Interview by Rachel Gottesman

Congrats on a great tee! I hope you're excited about being printed!

I hear you're recently married. Congratulations on that as well! How was your honeymoon?

Yes! I am a newlywed. My husband, Kevin, and I just got married on March 28 which turned out to be a beautiful snowy day in Kansas City. Keep in mind that we hadn't had much snow all winter and the days leading up to my wedding were sunny and springy, daffodils were blooming all over the place. So the forecast of the snowstorm was a pretty ridiculous surprise.

It really did turn out to be a more beautiful day than I would have ever imagined. Marrying my best friend was a blast, getting all looking good for him--my hair was the coolest!, posing how I'd learned on Top Model for pictures in the snow and slush, eating burritos catered for free by Chipotle, and rounding off the night with a super energetic dance party.



Kevin's parents were so cute. During "Billie Jean," his dad cleared off all of the young people, grabbed his wife and twirled her onto the dance floor, fox trotting to the Micheal Jackson favorite until their feet forgot what to do next.

We left two days later for Italy, the land of romance and beautiful art, both of which I highly enjoy. We traveled to Rome, Florence, and Venice. This was Kevin and my first trip across seas and we had no idea what we were doing. The bathrooms in Italy were the most confusing part.
That thing by the toilet, yeah, we don't have that here in America. It was hilarious when I told my sweet husband how a bidet was used.

Of course we made the essential tourist stops. We visited David, heard stories about gladiators, awed at the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and cruised around Venice one night in a gondola. And of course, we couldn't end a day until we had our gilato.

You're very lucky to be able to go to Italy! You're also planning a a trip to South Africa? What's that all about?

Yeah, Kevin and I have all of a sudden become world travelers. Three months ago, we hadn't really been outside of the US borders. Now, we've just gotten back from South Africa too. We've really been blessed. My design really had a lot to do with this trip, in which Kevin and I joined up with 6 others from our church. Our mission was to join up with a group, All Nations, already working in the South African townships created as a res

ult of Apartheid and help them start simple home churches. Everyday, we went into the township called Masiphumelele and asked anyone with an open door if they would like prayer or if they would like to hear more about Jesus. We heard all types of stories and met some really amazing people through this. Most were immigrants in this shanty town, lovingly nicknamed "Masi," looking for work. Most prayer requests were for work and healing. So, we did a lot of praying, and God did a lot of talking back, really reminding us of how much He loves these people in Masi, and how they are never far from His thoughts.

Before we had left for this trip, I was just trying to imagine what the dirt in South Africa was going to look like, let alone what praying and sharing the gospel would look like. Not only was it going to take some mustering up of courage for myself and my team, but for the people who would want to hear about Jesus from these awkward white Americans.



Gclena, a woman that we came to know, was given a team member's Bible which had been loved and read and highlighted. A couple of days from the first time we had seen her, she had gone through and had read all of the highlighted verses. She wrote them all down and wrote out her thoughts and prayers on the scrap paper that she had. We found her in what seemed like a confused state.

She told us that all she has been wanting to do was read this book, but her friends are making fun of her, asking her what these white people could do for her, asking her why she'd read that crap. She told us that she felt split into two people. We returned to her with a small journal and just encouraged her to keep writing down her thoughts and prayers, and to keep seeking peace. Honestly, we white people really were powerless. We really couldn't do much for her except to introduce her to people whom she could ask questions, whom would be her friends, and whom would continue to pray for her. So my thoughts are still with Gclena and her courage.

Looking at your website, it appears that you do a lot of animation and printing as well as drawing and painting. Which is your favorite activity?

Animation is my main gig indeed. I do, however, get ansty and have to get off the computer. So I draw in my sketchbook. I've recently dabbled in some screen printing, which Kevin and I used for our wedding invitations, I've done a bit of painting.

However, my by far most favorite thing to do is stop motion animation. This offers the best of all worlds. It's writing, storytelling, acting, tangible sculpting and puppet making, designing, set making. It really fulfills that part of me that can't stay in the same medium for a long time.



You obviously went to school for art. Where did you go and what was it like for you?

I graduated in 2008 from the Kansas City Art Institute's animation program. This is where I met Kevin who was in the animation program with me. Wow, those four years were tough, like I'm sure most collage experiences can be, but I came out of the program a completely different person. While I was there, I was surrounded by concept after concept, stinky people, spontaneous performances, smokers, critics, all-nighters, quick deadlines, energy drinks, distractions, eccentricities, french fries, philosophers, department rivalries, musicians. I had a love/hate relationship with school, but I am grateful for how I was pushed to improve in that short time.

Since graduation, Kevin, our friend Jeremy Collins and I have formed ThreeHouse studio where we create illustration, animation, and gallery work. I could have never guessed that I would have had such a part in starting a studio. It was a distant dream while I was in school, now it's a snowball that's out of control. I couldn't be more fortunate.

I took a few printing classes in college but I never got great at it. I know it takes a lot of practice and I just didn't have enough passion for it. What's satisfying about printmaking in your eyes?

Really, I'm a novice with printmaking myself. I do have a respect for people who have continued this antique art form, and plan on more printing side-projects in my future. I love the graphic look to a print. I get nerdy about the paper used. I love the imperfections of off setting.



My husband and I wanted to add more to our plate before the wedding, so we decided to hand print all of our wedding invitations. We wanted the invitations to reflect our style, but also have that hand made unique quality. After many hours, we mailed off our invitations, feeling like we had just sent our friends and family a small piece of art.

What's in store for you in the near future? More Threadless tees? Any cool projects?

Well, I hope this isn't a one-hit-wonder design. I definitely plan on submitting more Threadless tees. It's always a nailbitting experience watching your comments and counting down the days. I really just can't believe that I've been printed! What a huge honor!

For those of you Threadless people out in Boulder, my animated intro to the Boulder Adventure Film Festival will be playing in November. I've also recently finished working with a local design company called Eisterhold and Associates on some animation work for the African American Museum in Philadelphia.



Actually, just Thursday, ThreeHouse finished three animation projects. I'm taking a long weekend visiting family in St. Louis, and coming back Monday to see what's in my inbox. Jeremy usually has a surprise waiting for us. Or maybe, I'll begin work on another Threadless design.

Sounds awesome! Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I really want a puppy!

Thanks for chatting!

Thanks so much for your audience. I've never had one quite like this.

Interview by Rachel Gottesman



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