SYW310 – Embracing Your Creative Path with Katrina Katz

Katrina Katz: [00:00:00] And then the teacher goes, okay, this is how you're gonna put this page together. And then I'm like, no, I'm not. I see it like five different ways, but everyone's being so dutiful students and putting the objects on the page that way. So it really helped me realize that I can create my own way.

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of the New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 310. In this episode, I'm chatting with Katrina Katz, a curious crafter and stationary lover.

Our conversation includes her favorite creative tools, how personal discoveries have shaped her hobbies, and her new adventure as an adult student.

Hey Katrina. Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way.

Katrina Katz: Hi [00:01:00] there. Thank you so much for having me.

Jennifer Wilson: I am looking forward to our conversation today. I believe you're in a similar vicinity as me. I'm in downstate, Illinois.

Katrina Katz: I'm north of you. Um, I can wave down upon you from Wisconsin.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, okay. So pretty close though. Yeah. So fun.

Katrina Katz: I go to Chicago all the time because you know, that's where the stationary is at. So.

Jennifer Wilson: No doubt. No doubt. Yeah. Well, can you kick things off by sharing a little more about yourself?

Katrina Katz: Absolutely. Um, my name is Katrina and um, I am an artist. I'm also a graduate student at Marquette University here in Wisconsin, in, in the Milwaukee area. I'm doing mental health counseling training. I'm on the slow boat. My husband's a professor there, so I get to go part-time for free, which I'm very blessed to have that opportunity.

So I'm learning how to take my time in that. 'Cause usually I'm rush, rush, rush. Um, I'm a mother of three [00:02:00] grown children. Um, I have a boy, girl, boy, 27, 24 and 19. And, uh, my 19-year-old is in his second year of college, so it's kind of cool. We're both in college at the same time.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

Katrina Katz: Also, uh, my husband and I, we run a drink shop here in Port Washington, Wisconsin called Lemon Zello. And we sell our lemonade, which we've been doing for two years, and we have added. Um, the dirty sodas. I don't know if you've heard of that yet.

Jennifer Wilson: I have. Yeah.

Katrina Katz: And some other items.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, that's so fun. We don't get up there that often, but when we do, we'll have to make sure we stop by.

Katrina Katz: Absolutely.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, I think this is gonna be a fun conversation today, but we definitely have a few questions I always ask every guest. Uh, do you have a favorite recent creative project or activity?

Katrina Katz: I actually do, and I, I think I ended it in August without telling anyone. Um, I kind [00:03:00] of, I'm a journaler at heart. And so, um, going into my mental health counseling training program in journaling. I'm like, oh, I could do two things at one time. Create something for someone. So I had a passion project, which I'm very proud of myself continuing it for as long as I did. Um. I don't know if you pick a word of the year, but this year I tried enjoy. To try to like, enjoy the big moments, the small moments and everything in between. And so I created a, um, printable set, or I called a journaling bundle called Moments to Enjoy. And so what I tried to do is each season, um, like you know how we have we group like January, February, March together, and so on. Um, so every three months, um, the theme would change a little. And I put some of my own artwork in the bundle. I had, I wrote questions for you to ponder every week. And then, um, [00:04:00] do my final touches in Canva. So I do have a license through Canva. If I use some of their clip art, you know, it's okay for me to resell it at in my bundles. So that, that's been pretty much the most recent project that I've completed that I'm really, I'm as excited about.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, it's so fun to connect kind of your personal feelings with how, you know, how your container, how your environment is changing around you. And continuing to check on that, uh, season by season.

Katrina Katz: Yeah. And um, I, I had some, um, creative friends that purchased it every month that, and they supported me that, and I appreciate that. And then I had some new people that, found me on Instagram and they were interested in it. It's not like a big commodity, but you know, if at least one person purchased it, I know it's in their arsenal. Sometimes we, um, purchase things and we don't get to it right away. [00:05:00] Even though it was technically dated each month. I explained to them that, um, you can use these journaling questions any time of the year.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yes. No doubt.

Well, and I think as a creator, especially if you're, you're trying to share your work with others, like as long as you know, you're like at least valued one person other than yourself, then you know that it was worth the time to do it. So.

