s m o k e + a r r o w 

 

 

Located in the Sonoran desert mountains of southern Arizona,  s m o k e + a r r o w  leather  is a small artisan workshop creating original adorned beaded leather bags and accessories by Katrina Raven.

 

In 2021 with a demand for eco-friendly alternatives from customers, Katrina added pieces created out of cork fabric and selected high grade faux leathers  to her collections as an environmentally friendly alternative.

 

  Designing and creating leather and beaded handcrafted art wear has been my passion since I was a teen. Inspired by experiences into a world of Spirit, earth medicine and tribal art forms  shared  from within  indigenous cultures. This stepping stone across the river of time became a growing and spiritual connection for my leather art and life work."

 

 I have walked along side Indigenous First Nation, South/ Central American, African and Hispanic communities and tribes as a midwife and labor and delivery nurse servicing the pregnancy and birth needs of women and their families. On this life path I have learned and experienced various traditions , leatherwork techniques, seed beading and sacred ceremonies with much gratitude and love. These experiences continue to ignite my passion for leather work and ancestral design. 

I create designs combining deerskin, elk and buffalo hides with natural and contemporary materials such as cotton, wool textiles, seed beads, sinew, semi-precious gemstones, crystals, wire, wood, shells, metals, silver, and organic elementals. Sewing, lacing, stringing, pyrography burning, painting, and seed beading all gives birth to visions I carry within. 

 

All leather pieces are hand-cut and crafted in my desert workshop from high grade deerskin, elk, cow, and buffalo leather hides, honoring their lives in a traditional sacred way.

 

Although not Native American myself my children, grandchildren, and Tiospaye family are a multi-cultural blending of  Euro, Osage, Apache and Lakota igniting never ending inspiration.

 

In no way do I promote my work as "Native American". My creative visions are inspired by my personal experiences, relationships and spiritual practices. "

 

Former owner of Appaloosa Leathers, contributing leather artist for national Renaissance Art Fairs, and former leather artisan for Artemis Leather, Katrina continues to follow her passion along side the Catalina mountain range in Bear Canyon focusing now on bags and accessories.

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Some of her creative highlights include custom designing leather and beadwork for such artists as Carlos Santana, Prince, NPG, Lisa Fisher, Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers, the Kinsey Report and The Walking with our Sisters, a Commemorative Art Installation for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women of Canada and the United States   Katrina's work can be seen in music videos and on album covers.

 

 

Thank You all for your Love and Support 

 

Warm Winds

Katrina  

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The Walking with our Sisters, a Commemorative Art Installation for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women of Canada and the United States  

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