Today I’d like to introduce you to an amazing blogger and creator, Kat from SimplistiCreations. She is so talented all around, so read on to get to know her.
Meet Kat of SimplistiCreations
How did SimplistiCreations get started? What inspired you to open your shop?
I’ve always been a crafter, even at a young age. I remember thinking through my crayola color choices meticulously, even for a color book. As I got older, I never lost that passion. I have also always loved earrings and body jewelry – as soon as I turned 16, I was looking into local piercing places so I could get my ears pierced straight away! I have since gotten a helix piercing and even a labret piercing. So, when it comes to making art pieces, the most obvious choice to me was to make earrings. Though I’m a web/ User Experience designer by day, I still want to keep that creativity alive after my 9-5 job, so I started creating paper cut wall art and laser cut wood jewelry. But I kept creating and eventually I ran out of space in my apartment to store them! Several friends and coworkers have asked if I was making these art pieces to sell. That’s when I made the decision to opened an Etsy shop in 2013 as a creative outlet and also so I don’t start hoarding art pieces at my apartment! I wanted to share what motivates me and hopefully, it’ll motivate others to find inspiration in the little things.
Which came first? The blog or the shop?
The blog came first when I started exploring new projects and creating tutorials of how I made my items. But it wasn’t until I opened my shop that I spent more time blogging and bettering my online presence through posts and SEO.
What inspires your creations?
The little things throughout my day. Sometimes I’ll be watching TV… or taking a walk outside (when it’s much warmer) and inspiration just hits. That’s why I always travel everywhere with my sketch book and at least 2 pens to draw or jot down my ideas!
What’s your creative space like? (the place where you make your creations)
I feel like a picture is worth a thousand words, but my creative space is currently under construction so I didn’t want to take pictures of the mess. It’s a very clean space with organized shelves and splash of colors throughout. I have cute little inspirational quote canvases and ink illustrations I made hanging up to keep me motivated. I’m in the works of creating a rug like this for the space.
What is one of your favorite items you’ve created?
One of my favorite items I’ve created are my cupcake wood earrings because I’m a foodie! I’m also working on some new wood necklaces, including a wood HP Time Turner, so I’m extremely excited to wrap those up and start wearing one!
How do you get in the mood to start creating? Any certain types of music? Scents?
I don’t have a type of music I listen to, but I definitely have Spotify playing in the background as I’m designing away. Most likely a coffee shop inspired station. And I almost always have a candle lit while I’m crafting. My latest favorite scent is a soy candle from a local vendor in Milwaukee called “Mountain Man.” (And yes, it does smell exactly like it sounds. In case you’re wondering – Mountain Man smells like pinecones and forest and all the lovely things in nature.)
What do you do in your free time when you’re not blogging or creating?
When I’m not creating/ crafting, I turn my free time to being outside and enjoying quality time with my friends and loved ones. I also try out new cupcake recipes that I find on Pinterest, since I have a sweet tooth!
If you could offer any advice to a new blogger or new shop owner, what would it be?
Don’t wait until everything is “perfect” to open a shop! It’s better to be done than to be perfect. You can continually make your shop better and improve your products as you go!
Another advice I have for those looking to open a new shop or are new shop owners is changing your shop mentality, if you’re serious about growing your business. I started Etsy, thinking it was going to be easy breezy because it’s just something “fun to do”. As a result, I never paid too much attention to how much material costs were and how that relates my wholesale prices since my thought was, “I’m just making these for fun, not to make a profit.” Once I started thinking of my Etsy shop as a business and not so much a hobby, it helps reorganize things and keep me goal oriented. Now I can have fun making my products, and sell them at a fair rate that I won’t lose my expense cost. It also helps to set out certain number of hours a week to work just on your shop!
Thanks Katharine! Her items are so lovely-and that jewelry is to die for-but in a totally simply lovely kind of way. Nothing gaudy or over done, which I dig! On another note, did you know Kat does really gorgeous paper-cut art as well? Things like skylines and silhouettes and so much more-just look at these (click on the image to go to the listing):
a Rafflecopter giveaway – Ended.