Katrina Katz: Absolutely. And um, what kind of kept me going. But now that I'm back in school, my, um, my brain is focusing on other things. So don't know if I'm going to be able to continue for the rest of the year, but I might, which like I did mid-summer, I might, um, put like a little wintery thing. You know, to kinda a conclusion. So then I'd feel that as completed.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Now I'm curious with going back to school, uh, do you feel like, is it, is it easier or harder or both than you know? You know, back in the olden days.[00:06:00]

Katrina Katz: Yeah, the olden days. Yeah. Um, I, I completed my undergrad in 1993. I'll admit I'm 54. So, um, yeah, going back with all these, there's not that many older people in my sections. So I'm usually the oldest one, which I am okay with. But the youngins, as I call them sometimes. They know all the technology.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: Real quickly, very first semester, they grouped us together, like, okay, get together, write down all your stuff. So I got my pad of paper out and a pen to write down what everyone's gonna write. They go, no, I just need your email. I went, what? Well, we're gonna do a live Google Doc, and I've never heard of that before.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: So I opened this doc and document through Google, through my email, and all of a sudden the cursor is going [00:07:00] across the page and there's words being typed, and I'm like, Harry Potter has my, my computer.

Jennifer Wilson: No doubt.

Katrina Katz: Things like that, it just like, I'm like, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. And then, um, luckily I've had classmates over the last year help me with those technical things. So that I would say is the harder part.

Jennifer Wilson: Hmm.

Katrina Katz: Um, the easier part is I have more time for my homework.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh sure.

Katrina Katz: Um, I'm able to space out time to block, um, and I think it's my ADHD um, intentions that I just block time and I just hyper focus and I get the work done.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, that's great. I always, like, I'm looking back at, at my years and what would I apply, kind of the skills I have now, the understanding I have now. And the thing that comes out the most is I would've probably had more fun back in those days.

Katrina Katz: Yeah, I was not, I was, I was kind of a scholar too. [00:08:00] I didn't go do all the fun stuff that, that college you're supposed to do. So, yeah, I might've done that too.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. So is there something in, you know, your crafting life or even your everyday life that you're excited to do, use or try?

Katrina Katz: Well, um, I am kind of a frugal artist. Um, I don't have a very large budget. And, um, I was on Instagram when people do lives, there's this group of ladies that would chat and I would, you know, chat along with them. And they were mentioning, oh, what, um, what supplies does everyone like to use in their, in their crafting room and et cetera. I just mentioned, I would love, I don't know if you've heard of 'em, but the Gelli plates where you.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yes.

Katrina Katz: um. You put paint down and then you roll a, you know, with a brayer and then you put your paper down and you peel it off and you kind have like a, a painting of some kind. Never had 'em, never [00:09:00] tried 'em, but I've seen everyone else use 'em. And I said, that's on my, I always call my someday wishlist. And, um, I don't know who, and I did a blanket thank you to my little audience on Instagram. Um, someone sent them to me. And, um, I've been, when I have the time, I've been practicing the smaller one. I haven't moved the larger one's like a, um, eight by 11 piece piece of paper. Haven't gotten to that one yet, but it is so cool and it's so much fun. You don't know what it's gonna look like, you think you do, and then it just surprises you.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. I, I have tried it, but it's like, I feel like you have to, I felt like there was a learning curve more than I expected, I guess.

Katrina Katz: Yeah. Yeah, I learned a lot of my, um, acrylic paints were really old.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Katrina Katz: Gee, darn. I'm gonna have to get some new paints. But, um, yeah, it's [00:10:00] really, it's really interesting and I really wanna learn how to, um, do the ones where you run. I think this one lady does it like three times. She'll do a black and white photo of something. That'll be her first layer. Somehow the ink from the, um, printer will adhere to the plate.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Katrina Katz: Silly putty, I guess. And then she layers colors over it and then makes a cool print. And then the other item I mentioned in that same, um, podcast, uh, or live I mean. That, um, the Woodys the, I don't know, the wood, big wooden pencils. I don't know if you've heard of those.

Jennifer Wilson: I don't know those. Okay.

