Meet the Gorgons
Heather (right-handed Gorgon) and Jesii (left-handed Gorgon) met when we both lived in Utqiagvik, Alaska. Now both back in Alaska, we’ve decided to team up to bring you our brand of funny, often bizarre and hopefully thought-provoking craft discourse.
Heather
Heather “Hedder,” is the right-handed, kinda tall, extra pale Gorgon. Originally from Texas, Hedder found her way to Alaska with her soulmate, Bodhi the Heeler/Terrier mix. Now she is a mom to two humans and a kitty named Cerce. Hedder started her craft journey with latch hook, and painting and dyeing her pants in high school. Since then Hedder’s skills have expanded to include Crochet, Natural and Synthetic Dyeing, Cross-Stitch, punch needle, needle felting, wet felting, felt sculptures, and sewing. Eventually, Hedder hopes to be skilled in many more crafts and skills so that she can start a non-cultish commune. The not-cult part being important. Heather has been a GISHer for the last three years, making Runner-Up (Leader Board) each of the years she has competed. She is now a member of TeamWhatIsYourDamageHeather which takes competitive crafting to a whole new (and weirder) level. Hedder has been in the mental health field for the past 10ish years, working to serve children and families in times of crisis. Hedder strives to make every space she occupies a safe space for historically marginalized groups. Definitely @ her if you see something she can be doing better.
Jesii
Raised in Western MA, I moved to Utqiagvik AK in my early 20s and spent 8 years enjoying the beauty of the arctic. When my mom got sick and my marriage went belly-up, I moved back east and ended up marrying my high school sweetheart Lewis. We moved to Anchorage in 2021. Together we have a Whippet, Devo, and two Siamese mixes, Odie (Odessa) and Waffles (Miss Strawberry Waffles).
I started A Polar Night while living in Utqiagvik. I work in wire, both jewelry and some home decor, I love working with different stones and glass. While living in Utqiagvik obtained a certification in Inupiaq Fine Arts, where I learned how to make traditional parkas, atikluqs and dabbled in carving. I also enjoy embroidery which I picked up during the pandemic and punch needle embroidery. I’ve also picked knitting back up, I recently learned how to make a ruffly scarf and while it’s really basic I’m super proud to make something that isn’t just a rectangle!
I hold degrees in visual arts and humanities, with experience in graphic design, vector art, painting, drawing, additive and subtractive sculpture, and probably some other stuff I’m forgetting.
She/Her pronouns. Neurodivergent. Trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+.