08/26/2026
Story time! As a kid, I always loved to sew and make things. When I was 9 years old, my dad gave me my first sewing machine for Christmas. I was constantly trying new things and developing my skills. I integrated sewing into my art all the way through college. During my BFA, I majored in bookbinding, but most of my thesis-based work was large-scale sculptural paper bodies that were stitched and sewn together. I loved that work, but not really sure how to make a living that way, I decided to go on and get a masters degree in education because I always loved teaching and education.
I wrote my masters thesis on functional connectivity abnormalities in autism, and ended up working in a pediatric neuroscience lab which was the start of my 15 year career working in academic healthcare.
Eventually, my art practice took a back seat to my professional work, and the further I got away from making art, the less authentic I felt in my own skin. I put a lot of effort into masking and playing the role of healthcare leader for many years, and eventually, my body couldn’t take it anymore.
Yet, over the past few years, making my kids Halloween costumes had started to bring me back to my artistic practice. I loved pushing my skills, and reconnecting with the process of making. So, when the time came to make a professional change, I knew that I needed to strengthen that connection to making.
The Little Makerspace has grown out of my love of making things, teaching, and using art as a practice of wellness. I just know that my childhood self would be so happy and proud to see what I’m building now, it just took my adult self a little while to get there.