Katrina Katz: You can use it as a water color, and it's kinda like a waxy crayon.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Katrina Katz: Depending on how you use it. They're, they're really cool. I really like.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Katrina Katz: Using those.

Jennifer Wilson: We will definitely link those up in the show notes as well as everything else that you mentioned, um, for our listeners. Yeah. So, kind of continuing on this theme, I, I came up with this little like, you know, [00:11:00] uh, quick fire icebreaker question to go into more of your favorites. Um, so do you have a favorite black pen?

Katrina Katz: I actually do. Um, I like the S gel by Sharpie. I, um, splurged a little and they just came out with a copper body. Unfortunately the refills get really, really expensive. So I have found a, um, a knockoff. Sometimes that I'm able to use when it, when, um, the S gels are too expensive for my taste. But what I really like about it, um, is the flow of the ink. Then the, the shape of the body of the pen, they seem to have a built-in grip.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Katrina Katz: In, in it. And um, the copper one's pretty cool. I was afraid it was gonna be too heavy for me, but it is. But I really like, you know, at the end of the pen where it's kinda like, I'm a lefty and I was taught to like, you know, the triangle holding method.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah.

Katrina Katz: It works [00:12:00] well for me.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and it is true that like a good pen is both how it feels in your hand and how it writes. It's not, it's not really one or the other. It has to be both.

Katrina Katz: Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So what about your favorite colored pens?

Katrina Katz: Um, right now mine are, um, by Paper Mate. They're bright collection. Um, The Joys, those I wish they did refills. Um, that's another good, um, gel pen. Actually a black gel pen. But I love the S gels first. But the, um, they came up with a set of bright, um, colors, like neon.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Katrina Katz: Reminded me of my childhood in the eighties

Jennifer Wilson: No doubt. Yeah.

Katrina Katz: The reason I like 'em is because the flow of it, you can, um, write with them, but you can also, um, color with them. So if I wanted to, um, if I had something in my, um, mixed media journal and I just need a little pop of color, but I didn't wanna get out, [00:13:00] um, like some acrylic paint, it works really well that way.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice, nice. Have you ever tried the POSCA paint pens?

Katrina Katz: No, that's on my someday wishlist.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: I've, I've never been able to, I have some, um, artist friends that swear up and down that's the only thing they ever use. But yeah, that would be a cool thing to try.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I definitely, they have some that are in those neon colors too. Um, my, unfortunately, my daughter keeps stealing them from me, so I don't get to use them very often anymore. Apparently they're that good. So, uh.

Katrina Katz: She has good taste.

Jennifer Wilson: The older she gets, the more she realizes the quality supplies are in my office, not in her little craft area.

So what about a favorite like type of paper or notebook? Um, what comes to mind for you?

Katrina Katz: Um. Everyone has their own, um, popular or special one. But now that I'm, I think it's like one of my special [00:14:00] interests of anything Japanese stationary.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Katrina Katz: And for me, the refills are affordable for me. So I like the Travelers Company full-size, TN refills. The one that I really like is the 0 0 3.

Um, they do a, if you're not familiar with that line or your audience isn't that they, um, do the refills by certain numbers. So then you, when you go to get it again, at least my thinking.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: Oh, there, it's the 0 0 3 and stuff like, wait, was it this one or was it this one? Because they never changed the cover, the color of the cover either. When they do their special additions. Yeah, they have those. But this one I like, I look for the 0 0 3 and I know that I, I won't get the wrong one.

Jennifer Wilson: Now, is that partially about like what? Like whether it's a dot grid or lined or blank. Okay.

Katrina Katz: Yeah, that one I think is the stark white blank paper.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Katrina Katz: I love dot grid. I'm not a [00:15:00] grid girl. Um, if it's really light, yes. But if it's um, really, um, intense, I can't see what I should put on that page. I just wanna color in all the little boxes. Yeah, I think the 3, 3, 3, the, I'm sorry, the 0 0 3 is the, um, stark white one.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay, great.

Katrina Katz: I like the blank page because I don't know if I'm going to just write, you know, my words that day or if I'm gonna put lots of pictures or, you know, draw something or paint something. So, and it held, it holds up well of gel pins, fountain pins, um, watercolor. So yeah, I like it.

