Artist Spotlight, Northern Heart Designs

northernheartdesigns
 
 
PoCo Inspired: Tell us a bit about yourself
Northern Heart: I am a Canadian artist of Icelandic, French and Metis descent, born and raised in Winnipeg, spending my early years in Thompson... which explains my fascination with the northern lights! My family roots are from the SW corner of Manitoba (Metigoshe/Boissevain), St.Boniface and the Interlake regions (Arborg/Gimli). In a previous life, I traveled some and lived other places with race horses, but settled back to build my life in Winnipeg - still getting out of the city as much as time allows. I am a married mother of three and small business owner with a small and select team of talented women who help me keep up with the many items we create for people.


 
PoCo Inspired: When did you first start making jewellery and what was the first piece you ever made?
Northern Heart: I've been drawn to art and creating my whole life, dabbling in many different mediums. As far as the traditional art of beading and sewing leather, I began when I was in high school - I was lucky enough to have an elder teach me how to make my own mukluks, from the beadwork to the final stitches - and quickly went on to make more.
 
PoCo Inspired: What inspires your creativity when making a new piece of jewellery?
Northern Heart: I love seeing how things go together. When I'm designing something new, I assemble the whole thing in my head, working through each step to see where challenges might lie before pulling out materials to try. It's exciting to see something you've visualized come together in reality. There are so many combinations of materials and design - the possibilities are endless, and even though I've made too many items to count at this point, no two are ever exactly the same. Always something new keeps my work fresh and interesting to me.
 
PoCo Inspired: What is the single most important skill you have learned and why?
Northern Heart: Definitely patience. When you're working on something that takes many hours (days-weeks!) to complete, there are always going to be set backs, unexpected delays or mistakes, which also take time. I'm not a patient person by nature, but I've learned to roll with the difficulties and just keep finding ways to work through, lol. The end results are always worth it!
 
PoCo Inspired: What challenges do you face in your work?
Northern Heart: Time - I always wish I had more of it. Each day I wish I could do more than time allows, but I'm sure that's normal for most people in their lives!
 
PoCo Inspired: What is your biggest achievement so far in your business?
Northern Heart: I can never overlook the honor of being trusted to create for people's special occasions - my brides and pageant contestants and dignitaries etc, but I think it's reaching the level of 'teacher'. When you've put in the years and the time and figured out enough that others see value in learning from you. I particularly enjoy being involved with teaching youth - I hope I can spark the same flame in another... as my teacher did for me so long ago.
 
PoCo Inspired: Where can we find you to shop online or in-person?
Northern Heart: My business is Northern Heart Designs - we're on both FB and IG, and you can find our website here: Northern Heart Designs , for those local to us in Winnipeg, we're in the Crestview area of St.James and happily book people in for fittings, material selections and design consults - also our regular schedule of summer classes. For those a distance away, we've got remote fitting down to a science at this point!
 
northernheartdesigns
northernheartdesigns
northernheartdesigns
northernheartdesigns
northernheartdesigns
northernheartdesigns