About The Designer

Gayle Foshee' is going western. Back to her memories of her first little store in the Ft. Worth stockyards. You know the place…..Billy Bob’s famous mechanical bull?

Growing up in a small town in Missouri we spent a lot of time on aunt Betty’s farm, feeding cattle & jumping out of hay lofts. Amazingly enough…..no broken bones. As an adult, and many years later, I was fortunate enough to own a beautiful Arabian Mare.

After designing whimsical one-of-a-kind handbags for art shows it’s time to make a change back to where I started. Well, not all the way back, I’m sure that aunt Betty’s farm is a subdivision.

Western wear has become a cultural phenomenon globally. Some call it the “Yellowstone Effect” brought about by the TV drama Yellowstone. I’m jumping in with both boots by designing my own western crossbody bags and accessories. Almost any weekend you will find me at a horse show. Stop by and say howdy.

Ride like a girl!

Gayle

By Piper Castillo

TARPON SPRINGS — It’s a rite of spring: Artists from all over the country flocking to the banks of Spring Bayou, setting up shop for the Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival this weekend.

In its 46th year, the juried art show, sponsored by the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce. It is exciting. We had 376 applications, and the competition is very strong,’’ she said photography, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, digital, fiber, glass, metal, wood and furniture. Of the artists selected, about 100 are appearing for the first time, including fiber artist Gayle Foshee, who will be bringing a collection of handbags.

Foshee creates her "wearable art'' at her home studio in Clearwater, surrounded by sewing machines, hole punches, hand-dyed ribbons, beads and swaths of felt and leather. Once each handbag is complete, she gives it a name, like Spring Bridal, Cotton Candy and Unicorns, and Whimsy.

TAMPA BAY NEWS 9 interview