>> PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED IN PART BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

>> RECENTLY, THERE'S BEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE IMPACT OF THE CRAFT ON VERMONT'S ECONOMY.

PARTICULARLY, IN THE CRUCIAL TOURIST MARKET, THE PROFESSIONAL CRAFTSPERSON IS GENERATING NEARLY AS MUCH CONSUMER APPEAL AS THE STATE'S FAMOUS SCENERY AND SEASONAL REACTION, AND IS BECOMING A PRINCIPAL INGREDIENT OF THE VERMONT MYSTIQUE.

YET BEYOND THE IMPRESSION MOST PEOPLE HAVE THAT A CRAFTSPERSON IS SOMETHING BETWEEN A HOBBYIST AND FINE ARTIST, LIES A VAST ARRAY OF HUMAN REALITIES THAT GIVE ADDED MEANING TO THE TERM "CRAFTSMANSHIP."

♪ WORKING OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN TOP LOG HOUSE WHICH HE BUILT AND SHARES WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN, JEREMY SEGER HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS ONE OF THE FOREMOST MAKERS OF APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN PEOPLE IN THE NORTHEAST.

>> I STARTED MAKING THIS BECAUSE I WANTED ONE, AND AT THE TIME I WAS IN COLLEGE AND THERE WAS NOBODY TO GIVE ME ONE, SO I HAD TO START MAKING THEM TO GET ONE, AND I WORKED ON MY OWN DESIGN AND MY OWN PROPORTIONS AND DEVELOPED MY INSTRUMENT WITHIN THE TRADITION.

WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL DESIGN.

I STARTED OUT USING ONLY MAHOGANY.

FOR THE SOUND BOX.

THE NECK AND SIDE, I HAVE ALWAYS USED CHERRY.

BUT I HAVE STARTED USING CHERRY AND BLACK WALNUT, AND THEN EITHER CEDAR OR A SPRUCE TOP.

IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH TIME IT MAKES OR TAKES TO MAKE THIS FROM THE BEGINNING TO END I AM ALWAYS WORKING ON A WHOLE BUNCH AT A TIME, AND WHILE I HAVE PARTS DRYING OR GLUE SETTING UP, I AM WORKING ON NEW PARTS FOR THEM THAT ARE GOING TO BE STARTED IN A FEW WEEKS.

I KNOW THAT I HAVE AT LEAST TEN HOURS, PROBABLY MORE LIKE 15.

WHEN I BUILD THEM, I TRY TO MAKE EACH ONE AS GOOD AS I CAN, AND THEN YOU TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT QUALITY OVER YOUR PRODUCTION.

>> ARMED WITH AN ARRAY OF PAMPHLETS AND MAIL ORDER FORMS SEGER HAS ONLY RECENTLY COME TO GLIMPSE WITH THE EFFECTS OF AN OFTEN GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTANT MARKETPLACE.

>> LIVING UP IN VERMONT HERE, YOU ARE AWAY FROM WHERE MOST OF YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I AM WORKING ON NOW IS REACHING THE LARGER MARKET.

>> THE SEGERS HAVE DESIGNED A BASIC LIFESTYLE THAT PLACE AS HIGH VALUE ON SELF SUFFICIENCY AND STRONG FAMILY TIES.

DELIBERATELY FAR REMOVED FROM THE TRAPPINGS, PRESSURES AND CONVENIENCES OF LIFE IN THE PLAIN STREAM.

>> PEOPLE THINK THAT WE REALLY ROUGH IT LIVING UP HERE ON THE MOUNTAIN.

TWO MILES FROM THE MAIN ROAD.

BUT WE ARE PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE.

>> WE START PLOWING THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE GASOLINE PRICES WENT UP TO $1.

>> AND WE DECIDED THAT WE COULD WALK IT JUST AS EASILY, AND WE TRY TO BUY OUR STAPLES IN BULK IN THE FALL SO THAT ONCE THE DRIVEWAY SNOWS OVER, WE JUST HAVE TO CARRY IN THE FRESH THINGS THAT WE NEED.AND SMALL- IN OUR VIEW, WE ARE NOT ROUGHING IT AT ALL.

THE ONLY REAL THING THAT WE ARE DOING IS COMING IN.

THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR OWN ADJUSTMENTS TO IT.

>> THE SNOW IS ALMOST GONE.

