We had the good fortune of connecting with D’Lynda Crossett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi D’Lynda, what are you inspired by?
I am inspired by life; Mother Nature, God, and my Ancestors. There is so much darkness and despair in today’s world but there is also so much beauty and light, you just have to look for it. I love waking up and seeing the beautiful masterpiece my Creator has painted just for us every morning, though so many sleep right through it. I’m inspired by the sound of crunching leaves under my feet as I know that means winter will soon be ending and beautiful new leaves and brightly colored flowers will be blossoming in no time. As someone who struggles with mental illness, I must remind myself that the seasons of life are the same as the seasons of nature, they come and go like the ebb and flow of the ocean waves. There is no such thing as a permanent problem. Life goes on. Nature reminds me of that in every little detail, the sounds of the birds singing, the feeling of raindrops on your head, the beauty of the trees changing colors as their leaves fall, and the sound of the water trickling down a small stream. Even in the city, the sunlight on your face as you’re walking into a building, the clouds forming unique shapes, can you make them look like something? That’s one of my favorite pastimes; finding a good soft grassy spot, lying down, and watching the clouds go by. I have literally done this at a gas station on the side of the road during a road trip when I just needed a nature break! So what if people look, maybe they were born to stare.

My higher power is Jesus Christ, I accepted him to be my Lord and Savior in 2015 after a decade of self-sabotaging. He spoke to me, loud and clear in my head, and said, “Come to me. Listen to me spiritually. Go to the children. Tell them your story.” I said, “Yes God, I will.” What most people don’t know about me is that I was involved in a horrible car accident when I was 16 years old. I accidentally hit a pedestrian in the middle of the highway and he passed away on impact. For over half of my life, I told myself, “I took someone else’s life, why do I deserve to live?” On the 10th anniversary of the accident, I attempted to end my life. I was almost successful. After being hospitalized for over a week I went on a woman’s retreat and that’s when I heard God. He had a plan for me. (Jeremiah 29:11) He forgave me. He wanted me to have a better life. I guess what I’m getting at is, that my story isn’t over yet. My God inspires me every day just by waking me up in the morning. I wake up with a full and grateful heart that I wasn’t successful when I tried to end my life. I get to see my nieces and nephews grow up. I get to smell the rain and feel it as the drops land on my cold cheeks. Life is so good. There is inspiration everywhere. It all starts with gratitude.

When I find a feather (especially a white one) I know that my ancestors are nearby; watching and protecting me, they always are but this reassures me. I am very close to them spiritually and I long to make them proud. I live a life that is pleasing to them and I speak to them often through oracle cards and Dream Time. I am currently enrolled in fully immersive classes to learn their language, Anishinaabemowin. I want to carry on my forefathers’ legacy and language to future generations. My great great great grandfather Chief Kiogima Standing Stone of the Ottawa Tribe brings me great inspiration in so many ways. I have created many artworks in his honor. I am just so proud to be his descendant I want his legacy and name to live on. I want the world to know that we are still here, still fighting. It’s important to me that I honor him in every way that I can, he means the world to me. I have felt an extremely close connection to him my entire life, ever since my Grandfather told me stories about him as a child. If you take one thing away from this reading let it be this, Gichi-apiitendaagwadoon bawaajiganan (Dreams are very important.) Whatever inspires you, whatever your dream is… GO FOR IT!!! Tomorrow isn’t promised, all we have is today. Even if it is just one baby micro step towards doing what inspires you, I encourage you to take it. Miigwech (thank you.)

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I create art excessively from natural materials such as leather, feathers, clay beads, etc. I am most proud of my hand-sewn leather bags and purses, they take much time and effort to make but they are so worth it. When creating my bags I do so outside in the grass so I am connected with Mother Earth and my ancestors. I first started making leather bags when I was a child with my father. We would make very small leather medicine bundles and fill them with ingredients from different animals and herbs. As I got older I started making larger and larger bags until I got to the size of a full deer hide backpack (which is currently for sale.) I came across a very good deal on a 50-pound box of scrap leather so after making my 5-foot by 5-foot scrap leather quilt for my “When will the GENOCIDE of Indigenous Peoples stop” piece I decided to get to work on scrap leather bags! It has proven to be very difficult! But I am determined to make it happen. They will be so unique and interesting, I’m just so excited about them. I bought a sewing machine then I decided I wanted to stick to my roots and continue my work by hand. I think what sets me apart from others is that I pray over each piece for the person receiving it as I make it, I make it with intention and precision and I don’t use any modern tools or machinery. I take great pride in my work and I want the person I make it for to FEEL that when they are using/wearing it. Like everyone, I have been through a lot. But through that, art saved me. In my darkest days, when I’m having bipolar episodes, when I’m so depressed or anxious I feel like I can’t breathe… I create. Working with the scrap leather has been even more helpful because it is like a puzzle, it gets my brain focused on something besides the drowning thoughts of impending doom. One thing I miss about school is having access to a welder and plasma cutter. Welding blocks out all of your senses except what you’re focusing on, the pool of molten metal. When I was in an extended state of mania when I was in school, welding saved me. It is my dream to get those machines and create yard art as well.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, there are A LOT of small parks I like to go to but most aren’t well known and I’d like to keep it that way. Ha! We Would of Course go to North Lakes Park and take a stroll to the pier to watch the ducks. I like to annoy the fishermen and play my guitar there sometimes. 😉 We would have to check out Denton Thrift, the best thrift store in DFW in my humble opinion; my sister and I love to go thrifting there. For lunch, you can’t visit Denton without going to LSA Burger on the square and having a Psychedelic burger, man! you just can’t! While you’re on the square you better get dessert at Beth Maries yummm. Then schooch on over to the old Opera House that’s now home to Recycled Books, they have an entire section on Native American literature!!! Sleeping Lizzards is a cool shop that has a wide variety of gifts and my most favorite store in all of Denton is, wait for it… Pause for dramatic effect… Juliet’s Jewels! It’s an eclectic shop full of crystals, jewelry, clothes from India, and just all kinds of really cool things.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh my gosh, so many people have helped get me to where I am today, it takes a village. First and foremost I would say my parents, they have been my biggest supporters my entire life. They always cheer me on and not just show up but go above and beyond to make me feel seen and special. I would also definitely say Texas Woman’s University deserves a shoutout. Every professor, faculty, and staff member in the Art department truly made a difference in my life; not only did they teach me the foundations needed to be a great artist, they also taught me how to succeed in life by throwing what society says that I MUST or SHOULD do down the drain and doing what I WANT to do, even if it goes against the norm or doesn’t make sense to others. TWU taught me how to be my true authentic self, which I had always struggled with. They made it easy though because they are open, friendly, and accepting of ALL people. Julie Libersat, Tanya Synar, and Colby Parsons are just a few of my greatest mentors from TWU who led and guided me from beginner to graduate and also continued to give me advice after I graduated, I would not be the creator I am today without these incredible artists who taught me the fundamental steps I needed to get to where I am today. Miigwech, miigwech, miigwech!

Website: www.dlyndacrossett.com

Instagram: dlyndathedreamer

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