Northern Pike and Dyed Trout on Birchbark Earrings

The birchbark is harvested by hand in my backyard that's made of miles and miles of boreal forest and shield country. The fish is caught in Great Slave Lake. I wash the fishskin many times with gentle soap to retain some natural oils and avoid the skin becoming too brittle. Then I nail or tack it to a board to dry it. When dried the skin resembles heavy paper I can work with easily while handling it with care.

Before dyeing the fishskin I remove the scales and follow a similar process, immersing the skin into a dye before drying it.

Harvesting, handling and shaping all the involved materials nourishes a sense of relationship and appreciation and deepening knowledge that shapes my artwork and jewelry. I hope each piece of jewelry speaks of that and invites you into the world they come from.