Twilly's Creations
po box 261, Togiak AK US 99678
907-493-5215
Website: HTTP://www.entertainmealaska.com/yupikcreations
Email: twilth3@yahoo.com

Camai, I'm Twilly!

I'm a Yu'pik, from Togiak, Alaska, which is located in the southwest coast of the Bering Sea. Our village of one thousand is in north Bristol Bay, a salmon fishing community.
I carve ivory and whalebone making Alaskan sea and land mammals, salmon, birds, and other wildlife. Traditional Yu'pik figurines engaged in harvesting activities, or dancing and drumming.
I also make figurine earrings and pendants out of ivory making bears, seals, walrus, whales, salmon, among other custom made animals. Simple hearts, crosses, turned into earrings or necklaces from ivory or baleen. Rings out of ivory and baleen made to your design any size or shape.
I've worked on custom made carvings upon request, using pictures of anything or sketches by paper. Creating a sculpture, carving, jewelry, necklace, scrimshaw, or bracelet. Whatever you want made or think of, I will create to the best of my ability.
I began my carving adventure in the year 1984, when my brother Sam wanted other Yu'piks to have fellowship with. He was going to college in Seattle and I was visiting him for a few months. We went to the Seattle Indian Center and procured names of Alaskans living in the area. One of them was Jim Freeman, a world war 2 navy veteran who made beautiful soapstone sculptures. He paid him 20 dollars to give me a one hour and a half carving lesson, making a walrus laying on it's side. After the lesson, Jim gave me a 7 or 8 inch stone and told me to make something.
I went to the library for walrus pictures, found a long bread knife and spent 7 hours making a walrus. My first walrus was on all four flippers facing forward. I gave my first carving to a preacher. My next one was similar to Jim's, a huge stone walrus laying on it's side. I made my first sale on first avenue, to an old jewish dealer by the name of Krupp. He gave me a stone and told me to make a seal, so I did. Krupp and Jim were pleased with my first seal, and I remember the smiles on their old faces, chuckling and looking at each others. Jim told Krupp to show us his private collections. They brought me to a huge room filled with all kinds of Alaskan animals of every kind. Jim showed me a delicate killerwhale he had made. I looked around and wondered if I would be able to make such art.
Through the years, different peoples asked if I was able to make this or that. I attempted them, and improved from their suggestions and comments. I'm always learning to this day, though the road hasn't been easy. There have been lot's of disappointments and frustrations, the Alaskan will to never quit is always in me. The ability to make anything out of nothing which all natives have in them. To survive in the harshest evironments which is in all of us.

• Ivory Carvings • Whalebone Sculptures • Figurine Earrings

• Pendants • Bracelets • Ivory Scrimshaws • Custom Work of any kind