Why ERiKU? Hello, my name is Kei Eriksen and my website/brand name is called ERiKU. I started to realize that I have an artist in me after I came to the U.S. in 2007. Being born and growing up in Japan, where an individual’s role within society is very set, I had never thought I could be a “creative” person.   

Although I’ve always admired people who produced beautiful hand-crafted creations, I never imagined that I would be creating beautiful works myself. I adore the Japanese sense of style and now I enjoy combining this sense in creative ways myself. If I were still living in Japan working more than full-time, ERiKU wouldn’t have been born.   

Originally, I came to the U.S. to pursue my Master’s degree in International Education which I received in 2009. Now, I am enjoying applying my knowledge in new unexpected ways related to creating, learning, craft, and culture. As I was growing up, my mom was a professional doll maker. Her creativity and detail-oriented creations were so beautiful and appreciated by many. I knew that my mom was a great artist, and I believed that I wasn’t. I never thought I could create something at a professional level like my mom.   

Until I met my husband, I had never doubted the idea that I wasn’t an artist. He helped me realize that believing I wasn’t creative was the only thing stopping me from being creative! As I began trying different creative pursuits, I realized that I actually love to make things and the things that I make are beautiful and appreciated by others! Crocheting, Knitting, Spinning, Felting, weaving…anything fiber excites me.   

Unlike many other people, I didn’t learn to knit from my grandmother. I taught myself in 2010 and have been knitting ever since. My brand name ‘ERiKU’ (eh-ree-koo) comes from my married last name which signifies meeting my inspirational husband and beginning my life as an artist. I also wanted to make it sound Japanese putting a ’U’ sound at the end. So there you go!