Meet Stacey Patty | Designer and Screen Printer, Owner of 865 Studio Shirts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stacey Patty and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stacey, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
There are several habits that have helped me succeed. First, I believe in surrounding myself with family, friends, and even clients that have drive and motivation to succeed. Surrounding myself with that drive only increases my desire to want to keep growing and producing thoughtful designs and art and to study to learn all I can about my industry.

Secondly, I wake up early. The day starts pretty early, and I want to be present to take advantage of the daylight hours. Some days, I have to be on the road as early as 5:30am to travel to set up for a show. I get anxious when I am behind and that anxiety can have a negative effect on the product that I’m producing. I like to be able to pace myself and that pace begins in the morning with my coffee and reflection of the day ahead.

Thirdly, I keep things organized. When you’re working out of a small space it helps to know where things are. A place for everything and everything in it’s place, as they say. Now, this doesn’t mean that I’m always 100% on top of my filing, or folding, or writing out my order forms-these DO get behind. But, I begin each studio session by cleaning and organizing my loose ends from the day before. I put my scissors where they belong, I file paperwork, I put away the films that I have already used to burn my screens. I don’t do it the night before, because it serves as a reminder of what I was working on yesterday and allows me to continue right into today’s work load.

Lastly, I divide my time into parts. The mornings are for returning emails and working on designs for clients. Then I have lunch and take a break. I usually work in my studio after lunch. I organize (as I mentioned above), update my white board with where we are on client orders, turn on my heaters and get to work screen printing whatever needs to get done for that day. In the late afternoon, I start dinner and head out to finish my work for the day. Some days are longer than others-depending on the orders we have to get out, but I end the day by spending time with my family and dogs, and reflect on the day while preparing for tomorrow. Knowing that I design in the morning and print in the afternoon allows me to have a pace that works for my family AND my clients.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was very fortunate to have attended the University of Tennessee where I received my Bachelors Degree in Fine Art for Graphic Design. I was an older student, the oldest in my graduating class. But, I felt that with several of life’s experiences behind me that I was prepared for the challenges before me. Well, that degree was a struggle! It was very time consuming and every project forced me to be introspective and to express myself clearly and concisely limited only by my own imagination. Boy, did that struggle pay off! In the years since then I have been able to develop my own style that can be reflected in my designs for 865 Studio Shirts. It is there that I am able to express myself and my story and my own design aesthetic. Because I have that outlet for my own creativity, I am free to listen to my clients tell the story of their brand and their interests and then help them develop a branding strategy that fits their personality. I am proud to have worked with a diverse clientele that trusts me with their branding identity. I am able to take my personal design out of the equation and focus on their needs.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visiting me for a week I would like for them to just hang with me. I would want to show them what it’s like to work in my studio and to have a real hands-on experience with screen printing. I would like for them to go with me to deliver to my clients. To experience the joy that they show when they receive their new merchandise. For example, Vienna Coffee Company, in Maryville, Tennessee. We would deliver their new merchandise and grab a wonderful cup of coffee and maybe some excellent quiche. We would deliver to the new J.Danforth Mercantile in Maryville to see how the beautiful new shop is shaping up. Or I would take them with me to pick up items I’ve ordered for 865 Studio Shirts-such as new leather labels made by Pistol Creek Designs, or candles hand-poured by Laurel Mountain Candles. We would visit the downtown shops of Maryville-Neighborly Books or Roost. We would have cocktails at Brackins Blues Club, sit on the deck and enjoy some yummy food and catch a friends band, like The Dirty Dougs, as they wail out some great blues. We would go to Townsend and eat at The Abby while sitting on the river or maybe Peaceful Side Social for their excellent fig pizza. (Don’t knock it till you try it!) Take a drive through the mountains, stop for short walks or hikes on the river or take in some of the breath taking waterfalls close by. I would take them to Market Square in Knoxville to see the Farmer’s Market. We would stop in for a visit with Paris Woodhull to check on our fellow female screen printer. We could visit the Gay Street Galleries and if we’re lucky, catch a First Friday Artwalk. We could walk the nature trails at Ijams and finish another day on one of the roof top bars around Knoxville, just soaking in the view of the Scruffy City. I would take them to Studio 212 in Maryville for a lesson in throwing pottery and to learn how a production pottery studio works. I would introduce them to my family, sing karaoke, have drinks, and cook them some really good southern home-style food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Certainly there is a whole list of people that deserve a shout out! My dad. Pete Austin, for always supporting my artistic dreams and my mother, Nelda Massengill, for never really believing in them. She always wanted me to have the security of a regular paycheck and thanks to her, it kept the fire for creating always lit under me to succeed despite not knowing when I would get another client.

My sister and brother-in law, Angie and Paul Seilhan, who would come and help by cleaning out screens, or would use their talents to build me a better dark cabinet for drying my screens-anytime I needed them-they are always there.

Leanne McQueen, who has always cheered me to succeed and supported my dreams by allowing me the physical space to work within the walls of her art studio, Studio 212. We would meet up for critiques and toss ideas around. We would also meet for drinks, and discuss ideas and bounce the creative thought process off each other. I began screen printing out of Studio 212 and it is how I named my business, 865 Studio Shirts.

To my husband, Mike Patty. He has been my biggest cheerleader, partner, supporter, helping hand and sounding board. He jokes that he is just around to carry heavy boxes, but it is really so much more than that. Whenever I have a crazy idea for something I want to build, like the mobile screen print shop, he is by my side helping me realize that dream, not only in a way that is always practical or functional, but also in a way that is beautiful, interesting, and well thought out. He keeps me grounded while also having the consideration to allow me to dream big and fly with new ideas.

To my son, Logan Heil, My ride or die that has been with me through it all. From being a single mom, full-time student, and working-he has actively been present for all the ups and downs, the successes and defeats, the wins and losses over the years. He is a young man now and he looked at me one day not too long ago and said “Mom, you’re one of the hardest working people I know.” I teared up knowing that he saw me. He understood the work it takes to create something with even a small modicum of success. It has always been my goal to prove to him that you can follow your dreams, be flexible, have faith, and WORK HARD and you can achieve success in many forms. Not just monetarily, but to do something that you truly love and contribute actively back to the community that you’ve built around yourself. To count your success on being able to be present. Thank you, son, I love you.

And I wouldn’t be anywhere without the support of the rest of my family, friends, and of course, clients. The customers that have become friends and have followed me, shared my posts, come to see me, bought things from me, brought me business and helped me create a real business out of 865 Studio Shirts.

Website: 865studioshirts.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/865studioshirts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/865studioshirtdesign/

Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
I took all of the photos except the one of me and my husband standing in front of the pop-up mobile screen print shop. That was taken by Lori Douthat. The first photo of me holding the screen was taken by Ollie McQueen.