>> THE WAY I HAVE TRIED TO WORK MY LIFE IS THAT I HAVE THE SURROUNDINGS THAT I LIKE.

AND I SPEND MY LIFE WITH MY FAMILY, AND EARNING A LIVING DOESN'T TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY FAMILY 9:00 TO 5:00 OR LONGER.

THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENT IF I HAD TO DO IT OVER AGAIN.

WE THOUGHT IT OUT FAIRLY WELL IN ADVANCE, AND MADE OUR CHOICES AS WE WENT ALONG, SO THAT IT'S THE WAY THAT WE WANT IT.

>> IN THESE PRESENT TIMES THAT WE HAVE AND IN VERMONT, ALMOST NOBODY -- OR AT LEAST THINGS THE WAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO ADJUST IS DIFFERENT, AND SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, IT CERTAINLY IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT.

>> AT A TIME WHEN ECONOMIC PRESSURES ARE FORCING MANY CRAFTSPEOPLE TO REEVALUATE THEIR METHODS, TED IS STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THE SAME SOLITARY, SUBSISTENT LIFE AND WORK STYLES WHICH HAVE BEEN AS MUCH HIS TRADEMARK AS THE BEAUTY OF HIS POTTERY.

>> I DO, DEFINITELY, WORK ALONE AND BY CHOICE, AND WHATEVER THE INFESHTSIES ARE, THERE ARE ALSO BENEFITS, AND THE BENEFITS ARE MORE PERSONAL TO ME THAN FINANCIALLY.

>> THE LIFE THAT I'VE BEEN ESTABLISHING HAS BEEN BASED ON BEING ABLE TO MAKE CHOICES ALMOST EVERY DAY OF WHAT IS DOING AND WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE, AND THERE ARE SOMETIMES LESS AND LESS OPTIONS OF THOSE THINGS TO DO BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED ECONOMIC NEEDS THAT I HAVE TO FACE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT.

MY INTEREST IS MORE IN DOING THE JOB THE WAY THAT I WANT TO DO IT.

MY EFFORT ISN'T REALLY REWARDED BY MONEY.

IT IS NOT VERY MUCH DEPENDENT ON THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS.

MY EXPENDITURE IN TIME IS MORE OF A BENEFIT THAN I GIVE TO MYSELF, I GUESS, THAN A FINANCIAL BENEFIT.

THAT'S MY FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT WITH THE WORLD IS NOT VERY GREAT.

IT SEEMS I COME OUT WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS THAT I HAVE, AND DOESN'T GET ANYONE AFTER ME.

ONE OF MY MAIN CARES AND CONCERNS IS MAKING THE FINEST POTTERY THAT I CAN.

>> ASIDE FROM THE EVERY DAY CHORES OF PROCURING WATER FROM A DISTANT WELL, AND CULLING THE WEAK SUPPLY OF FIREWOOD FROM A NEARBY WOOD LOT, STUDIO TIME IS REDUCED BY HIS PART-TIME BUSINESS SELLING AND SERVICING POTTERY-MAKING EQUIPMENT.

>> THIS IS TED AT FOREMAN FIRE.

>> MUCH OF MY PHYSICAL EXISTENCE HERE IS REALLY BAND AMMONIUM AND CHAOTIC, AND THE PO -- THE FEW F MY LIFE ARE UNDER CONTROL, AND THE LEFT IS RELATIVELY OUT OF CONTROL, BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE A BUSINESS PICTURE.

>> MUCH OF THE KEY TO THE HAPPINESS AND THE SATISFACTION AND THE ABILITY THAT I HAVE TO WORK THINGS OUT IN THE WAY THAT I HAVE, IN THE WAY THAT BRINGS ME PLEASURE, AS FAR AS MAKING MY POTTERY WITHOUT A BIG FINANCIAL YIELD, AND GENERALLY, OPERATING THE WAY THAT I DO IN A FLEXIBLE WAY, A LOT OF THAT I OWE TO THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF GROUND.

>> WHEN DEBORAH DECIDED FIVE YEARS AGO TO RETURN TO HER NATIVE VERMONT, HER ONLY CONCERN WAS WHETHER HER TRANSPLANTED STAINED GLASS BUSINESS WOULD PROSPER.

>> WHEN I MOVED UP FROM BOSTON IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO FIND OUT IF I CAN MAKE A LIVING AS A CRAFTSPERSON IN VERMONT.

WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT, IN FACT, I COULD, AND THAT IN SO MANY WAYS, VERMONT WAS REALLY AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR ME, I STARTED REALIZING THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING MISSING.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT ISOLATION HAS TO BE A PART OF WORKING IN VERMONT.

BUT I THINK IN MY CASE, IT IS.

I AM TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THAT LESS OF A PROBLEM FOR ME.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF CRAFORTS-- CRAFTSPEOPLE WOULD PN ISOLATED LIFESTYLE, AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE HERE.

THAT ISN'T REALLY THE CASE WITH ME.

I LIKE THE COUNTRY, AND I REALLY LOVE THE COUNTRY ENVIRONMENT, AND IT'S NOT THE ISOLATION.

IT'S NOT THE LACK OF PEOPLE THAT I AM SEEKING.

>> THIS IS GORGEOUS, REALLY.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

>> MY COMMISSION WORK INTRODUCES ME TO A VARIETY OF PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS.

IT'S THE CLOSE, ON LOCATION CONTACT WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO SHARE THEIR SPECIFIC DESIGN PROBLEMS THAT GIVES MY WORK THAT MUCH NEEDED HUMAN RELIEF.

IT'S TROUBLING THAT THERE HAS TO BE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN ART AND CRAFT.

I HAVE ALWAYS FELT STRONGLY ABOUT MY WORK AS A FINE ART, BUT WORKING IN A MEDIUM THAT TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN LABELED A CRAFT, I FEEL ESPECIALLY CHALLENGED TO BE AS INNOVATIVE AND ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE GIVEN THE NEED TO MAKE A LIVING IN A MARKETPLACE THAT SEEMS TO REQUIRE DEFINITIONS.

WHEN I MOVED TO VERMONT, AND MOVED FROM THAT SITUATION, I FOUND OUT THAT I COULD DO A LOT MORE WORK.

I SPENT MORE TIME ZEROING IN ON MY WORK.

WHEREAS BEFORE I WAS SO SCATTERED WITH ALL THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE CITY, AND THINGS TO DO AND CONSTANT CONTACT AND VARIETY, THAT I FOUND IT VERY HARD TO SIT DOWN AND GET TO WORK.

AND SO IT REALLY HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD THING FOR ME.

I LEARNED TO DISCIPLINE MYSELF, AND I WORK REGULARLY, AND I HAVE GOTTEN A LOT DONE HERE.

THE WORLD SITUATION SEEMS TO ENABLE ME TO CONCENTRATE ON MY WORK.

THERE AREN'T A LOT OF THINGS FORCING ME OUT OF MY SHOP TO RUN OUT AND DO, SO I SPEND MORE OF MY TIME WORKING.

I CHOSE THE LIFE OF AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST BECAUSE I LIKE TO SET MY OWN PACE.

AND CREATE MY OWN WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

BUT, AS YET, THERE DON'T SEEM TO BE ENOUGH CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CRAFTS PEOPLE IN VERMONT.

>> IN A CLASSROOM STUDIO OVERLOOKING MIDDLEBURY'S OTTER CREEK, JUDITH BRYANT HAS SPENT THE LAST THREE YEARS OF HER CAREER SHARING HER TALENT AND SPACE AS RESIDENT POTTER FOR THE VERMONT STATE CRAFT CENTER AT FROG HOLLOW.

>> WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU TONIGHT IS, IF I CAN GET THIS CENTERED, IS THROWING THE COLLAR ON THE WHEEL ON -- A LOT OF CRAFTS PEOPLE LIKE WORKING IN ISOLATION.

WHETHER IT'S IN VERMONT OR ANY OTHER STATE.

WE ARE USED TO SETTING OUR OWN PACE, RUNNING OUR OWN SHOW, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US WHO, WHEN WE ARE DOING OUR OWN WORK, WORK ALONE AND DON'T SHARE A STUDIO.

>> GET SOME SLIP ON THERE BEFORE I ADD THE COLOR.

>> HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH IS AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR ME.

I MISS IT WHEN I DON'T DO IT.

I MISS THE PEOPLE.

I MISS THE CONTACT.

OH, I HAVE DREAMED OF HAVING A STUDIO TUCKED AWAY, SOMETIMES WHEN THERE ARE HOARDS OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH HERE, AND I FEEL LIKE WHEN AM I EVER GOING TO HAVE ANY PRIVACY.

I SUSPECT THAT PRIVACY WOULD FALL PRETTY QUICKLY FOR ME.

