We were lucky to catch up with Jonathan (Mojo) Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan (Mojo), thanks for joining us today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)? Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style.

I’ve spent over the last 20 years studying, practicing, and teaching primitive skills and survival. Along with this came the primitive arts. Learning from the best natives, hide tanners, stone workers, silversmiths, hunters, fishermen, and craftsman in the country, I’ve been able to fine tune these skills to bring you Fox Feather Craft, The Indigenous Bohemian. Always searching for a medium between Earth and Sky, to bring everyone the best qualities of so many unique stories and adventures together. It’s a passion and a dream of mine to share this with the world, the people, and the children. This is where I begin, once again :)

Jonathan (Mojo), love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I grew up in Arizona. I left my home when I was 17, to find my path. Focusing my energy and attention in the “old ways”, my journey unfolded. Like stepping stones, from the desert to the mountains, from the plains to the sea. Every place and every person helping, teaching, guiding my way. I found myself, in my early 20’s, in Southern Utah, working for a world renound survival school. This is when my eyes really opened wide. Learning how to become a teacher. Working and practicing next to some of the greatest instructors in the world. And not just primitive skills. Not just taking folks out and showing them how to build a fire or a shelter, how to hunt and fish, how to live “off” the land, but how to live “with” the land. How to hone our awareness, in all directions, inwards and out, and how to be part of, and not separate from, everything.
Over these many years and endless adventures of learning and teaching these skills, I came to learn of the arts. I learned that it’s not just about making a bag, or a pot, or a tool, but of the countless stories involved, and coming together, to create such a thing. The story of the clay gathered on that ridge, the sand in that wash, the water from that creek, the rendered bee plant from that valley, and the wood from that tree from that forest to make that fire. The story of that deer and that stone, that bird and her feathers, and the journeys they took. A much greater and amazing picture unfolds.
I, particularly, took a fancy in hide tanning, the traditional way. Again, studying and practicing with the best of the best. Learning all the tricks of the hide tanning trade, and producing some of the finest leather and furs around. Salvaging mostly deer, elk, and fur barer from hunters, who would have otherwise discarded them. Cleaning and working these hides with water, brains, smoke, (and lots of elbow grease) to create some of the finest material for bags, clothes, shoes, hats, and jewelry. I then spent many years tanning traditional braintan buckskin and selling this fine leather at gatherings and rendezvous across the country.
Over the years, I got into lapidary work. The cutting, shaping, and polishing of fine gem stones. Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Dinosaur Bone, Spiny Oyster, Corals, Jades, Sugilite, etc… This brought me to learn silversmithing. Cutting, shaping, soldering, and polishing silver. Setting stones and creating fine jewelry.
I made my first pair of earrings about 15 years ago, for my girlfriend at the time. She loved bird feathers! 30,000 years later, still in fashion :) Combining my fly tying skills and feather work, along side my buckskin, stone, and silver. I made her a pair of duck feather earings, with braintan buckskin, sliced steer horn, #8 turquoise, ostrich egg shell, sterling silver, and African brass.
The next thing I knew, all her friend wanted some. So, I made them some feather earings, with pheasant feathers, some with rooster feathers. Eventually getting into the macaw and parrot world. And then, the next thing I know, all of their friends and family and customers wanted some “Mojo Earings”:)
This has been a fun adventure! To combine all of these skills and all of these stories in one, Master Piece, if you will. The bags and purses came a little later, when I had more buckskin to spare. Again, combining traditional bead work of czech crystal with my buckskin leather, silver, and stone.
These last few years, I have been trying to take this to the next level. So, with that, may I present to you, Fox Feather Craft, The Indigenous Bohemian! …and, being of Czech/ Bohemian and Moravian decent, I no longer wonder where this fine craftsmanship comes from :) with Love! In Adventure!!
~Mojo

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to fail, over and over again, to learn, everthing important. I had to eat dirt, and f*ck up, over and over, to learn how to do it right… and, I’m still learning…! We have to be cold, to appreciate being warm. We have to be thirsty to appreciate being quenched. And, we must be hungry to truly Appreciate that next vittle snack!
Success comes later, maybe, if ever. But, if we can keep pushing ourselves, and each other, positively, to grow, to love, to learn better, to be…! We will find our way! Even better than before. And then, everyone benefits!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

So, I live in a very small, very rural town here in Southern Utah. Boulder town. Population 250 in the summer time. I’ve worked almost every job in this neck of the canyon mountain over the last many years. After becoming a father and building a home of our own, I found a fortê in stone masonry to cover the nut. Still tanning hides, always, and making beautiful jewelry, part time. These last few years, since covid, work has been scarce… I’ve puttin’ almost all my eggs into creating this business, “Fox Feather Craft”. And, attempting to make it a real thing. Going to the shows, making those connections… and continuing to do so :)) It seems to me that most people really appreciate my work and story. After hundreds, if not thousands of hours at the bench and on the beam, it feel so good to share with everyone this piece of creations mystery and beauty! Thank You, Everyone !!! 💚🍀

Contact Info:

• Website: foxfeathercraft.com
• Instagram: @foxfeathercraft
• Facebook: Fox Feather Craft

Image Credits
Zoee Alstom- photo- Greenwing Macaw earings Caitlin Goodwill – photo- Greenwing Macaw earings Stephanie Ann Kappos – photo – Scarlet Macaw earings