Meet Linda Zpietz

We were lucky to catch up with Linda Zpietz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Linda, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

Both parents and grandparents taught me a good work ethic first by modeling, but secondly by one particular incident. I wanted an aquarium when I was about ten and found one for $10. That sounds like a small amount, but it was a great deal then. My parents told me I had to work to save up the money for it by doing a variety of odd jobs. I would earn a quarter here and a dime there. It took awhile to accumulate the needed amount, but I was never so proud as when I marched up to Woolworths and bought that prized aquarium. There was such satisfaction in having earned that money and it has stayed with me to this day. Tied in with that, I seem to naturally be person that is able to do delayed gratification i.e. the toddler candy study.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I grew up in a family of artists including my parents that met at the same art school I went to along with my grandfather having attended many years before. I loved all things art, but was especially drawn to fiber even at a young age when my great aunt taught me to knit at age four. I was always designing and thinking of ways to use needlework.

Although I majored in graphic communication at art school, it wasn’t long after getting out of college that I started my own business designing needlepoint patterns. Needlepoint was very big then and I had sales reps around the country and had painters to paint the orders.

Needlepoint has faded quite a bit, but that did not stop me from pursuing my passion of all things fiber and textiles. My sister had a traditional rug hooking business selling hand dyed wool. I asked her about doing patterns for her business. At first she was reluctant, but then gave in and we have been working together for well over twenty years.

We have collaborated on many projects including me designing and my sister hooking all at the time forty-four president portraits. These portraits including pets and hobbies and other notable bits of presidential trivia. We put a book together of the patterns, trivia and dye recipes. We also co-authored four books on knitting and crochet from two different publishers.

We both continue to also work separately in addition to our collaboration. Somewhat regularly, I write articles for Rug Hooking Magazine and have contributed work in a number of other books. For a time, I designed for Bucilla and Dimensions, which sells there kits in chain stores.

While in college, I got my commercial pilot’s license and the my flight instructor rating and taught flying when not in class. I have an insatiable hunger to learn new things and especially related to fiber and textiles.
Teaching flying was my first job being paid to instruct. I went on to get a teaching credential in Fine Art, Arts and Crafts, and Basic and Secondary Education. the latter allowed me to teach GED prep two nights a week. It was so satisfying as students reached there goal of passing the GED test.

I taught art part time at a variety of different venues for over twenty-five years including elementary, middle school, high school, adult school and junior college. It basically amounted to a full time job. This allowed me to put both of my children through college with no debt and I just kept going..

Presently. I am still design needlework and also taking lots of online classes. In addition, I am the president of the Art League of Ft. Bend in Texas. We have two facilities with a large gallery, gift shop and artist studios. I show in the gallery even though some do not recognize textile art as a legitimate medium. What some don’t know or remember is that tapestries came before paintings. Hopefully, one day textile art will get the respect it deserves and I plan on being one of the pioneers to make that happen.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Perseverance has always been a quality I have greatly admired since childhood. I love the movie Rudy, not because I am a big football fan, but because Rudy never gave up on his dream no matter the obstacles.

I am a problem solver and love solving problems coming up with viable solutions. If I am having problems with a piece of artwork I am working on, I won’t stop until I find a solution. Problem solving in just plain fun. The making of things and the problems that arise is what I enjoy. Once I am done, the thrill is gone mostly. At that point, I hope to sell the piece. On a related note, I love solving complex algebraic equations for fun.

Being around artist all my life had a great impact on me. This was especially true of my grandfather and great aunt. My grandparents took me to all sorts of art shows and the art museum almost weekly. They always encouraged me with my own art. My great did all sorts of fiber/textile arts and shared her love of that with me. I had another great aunt that was a big crocheter. I begged her to teach me, but she said I was too young. I went and taught myself.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Like the first question, I wish I could answer more than one of these. I have to say above anyone, my grandparents were the most instrumental in making me the person I am today. Secondarily, would be my one great aunt.

I will say that the Bible has been the most influential book in my life. I was not raised a Christian, but became one in college. Have I stumbled along the way and the answer would be yes, but I know that the Lord is with me in life and forgives those fumbles. Having had ovarian cancer in 2018, it was my faith that got me through it. I was at peace whether I lived or died as I knew where I was going if I did die. Obviously, I am still here, so the Lord is not done with me yet. Unlike some artists, I like my whimsical art to put a smile on the face of viewers. There is so much negativity in art and in the world. I want to uplift someone’s spirit if even for a moment.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: linda pietz
• Facebook: Linda pietz
• Other: I need to get more techy.

Image Credits

My head shot was done by Don Golden otherwise it is me or a family member.