Keredith “Tooter” Owens (Eastern Band Cherokee), a member of the Wild Potato Clan, has spent over forty years working in the mediums of traditional and contemporary Cherokee and Powwow beadwork and clothing. While she earned a master’s degree in Social Work, Owens credits her artistry to matrilineal mentors. As a child, she began sewing Barbie clothes with the help of her great-grandmother, Olene Edwards. Building on this apprenticeship, she eventually learned how to make patterns and sew by hand.
When Owens discovered a love of Powwow dancing, her mother, Annie, taught her how to make her own regalia, and along with her grandmother, Josie Saunooke, she taught Owens beading.
Most recently, Owens has incorporated fabric design into her repertoire. She is inspired by traditional Cherokee basket designs, and with the help of Justin Reed, develops high-end fashion-inspired looks. Owens is proud to continue the practice of sharing these skills and artistic lineage with the next generation of Cherokee women. She currently resides in the Yellowhill Community of Cherokee, NC.
