A photograph of Noel smiling. She's wearing a black t shirt. Her hair is long and brain with short, choppy bangs.

About me ~ Your creative companion & idea wrangling strategist

Growing up in boring Abilene, Texas, I was an artistic and weird kid. I was always drawing, heavily influenced by the character pages in my gamer grandparents' JRPG strategy guides.

As a teenager I was extremely online and taught myself Photoshop by designing custom Livejournal layouts. When I got a car I skipped class often to take moody photographs of the old buildings downtown, showcased on Tumblr, of course.

In college, I tried to convince myself to major in computer science and develop my web design skills. But I couldn't stand the thought of being on a campus where other people were studying art and I wasn't. I majored in oil painting and continued to teach myself design.

I immediately began working as a designer after I graduated, starting with freelance work, and went pro when I joined Travaasa Austin, a luxury experiential resort, as their Creative Lead in 2013. Working there sparked my love for the hospitality industry.

After 11 years in Austin, Texas, I now live in Bentonville, Arkansas with my husband Daniel, my hound dog Weetzie Bat, and my kitties Tikwid and Goofy. I enjoy gravel and mountain biking, taking care of my houseplants, jewelry making, and digging for glass bottles in old dumps.