BY TARA & CAILIN BURKE 

Happy !

The need to create is something that a lot of our features have in common and it is no different for designer Kerry Ann Stokes. She has had an eye for design from a young age and since then has never stopped creating. Something we picked up on from Kerry’s interview was her seemingly comfortable attitude towards change. We think that’s great. It’s so easy to feel secure in something that isn’t fulfilling and to forget you can explore other options. Whether Kerry is illustrating or designing her flower crowns, she is open to where her next creative pursuit will take her. Continue reading to find out more about  Kerry and how you can purchase one of her beautiful flower crowns.

: Tell us a little bit about who you are.

: My name is Kerry, and I’m a dreamer, designer + maker based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC.  I grew up in a small town in CT, and went to art school in Boston, MA.  I’ve been living in this neighborhood for the past 4 years, and absolutely love the color and personality here.  When I was 12 I decided that I wanted to be a designer. While I’m always changing my mind about details- I will always love to design + to create.

: What got you started?

: My creativity was fueled by my mother when I was just a kid.  She was DIY-ing way before there were blogs about how to do so.  She provided me with all sorts of arts + crafts supplies, and encouraged me to play with them endlessly.  Each year at my birthday party I insisted on a craft- and Mary Ann would work her magic to make sure that each party-goer walked away from my birthday party with a master-piece (not really… but at least they got some kind of trinket with their name on it in glitter.)  Only after a few years of me nagging my mother that I wanted to make stuffed animals at my birthday party (this was way before build-a-bear time) did she start to whip out her sewing machine for my party crafts.  I  became absolutely fascinated by the sewing machine- and needed to learn how to use it. I have a lot to thank my mother for and my passion to create is definitely one of them.

: What are your inspirations?

: I am always searching for new inspirations and am constantly inspired by different textures and colors… but my go-to, always fascinating, is insects (mostly beetles.)

: What are your favorite medias to work with?

: For illustration:  I bounce back and forth between using ink/ pigments and markers.  I always use micron pens for details and I love to incorporate metallic gold dust or paints wherever possible.

For Flower Crowns + Accessories:  I use a variety of materials to build the crowns + other accessories.  The flowers are all silk- mostly silk organza, or silk chiffon… but there are some dupioni and satins in there as well.  The flowers with beading have a mix of sequins and glass beads.  The wreaths and headbands are fabric wrapped metal.

: What is your aesthetic?

: Colorful + textural.

: Name your favorite go-to creative spot?

: I love working from home.  My home office is my space that I’ve created to be inspiring and comfortable.  My man built me a desk, and I have artwork that I’ve made, as well as artwork from friends and family all around.  It’s bright, full of plants and my pup Slug gets to hang out with me while I create.  It’s the perfect working environment.

: What are your future goals/biggest dreams?

: The one goal that has stayed the same is to get to create every day, but the specifics of that goal are always changing.

: Any tips?

: Just do what you love + what feels right.