Meet Nevada Tribble, an artist from Elkins, WV who recently moved to Honolulu, HI!

Tell us a little about yourself!

I’m 24 years old, and I grew up in Elkins, West Virginia (Although I was born in Nevada, which is where I got my name.) I am endlessly inspired by nature, and I love to spend time outside hiking, camping, skiing, swimming, or just soaking it all in. I recently moved to Hawaii, and I am enjoying getting to know such a different landscape and climate. I’ve also been learning to surf and chasing rainbows.

What drew you to your craft?

I am drawn to fiber arts because they always seem to me to have a narrative quality. Looking at a quilt or weaving or mending, I can almost see the hands that made it, and almost hear the thread of conversations coming and going during the making: stories told, dreams speculated upon, memories unraveled.

What is your favorite thing you have ever made?

One of my favorite things I have made is a giant tapestry called This Is How I Hope. It was woven with materials that were each significant to me in different ways. There were many bits and pieces of old art projects, scraps of one of my mother’s old shirts, yarn given to me by particular friends, and so on. I also wove in strips of my handmade paper with my hopes for the world and the future written on them. I made the piece at a time when I felt very disheartened, and the act of writing down my hopes and weaving them in made them real for me.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be an artist, but I couldn’t always admit it. I had all kinds of other “realistic” careers that I thought about, like being a teacher, or a biologist, or a librarian. But I think even if I had gone down another path, I would still be an artist underneath.

How would you describe your creative process?

My family likes to (lovingly) make fun of me because I usually tend to do things in the most inefficient and slow way possible, especially when it comes to making art. Lately, I’ve been embracing this because I’ve realized that the slowing down is what really gets my imagination going.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?

I would tell myself to listen to my intuition more. I have found that there’s an inner compass I can fall back on when I really need to, that knows what’s right before my conscious mind can catch up. I think the sooner anyone can learn to trust their inner compass the happier they will be.

Why is it important to support local artists and makers?

Local artists and makers care deeply about the communities surrounding them. The more a community can support its artists, the more the artists can contribute to the community. Together we only make each other stronger.

Why do you love doing what you do?

I love making art because it feels like taking a deep breath and letting out a huge sigh of satisfaction.

What advice do you have for other makers who want to start their own business?

If you’re a maker starting your own business, you already know that you can do it, and you’re probably already on a course to prove it to the world. I think some important advice is to remember to take breaks so that you don’t burn out, and don’t forget to look at all the beautiful things around you.

You can find Nevada’s artwork in the shop, including prints, postcards, stickers and more, featuring her handmade papers and stitching!