Meet Kat Ammann

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kat Ammann a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kat, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

Curiosity is the key to fostering creativity. If we cease to be curious, or let ourselves start to think that we have nothing left to learn in our chosen medium, then creativity will die.

I’ve spent the majority of my life immersing myself in the study of arts and crafts. The DIY mentality was instilled in me from an early age by my mother. “I bet we could make that” was a phrase I heard often. I could see the spark of inspiration in her eyes as we dove into our stash of craft supplies, determined to teach ourselves a new skill. We spent countless hours watching Martha Stewart on tv and taking trips to the library to fill our arms with books on all kinds of crafting topics.

Family vacations were also fueled by a passion for the arts, as we never visited a new city without a trip to their art museum. It was my first visit to the Art Institute of Chicago at the age of 4 that turned me into an instant art lover, and I never let go of it. In my teen years I became more focused on my art studies, and was accepted to a program at a magnet school for the arts as a high school freshman and went on to earn my college degree in art.

All through my journey, I’ve continued to let my curiosity be a driving force behind what I did. When my high school didn’t have the supplies I needed for a project, I would ask my teachers where to go find them. When my college didn’t offer a class on the topic I was interested in I attended those courses at the community college during the summer. One semester I even had a proposal approved for an independent study in printmaking, so that I could follow my curiosity in that subject even further.

I believe that there is always more to learn, about everything. I seek out opportunities all around me to learn and grow in my passion for making, whether it is asking a fellow creative questions about their process, or taking on a new project or hobby myself. Taking myself on creative field trips from exploring an art supply store I’ve never been to, or wandering the galleries of the Crocker Museum in Sacramento can also be a great way for me to spark curiosity. One habit I am working on incorporating back into my life is simply making, for the sake of making, especially if I am feeling stuck or losing momentum on an idea. Not every project has to be perfect, or even complete, but the act of making, playing, and experimenting is such an important exercise for keeping creativity alive.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I run a small business specializing in lightweight contemporary jewelry & accessories made from wood & acrylic materials. Everything is designed and made by me in small batches from my home studio in northern California.

I started my business just after high school as a way to earn income from my handmade work while I pursued my degree. After college, I became fascinated with laser cutting technology. Combining my background in graphic design with my passion for creating handmade objects, I decided to focus on creating fun, lightweight jewelry. Over the 19 years that I have been a business owner, I have sold all different types of work, but jewelry has a special feeling for me. Through making wearable art, I’m able to connect with my customers in a very personal way. My work takes on a new life in someone else’s story. I find great joy in watching my jewelry become a way for someone else to express their individuality and seeing the self confidence that it gives them.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Determination – When I decide to do something, I’m very persistent. It is one of the biggest traits that has gotten me where I am today. Once my mind is made up, there is very little that can stand in my way.

Adaptability – I travel around doing all kinds of different markets and events. Some days I have no idea what my work environment for the day is going to be like until I get there. I try to be prepared for anything and ready to do some quick problem solving if obstacles come up.

Being Eclectic – I’ve let myself fall down so many rabbit holes, and dipped my toes in all sorts of random “day jobs.” I used to worry that I was too scattered, but over the years I’ve learned that there is no such thing as wasted time. Nothing that we do is irrelevant. When you break it down, everything is either an opportunity to learn something new, or a chance to put into practice what we already know – and I see both of those as being equally important to one’s personal development.

My best advice to others, in any stage of your journey, is to find a supportive community and get involved. When I moved to Sacramento in 2020 I got connected to an incredibly supportive group of other creatives and small business owners. Those connections helped me get through so many bumps in the road and not only helped me to learn and grow but also has given me many opportunities to give back to that community with my own skills.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

As a small business owner it is so easy to feel overwhelmed. I don’t have any employees, so besides being the sole designer and maker of the products I sell, I have to fill all of the other roles under the umbrella of running a business. When I find myself getting overwhelmed, I take a step back and try to reevaluate my workload. I ask myself if the biggest thing weighing me down is truly a priority, and see if I can identify any tasks that can be moved to the back burner. I also find it helpful to talk things out with the people in my support system.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mycraftedstudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycraftedstudio/