Patty Shepard

Patty Shepard

The African Hut, Kingsport, TN

I am originally from Kenya. Basket weaving is very common in Africa. As a child I would sit around with my mother and aunties and watch them weave baskets, that is where I gained the interest and the experience of weaving. Twenty-six years ago I relocated to America to pursue my education. After graduating from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelors in Business, I worked for a few companies but decided to pursue basket weaving as a hobby/career.

I have always enjoyed travelling and meeting people from all walks of life, so when my mother joined me in America we decided to work together and expand my business to a daughter/mother team. We travel to different states and cities selling our wonderful one-of-a-kind hand-woven baskets.