Birch and Buckskin Creative

Directions

Birch and Buckskin Creative My life journey since retiring from the Navy seems to always be changing and evolving, but I’m still here! Hope you enjoy it ♥️

Sharing our adventures along with my love for photography and creating unique pieces of art with natural materials.

It’s been a bit quiet around here but I have been hard at work in the back ground creating unique one-of-a-kind creation...
08/31/2026

It’s been a bit quiet around here but I have been hard at work in the back ground creating unique one-of-a-kind creations at a slow but steady pace.

Now that school has started I’ll have a little more time to focus on some bigger projects, which I’m really excited about.

With the weather turning cooler and hunting season looming hide tanning season is right around the corner.

Newest addition to the creative collection… the matchstick holder.The big brother to my birch bark toothpick holders, ju...
08/04/2026

Newest addition to the creative collection… the matchstick holder.

The big brother to my birch bark toothpick holders, just a little bigger and a little bolder. Each one is handcrafted from naturally gathered birch bark and paired with extra-long fireplace matches, making it both practical and a beautiful little accent for a wood stove, fireplace, or cozy cabin corner.

I think these little holders have become one of my favorite things to make. They’re a bit more challenging, and that’s part of what I enjoy. Every piece of birch bark is different, so each holder has its own personality, making no two exactly alike.

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that end up being favorites.

Birch bark stars in the making ♥️ and some completed These little stars may look simple, but the process of making them ...
07/27/2026

Birch bark stars in the making ♥️ and some completed

These little stars may look simple, but the process of making them is anything but quick.

I generally process my birch bark almost like an assembly line. I gather the bark and store it until I’m ready to work with it, then begin by carefully thinning it down to the proper thickness. From there, I measure and cut the sheets of bark into strips before soaking and oiling them so they’re pliable enough to twist and shape into individual stars.

I like working this way because it allows me to have pieces at all different stages of the process. By the time I’m ready to assemble the finished ornaments, I usually have a nice collection of stars in different sizes, shades, and natural markings to choose from.

Then comes one of my favorite parts… laying them out, mixing and matching, and finding the stars that look like they belong together or the beads that complement their natural colors. And then they are carefully strung with smoked buckskin that I also tan.

It’s a lot of little steps for such a simple-looking ornament, but that’s part of what I love about working with birch bark. Each piece has its own texture, coloring, and character, so no two ornaments ever turn out exactly alike.

Which one is your favorite?

I like to use as many natural materials as possible in my work, especially with my birch bark items. On larger pieces, I...
05/03/2026

I like to use as many natural materials as possible in my work, especially with my birch bark items.

On larger pieces, I’ll use small nails for something a little more substantial, but on the smaller ones, like these toothpick holders, I like to use hawthorn thorns. There’s something about them that just feels right.

I pre-drill a small hole with an awl, press the thorn in until it holds firm, then trim it flush with the surface. It becomes part of the piece, subtle, but intentional.

I keep a jar of thorns in different sizes, each one gathered, seasoned and saved, waiting for the right place to belong. It’s a small detail, but one that brings everything together and keeps the work rooted in something natural and authentic.

05/03/2026

Pre-smoked a couple of deer hides to get them ready for re-braining. I like to do this part at night—watching the smoke rise and drift into the dark, the quiet settling in around me. There’s something about the smell of smoked buckskin that’s special to me… it’s grounding, familiar, and part of why I love this work so much.

Now they’re going back into a fat solution so I can rework them, methodically wringing and softening them again by hand. This step helps break down those stubborn spots that didn’t fully soften the first time, while also keeping the already-soft areas from stiffening up when they get wet.

Three hides, almost ready to be transformed into some beautiful buckskin pieces… although it’s always hard to cut into them, I can’t wait to figure out what to make with them.

Took a quick trip up to Anchorage Alaska to see my husband and friends, and managed to pick up a few caribou and moose a...
04/01/2026

Took a quick trip up to Anchorage Alaska to see my husband and friends, and managed to pick up a few caribou and moose antler pieces for some new products!

The skinny oblong caribou antler is my favorite so far! 😍They’ll make some pretty dangly earrings as you can see in the second picture!

The mountains (everything really) are so pretty up there, especially this year as we never really had any snow!

The last two pictures are our favorite paintings of which are located in Jewel Lake Kaladi’s Coffee shop in Anchorage. She is a fabulous painter who is also from Northport. If you are ever in Anchorage go check out her art, it’s beautiful!

A little peek into the workshop lately…So many new ideas taking shape. Time spent hiking and foraging has led to a growi...
03/17/2026

A little peek into the workshop lately…

So many new ideas taking shape. Time spent hiking and foraging has led to a growing pile of materials waiting to be turned into something special.

Now the real challenge is finding the time to bring them all to life.

This “winter” has definitely felt different. With hardly any snow and February feeling more like the end of March, I’ve ...
03/10/2026

This “winter” has definitely felt different. With hardly any snow and February feeling more like the end of March, I’ve found myself daydreaming about seeds and potting soil, hiking trails, wildflowers… and of course just being outside in the warm sun.

While I have no problem heading out on adventures by myself, I always enjoy it more when I can share the day with my husband and daughter. Lately, my focus has been replenishing my birch bark supply, especially gathering small tubes that are perfect for toothpick holders, pen containers, and other little unique pieces.

Of course, it’s always a little extra special when we stumble across antler sheds along the way. Those finds often make their way into my work too, becoming part of the natural materials I love to create with.

Truthfully, I rarely need an excuse to get out into the woods. It’s one of my favorite places to be. Every time I’m out there, I’m reminded of the incredible abundance of life around us and the quiet miracle of how this planet continues to grow and provide for us. It’s pretty amazing. 🌲

Lady Aurora put on a fast and beautiful show tonight❤️
09/25/2024

Lady Aurora put on a fast and beautiful show tonight❤️

Address

Colville, WA
99114

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Birch and Buckskin Creative posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share