Interview with Betsy Heird of Foothill Primitives
Posted in About The Artists, Featured Artists, Studio Tours on Jan 23rd, 2010
Betsy lives in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee. To see more of Betsy’s lovely creations and learn more about her, visit her blog, Foothill Primitives.
How would you describe your artwork? Done in a naïve primitive style. I fell in love with primitives back in the late 80’s and changed my style of work to homestead needfuls, pantry boxes, pillows, table runners, flicker candles..more on the home décor side, along with beeswax items … this will be the 8th year that I’m offering my tiny feather tree candles….
How long have you been creating art? Since I can remember…I started selling my handwork back in the mid 1980’s…at that time I was making dried floral arrangements, stitchiers and soft dolls and bunnies. I did the show circuit and then discovered online selling back in 2001 and haven’t done a show since.
Describe your studio/workspace: I’ve converted our sunroom into my creative space in the house…it’s a small area right off the kitchen, only 9×11 feet, full of natural sunlight, a sky light and windows…I have built in shelves that hold raw materials and storage bins…a 10 foot worktable and another 4 foot cutting/sewing table…I love this room, its small however everything is at hand and…it’s a mess most of the time when I’m working but I use totes to store all completed work in and my over flow of materials…I also have a studio of sorts set up in our shed with a 12 foot long work table where I work on projects and larger items…I spend very little time in there compared to my spot in the house.
How much time do you spend in your studio each week? I’m in my studio daily…I spend no less than 6 hours a day in here…and that never seems like enough time to me…
What is the one tool you could not live without? That’s a tough one, I have 3 tools I can’t live without…the first being my Turn-It-All turning tools…2nd, my SnapOn side cutters and 3rd my SnapOn needle nose pliers…I work with a lot of rusty wire, so having those perfect hand sized tools make working with the wire so much easier…
Do you listen/watch media while you work? I do both…depends on my mood…lol..I listen to music, I have a wide range of musical tastes, from Classical to Hard Rock so it pretty much depends on my mood…if music isn’t playing then I have my TV on with a Food Channel show playing in the background…or I’m streaming a Netflix movie…always something running in the background….
If you had an unlimited budget - what would you buy for your studio? New cabinets and windows to line the back wall… and a photo staging setup….that’s what I’d buy…
What is your favorite time of day to work? I wish I could say all the time, but that’s not the case…my best time to work is later in the evening…I do “busy” work during the day…answering emails, updating selling sites and picture taking…seems when the sun goes down my creative juices start flowing, along with the change of the seasons…Fall is my favorite time to be in my studio, sipping tea and working away..I get into my own little world, a happy one at that.
How do you stay organized in your workspace? I use as many storage solution items as I can fit in here…LOL…I have totes, small plastic drawers that hold all kinds of goodies, and a great 6 drawer cabinet that has become one of my favorite pieces to keep all my tiny, small items and threads…and 2 file cabinets that support my 10 foot table that hold all of my paints and paperwork, patterns and necessary office items. All of my fabric & wool is kept in a jelly cupboard, a cedar chest and a handy plastic 3 drawer dresser of sorts.
What kinds of inspiration do you have in your workspace? I have LOTS of pieces from my friends that surround me..most were from swaps and several were gifts…I also have a nice collection of books that I use. I keep my EAL’s out, Create & Decorate and I happen to love Warren Kimble, so I have a lot of his work scattered about. But more than anything, it’s my fabric that inspires me. When I am starting something new, I pull out about 20 different fabrics…lay them out, look at them, feel them and get inspired by the fabric…I love fabric…I keep my wools line by color and shading..I reclaim and over dye my own wools for my penny projects…
What are your creative plans for the future? On my drawing pad is a new line of smalls…I’m venturing into the world of paperclay over cloth and I’m looking forward to rolling out my first of many one of a kind pieces…
Betsy’s work can be found for sale at Simply Primitives, Etsy, eBay, My Mercantile, and here on the PWGL Blog.
What an amazing work space … it was so much fun to see where the magic happens, Betsy! Thank you so much for sharing your studio and story.
Hugs,
Dana
Betsy produces some of the finest handmade crafts to be found. She loves what she does, labors at it for hours and is committed to creating something that will bring joy to the buyer or admirer.
As her husband AND best friend, it is good to see her being featured, getting the recognition she so richly deserves. In a world of mass-produced, souless and cheaply crafted goods, Betsy has a level of quality and design which all her own.
Betsy, this tour was awesome. Love your work and your studio.