Artist ~ Kat Howle Bowman ~ Providence
Artist’s name: Kat Howle Bowman
Shop name: A Sailor Woman Sews
Website: Etsy.com/shop/asailorwomansews
Instagram: ASailorWomanSews
1. Tell us about your work
I have a love for fiber art. A Sailor Woman Sews began as a shop of hand-sewn accessories, evolved into custom hand-sewn dolls, and is now primarily woven wall hangings.
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
I grew up in St. Augustine, FL which is a beautiful coastal town. My family has a sailboat and we spent much of my childhood sailing around town and cruising to the Bahamas during the summers. My dad and I took a sailing trip, just the two of us which was an impactful event in my life. Now a Rhode Islander, I feel at home near the sea and marinas. Sailors need to be creative, problem-solvers, and know how to work with their hands. Those were my inspirations when choosing A Sailor Woman Sews as the name of my shop.
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
I have always had a passion for art and love making things with my hands. My background is actually in education and I'm a full-time preschool teacher, although I did minor in art studying drawing, painting, and photography. During graduate school, I began sewing in my free time as a stress-reliever and creative outlet. It was then that I opened my Etsy store. My craft has evolved and taken many forms, but my shop has remained in business.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I'm inspired by beautiful fiber. I collect all kinds of yarn and alpaca roving from places I visit. I find so much meaning in working with a material that was created with love. My husband actually proposed to me at a local alpaca farm and I bought yarn from the woman who runs the farm. Whatever I make with that yarn will be so special - that's how I feel about each piece I make. Color is another inspiration. I usually open my box of yarn, not knowing where to begin, and I'm inspired by the colors and textures that jump out at me.
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
Currently, my favorite item to make is woven necklaces. Wearable fiber art is so fun to create. I love incorporating natural stones and beads into each piece.
6. What’s your best seller?
My best seller is something I never expected. I used to make cloth dolls as gifts and listed a couple in my store. I made a set of dolls that people said resembled my husband and I. What was unintentional turned out to be an inspiration for custom couple folk dolls. One day I received a message from a magazine editor in Australia. She came across my Etsy store and thought my custom dolls would be a great addition to a wedding gift guide in the magazine. My work was printed in the magazine and I received several custom orders following that exciting event! Since then my work has become focused on weaving, but I'd still be open to taking a few custom orders for my folk dolls.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I have lived in Rhode Island for seven years.
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
I love that RI is such a small state with so much natural beauty. Before RI I lived in Florida (which has basically one season - HOT) and land-locked Missouri. In Rhode Island I can be at the ocean, a rural farm, in the city, or travel up to the mountains in just a couple hours. I love the local businesses and restaurants that make up this creative community.
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
I always bring visitors to Newport for the beautiful scenery, Little Compton for the Sakonnet Vineyard, and to Providence for the great restaurants and RISD museum.
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
Make what you love and know your worth. One of the most challenging things for me as an artist is putting a value on my work. Don't compare your work to others; everyone is at a different stage in their artistic development. Your time, creativity, and individuality is valuable!
Shop name: A Sailor Woman Sews
Website: Etsy.com/shop/asailorwomansews
Instagram: ASailorWomanSews
1. Tell us about your work
I have a love for fiber art. A Sailor Woman Sews began as a shop of hand-sewn accessories, evolved into custom hand-sewn dolls, and is now primarily woven wall hangings.
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
I grew up in St. Augustine, FL which is a beautiful coastal town. My family has a sailboat and we spent much of my childhood sailing around town and cruising to the Bahamas during the summers. My dad and I took a sailing trip, just the two of us which was an impactful event in my life. Now a Rhode Islander, I feel at home near the sea and marinas. Sailors need to be creative, problem-solvers, and know how to work with their hands. Those were my inspirations when choosing A Sailor Woman Sews as the name of my shop.
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
I have always had a passion for art and love making things with my hands. My background is actually in education and I'm a full-time preschool teacher, although I did minor in art studying drawing, painting, and photography. During graduate school, I began sewing in my free time as a stress-reliever and creative outlet. It was then that I opened my Etsy store. My craft has evolved and taken many forms, but my shop has remained in business.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I'm inspired by beautiful fiber. I collect all kinds of yarn and alpaca roving from places I visit. I find so much meaning in working with a material that was created with love. My husband actually proposed to me at a local alpaca farm and I bought yarn from the woman who runs the farm. Whatever I make with that yarn will be so special - that's how I feel about each piece I make. Color is another inspiration. I usually open my box of yarn, not knowing where to begin, and I'm inspired by the colors and textures that jump out at me.
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
Currently, my favorite item to make is woven necklaces. Wearable fiber art is so fun to create. I love incorporating natural stones and beads into each piece.
6. What’s your best seller?
My best seller is something I never expected. I used to make cloth dolls as gifts and listed a couple in my store. I made a set of dolls that people said resembled my husband and I. What was unintentional turned out to be an inspiration for custom couple folk dolls. One day I received a message from a magazine editor in Australia. She came across my Etsy store and thought my custom dolls would be a great addition to a wedding gift guide in the magazine. My work was printed in the magazine and I received several custom orders following that exciting event! Since then my work has become focused on weaving, but I'd still be open to taking a few custom orders for my folk dolls.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I have lived in Rhode Island for seven years.
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
I love that RI is such a small state with so much natural beauty. Before RI I lived in Florida (which has basically one season - HOT) and land-locked Missouri. In Rhode Island I can be at the ocean, a rural farm, in the city, or travel up to the mountains in just a couple hours. I love the local businesses and restaurants that make up this creative community.
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
I always bring visitors to Newport for the beautiful scenery, Little Compton for the Sakonnet Vineyard, and to Providence for the great restaurants and RISD museum.
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
Make what you love and know your worth. One of the most challenging things for me as an artist is putting a value on my work. Don't compare your work to others; everyone is at a different stage in their artistic development. Your time, creativity, and individuality is valuable!
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