Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Whitten. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

I get this question often. We live in Western Montana and our area has a lot of Magpies. When my daughter Claire would shout “piehawk”!!! every time she would see one, it became something that we all did. It is a sweet memory. When I went to name the business, I decided to call it Piehawk and added Outpost so I could incorporate other endeavors along the way.

Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When I was a small child, my grandmother gifted me a kit for Christmas. It was a small loom that was intended to make pot holders with a special fabric. I made so many. For my birthday, my parents gifted me a bead box. There was a small wire type loom in in with an instruction booklet. It was easy for me to figure out as I already knew how to weave because of the loom my grandmother had given me. I recall getting books from the library to further help me with loom beadwork. Over the years the bead box has sat in the closet here and there but it’s always something I’ve come back to. I’ve been beading for over 30 years now. It’s something that requires time and concentration. I make most of my hat band patterns using graph paper and colored pencils. Or, I string up my loom and just go to it when I have an idea in my head. I bead what I enjoy. Muted colors, simple repetitive patterns. I draw pattern and color inspiration from my surroundings. The natural tones of the beaver felt hats really accompany the beadwork so nicely. I have made earrings and other beaded items but I love hats and my preference is making hat bands for them. I’m proud of the consistent tension and the quality of my beadwork. I really put a lot of time into them, bead by bead. I make them with the intention of being an item that can be passed down to kin.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Most of the following I have accumulated has been due to Instagram. I’ve stayed true to myself and not gone with trends. I feel like high quality photos of high quality work is what has worked. I credit most of the success and reach to my daughter and her photography, posts, modeling and the support of my maker community. The support of other makers has been so special and I think of fondly often. We lift each other up and support our crafts that compliment each other like they are meant to be.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I’ve beaded for so many years off and on based on life seasons. My daughters and my husband encouraged me to start selling my work. The deal was that they had to help me promote it as self promotion is a struggle for me. My daughter Jess, has backed me and put my work out in the world when my shy self would not have. Having a support system is so important. My friend, and hat maker Christy Sing-Robertson is also someone that has helped this business so much. She brings to life the hat bands on her beautifully created handmade hats. She’s such a talent and I’ve been blessed to have her use my beadwork on her hats.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.piehawkoutpost.com
• Instagram: @piehawkoutpost

Image Credits
Photo credit: @itsjessoutwest