About Patte Ranney

I’ve been ‘making’ since I was a child. Art classes were always my favorite in school, and that love of working with my hands led me to study printmaking and photography at Kansas City Art Institute. The mediums and time devoted to ‘making’ have varied through the years. Since retiring from a career as a boat captain and environmental educator with Outside Brands, I’m now dedicated, full time, to handcrafting pieces in silver, leather, fiber, and paper.

I study silversmithing in the southwest style and lapidary at the Ghost Ranch in northern New Mexico, and am an instructor for the 3-week program every January. During yearly visits to John C Campbell Folkschool in western North Carolina, I expand and refine my knowledge of bookbinding, leatherwork, and weaving. I strive to offer exquisitely handcrafted pieces that are useful, practical, and beautiful.

When viewing and purchasing my pieces, I hope that my passion for my work is evident. I, like all artisans, put my heart and soul into the things I make.

Patte, and her husband Steve, have lived on the island since 1978. It is here that they raised their 5 children, several of whom have returned to the area to raise their own families. She operates as These Two Hands Studio, and regularly participates in the Hilton Head Island Community Market, Hilton Head Island Farmers Market, Oldfield Makers Market, Bluffton Makers Marker and a variety of pop-ups. Patte is a member of the Art League of Hilton Head as a presenting artist. You can find her on Instagram @TheseTwoHandsStudio.

Artwork examples