Posted by Ashlee Czapla on June 16 2015

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Okavark Pendants and Starlily Creations are the creative visions of Timothy Kravako and Jen Xerri. Both of these hard working vendors are self made and self-taught with equally interesting artwork to prove it. Okavark Pendants offers unique accessories and pieces made of the most carefully selected natural elements. Starlily Creations consists of handmade and hand crocheted infinity scarves, hoods, vests, shawls, capes and more.You can find both Okavark Pendants and Starlily Creations vending together at this years Electric Forest.

Meet Timothy Kravako:

Timothy Kravako was born and raised in North Muskegon, Michigan and has always drawn inspiration from nature. He comes from a family of artists and feels that expressing himself artistically has always ran through his veins. On a spiritual level, Kravako says making art is his purpose. The reason he wakes up every day.

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Meet Jenn Xerri:

Jen Xerri grew up in New Baltimore, Michigan. Xerri grew up sewing alongside her mother who is a master seamstress and had always dreamed of being a fashion designer. Xerri’s nana, Lily, was a huge supporter of her creative endeavors and a major influence on Xerri - Thus inspiring 'Starylily Creations'

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How did your businesses come to be?

Okavark: The manifestation of Okavark pendants all goes back to the fall of 2012, at the ArtPrize art festival in Grand Rapids, MI. We opened up our bus / mobile art studio to let people observe our craft, and one by one people started bringing us food, water, supplies – everything we needed to survive another day. Day after day, the generosity of like-minded strangers kept coming in, and I began to have a revelation. I was stricken with the knowledge that I was supposed to create a wearable piece of art, a gift from my soul to yours. Our pendants are meant to take you on a journey; one that begins the moment you put the strap around your neck.

Starlily: I had always felt this nudge before, like I wasn’t reaching my highest potential and using my natural talents. As I was de-cluttering my life, I discovered some old boxes of unfinished projects — a bunch of my nana’s hooks and yarns she gave me when I was a kid. I finished the projects and started giving things away, then suddenly people started to notice my work and opportunities began to emerge for me within this space.

What are you looking forward to most about vending at Electric Forest?

Okavark: I want to let everyone know that Electric Forest is my very first festival and will also be my very first festival I am vending at! I’m looking forward to being exposed to new music and all of the new friends I will make. The most important thing for me is finding that one of a kind personality to pair with my art.

Starlily: I am looking forward to meeting all the eccentric fun people and hearing some great music! I have never exhibited at a music festival before of this magnitude so I’m excited to be a part of it! I think it will be a great experience and tons of fun!

What inspires your work?

Okavark: My interest in natural elements comes with the understanding that if we were stripped bare, what would be my canvas? That canvas became the “cross section” of seeing the beauty within Mother Nature and utilizing it to incorporate all mediums. I find joy at finding trees that have had a long life and have passed. I then breathe new life into this standing deadwood. These natural forces add to the carving and sculpture as well. My options are limitless.

What sets your work apart from others?

Okavark: My variety and canvas by which I present my work is always changing. Keep in mind that this journey is a never-ending personal discovery of new gifts from Mother Nature. The “Quest” for that next intricate cross-section is packed with the beauty nature unveils. Every pendant is completely hand crafted from beginning to end. Sculpted wood Cabochons, wire suspensions, Beads hand sculpted from exotic and native woods. Also wire wrapped and wooden bales, handspun fully adjustable neck straps, hand painted pendants, reversible 2-in-1 pendants and glow in the dark pendants. I am always striving to create something new and original.

Starlily: My work is a mix of contemporary and boho-chic, and since I mix so many different types of art yarns and texture into my creations, it’s not your average everyday crochet! I use a lot of freeform crochet techniques as well which is almost like painting with yarn. I’d say since I learned by sight and not by pattern and it has allowed me to approach things from a very magical place. I have been told that since I am Maltese, it is in my culture to be so gifted with my hands. Maltese women are famous for lace making, knitting and crocheting, so it’s also in my genes to carry on this legacy of my ancestors and keep this art alive.

Where do you find your materials and what makes you choose them?

Okavark: My gathering journeys are very spontaneous. I trade, I gather and my parents are retired gatherers. I suppose everyone in my life becomes a gatherer at some point. I’m like a wood and inlay magnet. I just seem to have an eye with what does and doesn’t work as a pendant material.

Starlily: I frequent fiber expositions a lot. I also use commercial yarns, boutique yarns, fiber expos and go online to hunt down fibers as well. Recently, I was approached by a resale shop in Rochester, Michigan because a woman who passed recently of breast cancer was an advanced knitter and had the most amazing collection of yarns from all over the world. I bought out the estate and the money I spent on the yarn was donated to a local charity for human trafficking. It makes me really happy to be able to help out a charity through my art for a cause I am really passionate about! I’m delighted to be able to make beautiful things out of her collection; the yarn definitely went to the right person!

What has been your biggest success?

Okavark: Finding a daily passion that is both enriching and fruitful is my biggest success. Also, hitting an international audience with my work had been wonderful. I take great care in the hunt for the owner of my creations.

Starlily: I was interviewed on Fox 2 news during the holidays last year for an “All Things Detroit” event, so that was pretty awesome! I have never been on TV and it was really exciting to share my story and show my pretty handmade goodies on the news.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Okavark: Finding the new owner of one of my pieces! That is a journey.

Starlily: I enjoy traveling to new places and meeting exciting people, it really fuels my creativity. Since much of my time is spent in the studio creating, it really makes me happy when women get excited about my work.

What plans do you have for your business in the future?

Okavark: There are definitely some new designs coming to fruition and I’d love to diversify my body of work. All will come in due time. Also, next year Okavark Pendants will be going full-time in the festival circuit, so expect to see more from us in the future!

Starlily: I plan on copywriting some designs and selling patterns, and possibly linking with more charities and give back a portion of my sales to help those in need. I feel a sense of empowerment by being able to use my hands to create and it really helped me while I was growing up. There's a great feeling of accomplishment to be able to make something by hand and I would like to teach and pass on the skill to others who would like to learn this lost art.

If we plugged in your playlist right now, what would you be jamming to?

Okavark: Bob Dylan and JPOD.

Starlily: CBC radio or one of my own DJ mixes!

Don’t miss out on meeting these talented artists and show them some support at Electric Forest. Be sure to follow them on social media too for updates on their creative creations, new products and much more!

Show Okavark Some Love:
Instagram // Facebook // Etsy

Show Starlily Some Love:

Instagram // Facebook // Etsy