Driving out to Jackie and Bobby Olsen's ranch this time of year was an absolute pleasure. They own and run the Montana Bunkhouse where you can rent cabins on their property and I cannot wait to get the opportunity to do so after seeing the land it is nestled in. Please enjoy my interview with fiber artist, Jackie Olsen: (please also see the images I have already posted to the page)
J: Where should we start? Want to see what I am dyeing right now?
Me: Yes, that'd be great.
J...: (Showing me wool on a low boil in pinkish water, she lifts it out and shows me how the dye is coloring the once white wool.) I will take this out, dry it and spin it into yarn.
Me: Wow, that is so impressive.
J: I used to have sheep and I would start with them. Clip them, clean it and start the process from there.
Me: Did you grow up ranching?
J: Yes, my family had this property and all over this area. This area is called Paradise Valley.
Me: I can see why. I took a lot of pictures on my way out. Really beautiful country. I imagine it inspires you.
Me: But you are no longer keeping sheep?
J: No, we retired in 2000. I had sheep since I was 9 years old though. It was a big part of my life. I was even the first women on the State Wool Growers Association Board.
Me: Really? Wow! Way to represent!
Me: Did you say you went to High School in Winifred?
J: Yes, we lived here but my Mom was a teacher out there so we just joined her out there.
Me: Aw, I see.
Me: How far out are we from Lewistown?
J: It's exactly 20 miles from Albertsons.
Me: Oh! (laughing)
Me: So you grew up here and then raised your family here?
J: Yes, we have 3 girls and 1 boy. My son and grandson took over the ranching when we retired.
Me: I love the apron you showed me; your very first project.
J: Yes, I was just 9 when I made that.
Me: Who knew it would be the start of all of this!?
J: (Smiling) Yes, I have done just about everything fiber related, knitting, crocheting, spinning, dyeing, hook latch, quilting, even paper arts.
Me: I first met you at Winter Fair. You are involved in a lot of Fiber Arts activities, right?
J: Yes, I have done the newsletter for 17 years for the Arts Guild in town.
Me: Wow! Where do you guys meet now?
J: At the Civic Center. We are in our 24th year.
Me: Neat! I'm going to come to your next meeting!
J: (laughs) Yes, please do. We are actually meeting here on June 15th at 9 a.m. we are going to be doing some dyeing outside.
Me: Oh cool. I will put that on my calendar.
J: (laughing again) Great!
Me: What do you guys normally do at your Guild meetings?
J: We talk about all things fiber, which included wood carving, paper arts, whatever! We show eachother our projects and really enjoy learning about new ideas and seeing what everyone is working on.
Me: Right, all things fiber. Easy to forget wood and paper when you are thinking about all the things you can do with yarn alone.
J: Yes, right.
Me: Do your children follow in your path?
J: My daughters do some knitting, sewing and quilting when they have the time.
Me: You have a lot of variety to your projects.
J: Yes, I like to create my own designs. It's nice when nothing is the same, everything is an original.
Me: Are you doing things for Summer Fair now?
J: Yes. I used to do some educational things with fiber, like showing how much dirt and lanolin comes out of the wool when you to clean it. I like doing that. They are called "Living Demonstrations."
Me: Oh cool. How about doing that for Winter Fair?
J: Yes, I'd love to.
Me: You showed me your families old spinning wheel that was handed down to you. I love that your art is inspired by generations before you.
J: I love that too!
Me: Jackie, thank you. What a pleasure!
J: Where should we start? Want to see what I am dyeing right now?
Me: Yes, that'd be great.
J...: (Showing me wool on a low boil in pinkish water, she lifts it out and shows me how the dye is coloring the once white wool.) I will take this out, dry it and spin it into yarn.
Me: Wow, that is so impressive.
J: I used to have sheep and I would start with them. Clip them, clean it and start the process from there.
Me: Did you grow up ranching?
J: Yes, my family had this property and all over this area. This area is called Paradise Valley.
Me: I can see why. I took a lot of pictures on my way out. Really beautiful country. I imagine it inspires you.
Me: But you are no longer keeping sheep?
J: No, we retired in 2000. I had sheep since I was 9 years old though. It was a big part of my life. I was even the first women on the State Wool Growers Association Board.
Me: Really? Wow! Way to represent!
Me: Did you say you went to High School in Winifred?
J: Yes, we lived here but my Mom was a teacher out there so we just joined her out there.
Me: Aw, I see.
Me: How far out are we from Lewistown?
J: It's exactly 20 miles from Albertsons.
Me: Oh! (laughing)
Me: So you grew up here and then raised your family here?
J: Yes, we have 3 girls and 1 boy. My son and grandson took over the ranching when we retired.
Me: I love the apron you showed me; your very first project.
J: Yes, I was just 9 when I made that.
Me: Who knew it would be the start of all of this!?
J: (Smiling) Yes, I have done just about everything fiber related, knitting, crocheting, spinning, dyeing, hook latch, quilting, even paper arts.
Me: I first met you at Winter Fair. You are involved in a lot of Fiber Arts activities, right?
J: Yes, I have done the newsletter for 17 years for the Arts Guild in town.
Me: Wow! Where do you guys meet now?
J: At the Civic Center. We are in our 24th year.
Me: Neat! I'm going to come to your next meeting!
J: (laughs) Yes, please do. We are actually meeting here on June 15th at 9 a.m. we are going to be doing some dyeing outside.
Me: Oh cool. I will put that on my calendar.
J: (laughing again) Great!
Me: What do you guys normally do at your Guild meetings?
J: We talk about all things fiber, which included wood carving, paper arts, whatever! We show eachother our projects and really enjoy learning about new ideas and seeing what everyone is working on.
Me: Right, all things fiber. Easy to forget wood and paper when you are thinking about all the things you can do with yarn alone.
J: Yes, right.
Me: Do your children follow in your path?
J: My daughters do some knitting, sewing and quilting when they have the time.
Me: You have a lot of variety to your projects.
J: Yes, I like to create my own designs. It's nice when nothing is the same, everything is an original.
Me: Are you doing things for Summer Fair now?
J: Yes. I used to do some educational things with fiber, like showing how much dirt and lanolin comes out of the wool when you to clean it. I like doing that. They are called "Living Demonstrations."
Me: Oh cool. How about doing that for Winter Fair?
J: Yes, I'd love to.
Me: You showed me your families old spinning wheel that was handed down to you. I love that your art is inspired by generations before you.
J: I love that too!
Me: Jackie, thank you. What a pleasure!
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