Some of you may have heard of Leia Bell, an incredible printmaker/screen artist who single-handedly turned lame rock show flyers into works of art. I met her in LA a loooong time ago where we bonded over a love of dance parties. Now, she lives with her partner Phil and their two sons at Kilby Court – a rad music venue in Salt Lake City. If you haven’t checked out her stuff, I highly recommend it.

Here are five other reasons why Leia’s just so cool.

1. She introduced my husband to me at a party seven years ago. For this fact alone, I’ll be forever grateful for her friendship.

2. Among her many press and publications, she’s featured in the super cool Design It Yourself book.

3. She named both of her sons after conquerors: Ivan and Cortez.

4. She included me in a few of her pieces, back when I was 19 and partied like it was 1999 because, well it was 1999. I had a bob with bangs back then.

5. Although I haven’t seen her in years, I know if I showed up at Kilby and knocked on the door, she’d smile and it would be like 1999 again.