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How did we find Faith? My mom actually found Faith at a tiny show in VT and raved about her work. I then went to Wilton to see her work firsthand. I have to admit that I was hooked immediately. In my opinion Faith is one of the top artistans I have ever seen. Her work is painstakingly detailed and beautiful. Tell us what you do? I first make a pattern out of cardboard or paper and then I place it on the leather, cut it out, and then I do the beadwork on the flap, I may do it on velvet backed with leather. Once I do all the beadwork I start to assemble the bag which involves machine stitching and hand stitching. I use a leather punch to punch little hole and I lace the back with waxed threads. I usually do a beaded trim on flaps and pockets. I use nature as my reference for color combination and inspiration.
How did you get started? I started in 1970. I was out in California, about to start school at UCC Santa Barbara, and I bought a leather fringed dress at Carmel. I then came upon a leather store and got it in my mind that I would try to make a dress like the one I bought. I did; it was crude but it came out pretty nice. Then I went to Big Sur and they had Native American beadwork in a restaurant. It blew me away. I got some books and basically became obsessed with making things out of leather. I dropped out of college and started creating. I am pretty much self taught and I spent a lot of time at the native American museum in NY. I taught myself how to do quill work and popped into a store in New York and they bought everything I had.
How have craft shows changed since you started doing them? I never did craft shows until the year 2000 so I dont really know. I had never even been to a craft show until I did one. I needed to sell my work and the shop in NY had gone out of business. For a long time I did other things to earn a living but in 2000 I decided to try to survive by doing this. I was doing a farmers' market and a customer suggested that I do the ACC show in Springfield, MA.
Do you have comments about craft shows? I find them impossible to get into. I don't know why, maybe it is my slides. I did just actually join a cooperative craft gallery in Woodstock, VT which is working out great so maybe I can stop doing the few shows that I do.
What else do you do? Hats, belts, fanny bags, fur vests, and baby moccasins. I work on my pieces every day for 12 hours because the beads are all sewn on by hand. It is very labor intensive and hard on the eyes, back, and neck. Just like almost any craft, it takes its toll.
Where can we see your work? On line at www.FaithFellows.com , Collective in Woodstock (802-457-1298, the Wilton Historical Society show in CT in November, and every Saturday in the summer at the Norwich Farmers Market in VT. Prices range from $80.00 to $1,200.