Featured Quilt Artist
Vicki Barlean
My Story
I grew up in Hill City and have spent most of my life in the Black Hills. I am married to a wonderful man named Doug, and together we have three children who bring me immense pride and joy. I also have eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and several grand-pups!
As an artist, I have worked with various mediums over the years, including ceramics, wood, and glass. I began quilting in the late 1990s and started longarm quilting in 2002. The rest, as they say, is history! In my quilting art, I love piecing quilts for family, friends, and customers, but my true passion lies in longarm quilting. I enjoy both free-motion and computerized quilting, and I am currently focused on improving my skills in the computerized aspect.
Additionally, I enjoy repurposing materials, recycling old glass and wood, and transforming other found items into art pieces. I’m always eager to learn new techniques and explore ways to expand my artistic endeavors. computerized skills.
Featured Fiber Artist
Kim Oslund
My Story
As an eight year old Girl Scout, a crochet hook and yarn were slipped into my hands. I was, and still am, “Hooked!”
Crocheting has been a way of life for me. Being able to take nothing and make it into something is so satisfying.
I grew up in a family of women that had craft get-togethers, celebrated being women and showing off their skills. One Christmas, Aunt Kate, made each girl in the family a black poncho with large colorful flowers made from Re Heart acrylic yarn. I was in awe. I still treasure that poncho today.
When I needed a down payment to buy a house, I sat down and figured out how to use my skills to make enought money. Pregnant with my secound child, as large as a house, I couldn’t really do much, but crochet. I created tree top angles, pillowcase edgings, starched snowflakes and so many other items to sell during the holiday craft show at the Civic Center that year. I WORKED and we moved into our first house!
After years of being employed by others, living through life’s ups and downs, I decided to hang a shingle and open my own store!
It started as a frame shop, quickly adding a art gallery, slowly incorporating small ad agency and graphic design services and monthly Black Hills Art Sine. Soon I thought, a simple little way to have “good yarn” in town is to add it to the mix.
Little did it know what I was getting into!
Wool, alpaca, bamboo, cotton, silk, and so many others… lace, fingering, dk, sport, worsted…not quite the blue, maybe a little deeper red… I had not idea how much there was.is to learn. I read and I listened.
I still read, listen, learn, create, and try to share every day.
The Black Hills Fiber Community is strong! The creativity will blow your mind. Everyone shares with each other, techniques, ideas, life … it really is a great place to spend your time.
Being able to share my love of fiber with others and experiencing their pride in creating something with their hands is why I do what I do!
The feeling of natural fibers, friends and family are what fill my soul today.