I NEED THAT KIND OF INTERACTION WITH MY STUDENTS.

AT THE BEGINNING, I THINK THAT I FELT MORE COMFORTABLE TEACHING THAN I DID DOING MY OWN WORK.

I PREFERRED TO CONCENTRATE ON THAT.

I WAS INTERESTED IN IT.

IT WAS ABOUT NINE YEARS, 9.5 YEARS AGO, AND I DID EVERYTHING MYSELF.

I RAN THE STUDIO.

I MIXED EVERYTHING.

I LOOKED AFTER EVERYTHING INVOLVED WITH THE STUDIO, AND FOUND VERY LITTLE TIME TO DO MY OWN WORK.

NOW, I GATHER TIME WHEREVER I CAN, AND I LOVE TEACHING.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO DO IT.

BUT FINDING TIME FOR MY OWN WORK IS MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT.

THE REALITIES OF MAKING A LIVING SEEM TO ME TO BE HARDER WHEN YOU ARE SELF-EMPLOYED.

ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE PROBLEMS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN BEING SELF-EMPLOYED IS YOU ARE COMPLETELY ON OUR OWN.

THERE IS NO INSURANCE BENEFITS.

RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY, WITH MY BABY DUE IN A MONTH, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY NICE TO HAVE AN EMPLOYER HAVING INSURANCE FOR ME, SO I WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE FIGURING OUT THE COST OF DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, AND MOSTLY FOR THE BABY, AND SO FORTH.

BUT, SO FAR, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY INSURANCE AT ALL, I JUST WALK CAREFULLY ON THE ICE AND TRY NOT TO BREAK MY ARM, AND DO ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES GOING TO THE DOCTOR.

I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH ME.

NO BENEFITS, EXCEPT WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE OURSELVES.

I THINK ABOUT HOW I WOULD FEEL DOING SOME OTHER JOB.

AND EVEN IF IT WEREN'T EIGHT HOURS A DAY, CLEAR CUT, I COULD LEAVE AT THE END OF THE DAY AND NOT THINK ABOUT, AS OPPOSED TO MY 12 AND 14-HOUR DAYS, SOMETIMES HERE.

I REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE DOING ANYTHING ELSE.

I LIKE WHAT I DO.

I LIKE THE FEEL OF IT.

I LIKE ALMOST ALL PROCESSES OF WORKING WITH CLAY.

I LIKE THE TEACHING.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT I COULD SAY THAT ABOUT ANY OTHER SORT OF JOB THAT I COULD IMAGINE DOING.

>> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PEWTERS IN THE 18th CENTURY WHO ARE MY ANCESTORS WHO HAVE SERVED AS A INSPIRATION FOR ME, BOTH BECAUSE I HAVE APPRECIATED THEIR WORK, AND I IDENTIFY WITH THE TIME IN WHICH THEY WERE WORKING.

IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME ECONOMICALLY, AND THEY WERE STARTING SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH IN THE NEW WORLD.

>> DESPITE HIS ANCESTRAL CONNECTION WITH PEWTER-MAKING, FRED WAS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED TO THE CRAFT BY HIS WIFE.

SINCE THEIR MARRIAGE, AND MERGER, THEY HAVE MANAGED TO ESTABLISH BOTH A BUSTLING TRADE AND A FAMILY.

>> I THINK THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP IS KIND OF A STROKE OF LUCK.

WE ARE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER QUITE WELL IN THE SHOP.

OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS TAKEN TO CERTAIN STAGES OF THE PROCESS AND I TO OTHERS.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE A MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER'S ABILITIES, AND DIFFERENCES.

WE APPROACH WORK DIFFERENTLY IN A LOT OF WAYS, BUT COMPATIBLY.

WE WORKED TOGETHER ON OUR DESIGNS, AND STARTING WITH A THOUGHT OF A SPECIFIC TASTE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE, AND BRING IT TO.

OUR LINES ARE SIMPLE.

WE FEEL THE MELTS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF IN A LOT OF WAYS AND WE KEEP IT SIMPLE.

THAT MAKES IT NICE FOR FUNCTION, AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FUNCTION.

>> OKAY.

ONE LIFT, TWO LIFTS.

>> THIS EVOLVES AROUND WHERE OUR FAMILY IS, TRYING TO BE FLEXIBLE.

AND INCLUDE THEM AND YET NOT HAVE IT BE A DRAIN ON THEM.

