Where do I come from?

Lately I've been thinking about where I came from because I never really looked in to it. I know that I am Inupiaq, but there are still somethings missing from the ratio on my ASRC card. Do you ever wonder what the other missing ratio is? On my ASRC card I am 9/16 Inupiaq. So, I decided to visit my dad this weekend and finally ask him about our background. My dad said that my greatgrandfather Charles D. Brower came from New York, but he was part German, and Dutch. I'm very happy that I got to sit down with my dad and talk to him about it. I'm Inupiaq, German, and Dutch so far! It's pretty awesome to find out because now I can fill in the info for my children. From my husbands side our children are Inupiaq, Irish, and Portugese. All together, my children are Inupiaq, Irish, Portugese, German, and Dutch! Pretty interesting if you ask me! Thanks Dad, you are my hero!

Pictured here is my late grandfather Arnold Brower Sr. on the right, and on the left is my late great-grandfather Charles D. Brower, King of the Arctic.

Why is chose Hallelujah Designs?

Well first off, I'm a born again Bible Baptist Believing Christian! I was introduced to church from my friend Tracy Benson when we were in 8th grade I believe. It was at Assembly of God I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart. For the next few years I was involved with the Joshua Generation Youth Group. We traveled out of Alaska to spread the gospel to others. We went to California, Mexico, and Oregon giving our testimony's of when we got saved. Then when I was 16 a terrible tragedy happened in my family. My younger sister Nancy died at the age of 15.

Nancy Ren'ee Brower, Hawaii 2000)
I was the only one in my family following the Lord at the time and after her death I quit going to church. I tried going back but I didn't feel anything, so I quit going all together. I started getting into drugs and alcohol for the first time. I just couldn't take the pain of my sister dying. Neither could the rest of my family. I know now, that her death was all part of God's plan. He knew I would find my way back to him. Two years ago my brother Wendell gave us the gospel through the Baptist Church. I was in such disbelief about being saved no matter what sin you do, because all the time before I thought you had to get saved over and over again after your sin. But it opened my eyes to be a set free christian. Since I had gotten saved in middle school I always had a fear of losing my salvation. But since I renewed my salvation knowing that I would be saved until the rapture, my fear is gone! I know where I'm going and you can too! Since her death, most of my family has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior! My older brother Wendell preaches every once in a while, and never in a million years would I have thought that God would change his heart! I've never thought God would change me into who I am today too! I praise God for everything in my life! He has a plan for everything, even if you don't understand it at the time. God loves to be praised, so my Hallelujah Designs is a way of giving thanks to him for the great gift he's given me!

Summer's fancy parka

I know it seems like I'm going backwards in my posts, but thats ok. Things keep coming to mind about sewing from the past. I am writing about Summer's fancy parka because that's where my sewing all started. My aunt Annaqaq Brower got me into sewing. My mom and my aaka helped me start too. In the beginning I had no idea how to do anything, but thats another story. I decided to choose white spotted rabbit for her parka because it was rare that people made fancy parka's with them and my late sister Nancy had the same kind. Her parka was made by the late Mary Saganna of Barrow.

I think the night before the contest me, my mom, and Annaqaq stayed up all night and sewed until we reached the contest! Even though she didn't win, I was just happy that she got to compete! I was only starting out.

The next year I entered her in again and added more to her parka. I added more kupaks, and wolverine tassels.

This time she won second place:) We also stayed up all night once again finishing the last touches up until the contest. Now a days, I plan ahead so I can sleep! I've also added to her parka so it can still fit her. Here is the final outcome.

My new parka cover

A month ago I decided to make a new parka cover for my parka. My parka was just a plain blue one that me and my mom made December of 2009. We made matching ones for my girls, mom, and my sister-in-law Sadie.

This is my daughter Nancy wearing her parka during piurgata. Sorry for the miss spelling. So my parka looked like this before I made the new cover. I was so undecided on a new color until Lucy's fabric shop opened up after a years of being closed. I walked in and looked around and found a beautiful light teal fabric. I couldn't find it at the fur shop or online. I had to buy it! It was kivgiq time too, so if I didn't buy it I knew it would soon be gone. I decided to do real kupak work on it instead of applique, even though I had very little experience. This was my second try on kupaks.

I also lucked out on the matching teal bias tape at Lucy's Fabric. There were only two packages left, which was just enough to finish my project. Here is a picture of my new parka cover. I had different fur I was going to put on it, but my brother Wendell and sis Sadie Blessed me with a new dark silver fox pelt! I give the all my credit to the Lord for the wonderful gift of sewing he's given me!

Boys hunting parka

So I started this cover two days ago. As you can see, I made it a little too short because I was short on fabric. So, I just added a piece to the bottom so it wouldn't look strange. It's my first try anyways. I had no pattern. Just had to make one up. I'd say pretty good on my first try. I'm guessing the size is 2T-3T. 

I decided to make the lining out of quilted lining from the fur shop. That way I would save money, and he could use all year around. As you can see, I've only finished one arm. I will also be adding an extra strip to extend this too. I just hope my son will actually wear this! Sorry about the side ways photo, I'm new to all of this:)

I added the extra strips added a wolf and wolverine combination ruff, wolverine sini on the bottom and finished the little hunting parka! The only thing is, how am I going to get my 2 year old to wear it??