Deryn came to Alaska in 2019 for a seasonal position and never left. Just before moving, she was introduced to reed basketry by a dear friend and has since developed a weaving practice using self-harvested materials. Cordova is her home, where she works with the USFS facilitating and conducting forest data collection throughout coastal Alasksa for the Forest Inventory & Analysis program. Conversing with the natural world, getting to know the complex, intricate coastal Alaskan ecosystems is where she feels most content and finds much of her inspiration. From harvesting, drying, dyeing, reshaping, and twining, she never tires of the slow transformation from raw to refined.