WE WANTED TO HAVE A FAMILY.

IT WAS A CHOICE.

AND WE, ALSO, BECAUSE OF THAT CHOICE, REALIZED THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME CHANGES MADE.

WHEN WE STARTED WORKING AND GOT OUR BUSINESS GOING, BOTH OF US WERE IN THE SHOP, OFTEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND A FEW NIGHTS, AND WHEN WE STARTED HAVING OUR FAMILY, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT I WOULD BE OUT OF THE SHOP FOR A WHILE.

IT WAS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE, AND IT WAS A DECISION THAT CERTAINLY HAD ITS EFFECTS THAT I COULDN'T PREDICT HOW IT REALLY AFFECTED ME.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A SPACING BETWEEN OUR CHILDREN OF THREE YEARS WHICH ENABLED ME TO GET BACK INTO THE SHOP AND KNOW THAT I COULD DO IT, THAT I WASN'T GOING TO JUST HAVE IT PHASE OUT OF MY LIFE AND JUST BECOME, YOU KNOW, ONLY A MOM AND A HOUSEWIFE.

>> I THINK ABOUT MY PICTURE, AND IN FINANCIAL TERMS.

SOMETIMES THE INSECURITY WHICH WE EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING WE JUST ACCEPT.

>> ONE ASPECT OF BEING A CRAFT PERSON IN VERMONT, KNOWING THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER CRAFT PEOPLE OUT THERE, DEALING WITH THE SAME DIFFICULTIES THAT WE ARE, IT'S REALLY HEARTENING TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS.

[BELLS TOLLING] >> AT AGE 55, I DECIDED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WHEN I ENTERED INTO WHAT I REFERRED TO AS MY CHANGE IN ORIENTATION.

OTHER PEOPLE REFER TO IT AS RETIREMENT.

I HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.

IT HAD TO BE IMPORTANT.

I DON'T LIKE HOBBIES.

I HAVE INTERESTS.

MAJOR INTERESTS AND MINOR INTERESTS.

BUT NO HOBBIES.

THERE IS SOMETHING WEAK ABOUT THE TERM "HOBBY" INSINCERE, SO I PREFER MAJOR INTERESTS, AND ONE DAY I MADE A PIECE OF FURNITURE FOR MY OLDEST SON, AND I REALIZED WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE FINE FURNITURE.

SINCE RETIRING, FORMER BANKER AND ARMY OFFICER GORDON HAS DEVOTED HIMSELF TO CREATING WHAT HE CALLS, SEMI-REPRODUCTION FURNITURE.

>> THE FURNITURE THAT WE MAKE IS, ESSENTIALLY, MADE IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE EARLY FINE CABINET-MAKERS.

AND AS A RESULT, THAT FURNITURE SHOULD LAST JUST AS LONG AS THE FURNITURE THAT THEY MADE.

SO THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME OUT OF USING THE OLD TECHNIQUES.

THE SECOND THING IS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MANY PIECES OF FURNITURE, COMMERCIALLY, APPROACH THIS SORT OF DETAIL.

I ENJOY MAKING THE FURNITURE-TH.

I ENJOY EVERY ASPECT OF IT.

I GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PLEASURE OUT OF MAKING SOMETHING.

IT'S THE ACT OF DOING IT AND DOING IT AS WELL AS I CAN THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

SO YOU MUST ENJOY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

AND IF YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU ARE DOING, IT ALMOST FOLLOWS THAT THE WORK, ITSELF, WILL BE THE BEST POSSIBLE WORK YOU CAN DO.

I FEEL CERTAIN THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE BOUGHT OUR FURNITURE WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING IT AS AN HEIRLOOM TO HAND DOWN TO THEIR CHILDREN.

THAT EXIT -- THAT EXCITES ME, OT LEAST MAKES ME ENTHUSIASTIC TOWARDS THE CUSTOMER.

I WILL PRICE THE PRODUCT I MAKE AT WHAT I CONSIDER A FAIR PRICE.

IF PEOPLE DON'T BUY IT, I WILL NOT LOWER MY PRICE UNTIL SOMEONE BUYS IT.

I THINK THAT I AM WORTHY OF MY HIRE, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CRAFTSMAN IS, AND THEREFORE I WILL WAIT.

SO FOR MY, SO FAR MY JUDGMENT HAS BEEN CORRECT.

