Meet Kat Von Hacke

 

We recently connected with Kat Von Hacke and have shared our conversation below.

Kat, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

. When I was younger I was constantly drawing and creating things. It had dual purposes. 1. It kept me entertained, I didn’t have cable tv and the internet wasn’t a thing. I didn’t have tablets just books, pencils, and paper. 2. It calmed my anxiety, I used my creativity to journal in a way. Instead of a diary with written words I drew my emotions and feelings and how I saw myself. As an adult we get busy, we might use our creativity for work projects but it doesn’t come from the same place it did when we were young. It lacked the joy. So a big part of creativity for me is finding that joy that allows me to create from a happy place vs a place of necessity.
A big part of that is meditation, therapy, returning to an exercise routine, and time in nature. My life is incredibly heavy right now and keeping that flame of joy alive so that I can create from that special place isn’t as easy as it was as a child but it is doable.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an artist and own a small business called Appalachian Pup. I draw inspiration from nature around me creating jewelry made from gemstones, metals, woods, and animal bones. I grow and harvest herbs and plants to make naturally healing apothecary products. Store bought products contain chemicals and harsh ingredients. I want to bring people back to nature. I want people to realize how the Earth takes care of us. I upcycle shoes and clothing to help slow down the environmental damage or fast fashion. I embroider, paint, bleach and use different materials to give new life to old clothing and turn them into works of art that someone will cherish for a lifetime. I also use my drawing and painting skills to make art that I can put on shirts, mugs, stickers, and prints. I am working on returning to my artistic roots and plan to focus more and more on painting and original works of art.

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?

1. Kindness. Learn to be kind to yourself. This is a lesson I am working on. Your mind needs kindness so that it can be strong. I struggle with my mental health (anxiety and depression) and have learned to have to be kind and forgive myself and let myself rest when I need to and be ok with not being ok. We don’t have to be perfect all the time.

2. Meditation. This is excellent to quiet the mind, organize your thoughts. Make sure you are working on what serves you and your goals. Set aside 10-15 mins a day to meditate. I like to use incense and healing crystals to set the mood.

3. Be flexible. Understand things will work out the way they work out. Nothing you can do sometimes. You have to adapt or change with the flow. The economy has been very tricky. I have seen a huge drop in event sales. You have to accept that it’s not a direct reflection of your business. Sometimes it’s just life. Sometimes you have to rethink your plan and adapt to your situation. Whatever your roadblocks may be you have to adapt and figure out a way around them. If one way doesn’t work try something new (meditate on it). Change your outlook and be flexible. Don’t quit or punish yourself. It’s not always easy.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Being seen online. Social media can be your best friend and also your worst enemy. Despite having +20k TikTok followers I get minimal views and interaction on videos and honestly don’t generate sales from social media. Most Facebook groups won’t allow you to share your art and it feels incredibly hopeless. Many of my customers are returning customers so I have turned to my email marketing. I focus on capturing emails at event or mails on my website and staying in contact with customers that way. This has generated sales for me.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,