NWT Arts

I mostly make beaded earrings, but I have been making other items like neck ties, bow ties, necklaces, brooches, keychains, and cuffs. I have also done a few pairs of moccasins in the past, and would like to reconnect with that practice eventually.

When I make beaded earrings, I always try to incorporate traditionally tanned moose hide in my designs. I also use quills and caribou hair tufting in my pieces sometimes. I usually traditional hides and quills, but I have gone through the process of harvesting quills once.

I have learned all my beadwork and sewing skills in a self taught manner. I had always wanted to learn how to create all these items, but my family was never really into sewing. I decided to learn by myself despite this, and I was thankfully able to learn a lot online through Youtube videos.

My creative process is really intuitive. I put beads side to side and will feel which colours would go well together with the design I have in mind. I normally sketch out my ideas first on tracing paper, and I will sew the pattern down on a piece of hide to bead on top of it. I love to bead flower earrings. Some of my designs are fully beaded and some only have the beaded outline with the quills or tufting in the middle. I always love to mix it up, and I have even done an interesting mix of quills and tufting.

For me, making art is therapeutic. I started beading around 2018, and during that time I was going through a rough time dealing with anxiety. Ultimately, it’s beading that really helped me.

Plus, one of my favourite thing about creating art is that I get to witness how happy people are when they receive their orders.

I recently worked on a set for my cousin’s wedding. I made cuffs for the bridesmaids, moose hide bow ties for the groomsmen, a moose hide neck tie for the groom and for the bride, I made a necklace, earrings and moose hide belt. I also added matching brooches for the parents. It was really special to be able to make that for them. It made me feel so good to see how happy and excited she was!