I WAITED FOUR YEARS TO SELL A DESK.

AND I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT IT WILL GIVE IT TENDER LOVING CARE.

THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE IT.

>> NICE SMILE.

THERE IT IS.

>> WHEN MARY O'SHEA DECIDES IT'S TIME TO UPDATE HER PRODUCT CATALOG SHE HIRES A MODEL AND PHOTOGRAPHER.

IT JUST MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE.

IN 13 YEARS AS A PROFESSOR WIDE WEAVER HAVE TAUGHT HER ANYTHING IT'S IS THAT HER WORK IS A BUSINESS.

>> I HAVE TRIANGULAR SHELVES, ONE PRODUCT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT IT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.

I STICK TO A BANK THING, AND I THINK THAT THE KEY TO IT IS TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT YOU TRULY THINK IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN MAKE, AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING THAT YOU CAN MAKE, AND I THINK THAT THERE IS MARKET FOR IT.

>> REALISTICALLY YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE WORKING FOR YOU TO MAKE A LIVING.

IF I WERE TO BE WEAVING BY MYSELF ON A LOOM, I COULD MAYBE GET ONE SHAWL DONE EVERY TWO DAYS.

HAVING FIVE PEOPLE HELPING ME, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GETTING FIVE SHELVES DONE A DAY.

THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WE NEED, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE IT WORK.

THE PRICE IS STILL 90 BUT IT MIGHT GO UP AFTER THE HOLIDAY.

AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO ORDER SIX.

WE ARE BUSY YEAR-ROUND, YOU ABOUT WHAT I DO TO STAY BUSY AND TO KEEP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR ME BUSY IS TO GET ON THE ROAD AND GO WHERE THE BUSINESS IS, SO I HAVE THINGS MORE LIKE TWO STORES IN VERMONT, TWO IN CALIFORNIA, AND TWO IN ARIZONA, AND I SELL EVERYWHERE.

MOST OF MY BUSINESS IS OUT OF STATE.

IT SEEMS IT'S -- IT WOULD BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ALL YOUR MONEY IN VERMONT.

THE WAY THAT I GET MY BUSINESS IS THAT I GO TO CRAFT FAIRS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND THE LARGE ONES WE HAVE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DAYS, AND ON THE WHOLESALE DAYS, BUYERS COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND PLACE ORDERS.

WHAT THAT ALLOWS ME IS THAT IT ALLOWS ME TO SIT IN VERMONT AND DO WHAT I DO AND BE ABLE TO SHIP THINGS OUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

I DON'T THINK I FEEL ISOLATED BECAUSE I GET OUT INTO THE WORLD.

WITH THE BUSINESS, I GET TO TRAVEL, TO GO ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO DIFFERENT SHOWS.

AND BY THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN AT A SHOW IN NEW YORK, I AM READY TO COME BACK TO VERMONT.

I LOVE THE HOUSE.

IT'S JUST KIND OF A PERSONAL VISION OF MY OWN WORLD.

I LOVE THE ISOLATION AND THE PRIVATENESS BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T FIND ME.

IN OTHER WORDS, I AM OUT THERE, AND I AM ON AND SELLING THINGS, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING, BUT THEN I COULD COME BACK HERE AND I CAN HAVE SOLITUDE AND PEACE TO CREATE WHAT I NEED TO CREATE.

I HAVE TO BE IN VERMONT TO BE AN ARTIST.

TO ME, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE, AND I NEED TO BE HERE IN THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT TO DO WHAT I DO.

BASICALLY, I AM -- I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A WEAVER, I HAVE CHANGED HOW I HAVE DONE IT, AND I AM ALWAYS THE WEAVER.

I THINK THAT'S THE BASIC PART OF WHO I AM.

>> I GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PLEASURE OUT OF MAKING SOMETHING.

IT'S THE ACT OF DOING IT, AND DOING IT AS WELL AS I CAN THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> MY INTERESTS IS MORE IN DOING THE JOB, THE WAY THAT I WANT TO DO IT, AND MY EFFORT BEING REWARDED BY MONEY.

>> THE KEY IS TO BE MAKING SOMETHING YOU TRULY THINK IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN MAKE, AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING THAT YOU CAN MAKE.

>> PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED IN PART BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

>> FOR MORE CLASSIC PROGRAMS, VISIT VERMONTPBS.ORG/FROMTHEARCHIVES.