How long have you lived in Jackson and what inspired you to move here? We last connected with you a few years ago—what has changed for you since then? 

I loved working with you all in 2019, shortly after I launched Sing Hat Co. What has stayed the same is our dedication to small batch hats, slow fashion and work-life balance.  

I moved to Jackson in 2003 to work at Lost Creek Ranch after hearing a word from God to move here. With COVID hitting just a year after the company opened, we weathered that time by moving the hat shop to our home for a couple years. My community was so supportive, and that’s when I became quite good at hatmaking! I opened the shop in town in 2022, and offered open hours in the summer of 2025 for the first time since starting the business.

How did you get into hat making? 

Strangely similar to the “call” to move to Jackson, I got a “call” to make hats, too. Out of the clear blue sky on a basic Tuesday: “You will make hats!” It took me a year or so to find an apprenticeship and some used equipment, but once I began learning, I dove in full-heartedly. Now I have a wonderful second-year apprentice, Erika Dahlby, and we offer a very limited line of ready to wear felt hats in the shop and online.

What do you look for in the clothes you wear? What do you wear in the studio?

I’m hard on clothes, and nothing is precious! Both in the studio and out, I like the basics: great jeans/pants, a baselayer or button-down top, wool sweaters and some type of hat and clogs are my uniform. Specifically at the studio, I’ll choose a mix of rugged bottoms and beautiful tops/dresses or scarves crafted by my fellow mountain makers.

Do you see similarities between Stio’s philosophy on designing products to foster connection with the mountain life and the purpose behind your business? 

I do. My products are designed to be used and abused, just like Stio’s. Beaver felt can stand up to years of weather and hard living.

Has your family been involved in the business at all?

My family prefers to stay out of the business if at all possible!  Occasionally, there’ll be some “must do” tasks, but for the most part, we keep work/family life separate.

What inspires you most about the women in your community? 

I think Wyoming women are some of the most resilient folks I’ve ever met.  Particularly, in the farming and ranching communities, and those that have lived here their entire lives.  It takes a tough person to live here year round, for years on end. Raising children is tough everywhere, but try putting a snowsuit on a toddler! 

What’s one thing you can’t live without?

It’s a toss-up between faith, family and good food. Cliché, I know, but true.  

If you could give advice to another woman thinking of building a creative life in the mountains, what would you tell her?

GO FOR IT!  I came here with very little and have been able to make it here for 23 years—happy and mostly thriving!

What’s something we haven’t asked about that you’d like readers to know about you? 

We work with heirloom quality beaver felt and sheepskin to build our hats.  We use a conformateur to trace our client’s head shape, and with that tracing we use a local woodworker to build a custom wooden block for each head.  The fit and style truly is bespoke.  Each hat takes about three days to build, and much of the equipment we use was built in the early 1900’s. 

What’s one of the more unusual or creatively interesting projects you’ve worked on? 

I built a fun hat for local musician Nikki Sixx a few years back.  

What Stio do you have in your closet? What do you like about it? 

I wear the Men’s Turnbolt Down Jacket most days. It’s got a rugged exterior, and looks like an old ranch coat.  It’s a staple, indeed.