A Conversation With Amy Huser, Textile Artist
On opening an Etsy shop, creating a playful installation of weavings, and fulfilling purpose through creating
Amy Huser is a textile artist and painter based in Wichita, Kansas. She just received her Master of Fine Arts in Painting from Wichita State University and is diving straight into a career in art. She is adjunct instructing at her alma mater and she recently opened her first Etsy shop, Happily Woven, where she sells handmade weavings and wall hangings.
Amy and I met at the University of Kansas in 2013, the year she started weaving. She is one of my closest friends and I know how much joy it brings her to make things for others. We talk about her step-by-step process for making a weaving, how she decides the price of a piece, what she wishes were more accessible in the art world, and the meaning behind her work.
How do you describe your art?
I have done painting and drawings in the past, but textiles are my main form right now. I’ve been making whimsical little weavings. My brand name is Happily Woven and that’s the vibe that I want to give off in the product and in my attitude while I’m weaving. It was derived from my thesis project in graduate school, in which I focused on being thankful and positive. I’m just carrying that over into my business.
When did you know you wanted to pursue art as a career?
I knew in the middle of undergrad when I took my first weaving class. I put it on the back burner for a while because, you know, you graduate and life kind of hits you. I never thought I could use my talents and gifts to make money. I ended up going back to grad school and thought I could really make a career out of this, especially after seeing how far I could push myself and being in the community of makers, not only in Wichita, but at great local markets pretty much everywhere.
(Step inside Amy’s thesis project through this immersive video.)
What did you create for your thesis project?
My thesis project was essentially a celebration of becoming something new. It was about healing through the meditative process of weaving. While the making was important to me, I wanted to share the process of becoming with my viewers by creating a playful installation with weavings. It was a “painting in space” that they could get lost in and move through, seeing evidence of the time I spent in thankfulness and healing. Red lines sectioned off every weaving and symbolized every hour of weaving. I used recycled materials like plastic bags and repurposed fabrics to further imply that something old can have new beauty, new purpose.
It was a journey to give myself more grace and let go of self-doubt—and hopefully give people a place where they can let go and be in the moment.
See more of Amy’s weavings as well as her paintings and photography at amyhuser.com. And follow her business on Instagram.
Are you where you want to be in your career or are you looking for the next step?
I would say I’m content with where I’m at right now. I’ll be teaching three classes at Wichita State University in the fall as an adjunct instructor. I’m also working a little bit of retail at Athleta. The schedule allows me to do side projects like launching Happily Woven. I hope this side project becomes something bigger and I can sustain myself off of that. I have a lot of irons in the fire right now.
What are some things you’re doing to make art a full-time endeavor?
My weavings started as a little project while I was an artist in residence this summer at Harvester Arts here in Wichita. In my residency, I was gathering little strips of fabric from friends who had written on them about what they’ve learned about the pandemic, what they’ve learned about racism. I saw that these weavings were a little bit of hope that good things are happening despite everything going on. That turned into my business idea. I’ve never done Etsy before so I’m a little nervous. I’m excited though. I did a test sale on Facebook to see if there’s even a market for it and they sold pretty quickly. It was encouraging to see the art I’ve been making for years get attention.
(The sizes of weavings vary, but each one includes tassels and a dowel for hanging in your favorite corner.)
How do you decide the price of a piece?
I take into account the cost of materials, the cost of time it takes to set up the loom to weave those pieces, and then the cost of the weaving time. I’m still trying to figure out the loose ends, like how much shipping costs for each piece. My current pieces range from $35 to $250. I’ve been really thinking about what my time is worth as an artist. I feel like I probably should charge more than I have in the past just because I feel like I don’t really give myself enough credit sometimes. I think we’re all that way.
What’s something you wish were more transparent in the industry?
I feel like there are so many things, but right now, while I’m building my shop, I wish there were more resources about how to ship art. I was researching for a whole week about the best box and tube sizes. Certain works could even be heat sensitive or must be upright a certain way. But I didn’t feel like I could find the information. I feel like I should’ve learned that along the way, if we’re going to sell art and ship it for shows, museums, or galleries. Luckily, I can typically roll or fold weavings.
Where do you find inspiration?
A lot of my inspiration comes from a sense of wanting to make beautiful things for others to enjoy and wanting to spread joy and love and care. I feel like the world needs a little love. Hopefully it puts out those vibes. I don’t know that I’m drawing inspiration from any imagery or anything like that. It’s just more about the feelings.
(Amy can weave multiple pieces at one time on her 22-inch loom.)
What goes into each piece? Walk me through the process.
Buy the materials, which are typically really nice yarns.
Decide the dimensions for the loom and how many pieces I can make at once.
Thread all of the strings, which are called warp yarns, onto the loom. This can take a couple hours or a whole weekend, depending on the size.
Set up bobbins to put through the shuttles that I weave with.
Weave multiple pieces on my loom.
Tie off each piece and attach little tassels.
Add the rod and string so it can hang on the wall.
Can you explain what your work means to you?
It’s the thing that’s keeping me sane and calm, and it brings me peace to make these. When I am creating, I am doing what my being was made to do. Some people have different gifts, different things that they enjoy doing or feel like they must do. This is something that I feel like I must do. I have to create; it’s just a part of me.
Is there someone you want to see featured next? Nominate her.
Before you go…
The meticulous craft of building wooden Dory boats gets passed on to the next generation. (Patagonia)
An advice column on effective communication for soft-spoken people (The Good Trade)
Revamp your sandals with colorful strips of fabric. (Honestly WTF)
