I'm just a girl who's out to add some color to the world.

I love color, I love design, and I love making things by hand using anything from a jigsaw to a sewing machine.

My background reflects my love of both academics and artistry. I have a B.A. from Yale University in American Art & Material Culture, and a Master's Degree in American Decorative Arts (think: Antiques Roadshow). I love studying the form & function of everyday objects. I think Verner Panton hit the nail on the head when he said: "One sits more comfortably on a color that one likes."

I worked as a Display Coordinator for Anthropologie for nearly two years before leaving the company to pursue creativity on my own terms.

You can peruse my personal and professional work, as well as see my most recent projects, at dirtsastudio.com.

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About the name...

dirtsa is named after late 20th-century amateur painter Astrid Johannessen, AKA MorMor, my grandmother. A devoted wife and mother, steadfast Christian, and creative spirit, Astrid pursued painting for her own pleasure and humorously signed many of her works under "Dirtsa"--her first name spelled backwards. Though she created many paintings, Astrid's ultimate masterpiece was the creation of her family and legacy of faith. I'm thrilled to adopt the Dirtsa name and spirit--keeping Astrid's hard work, creativity, and humor alive through the things I create.