
Since my output has been a bit slow lately, I would like to respond to a recently overheard comment by showing off someone else’s work.
I actually heard someone say that “it’s so sad that the hand arts are dying out and the younger generation isn’t interested in learning them”.

What?!?!? Did I miss something or has this person been in a closet for the last 3 or 4 years?

How can anyone not notice that the DIY and HandMade movements that are fueled by (but not, I think, totally a result of) the current economy is mostly the younger generations? How can you miss that Etsy and Artfire and all the other wonderful artist’s outlets are mostly fueled by the teens, twenty and thirty-something artists and makers? These people are taking the hand arts to a whole new level. They may have a new twist but they are not dying out.
Case in point;

Meet Gabby Sottis, an 18 years old that works at Heritage Spinning & Weaving with me. Gabby is a new crocheter and wanted to crochet a dress. She could not find a pattern that she liked. She made one up. This is her first real crochet project. This is the dress she made.
Wow!
To see this IRL (in real life) stop in the shop, it’s on a mannequin in the sock room – and it’s stunning. Gabby also wove skirt fabric as her first weaving project.


Here she is weaving on her second project, dish towels (in a complex weave) for her future apartment.

I also know Sophia, a talented young lady about my daughter’s age that spins, knits, weaves, and now tats. She never starts with beginner stuff, like Gabby, she just jumps in with both feet. I think the younger generation is far less afraid of failing or making mistakes. I seemed to remember being braver when I was younger. But that’s for another post…

Meanwhile, here is Sophia’s tatted necklace – very cool!


I haven’t even mentioned Becca, she is Gabby’s age and has been weaving since she was nine years old. As a result, she is a phenomenal weaver who can weave rings around most of us old-time weavers and we always go to her for questions or to solve our problems. I don’t have any photos of Becca’s work right now but I hope to soon, I heard a rumor she is weaving her wedding dress.
Hanging around these girls gives me great hope for the future of “making” and the world in general. Thanks girls 🙂
Deb H

Updated – Joan (owner of HS&W) sent me a photo of Becca and the traditional overshot coverlet she wove. Taken before it was cut, you only see two of the three panels she wove. This was taken in the fall of 2007, that means she wove it when she was 14 or 15 (?) – quite an accomplishment at any age! Great work, Becca 🙂
[Edited on 2-16-12 to fix a spelling error – oops!]
Sponges. That’s what these young women are. Deb didn’t mention Desi. Desi graduated with Becca and Gabby. Three summers ago (4?), she came into the shop with her grandma. We couldn’t let her just sit, so we taught her to knit. She spins a bit and weaves on a rigid heddle loom. One of her favorite things to do is make macrame friendship bracelets. It’s fun to watch her fingers fly when she works. Desi works on Sumdays at the shop with her very talented granother, Anneliese.
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These young ladies are awesome, talented and fearless! Thanks to shops like Heritage and passionate (and talented too) staff for providing continued support and inspiration in the fiber arts!
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Yay Heritage Girls! Great post Deb 🙂
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Thanks Ann, Jenny & Joan. Yes, these girls are the best!
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I am in awe of those girls! Beautiful beautiful beautiful. I’m glad to see that the hand arts will live on.
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