People often ask how long I’ve been sewing. The truth is, it’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mother and grandmother taught me as a child—I went to quilting circles, made doll clothes, hemmed my pants, and began altering my own clothes.

At 15, after a week-long climbing course in North Conway, NH, I designed the pattern for my climbing chalk bag. In college, my unique program allowed me to “major” in rock climbing and “minor” in sea kayaking. Throughout school and seasonal work, I repaired clothing and gear, upcycled materials into fabric, and traded my handmade wares—from chalk bags to custom repairs.

I’ve always created out of necessity. If I couldn’t find something to fit my needs, I’d design it—rope bags, crampon cases, GPS pouches, and more. Along the way, I explored quilting, hand-dyeing, and block printing, among other techniques.

When I moved off-grid into a yurt, I wasn’t going to let that slow me down. I learned to use a treadle sewing machine—a foot-powered tool perfectly suited to intentional, slow sewing. Today, I create bike bags, chalk bags, slings, zipper pouches, and an ever-growing assortment of pieces—all sewn in my off-grid studio in northwest Montana.