"I am definitely inspired by nature, from the grand & dramatic Northern landscapes of both Scotland and Alaska to the tiny, gorgeous details found in rock formations, ice patterns, wildflowers, etc."

Presenting our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

Who are you? 

My name is Laura Rogers and I am the owner, artist and designer behind Due North Stationery. I am British, grew up in Scotland, and moved to Alaska in 2005 to raise my family with my husband, which includes three wonderful kids and a large, very fluffy dog called Hamish. 

What do you do? 

I studied ceramics at art school in Scotland but soon realised I’d have to wear a few artistic hats when I moved to the small, somewhat secluded town of Haines, Alaska. Although I now own a kiln (still unfired after too many years) I had to quickly learn a lot about graphic design when I designed the bottle labels for Port Chilkoot Distillery. Since then I have designed many logos and now concentrate on my own designs for my stationery collection. I am a one-woman show and run every element of my stationery business, as well as running two local art & gift stores with my husband, The Magpie in Haines & Due North in Skagway. 

Who/what inspires you? 

I am definitely inspired by nature, from the grand & dramatic Northern landscapes of both Scotland and Alaska to the tiny, gorgeous details found in rock formations, ice patterns, wildflowers, etc. I am also inspired by other artists and makers who are building their small businesses piece by piece. It isn’t easy, it’s often hard work, and it takes guts to keep putting your work out there. 

What is your favorite moment in the process? 

I have two favorite moments... One, when it’s just me and my work (and the tunes are loud and lined up) and I’m in my own little, happy bubble of creativity & productivity... Two, when people take the time to write handwritten notes to me to tell me how they used my stationery sets to write to friends and family. 

What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium? 

Stay open! It can be a real slog to try and work out certain ideas or to source particular materials, companies etc and I’ve found that it’s really beneficial to be willing to share everything you’ve learned along the way and not hoard it all to yourself. 

What is next? 

I will keep creating stationery with imagery that I enjoy. However, I’m dedicated to get back to clay. The lovely messiness, texture & sense of play involved with working with clay will be a wonderful way to balance the precision and cleanliness needed when working with paper and creating stationery.

View more of her work here!

Our annual gift guides return! Each one is thoughtfully curated by a neighbor near you. We look to Sarah Lewis from UAF's Cooperative Extension as an expert in learning and teaching, from the great outdoors to the goodness of our homes. A definite DIYer herself, Sarah is a go-to for the how-to and we asked her to pick goods for getting started. Check out Sarah's picks for the one in your life who likes to do it themselves!

KP: What do you do by day and what do you by night?

SL: I am the family and community development agent for the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service Southeast district. By night, I am a How-To Junkie and I hang out at home with my kids and husband.

KP: What or who are you feeling most connected to lately?

SL: My mother and aging. 

KP: What are you most looking forward to in 2020?

SL: Spending time out on the waters of the Inside Passage with my family. Teaching people “How To”.

“How To Really Love Plants, Even If It's At A Distance”- Sarah Lewis

Root to Bloom Book, $29.99.

Toxic Alaska Print by Michaela Goade, $45.

“How to Add a New Art Form to Your Life”- Sarah Lewis

Nature, Drawing & Watercolor, $22.99.

Weave This, $24.95.

“How To Spend as Little or as Much Time in the Kitchen as Makes You Happy”- Sarah Lewis

New Kitchen Basics, $35.

Batch Cooking, $24.99.

20 Recipes Kids Should Know, $16.95.

“How To Keep Things Fresh After You’ve Learned How-To”- Sarah Lewis

Beeswax Wraps, $32.

“How To Learn Essential Skills”- Sarah Lewis

The Kaufmann Mercantile Guide, $24.95.

How to Relax (Mindfulness Essentials), $9.95.

“How To Remember the Past & Have Hope for the Future”- Sarah Lewis

Feed The Resistance, $14.95.

Harriet Tubman Ornament, $20.

Suffragette Ornament, $20.

Our annual gift guides return! Each one is thoughtfully curated by a neighbor near you. We asked magical mama Nicole Church to pick giftworthy goods from our collection that she or others like her would enjoy. We liked that Nicole has an eye for the unique, the local, and anything that piques the senses. Moms make magic out of the ordinary, so it's no surprise that Nicole chose items that fit into her everyday life! Take a peek at her picks for the amazing mamas in your life.

