About Me

A Crew for a "Woohoo!"

In 2014, I got my first job at a small T-shirt shop in my hometown—a little tourist town that felt both quiet and alive, depending on the season. I didn’t know it at the time, but that simple job—folding shirts, running the heat press, chatting with customers—would plant the seed for everything that came next. 

At the time, my grandma was living in a nursing home. She had already suffered a serious injury that left her unable to form full sentences—but her spirit? Still completely intact. Every time I made her a new shirt, she’d let out the biggest “WOOHOO!” you’d ever hear. That one word said it all. Joy. Recognition. Connection. Even without full speech, she still found a way to tell me she loved it.

Those moments stuck with me. They taught me how much communication is about more than just words—and how something as simple as a shirt can make someone feel seen. That lesson changed the way I saw the world.

From the (not so) Small Town to the Classroom

Eventually, the shop closed, right around the time I was starting college. I’d decided to become a special education teacher, inspired by my grandma and everyone like her—people who feel deeply, think deeply, and just need different ways to express themselves.

In college, I randomly picked up a design class, not expecting much. But it reignited that creative spark in me. The joy of designing meaningful pieces. The pride of seeing someone light up when they wear it. I realized I didn’t have to choose between teaching and creating—I could do both.

         

Once I entered the classroom, though, I noticed something frustrating: special education wasn’t being represented in school apparel. The shirts were generic. The slogans felt dated. And most of them missed the real heart of this work—the humor, the patience, the power of inclusion.

So I Started Making My Own

I started designing shirts again—this time, not just for my grandma, but for my students, for my fellow teachers, and for anyone who felt left out of the typical narrative. I wanted to celebrate neurodiversity, inclusion, patience, humor, and resilience. And it turns out, a lot of people wanted that too.

That’s when The (Not So) Small Town Collective came to life.

What I'm All About

The (Not So) Small Town Collective is part storytelling project, part art space, part grassroots movement. It lives at the crossroads of creativity, community, and inclusion.

I'm here to:

1. Tell real stories from small-town life—the weird, the warm, the wonderful

2. Celebrate the voices of people often overlooked—especially in special education

3. Create thoughtful, original apparel and goods that represent everyone

4. Make space for collaboration, creativity, and connection

Why “Not So” Small?

Because there’s nothing small about the way a moment can change your life. There's nothing small about the impact amazing teachers have on their students. Nothing small about a kid finding their voice—or a grandma’s smile when she sees her story on a shirt.
And nothing small about a town that dares to dream bigger than its ZIP code. 

Thank You for Being Here

Whether you're an educator, an artist, a parent, a student, or just someone who loves thoughtful design with heart—you’re welcome here. This is for all of us. The collective is growing, and you're already part of it!