Middle of The Story

     Hello – We may not have met yet, but I truly hope to meet you in person in the shops sometime. I’m Bridget, the founder of Bigfork’s Best, which is the parent company of The Artful Kitchen, The Creek, Artisans, and The Shoe Box in Bigfork, Montana, and our online presence www.myrealmontana.com. 

     I want to share a story with you, but we are starting in the middle rather than the beginning. 25 years ago, my late husband Michael and I opened Artisans – A Gathering of Fine Craftsmen in Bigfork. Fast forward to today, and our operation now encompasses 4 stores. We lost Michael a bit over a year ago to cancer, and that year has seen so many changes for all involved with Bigfork’s Best. Some changes have been good, and some a bit challenging. I am honored that you have stuck with us and are here to read my words.

     In addition to operating our enterprise and working with my team of 14 stellar people, I have begun something I am very excited to share with you. My Real Montana Artisan Leather is my new endeavor. Along with my partner Aaron and my grandson Shay, I am handcrafting bespoke leather goods for my stores, which you have shopped in over the past years. In just a short time, when you come into Artisans, The Creek or The Artful Kitchen you will find an array of leather goods including belts for men and women, household items like valet trays, hot pads and pan handle sleeves, and even leather care products we are formulating ourselves. I have plans to add handcrafted leather goods for your four-footed friends (collars and leashes), small goods like wallets and folios, and even jewelry. Not everything can happen all at once, and all labor is done literally by me, Aaron, and my grandson in our workshop in Cedar City, Utah. So these plans will unfold over time.

     25 years ago, Bigfork was a true art town. Electric Avenue was lined with galleries showcasing work of artists from near and far – watercolor and oil paintings, bronze sculptures, bench worked gold and silver jewelry, ceramics, and so much more. When Michael and I opened Artisans, every single item on our shelves was handcrafted in the United States by a real maker – someone with years of experience working with their chosen media. We knew them as friends as well as colleagues. Time has a way of changing everything – many retired, a few passed away, others simply no longer found handmaking goods to be economically feasible and so closed their studios to pursue other more financially stable activities. As a result, the nature of items on offer has changed over the years. And the same fate has befallen many of the shops on the street, and more broadly Bigfork itself.

Electric Avenue, Bigfork Montana

     If we scan the horizon beyond our own communities, we see the same changes all across this country. There are many reasons for this, of course, but the one that seems most obvious is that there is no longer the tradition of passing the torch – teaching new makers the classic techniques of making. Therefore, there aren’t many new makers launching collections that can sustain even a modest lifestyle. When artists and craftspeople aren’t schooled in classic techniques that they then make their own, quality suffers. When quality suffers, we end up with a dearth of unique handcrafted items that people wish to purchase. 

     With My Real Montana Artisan Leather, I am bringing handcrafted goods back to my shops and to your world as well. I am eager to turn the tide from mass production back to slow craft, from machine-made to handmade.  And please – if you know of makers of quality items, drop me an email with their information. My direct inbox is thebrain@bigforksbest.com. I will personally respond to every email you send and will follow up on any leads you may have. 

     Thank you for your patronage over the years – and I will work to be worthy of your continued support. 

 

With deep gratitude for your kindness and your patronage –

-Bridget.