Welcome to our new regular feature where we shine a light on the talented members of BARN’s fiber arts community! This month, we’re featuring mother-daughter duo Olga and Whitney Walker. Do you know someone in Fiber Arts with an interesting story to tell? Contact Sara at fiber.lead@bainbridgebarn.org

What initially brought you to BARN?

Olga: I heard about it from members in the community, but when I toured the facilities, it was love at first sight. I was so impressed by the facilities and the opportunities offered.

Whitney: About a year after my daughter was born, my mother encouraged me to check out BARN as a place to find some space and time for myself and community outside of my responsibilities at home and work. I had previously always found time in my life for crafting, but it had become impossible to dedicate time to that outlet. I try my best to listen to her motherly wisdom after becoming one myself, and I am happy and fulfilled that I did. I’m thankful that BARN allows me to disconnect from my obligations to others and connect with myself.

Where can we find you at BARN?

Olga: I am slowly adding studios to my fob. My most frequent hangout is Fiber Arts. I also participate in Culinary Arts classes and Open Studios.

Whitney: Fiber Arts primarily. My mom and I (and my sister) also enjoy the Culinary Arts classes and open hours, and I just took a class on laser cutting at the Tech Lab with my father. I’m certainly interested in exploring more Tech Lab crossover.

What fiber-related things do you make or do?

Olga: The embroidery machine sold me on joining, but after spending some time at the studio, my interest in sewing, knitting, and weaving has grown.

Whitney: After taking the rigid heddle class last spring with my mother, the world of weaving opened up for me. I’ve fallen in love with the art form, although I still consider myself very novice. The structure and mechanics of the craft appeal to my logical brain, while the colors and textures call to my creative self.

Have you been inspired to try anything new? If so, what?

Olga: Yes, weaving. It seemed pretty complicated, but my daughter nudged me to try it.

Whitney: I’m doing my best to limit my enthusiasm since my free time is so limited, but that’s hard to do. There’s a lot of inspiration each time I walk into BARN. I’m very curious about surface design and dyeing fiber, and I still don’t know how to use a sewing machine, but I feel like I’ve only dipped my toes into weaving. I am still so enchanted that I think I’ll be happy here for a while.

How long have you been doing fiber-related art?

Olga: I started sewing when I was 16 and picked up knitting nine years ago when my first grandchild was born.

Whitney: It’ll come as no surprise that my maternal grandmother and mother exposed me to fiber art. They taught me to cross-stitch as a young child, and I remember watching them sew our clothes, and playing with the buttons and pin cushions at their feet. I’ve dabbled in a couple of forms as an adult, namely macrame and crochet, but I hadn’t connected with a specific line until learning about weaving. That’s one of the things that I love about this studio: the oral and generational knowledge of fiber arts connecting us throughout time.

I look forward to passing on an appreciation for self-expression, creation, and art to my daughter.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Olga: I am inspired by what other studio members are accomplishing. I am also more aware of the fiber art pieces I see every day.

Whitney: I’ve quickly become the person who stops at each tea towel and blanket to study the weaving structure. I’m constantly on the lookout for my next project. I just finished a set of placemats in rep weave based on the colors you’ll see walking the trails on the island, and I’m currently dressing a floor loom for a serape-inspired blanket for my daughter inspired by our experience during a trip to Nayarit, Mexico.

Being a mother/daughter fiber enthusiast, do you collaborate on projects or ideas?

Olga: We discuss projects and ideas, but Whitney is the engine of creativity. She creates and accomplishes weaving projects much faster than I do. Her energy and enthusiasm are enviable.

Whitney: What we’re each working on is a standing topic of discussion whenever we check in, and we’ll often coordinate our trips to BARN. She’s my sounding board as I work through a project idea or gushing about a new concept I learned. She’s certainly my biggest fan and has been supporting my creativity for as long as I can remember.