Today we’d like to introduce you to Cherie Burton.
Hi Cherie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started building drums in 2016 but really got into it after my granddaughter passed away shortly after birth in 2018. I experienced a nervous breakdown after that and found myself making drums for my grandchildren. The meditative state of rebirthing animal hides into drums provided me peace that no pill, doctor or therapist could ever provide. Now, years later… I have made and or helped make approximately 375 drums and rattles. I also hold space for drum circles, sound baths and teaching many other crafts with natural items. I recently moved my drum shop to a 2 1/2 acre wellness farm in Bluffdale where I will be continuing my workshops and adding in teaching others how to prepare rawhide for all its amazing uses!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not a smooth road! I started in my friends backyard, and then I needed more space and started finding places I could rent by the hour. When I started getting really busy I then moved into my own space with a couple of other people sharing the rent. I started with absolutely nothing except for my drum building supplies and slowly but surely created and maintained a large community space. Soon afterwards, I experienced another nervous breakdown and had to really put everything else on the back burner while I did the things I needed to do to heal. I was diagnosed with complex PTSD and started a very intensive journey as well as trying to keep my drum business alive. This summer, I have taken my business on the road and gathered all of my supplies and traveled to Montana, Wyoming, and the Uinta mountains in Utah holding drum building workshops, drum circles, and sound baths. Currently I’m in the middle of breaking away from the SLC shop and moving everything to a 2.5 acre wellness farm. And it all started with one drum. I have not taken any loans or grants or gone into debt while growing my business. Not smooth at all and if I’m honest, it’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I feel like what sets me apart from others is my ability to be authentic. People know that I won’t pretend to be something that I’m not. It shows in my work. Strangers from all over the world have come to sit with me, have me teach them how to make rawhide drums, how to make rawhide rattles, how to create smudge fans, dream catchers, multimedia art projects, medicine bags and more. I teach people how to hold space for sound baths and how to play Crystal Bowls, and other instruments. I also am running an apprentice program where I teach people how to prepare animal skin so that you are able to use it for many other things! I am one with nature. I honor the life and death of animals. I have also been trained in trauma informed yoga, I am a certified Death Doula, have been trained in infant, pregnancy and child loss. I love to garden and volunteer time teaching others how to plant food and prepare it for storage.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Family matters most to me. I grew up in a dysfunctional family. My mom abandoned my siblings and I when I was just eight years old. I’ve experienced severe childhood trauma and am trying my hardest to clear the negative generational trauma in my bloodline. I’ve been married for 15 years to the love of my life, I have two amazing children that are happy and healthy, and I have nine perfect grandchildren.
Pricing:
- Drums- make your own or have a custom made one $225 & up
- Rawhide and turtle shell rattles $66-$144
- Medicine bags- stich your own deer medicine bag and fill with crystals & unique trinkets $44
- Private sound bath with crystal bowls, drums & more $77-$300 depending on group size
- Custom dream catcher or smudge fan $44-$150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adiankasdrums.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adiankasdrums
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1bringerofpeace?mibextid=LQQJ4d
