About

Hi, I’m Carrie- the curious crow behind the studio.

I haven’t always had an easy time fitting in, but I've always felt at home amongst the crows. I find it delightful that they remember faces and give tiny found treasures to people who are kind to them. I believe the most powerful gift you can give is to make others feel seen, a skill that crows have fine-tuned over centuries.

My grandma knew how to make others feel seen in a way that still blows my mind. Every time she ran into somebody she knew, their eyes lit up, and they always left with a smile on their lips. She was a bright spot in everyone’s days that she could be- probably because she knew what it was like to struggle. I like to think of each of my creations like that- I create them with the hope that they’ll be the bright spot in your day. Something that catches your eye and makes you feel seen. A touch of magic in an often dark world.

For years, I struggled to find a career that felt right to me. I've worn many hats- teacher, mental health technician, high school teacher, and most recently, a crisis counselor at 988. Each job shaped me in ways that I wouldn't trade for anything. When I started my job as a teacher and told my grandma, she listened and shared my joy. She told me how happy she was for me, then quietly added "I always hoped you'd end up doing something more creative. I know how happy it makes you to make art." At the time, I didn't think that much of her comment. I was living in a Texas suburb run by chain stores and 4-lane highways. Being a professional artist felt like a pipe dream.

Then we moved to Portland.

Portland changed everything. From First Thursday in the Pearl District to the Mississippi street fair, I was smitten. There were endless seas of white-topped canopies filled with artists who dared to dream they could make a living doing what they love. When I was laid off from 988 at the end of 2025, and after a few weeks of applying for regular 9-5 positions that I knew would likely be too hard on my spinal fusion to be sustainable, I began to turn my grandma's words over in my mind. 

So I did what makes me happiest and started to create. I began at the local creative reuse center, gathering secondhand supplies and brainstorming. I began to pluck pieces from estate sales and sort through vintage jewelry pieces at antique malls, picking the ones that twinkle beneath the store lights and catch my eye. I started to apply for markets and waited with baited breath until I finally received my first acceptance- I would start my career as an artist at the booming Portland Saturday Market.

My first booth at the Portland Saturday Market

Every piece is one-of-a-kind, made by hand from materials I've gathered over time. Finding tiny treasures brings me so much joy- whether it’s vintage jewelry collected from estate sales or a handful of Japanese yen leftover from a trip. Each piece is crafted with intention- a reminder that you've been noticed and your kindness matters. Think of them as tiny crow-gifts, left just for you. 🐦‍⬛🎁

Thank you for being here. Stay kind, and may we all be friends of the crows.

- Carrie, Foundcrow Studio