We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Heather Loop. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Heather below.

Heather, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

When I was eight years old I dressed up as an artist for Halloween. I think I knew then I was gonna walk the path of a creative. And then when I was in high school I would make hemp jewelry and sell it to my classmates, Fast forward a few years to NYC and I was making jewelry, hip pouches, and cycling hats as a side hustle. It wasnt until I moved to New Orleans when I got serious about my jewelry making as a full time job.
I was working weed world for a few months and making buku money, so I was able to come back to NOLA and buy the tools and equipment I needed to start as a fulltime jeweler and other crafts.
I started vending at art markets, selling online and sometimes just hustling my creations on the corner of Frenchmen in the Quarter.
When I moved to Washington State in 2016 I left weed world and went fulltime as an artists, the weed industry went legal and the money trickled away (in that industry) I was able to focus fully on my jewelry.
I changed my company name to Feral Hag and started my own art market called Market of the Beast and Im currently still running both of those companies

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Im Heather Loop I run a jewelry company called Feral Hag, Handmade jewelry from found bones, upcycled bullets and leather and electroformed nature.

How I got Into the industry:
I tried to ease myself in by still working a job as a server or in weed world, but when the money of selling my jewelry out weighted those jobs I quit and went full time.
Its been a struggle trying to figure out how to run a legit business with write off and taxes and all the stuff, so if someone wants to help me I would gladly take it! haha!

I make jewelry from ethically sourced bones that I find on the side of the roads, walking in the woods, by the train tracks and more. I do not purchase bones from trappers or from animal farms.
I use a process called maceration to clean my bones if they are ripe or still have meat on them. Macerating is when you let the bones sit in water for about 3 to 6 months and the bacteria that forms in the water slowly breaks down the animal product that is on them. Its stinky and gross but I think its the best way to clean your bones.
also by using animal bones i am giving them a second life in a way, they get to be enjoyed as art after their death.

I also repurpose spent bullet casings and make those into jewelry and upcycle old leather jackets for my fringe and leather i use in my jewelry

basically i try to reuse and upcycle as much stuff as i can.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I enjoy being an artist and its rewarding af. I get to meet people all the time who enjoy my work and people actually thank me for sharing my work! I never have heard that before in my life and it feels good. I like to do process videos on my TT and IG account and share how I make things and how to actually do the process of certain creations. I like to share my processes bc when i started i had a hard time finding what i need to learn to do what i do bc the information wasnt out there. so its mad rewarding when people appreciate me sharing because they are running into the same thing. I believe knowledge should be free and shared.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

the easiest and freest way to help an artist is through social media, it doesnt take long.
all you have to do is like and share their posts. leave a comment on their post.

If you have something you thought you were gonna use and turn into a project but havent yet, donate to an artist who will. free donations for their art can be lucrative most of the time

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.feralhag.com
• Instagram: @feralhag
• Facebook: feralhagkvlt
• Other: tt: feralhagkvlt