I come from a long line of creative people. My two most noted influences are my paternal grandmother, Bertha Custer and paternal great aunt, Mary Derflinger. My grandmother was an excellent seamstress. She could see a woman on the street in a dress and go home and create her own pattern from memory and make the dress to fit her size and features. My great Aunt Mary had many talents at creating. She could create beautiful scrap hand sewn quilts, restore historic antique quilts, crochet afghans, create crochet beaded necklaces, and was well versed in clothes making.
From a young age, the value of handmade was instilled by my mother, Barbara. My family for many generations has made things for themselves and others. Receiving something handmade for Christmas or a birthday was always a tradition. My brother and I were taught at a young age that you just don’t part with a handmade item someone has taken the time to make and give to you. From this, I began to create and give handmade to keep the tradition alive.
I can remember as a young girl reading my mother’s Reader’s Digest Needlework book that had various crochet stitches and then trying my hand at duplicating them. My mother crocheted and knitted, so I had a good source of yarn. I crocheted baby blankets for family members when a new member would arrive. Then beginning in 9th grade I became interested in quilting. I constructed my first baby quilt for a 9th grade history project. I decided to keep it for myself and was able to wrap my daughter in it when we brought her home in September of 2009. I kept my creative streak alive in college at WVU by doing little side projects when time was available.
After becoming a stay at home Mom in March of 2006, I began sewing diaper bags for myself because of the quality of store purchased bags. Other people liked them, so I made some and gave them as gifts. Eventually, my friends and family encouraged me to make and sell my work. Having never taken a sewing class or received instruction in machine sewing, I spent hours pouring over owner’s manuals and sewing magazines to teach myself quality construction and neatness. I enjoy seeing other people’s work not to duplicate it but to draw influence. Feedback from my customers and fellow crafters is always taken into consideration and valued.
Currently, I enjoy making patchwork items with coordinating fabric collections and/or complimentary fabrics. My passion is making bags, whether it be tote bags, purses, travel bags, cosmetic bags, kids’ crayon bags or bags with appliqué accents. I created my business "Little Levels Homespun Treasures & Gifts" from the area where I live in Pocahontas County in the Town of Hillsboro. Handmade has been a tradition of the area since pioneers settled in 1760, so I wanted to continue those traditions in my business name. Since joining the PCACO-OP in August of 2013, I’ve discovered that I enjoy making aprons with various features and different sized quilted doilies using Dresden plate designs. In the future, I hope to offer antique jar lamps with quilt decorated lamp shades.
In 2016, Anne began crafting and selling locally sourced jellies and jams. These included a line of flower jellies harvested from nature.
"Handmade" has been a tradition in West Virginia since pioneers settled in the 1760s. Fabric artist Anne Walker's grandmother and great aunt were a seamstress and quilter. From a young age the value and tradition of handmade gifts was instilled in Anne by her mother. Anne creates colorful handmade fabric art to keep the family tradition alive. With a passion for making bags, Anne creates classic and whimsical tote bags, purses, travel bags, cosmetic bags, kid's crayon bags and bags with applique accents. She also produces a wide variety of aprons, scarves and fabric art for the wall and table that will bring enchanting echoes of Appalachia into your home and daily life.
Contact Anne at walker_wvu@yahoo.com