Welcome to Our Story
A place to gather around the things that make life meaningful.
Our Mission
The mission of The Prepared Hearth is to help people create a life with more beauty, intention, and space for what matters —
grounded in gratitude to God and a desire to use well
what He has given us.
Why The Prepared Hearth
The name The Prepared Hearth grew from two ideas that have shaped my life for many years: preparation and home.
In Montessori, preparation begins with the adult. We first prepare ourselves, then we prepare the environment — thoughtfully considering the space, the materials, and the rhythms that support the child. After 20 years of preparing environments for children, I began to wonder what it might look like to carry that same spirit beyond the classroom and into the home. Not in pursuit of perfection, but as a way of living with intention.
The hearth represents the other half of the name. It has long been a center of the home — a source of warmth and a place of gathering. It is where people come together and life is shared.
The name reflects what I hope to cultivate here: a place to live intentionally, gather warmly, and make space for what matters.
What You’ll Find Here
At first, the idea was simple: I wanted to create beautiful materials for Montessori teachers and families. But as the idea grew, I hoped that The Prepared Hearth could become something more than an online shop.
Here you’ll find things I’ve designed and made myself — from Montessori materials and paper goods to resources for home and family. But you’ll also encounter stories, ideas, and inspiration to encourage you along the way.
At the heart of it all is a simple desire: to live a life well-lived.
For me, that means creating a warm and welcoming home, making things with my hands, gathering with people I love, and paying attention to the beauty in the ordinary.
Above all, it means seeking God in all things. I am learning to trust Him with what comes next — to surrender my plans and ask, “How can I glorify You in the midst of this?”
I don’t have all the answers, but I hope that The Prepared Hearth can be a place of belonging along the way.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Handcrafted Goods
Paper goods, utility aprons, and collections curated for a warm and purposeful home.
Intentional Learning
Thoughtful Montessori materials designed for educators, classrooms, and families.
Seasonal Journals
Simple reflections and soulful encouragement to seek beauty in all things.
Behind the Hearth
Maria brings 20 years of experience in Montessori education, a vocation that has shaped her deeply and continues to influence the way she sees beauty, preparation, and everyday life.
Montessori was a part of her life from the beginning. Her mom became a Montessorian before she was born and Maria attended Montessori school in her early years. As a teenager, when her mom opened a school, Maria spent time making materials and helping wherever she could.
Maria holds degrees in Catholic Studies and Theology, an AMI Primary Diploma, and a Master’s in Montessori Education. She spent 15 years as a Montessori Guide, where she came to see teaching not simply as a profession, but as a vocation that continually formed her alongside the children she served.
After 20 years in education, Maria felt called to step into something new. She carries with her the lessons of those years — the value of thoughtful preparation, meaningful work, and creating environments where people can flourish. The Prepared Hearth grew from that lived experience and Maria’s desire to carry those values into a new kind of work.
Beyond The Prepared Hearth, Maria enjoys music, reading, gardening, knitting, camping, and finding beauty in the everyday. She especially treasures quiet mornings with prayer and coffee. Maria lives in Minnesota with her husband, their dog, and 20 chickens.