by Christy NaMee Eriksen
Once at an art market I bought a zine from the girl next to me. Then she came to my table and bought some of my poems. I bought stickers from another guy and he bought a book from another and we joked that we were just passing the same $20 around.
We are Permafrost Beards and we make certified Made In Alaska beard care products.
Permafrost Beards is owned and operated by my wife and me. I am an Army veteran that retired with over 22 years of service, first as an aircraft mechanic and then as a Chinook helicopter pilot.
Who/what inspires you?
My daughter, Bean, says “We just wanted beard balm that wasn’t greasy!”
She isn’t wrong on that. We didn't care for what was out there and there wasn’t really much available in 2017 when we opened up here so we decided to try and fix that.
After trying many recipes while searching for the right hold, sheen, scents, and still using all natural ingredients that would nourish both the beard and skin we created the current recipes and decided on the four main scents.
What is your favorite moment in the process?
Getting our “Spotted” and Permafrost Beards Beard Famous pictures from our awesome folks! What an honor that they not only like us/our products, but they are willing to take the time and share the experience with us.
What is next?
Take over the world, Pinky!
See Permafrost Beards products on KindredPost.com!
"I use ceramics to connect myself and others to the earth through the tactile and intimate experience of holding a coffee mug close, or serving a meal for your loved ones."
Who are you?
I am Sierra Estes, the set of hands behind Estes Ceramics. My work uniform includes clay splatters and plenty of animal hair, and that makes me happy.
What do you do?
I am a potter. I make ceramics for everyday life, pottery that fits into the daily rituals we practice together, or on our own. I use ceramics to connect myself and others to the earth through the tactile and intimate experience of holding a coffee mug close, or serving a meal for your loved ones.
Who/what inspires you?
The earth itself is my greatest inspiration. I believe that the earth is sacred, as a
whole, and in parts. The dirt, grass, and trees are all rich and invaluable parts of
our existence. I want to interact with the earth in as many ways as possible,
being able to bring it into my daily life through my work is something I don’t feel
worthy of but strive to honor in how I make ceramics.
What is your favorite moment in the process?
As the wheel slows down and the piece is almost ready, I use the side of my
fingers or the long edge of a wooden rib to make a mark, maybe a subtle curve
or a slight dent. That moment, when I’m most tuned into the piece and my hands
and the clay have completed their ritual dance.
What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium?
Don’t rush anything. Clay holds endless possibilities, but you will still have to play
by its rules. Take the time to really learn how clay works and lean into that in your
processes.
What is next?
I have just made the transition into full-time self employment in the summer of
2019, and that includes taking on more projects all at once. I am working on
finding the best balance, routine, and processes to successfully do all of these
things and still be a living, sleeping, eating human being. My next step in this
process is to bring on an intern!
Don't forget we are giving away one of these beautiful mugs on our Instagram and you can get them 20% off on our website right now!
Hi friends!
With all this time indoors, we want to help inspire and enable some creative time.
You may have seen some or all of these pins in our shop before, and each one has special meaning to us. Some even have POEMS that go along with them.
See the real pins from the coloring sheet below!
Download your free coloring sheet HERE.
See our entire pin collection HERE.
