Natural Beginnings:

Hi, I’m Katy, the girl behind RustiKate. I grew up in the country, and with my family, I cared for animals, chopped firewood, and slept in the loft of our log cabin in the woods. From such a "low-tech" and some might say "wild" start, appreciation of the simple came naturally; there was a practical creativity. As I’ve grown up and grown older, I’m reminded of those early days and thankful for them. Now I marvel at the simplistic, the genuine, the rustic, as it stands in stark contrast to our modern lives.

For many of us, life has become a blur of stress, distraction, and too much stuff. We have overthought it, overworked, overpurchased, and overstretched ourselves, myself included. But if you are like me, you are ready to intentionally make small steps back toward simplicity and rediscover your creative nature. I’ve yet to find happiness and contentment in complexity or extremes, but rather through appreciation and sharing of simple things with each other: time, a smile, a kind word, and the works of our hands.

Through RustiKate, I hope to encourage you to take heart, be inspired by the simple things in your own life, and to embrace your own creativity. There is value in creating and recreating, adding little bits of beauty and joy to the world, and in sharing it with each other. Let’s make each day a little more practical and a little simpler.  

Digging Deeper:

In the process of becoming, I’ve worn a lot of hats. Starting out in design and development for MaryJane Butters' publications, I was a seamstress, pattern developer, how-to expert, tatting instructor, and photographer, as well as an instructor at the Paydirt Farm School. After the high-paced creative publishing world, I taught needle tatting across the country for over fifteen years, started a YouTube channel, penned a book and a short story, performed missionary and humanitarian services, and worked in a horticultural therapy program. Later, I worked and studied natural farming methods (including Korean Natural Farming), and became a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). In time, a fitting and happy culmination of experiences and interests led me to a degree in Occupational Therapy. Today, much of my time and energy is directed toward my family, raising my daughter, and renovating and maintaining our home.

*To learn more and discover the answer to Frequently Asked Questions, check out the “FAQ” link here and at the bottom of this page.