This post can a be read, grab a teacup and sip along.
Uptown Studio
It has been a while since I posted here, largely because I have been busy in the Uptown shop at 68 West Park Street in Butte. I think it is a good time to give you an update on what I have been doing. I am entering my second holiday season in that location, and I have started to settle in and get comfortable.
In this location I have access to a full textile studio, a print making studio with etching,letterpress and collagraph presses, as well as a general area to work arts and craft projects. There is also a darkroom on site and a ceramics studio downstairs. Downstairs also features a cooperative artist gallery and a hot yoga studio. In some ways it is an artist’s heaven, creative peers and a coffee shop to get my caffeine fix.
What am I doing and who are my customers?
I started out thinking I would be offering workshops, but I discovered that people love to have one on one sessions more than workshops. Workshops seem to work best when you have an audience that all have common interests who work the same schedules. My schedule lets me teach during the day, but I really need to be home in the evenings. One reason is for caregiving and second, for work/life balance as a senior citizen. A slower pace is healthier for me. I did teach a couple of times in the Helena Weaver’s Guild this year. We had a great time, and good attendance. I will do that again if requested, mostly in late spring, summer or early fall months as driving to Helena in a blizzard is not my idea of fun even if I am teaching something I am passionate about.
Studio hours
That being said, I have committed to being in the uptown studio during weekday afternoons. I will open the shop on evenings when the Phoenix Block Building is participating in local events, like the Christmas Stroll in early December. I will not be showing and selling in a vendor booth at a craft/vendor show. My shop hours are listed as 1:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday. I may be in the shop earlier, but usually it will be to set up for the day, and perhaps to finish a project or two. If you find me there, feel free to stop in and visit. Nothing is so important I can’t stop and chat with a friend for a few minutes.
What drives my work — my “Why”
I believe creative play builds stronger communities by increasing the feeling of connectedness. Through the completion of art projects together, we build healthy relationships, take risks, and improve our artistic skills. With these, we have the right tools to make a positive impact at home and in the world when we share ourselves and our talents with others.
I am building an artist community. Do you want to come play with me?
As you can see my “Why” can include a lot more than weaving.
Where can you see my regular updates?
For the past year I have been making my daily studio blog posts on Facebook, as the process is easy and free. Here is a link to the page: https://www.facebook.com/historicweaving/
I do not have another social media account. There is no Etsy, Instagram, X or other account. I have Pinterest account https://www.pinterest.com/etritthart/ with a sizeable following, but am not considered a Merchant on the site as I sell digital patterns, not products. With the current winds of social/political change and systematic unbalance, I’ll probably leave things this way for now. I have had the same phone number and email for more than 20 years, there is no reason to change. If you knew me then, you can still find me now. I’ll maintain the website, I own the domain, and will use it for publishing my research and patterns. But if you want the projects I make or want to commission a personal work, you can message me via Facebook, text or email. I love making things for my friends, I also like to help problem solve if you are stuck on a project. Its part of my “why”.
My plans for the future:
I am still weaving and researching and do not plan on stopping any time soon. I have my large looms, but found I need to design patterns and project for smaller footprint to accommodate the needs of many of my friends who are downsizing. I have no need to downsize as I have second studio at home that does not impact my living situation.
I have never been a production weaver, and likely will not be one in the future. My research more often is leading me to develop patterns and kits as an outgrowth of the research work completed.
I am looking to make use of locally produced fibers, even if that means I need to produce fewer works for sale. There are no other weavers in this area with the looms that I have in my studio and the type of work I produce is usually a one of a kind. The patterns are my own, developed from whatever had happened to inspire me.
I enjoy the work that I am doing in the public sphere, I get to work with individuals, some with special learning needs, some with behavior health issues, and some who just like my company. I come out of these sessions energized rather than drained, and therefore it is an indication of the type of work best suits me. I like to weave, print and make “cute” things. I still can do serious research, but would need eventually to travel to museums to view books and textiles in special collections. Taking a long trip right now is not something I can do, maybe later that will be a possibility.
Supporting me and my work:
So if you are traveling my way (Montana cross roads of I 15 and I 90) and want to set up a session to make a special project or take a studio tour, let me know and I will see what we can work out. If you like my research and outreach efforts and want to support me; make a purchase of a pattern set, via the website shop or purchase project from the shop on West Park St. If buying material things is not thing because you are trying to minimalize your holdings you can donate via Venmo contact me directly, and I will the direct funds to an appropriate project. I am working with and supporting non-profit organizations. If you want made a deduction on your tax return, we can arrange to earmark funds through one of those organizations, just contact me and we can work things out.