I can't choose, ohmygod. I want the lightning bolts, cupcakes, Bowser shells, 8-bit hearts, Deathly Hallows, hedgehogs, whales, and ampersands. haha
If I had to pick one… augh! Uh, cupcakes.
If I win, my email (joanna@joannamarieart.com) may not work, but you can use joannamarieartist@gmail.com!
This was a really cool post! I love the lightening bolt earrings 🙂 (Although I'm loving them all)
AMPERSAND EARRINGS!!!!!!
I love the cupcake earrings!! too cute!! xoxox
WOW her jewelry is gorgeous! I love how unique each piece is. I love the Leaf Pattern Necklace
I'd pick some cute little animals or maybe the cupcakes.
Those little foxes for sure would be my first pick. Side note…that awesome geometric heart is totally on my wish list now. SO pretty!
Yes to both of those! That heart is one of my absolute faves, but it's so hard to have a fave with it all so beautiful!
Fabulous choices!
She does such great work, and that necklace is beautiful.
They are adorable!
Aren't those great? I love them!
Thank you so much! The lightning bolt earrings are definitely awesome.
Thanks for letting me know! Sometimes it's awful when I choose a winner and then can't reach them.
Right? I love it. Those bowser shells… Need. Actually I need everything you listed.
I love the ampersand earrings 🙂
I absolutely LOVE this. Oh My Gosh they are so freaking cute… I can't even stand it. I am totally in love with those ampersand earrings!
If I won, I would choose the Boston Terrier earrings! They are far too cute! (:
Wow what beautiful earings! She's a very talented artist!
There's so many I like! Boston terriers, octopus, foxes, nutshell, racoons, pineapples, acorns, hedgehogs! I'd definitely have a hard time choosing just one. Thank you guys for the giveaway!
So cute! I think I would got for something fun and funky, like the octopus earrings!
I will choose
HIMYM Umbrella Wood Necklace | Wood jewelry | Umbrella Jewelry
I'd probably choose the 8Bit Heart Birch Stud Earrings.
OMG what WOULDN'T I get?! Or should that be what woodn't I get? 😉
Studs earrings usually get lost among my fat cheeks and double chin, so I tend to wear dangles. But I'd make an exception for the Foxy earrings, cupcake earrings, Deathly Hallows earrings, Ampersand earrings, Battle Axes earrings, or raindrop earrings.
Thanks for the fun post. And, thanks as well for the giveaway. I'd love to win a pair!
I am so torn between the raindrops and the pineapples! They are both SO adorable!
There are so many cute ones, but I just love the little Boston Terrier earrings.
Oh my goodness – what a great giveaway! And a great introduction, too! Kat is super creative – I can tell just by her answers to these questions! Thanks for the introduction!
Great feature! She offers such beautiful things! Crushing on the 8bit heart birch stud earrings!
I would probably pick the Laser Cut Acorns Wood Earrings if I won 🙂
Those are a great choice!
She really does, and man I like those too!
Thanks! 🙂 Kat is definitely creative, and so awesome.
Aren't they adorable? So much love!
That's a hard choice. I'm a raindrop fan, but pineapples are SO in right now.
Good luck and you're welcome. 🙂
Right? Hahaha great pun! 😉
Yeah, I've decided I love really big studs. They stand out.
That's a fab choice. 🙂
That's such a great necklace. The giveaway is for earrings though. 🙂
The octopus earrings would be totally fun and funky!
It's too hard to choose. Good luck!
They ARE far too cute.
Aren't they lovely? Totally a blogger's dream.
They're perfection!
Thank you! The winner is going to have to such a fun time picking out their favorite. 🙂
I really like these "Meet" posts. I've learned of so many new bloggers and shops that I probably wouldn't have known of otherwise. The giveaway is a nice bonus!
If I was the lucky winner, I would choose the Cupcake Earrings. They are adorable!!
They're all adorable, but if I won I would choose either the rain drops or the ampersand.
i'd probably choose the acorn wood earrings if I win
I love the Wonder Woman earrings!
I love the "Laser Cut Boston Terrier Wood Earrings", it's so cute: https://www.etsy.com/listing/218834247/laser-cut-boston-terrier-wood-earrings?ref=shop_home_active_24
thanks for this lovely giveaway! 🙂