>> IN BARRE, VERMONT, YOU CAN'T SAY THE WORD ART WITHOUT THINKING GRANITE.

IT'S WHAT OUR HISTORY IS BUILT ON, WHAT OUR FUTURE S BUILT ON.

I'M HEATHER MILNE RITCHIE.

I HAVE BEEN CARVING GRANITE FOR 20 YEARS.

DI MY APPRENTICESHIP IN 1999 WITH GEORGE.

SOMETIMES THE IMPRESSION THAT PEOPLE GET OF ME IS THAT I COULDN'T POSSIBLY DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

I DO THINK ATTITUDE SHIFTED ONCE PEOPLE COULD SEE WHAT I COULD MAKE.

I FEEL EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO BE IN THE ROLE THAT I'M IN WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ORDER A HEADSTONE, THEY ARE IN A WORLD OF HURT.

WE IN DOING WHAT WE DO WELL OFFER THEM A WAY TO GRIEVE, A WAY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE LOST ETERNALLY.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY SPECIAL CONNECTION TO HAVE WITH PEOPLE.

THE PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW WAS COMMISSIONED FOR A WOMAN WHO LOST HER HUSBAND AND SHE WANTED SOMETHING REALLY MAGNIFICENT FOR HIM.

IT'S A CARVING OF ST. MICHAEL IN FOUR AND A HALF INCHES OF RELIEF.

HE'S THE ARCH ANGEL SLAYING A DEMON.

HE HAS BEAUTIFUL DRAPERY, OUTSTRETCHED WINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED CARVING FROM THE FIRST TIME I CARVED IT UNTIL MY MOST RECENT PIECE ARE WINGS.

I LOVE CAR VIPG WINGS.

I LOVE CARVING FEATHERS.

THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S A REALLY METHODICAL KIND OF WORK.

FEATHERS TEND TO CATCH THE LIGHT, THE AIR.

THEY FEEL NOT MADE OF STONE.

STONE CARVEING AND FIBER ART TO ME ARE VERY SIMILAR IN THE WAY THAT I ENGAGE WITH THEM.

WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN TRYING TO INCORPORATE THOSE TWO MATERIALS TOGETHER, THE SOFT AND THE HARD, AND TRYING TO PLAY THEM OFF EACH OTHER SO THAT MAYBE THE STONE SEEMS SOFT AND THE FIBER FEELS HARD.

MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY LOOK AT IT WOULD ASSUME THAT THE STONE IS MORE IMPORTANT, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT IT I TEND TO FIND THE FIBER IS MORE IMPORTANT AND I THINK IT PLAYS OFF A MASCULINE FENN ANYMORE STANDARD WE SET UP FOR OURSELVES SOCIALLY.

MOST CONSIDER FIBER ART A WOMAN'S WAY OF MAKING THINGS AND STONE ART A MAN'S WAY OF MAKING THINGS.

I'M INTERESTING IN SEEING WHAT DUSTY CAN SPIN OFF FROM T. >> I WAS INTIMIDATED BY MEETING HEATHER BECAUSE SHE'S SUCH A PHENOMENAL ARTIST.

WAS SO IMPRESSED, I WAS LIKE THIS IS SOMEONE I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN THIS SKILL FROM OTHER THAN HEATHER I THINK THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER FEMALE CARVER THAT I HAVE HEARD OF.

I HOPE TO BE THE THIRD.

>> WOLF IS MY FIRST APPRENTICE.

WE HAVE A NICE NATURAL RAPPORT.

THE FACT THAT WE'RE BOTH WOMEN IS AWESOME.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE RIGHT WOMAN TO COME ALONG TO SHARE THIS WITH.

I JUST FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO RUIN SOMEONE'S LIFE.

IT'S A LOT ON YOUR BODY, A LOT ON YOUR MIND.

IT'S A LOT ON YOUR FAMILY, ON YOUR ANYONE, ON HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF.

IT CAN BE REALLY HARD SOMETIMES.

>> HAVING THAT FEMALE TO FEMALE BOND BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN THROUGH IT.

SHE ALREADY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE FOR HER AND SHE CAN PAVE MY PATH EASIER AND MAKE IT SMOOTHER.

I THINK WITH BEING HERE IN THE SHOP SPACE WITH HEATHER AS MY INSTRUCTOR, MY MENTOR, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

>> I FEEL REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCES THAT I HAVE HAD, REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD STRONG FEMINISTS IN MY LIFE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED MY ARTWORK AND MY GOALS AND MY VISION AND BUILT ME UP TO BELIEVE I CAN DO ANYTHING THAT I WANT TO DO.

I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE A MORE REWARDING JOB