Crystal has pursued artistic endeavors since childhood. These include sketching and drawing, painting, embroidery, sewing, paper- quilling, collage of mixed mediums, beading and other crafts. Her varied interests, sparked through beading, led to attending powwows, which initiated her pursuit of making leather items and subsequent love of the challenges of creating leather garments. It has become a true passion.
After 10 years of learning by using various leathers to make accessories, and by drawing on her heritage of working with embroidery and beading, and sewing, she turned to making garments of leather.
Out of these efforts and background she initiated efforts that culminated in her signature work of the turtle shell bags. This launched making Native American Style leather clothing and branching into re-enactment, black powder leather clothing as well.
The most recent incarnation, in her leatherwork, is crafting custom fashion and outerwear leather garments. Ninety percent of the outerwear garments are hand sewn and embellished.
A perfectionist at heart, shows in her work. Unless she is satisfied, in a piece being her best work, it does not leave the workshop until it passes her approval.
Recently, she has pursued making pieces in formal leather wear and has ventured into fur trims and accessorizing in fur.
Additionally, Crystal has a history in several family retail businesses in the food and gift trades. Education includes an A.A. degree in psychology and further studies in business and psychology.
But her passion as a self-taught artist with minimal art education, is in beadwork and leather garments.
Russ has a background mainly in the hospitality industry. He helps primarily in the business end of Call of the Wild Creations. His training in the business end includes an MBA, management background of military club systems and clubs, business consulting, and teaching. He knows 17 different languages and is fluent in several.
Also, as a European trained Chef, Russ brings and translates his training into creating small leather creations, such as custom-made pillows, knife sheaths, cell phone cases, golf club covers, and other odds and ends. He is still learning the idiosyncrasies of working with leather but his work has thus far been well received.
