My first piece always is for a friend, a unique gem that is inspired by their aesthetic, personality, and/or magic. I've heard from a few traditionally you give your first creation as a gift, an offering. This collection started, in the same manner, one gift stemming into these six sparkling beauties. I first created a Mandala "Manoomin" Wild Rice for a colleague for her Birthday, my first friend in graduate school. We were the "Angels of Harlem" my mom would say, as we were both far from home and living in Harlem. My present for her to carry home.

My priority is making to carry home.  

The Gold Collection is six shimmering jewels brushed of gold foil born to shine. Each touch of gold produces a twinkle when wearing with a similar smooth texture as my other pieces. Below are my gorgeous cousins to model to assist in capturing all the glimmer and rawness. Miigwetch, thank you for being exactly yourselves, Sydni Voakes & Ti'ia Friisvall!

Common Milkweed. Shaaboosigan Aniibiishan. Choke Cherry. Asasaweminan. Harebell. Adota’gon. Strawberry. Ode’iminan. Blueberry. Miinan. Sunflower. Giizis Waabigwan. White Sage. Mashkodewashk. 

Well I have arrived! Officially it has been a month since I made it a little after 2AM to Central Harlem. Alongside my very tired best friend and my very anxious kitties, we scrambled to the city and picked up my keys from my boo, who seriously saved my life - giving me insight to the borough to checking my potential apartments out in person for me to meeting the broker. Find you a boo, but I thank him so much for creating my move so comforting! Anywho, back to Harlem, we park next to a nightclub (already a bad idea), but take parking where you can get it! Tell me you wouldn’t crack up, if you saw two wild ladies who just drove 10 hours that day, rolling suitcases and scared cats passed the bumping music. While I won't lie we were quite the funny looking scene and that's the first on many million times of cat calling. I swear I started this city on catcalling and will roll out to a cat call. We passed the McDonalds, which more poppin' then the club. We reach the building in relief, the kitties now restless, we put the keys in the door and they did not work! At the that moment we are not only culture shocked at the new environment, but we are tripping and the cats are tripping. Ginger jams keys and the door for a minute like we were straight out the rez, two girls trying to sneak back in after we snuck out. Thank the Creator, it worked, we rolled up one flight of stairs to my new humble abode. We opened the door to the smallest box, I ever seen, we ever seen. Releasing the kitties to their new existence, the floor was cool, but the end of August heat lingered. We made it, I wanted to cry, but the exhaustion was more powering. We slept on the floor and in the heat, like nothing new, because journey made up for the destination.

​I am going to share a few tips, that might be relevant to moving to NYC or any city or maybe any transition in general.

THE RINGS ARE HERE! I am so happy to be sharing work that can help people in a healing way and now in new elegant wearables. I get to plant a seed and bring awareness to slow healing. The rings have arrived! Rings were naturally the next step, specifically using the Four Medicines. It all started with the creation of the Four Medicine Medallions, the necklaces were developed when I, myself needed a tangible strength and connection to the Creator, my people, and the land. A close friend actually gave me the idea, when our people were at Standing Rock, she insisted our people needed their roots to persevere. I agreed and it all clicked. I want strength, cleansing, healing, and most importantly hope readily available and accessible to all. I believe our medicines should be used more in everyday life. A contemporary medicine bundle to carry on, as a carrier of tradition.

The Four Medicines are collected locally or from other Native-supporting/Native-owned businesses. These are our scared medicines which hold and keep our connection to Mother Earth and although they have more specific meanings from First Nation to First Nation, we must understand and be mindful they represent the stories of resilience from the past, present and toward the future. These sacred medicines connect you to who they are, it strengthens you.

Mark your calendar, set an alarm, tell your mom to remind you, or do all of the above like I do! I am so excited to finally be able in this new direction and I thank you for your patience, this total control freak had to make sure everything was prepped and semi - perfect. 

Furthermore, I do have a story bitter sweet story to share as well. Which do you want first the bitter or the sweet? Well, I'll just surprise you! I happened to get an amazing opportunity, I selected by one of the coolest Magazines in Indian Country, Native Max Magazine, to featured as "A Designer to Watch". An amazing honor to join other amazing women in their "The Native Women Arise" March 2018 issue, which I am all about!! Wahoooo! 

But, I happened to be in the middle of the ocean on a cruise ship with no service or wifi. YES, that's the bitter, so I missed the opportunity! Whomp!

Instead of being super bummed (which I am, so don't remind me *cry face*), the one time I was thought I should totally just turn off. But, any missed opportunity or even rejection will never be just brushed off or wasted, but used as reinvigoration to energize, revitalize, and rejuvenate a refined state of clarity, so I'll share my magazine feature and "A Designer to Watch" spread here!

My most recent journey has come from my privileges in education and my confidence in art. I have entered the world of Tribal Politics and Public Health. I was born Native and being born Native means your were automatically born into politics. Working in my Tribal Clinic has brought me the most success and challenges in my life so far. What keeps me continuing in the work of prevention is getting to assist in the healing journey of my family.