Life & Work with Amanda Thornton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Thornton.

Hi Amanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I became interested in macramé once I became an indoor plant enthusiast and wanted to learn how to make my own plant hangers. That was my starting point and the work evolved from there.

After learning the basic knots and simpler projects such as plant hangers, I developed more complex techniques and constructed larger ideas in the form of wall hangings, wedding arches, and refinished chair frames.

The tactile, repetitive quality of this work is mesmerizing to make and meditative to get lost in. I love that my work can be as simple and comforting as a plant hanger in the corner of someone’s living room that catches their eye now and then. Or perhaps provide a moment of deep wonderment when trying to figure out how something as humble as rope can turn into a labyrinth of a wall hanging.

I take such pride in reviving a fiber art that once was a relic of the past that can now be recognized as a timeless craft.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My original career was owning a women’s clothing boutique (2011-2018), so I was very familiar with the ins and outs of being a self-employed business owner. However, being a craft artist is a very specific world that I had to really learn quickly and adjust to. Luckily, I have a very dear friend, TomMac Garrett, who is an established potter and was able to shed light on how to actually make a living making art in the craft circuit. Also, my husband is a fine art painter who is a shining example of working with intention and dedication and is a constant source of support and inspiration.

The hardest part for me was learning how to market myself and sell my work because it feels very personal and vulnerable to put my own creations out into the world. In the retail business, it was easy for me to talk up the merchandise because there was distance between myself and the product. But when it comes to my art, it has taken some time to be able let my guard down and open my mind to then pour it out for others to experience.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a fiber artist that mainly focuses on macramé. I mostly make wall hangings and plant hangers, but constantly take on custom work which ranges from wedding arches and chair restorations to dresses or baby swings. I always tell my clients, if it involves rope, I can do it. My style of macramé tends to be geometric as I really enjoy clean lines and balance.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am Native American from the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Receiving my tribe’s certification of blood was a very significant moment in my life. My grandmother is from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The strength and courage it took for her to leave the reservation and start a new life in California is so special. To think of the hurdles she overcame makes me emotional just writing about it. It’s no wonder that she gave birth to such strong and resilient women. I always try to remember that when I am faced with adversity.

Pricing:

• Plant Hangers $35-$50
• Wall Hangings $100/sq ft

Contact Info:

• Email: thornandfinch@gmail.com
• Website: www.thornandfinch.com
• Instagram: @thornandfinch

Image Credits
Amanda Thornton