Since I was a little girl, I was an artistically inclined free spirit. I grew up in Spencer, Iowa, spending most of my time outdoors catching salamanders, chasing butterflies, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and flying down slip-and-slides in the backyard. I was a tomboy who loved nature, but I also adored dresses, color, and the magic of 90s animated movies.

Creativity showed up early in my life through drawing, painting, and sculpting with clay. I loved making tiny fashion figures, animals, plants, and abstract pieces using stones and crystals. Texture, color, and self-expression have always been part of how I experience the world.

In school I took every drawing and ceramics class I could. I also ran track and cross country which taught me a lot about discipline and perseverance. I started college at South Dakota State and later transferred to the University of Iowa where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art in 2011. I originally planned to focus on ceramics, but like many artists I wasn’t quite sure how to turn creativity into a career. After college I worked in retail and home interior design where I learned a lot about furniture, color, and textiles. That is also where I met my husband. Later I spent nearly nine years working at Hy-Vee in the health food department. While I loved my time there, and appreciated the stability, I felt like I was letting myself down by not following my dream of becoming an artist.

In 2020, I taught myself how to sew and eventually created my first blanket coat. I did not use a sewing pattern and I still don’t. I design each piece intuitively using general measurements and letting my vision for color, texture and drape guide the process. Because I design everything intuitively without patterns, each piece becomes its own original work of wearable art. No two are ever the same.

That first coat was made simply because I wanted something cute and cozy to wear in the backroom when I stocked trucks at work. The first time I wore it, people began complimenting it and asking where I had purchased it. One of my closest friends encouraged me to open an Etsy shop just to give my creativity a proper outlet. For a while I ran Heartland Hippie on the side while continuing to work full time. In 2023, after accepting a promotion that required constant overnight travel, I had a bit of a wake-up call. I missed my home, my husband, and my dogs. I knew the lifestyle I was living wasn't sustainable for my mental health. After lots of contemplation, I made the decision to leave corporate life to pursue my art dream full time.

Each piece I create is meant to bring comfort, beauty, and authentic self-expression into the world. I work with vintage and antique textiles sourced locally, along with blankets featuring my original artwork that are woven in the United States. Giving a fresh life to textiles, old or new, is symbolic to me. In many ways I feel I have found my second life through Heartland Hippie. My creations represent connection. They are a co-creation between the past, the present, the future, the planet, me and you. I am a firm believer that together, we can help keep our planet healthy and beautiful for the future creatures by reducing textile waste, supporting small businesses and artists, and choosing to live with intention. When we honor what already exists, we nurture the earth, each other, and ourselves.

Whether you arrived here through serendipity, or resonating frequencies, I hope you find a piece that feels like a reflection of your soul. When you put on something from Heartland Hippie, my deepest wish is that it helps you feel the magic you’ve always carried within. May you be reminded that you are a divine spark here to shine.

Thank you so much for supporting slow, circular fashion.

Sending love always,
Aly