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 and 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 over thought it, over worked, over purchased, and over stretched ourselves; myself included. But if you are like me, I’m ready to intentionally make small steps back toward simplicity and rediscover my 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, and be inspired by the simple things in your own life and 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 as a magazine stylist, seamstress, how-to expert, tatting instructor, and photographer for MaryJane Butters' publications, and 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 and penned a book and short story while performing missionary, humanitarian, and rehabilitation work. Later I worked and studied natural farming methods (including Korean Natural Farming), then went back to school for 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.