KP: What do you do by day and what do you do by night?

NC: By day, I a mom of twin boys. I am also training to do childcare with Tlingit and Haida. At night, I hang out with my children a lot. In the winter time we like to do card games, puzzles, and bake cookies for Christmas, festive stuff. Once the kids are in bed, I like to play music and as a hobby I like to research social justice issues, particularly ones that pertain to Alaska Native and Tlingit people. I want to be a history buff of the *real* history, Native history, the people's history. 

KP: Who or what are you feeling most connected to lately?

NC: Myself, first and foremost. I'm working on doing a lot of healing. We all have experienced trauma in our lives, and right now I'm working on healing from that trauma - that's something i’m feeling very connected to. My sobriety and my recovery are things I strongly identify with. Just being a sober person, I can be an example for my children. Show them that life can still be fun without using substances. And obviously I feel connected to my kids. Being present for them, trying to be the best parent I can be. 

KP: What are you most looking forward to in 2020?

NC: I’m so focused on the present, that it’s hard to say. I’m trying to not put a lot of pressure on myself, trying to take things day by day. I get overwhelmed easily, so taking things day by day helps me stay grounded. It's the best way I can focus.

"I love this smell! This is my absolute favorite smell of a candle on Earth. It’s a great gift because everyone loves candles and having their home smell delicious." - Nicole

PF Candle Co "Amber & Moss" Candle, $22.

"Being able to have music in your home with a quality speaker is great. And it’s just my aesthetic - it's amazing, beautiful, adds great color to your home. Music is important to me as an artist, so having nice quality speakers is also important." - Nicole

AudioPro Addon T3 Bluetooth Speaker, $249.

"Anything by Michaela. She is a great artist; I love her work. It's super unique to Southeast Alaska, and I also love supporting other local Native women artists." - Nicole

Inside Passage Print by Michaela Goade, $35.

"For the plant lover, this is adorable. I love indoor plants - it's a hobby of mine - and this is my favorite plant, monstera. What’s great about this is you could attach it to a wrapped gift as an extra gift on top!" - Nicole

Monstera Leaf Ornament, $18.

"The chocolate and the sticker are good, unique stocking stuffers." - Nicole

Compartes Raspberry Rose Chocolate, $9.95.

Lingít Aaní Striped Sunset Sticker, $3.

"These are so pretty. And also made by another Native woman artist. I love that they're sea otter fur. Amazing, super unique, gorgeous. I definitely will be getting these some day." - Nicole

Bering Sea Cone Sea Otter Earrings, $40.

"For people who care about social justice! I love this calendar so much; it’s so adorable." - Nicole

Social Justice Kittens 2020 Calendar, $18.

 "My family, especially my kids inspire me. Not only do they inspire me to work hard, be kind, and do my best, but they push me to be creative and fun."

Presenting our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

Who are you?

I am Brandon Young, the owner of LetterCraft in Gilbert, Arizona. I am also a husband, father of 3, and a lover of sports, outdoors, art, food, travel, and laughter.

What do you do?

We make custom laser cut gifts. Our favorite line we carry is our famous faces, found in ornaments, magnets, keychains, pins, and stickers. We also do custom corporate gifting, helping create product for other businesses to display, sell and/or gift. 

Who/what inspires you?

My family, especially my kids inspire me. Not only do they inspire me to work hard, be kind, and do my best, but they push me to be creative and fun. My wife and I started this business because we were both teachers and we needed something extra to supplement our income when we started having kids. Within a year we were able to quit teaching and make LetterCraft our full time job and we absolutely love what we do.

What is your favorite moment in the process?

My favorite moment is the idea stage. I am always talking about new ideas of products I can create or a new business I can start and this stage is when it is nothing but fun. 

What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium?

The biggest trick is trying to make laser engraving look unique. Too often, laser cut products start looking the same, especially in wood. We have tried to create a product that looks new and fresh.

What is next?

Lots of fun things are on the horizon, including new product launches. We are also excited to work with many new companies this year creating custom products, taylor made for their events, shops, and gifting needs. 

See more of his work here!