Wise Woman Wednesdays: Kat King
New Orleans has no shortage of creative talent, of course, but it's still always a nice surprise when we discover a new breed of maker here in our home city. Stumbling upon Kat King's tapestries seemed like nothing short of kismet— the organic shapes and muted colors of her textile work are so viscerally inviting we were immediately smitten... of course, it probably helps that they fit in with the HEALER color palate quite nicely too, no? We caught up with Kat to learn more about her creative beginnings and her adopted motto.
How were you first drawn to your art?
I discovered weaving a few years ago through Etsy and social media when I decided to treat myself to one of Maryanne Moodie's Weaving Kits. Self-taught and not by any means a pro, but I've come a long way to developing my stitch and my craft. This new little hobby has developed into a love that I happily continue to work at everyday.
What does it mean to you to live creatively & authentically?
I have a motto that I've been trying to live by for awhile now and that is to "make something everyday even if it sucks". I went through a "dark" period a few years ago before I discovered my love for weaving. I was struggling with my day job and what I wanted to do with my life. I just felt unfulfilled and discouraged. Weaving and creating specifically has provided me with a way to step back from it all, breathe, and just do me.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
I'm trying to have a more minimalist attitude towards life, however my work is definitely the opposite! I like to work with chunky yarn and lots of wool roving. The more fringe, the better! Sometimes I think I definitely border on too much and over-the-top, but that's the kind of shaggy chaos that my heart lives for.
What’s on your current listening rotation?
I'm an oldies gal through and through. Throw on that Donna Summer radio and I'm ready to roll!
What’s one place you can always return to for inspiration?
Sometimes for inspiration I just need to take a step back and regroup to clear my head. I'm thankful to live in a city that is so rich in culture and art, inspiration is everywhere! Wine also helps.
What does a typical day in your life look like?
My days are usually very scattered, but it always starts off with coffee and lots of it! I always have something going on, so I've got to write everything down. Lists are my best friend!
What does the idea of a “wise woman” mean to you? Who represents this for you?
A wise woman...knows the importance of balance. Life is always going to throw you curveballs, and it's about how you overcome these challenges in life in order to grow. Finding the balance between work and life is half the battle. I admire so many other makers out there who are Mamas on top of it all! I don't know how they do it. They crush it everyday and are continuously putting out this amazing work...they are seriously superheroes!
What icon or totem would you choose to represent you and your life?
Shoot, I don't know...an onion maybe? I've got all sorts of layers to my madness.
“I feel best when I am surrounded by…”
Plants! Sometimes when I'm having a hard day I just love going to my local plant shop and walk around. I don't even have to buy anything! Just the environment alone makes my happy.
What wise woman should we interview next?
There are so many incredible women whose work I love and admire, but Robyn Parker of Woven By Ro and Jenny of Sonora Handmade are definitely two of my favorites. Both of these women are two of the superheroes I was referring to earlier. They are such exceptional woman!
Thanks again to Kat for answering our questions— be sure to follower her on Instagram and check out her amazing one-of-a-kind tapestries at her Etsy shop (we just dare you to leave without buying one).