A glimpse into the lives of artists at the Prairie Arts Center
May 20—Emily Savidge is well versed in fiber arts.
She can crochet, embroider, cross stitch and knit. She picked up knitting when she was 16. Her aunt wanted to show her how to make a scarf. She thought it would be more appreciated if Savidge made it herself.
Savidge is one of the artists who gathers with like-minded people at the Prairie Arts Center to hone their craft.
She's worked on commissions and personal projects. Savidge often finds herself making gifts for loved ones.
"I've made a lot of baby blankets. I can't remember the last thing I made for me," Savidge said. "It's been a long time, so I have lots of you know, things on the back burner."
Savidge and Rebecca Kaplan, another fiber artist, have something in common in how aunts both introduced them to knitting.
Kaplan sometimes combines her two interests; hockey and knitting. She's a fan of the Dallas Stars.
"Every year I do a scarf, I do a blanket, I do socks, I do whatever it is to chronicle their season," Kaplan said. "It means I always have a project going on."
Brittany Le, another artist who frequents Prairie Arts Center, was taught by her grandmother. In 2019, she said got sick and couldn't do much productive. After she got back into her hobbies, she found herself making an Etsy shop and taking commissions.
"I've had people ask me to make Star Wars characters and things like that," she said. "Anything anyone can dream up, I make."
She likes to dress up and make fun things for her costumes. She is now working on her Renaissance fair costume, and is going dressed as a healer.
Brenda Sorenson got into fiber arts because of a creative urge she had. She mostly makes things to give to her loved ones. Sorenson is passionate about fiber arts because of the history behind it.
She references King Henry VIII's portraits.
"It's more than just art," Sorenson said. "It's a connection with women in the past because you don't hear about it. Archaeologists go nuts whenever they find a piece of clothing, even if it's a scrap, and there's so much history and it's just fascinating in that way too."
