combs, Lori commits to making her work elegant and unique.  Lori especially enjoys the idea that she gets to create wedding designs that last forever.

Lori has always been intelligent and compassionate.  Her love of reading and writing has remained a favorite pastime. Throughout high school, she had ambitions of becoming an attorney. She saw herself as a person that could fight for other people and be a voice for those in need. Her grades were excellent and she was  interested in politics and pre-law. Throughout her college career at Mercer and Valdosta State University, she explored her options and while doing so she met the love of her life,  Larry Howard.  She and Larry married and opened a consulting company.  Although Lori was successful, she didn’t feel satisfied.  She knew that there was something else that she yearned to do and she soon discovered that passion.

Lori’s passion and life purpose was to create beautiful art and make great things.  That is exactly what Lori did when she became a parent.  She says, “My precious little boy made my soul feel restored.  I still pinch myself because it feels so surreal, like a dream I am sure i will wake from.”

Even her son’s class projects reflect her love for art and design.  She created a painted desert of dyed sand for his homework.

From her son’s name, her company was born.  DyJo Designs is short for Dylan Joseph.  The love of her life, her son, helped her create a business in which she could channel her talents and creativity. On a daily basis, Lori peacefully surrounds herself in glitter, glue, crafts, leather and happiness.   While she humbly claims that she is no different from “other mothers,wives, crafters, and business women,” there are a few acheivements that set her apart from the rest.

One such acheivement is her placement in the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made contest. Lori was a finalist in a Martha Stewart nation-wide contest that  recognized  creative entrepeneurs who turned their passions into thriving businesses.   Lori is quick to say that she couild never be Martha Stewart becasue she does not bake.  

Lori’s own words  describe her journey,  “Don’t give in to the doubt and fear.  Believe in yourself. Believe in what you do. Believe you are good enough and you will succeed. You have to have faith in yourself. Step out of your comfort zone to experiment and explore.”

Lori Howard believed in herself and now she lives a life of dreaming, creating and designing art.

Lori Russ Howard along with her husband, Larry, and son, Dylan Joseph.