DESIGNS BY BUFFY

ABOUT ME

I began my art after I started creating designs when I harvested my first seal hide back from a hunt I went on in early March 2011. I have vague memories and glimpses of my grandparents in Nome who between the two of them they harvested and utilized every part of the animal from sewing mukluks, beading, carving, sewing parkas and clothing.

I realized I had a desire to learn all about them and what they did as I started creating contemporary designs fashioned to what I wanted to wear. It sparked excitement in me to learn the techniques needed to take the designs from paper to an actual item for myself. In wearing the fashions I created as a fusion from traditional regalia and contemporary trends I was faced with people wanting what I created. I also found I want to learn all I can of our culture and traditions so my children and hopefully some day grandchildren have something to look to as my mother and grandparents unknowingly has done.

I have designed my art using the unique and traditional items that I have seen my mother and grandparents use including seal hides, sea otter hides, and carved ivory. These are all used as accents adding that special touch to modern materials of mainly dyed leathers and touches of sterling silver, Swarovski crystals, authentic black pearls from the black sea and wool. Joining them all together by either machine sewing, hand sewing, carving, polishing, glueing and lacing. Working on these items it confirmed to me that things are "caught" because what I have seen my elders doing just flowed into sometimes almost an effortless creation.