And then, um, when I was first getting into journaling about five years ago, um, a group of ladies that I was in a group with talked about Archer and Olive, this and that.

And so I'm like, all right. I saved up and got a couple of their A5s, and I love that paper. It's like, um, a thickness of 120. Which [00:16:00] means nothing to the, um, average person, but it's thick enough where you can like put acrylic paint or watercolor on it and it won't wrinkle and it won't, um, go to the other side of the page.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yeah, that really makes a big difference. Um, I, I think a lot of our audience will be familiar with different weights.

Katrina Katz: Yeah. Well, because you mentioned scrapbooking, but um, yeah, I just like, um.

Jennifer Wilson: You know, I think all of us were all like, we were the kids who were excited about the school supplies. Um, even those that were, that are digital scrapbookers now are we, like we started by the love of paper and all the things. And now we have options and it's, yeah. It's so fun.

Katrina Katz: It is fun. Um, I think that was my excuse of always going, um, school shopping with my kids. Like, oh, gee, darn, we have to go get crayons.

Jennifer Wilson: I know, right. What about a favorite kind of binding for your planner? Are you ring bound, spiral, [00:17:00] coil?

Katrina Katz: I'm not using a planner right now, believe it or not.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Katrina Katz: Um, but um, I was thinking about that. I did, I did try, um, the Happy one with all the discs. Um, I found that frustrating because I try to flip like four or five pages at a time and realize you can't do that.

Jennifer Wilson: Correct. Yeah.

Katrina Katz: I've. Last summer, um, the A6, um, ring binders were a hot commodity.

I think there was some people that kind of influenced me and, um, I went and I purchased a couple of those. I did that for a while, but it just wasn't, wasn't for me. Unfortunately. Um, I have to keep my school schedule online, you know, a online calendar. So I usually just set reminders and such of that, um, on my phone and on my watch, you know.

But, um, [00:18:00] if I was gonna pick a binder, or binding system, I think I would go back to, rings. Because you would be able to, um, take the pages out and put pages in without, you know, ripping them out and going, oh, there's a ripped page.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. Well it's nice to be able, if you are gonna do something creative on it to be able to fully take it out and easily get it back in. Um, so I get that for sure.

Katrina Katz: Yeah. Yeah. So if I was gonna do the planning, I, um, eventually in my program, I'm supposed to go on um, campuses. Or, well they call it campuses where they, they place us. And that's when I know I can like, oh, I can then have a planner and.

Jennifer Wilson: Exciting. Yeah.

Katrina Katz: Do all those fun planning things again.

Jennifer Wilson: Now, in this, this last question in this series is a favorite online shop. Who do you love to support?

Katrina Katz: Um. I love supporting. Um, small [00:19:00] businesses, but then I also support, um, the big businesses. But two of the small businesses that I've really enjoyed, um, as of late is, um, the first one, Mai runs a online shop called Paper Treat Shop. And I found out about her through another podcast called The Stationary Cafe.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm. Nice.

Katrina Katz: April she was interviewing Mai it was early in their broadcasting when, um, April would do interviews. From what I remember, my started out making a shop to sell stationary for children so they could write their grandchild, um, their grandparents, they could write their aunts and uncles, their friends. And little did she know, like you mentioned before, we're the ones that love the school supplies. There's grownups all of a sudden buying her stationary paper and her stickers, and it's blossomed from that.

Jennifer Wilson: Very cool.

Katrina Katz: Um, the second one, I got to [00:20:00] actually meet Yushing um, in person at the Chicago, um, stationary fest last year. Kubo and Lucy, and she named her store, a fun fact is she named her store after her two cats.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. I love that.

Katrina Katz: I really like the items that she carries too.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, we'll definitely link both of those up. I can't wait to check 'em out.

Katrina Katz: Okay.

Jennifer Wilson: All right, so let's dive more into your creative practice, just to kind of like, uh, connect with, you know, the, the topics we traditionally talk about here. Do you consider yourself a scrapbooker?

Katrina Katz: I, I was thinking about that question and I, I think I'm an OG scrapbooker retired. My first son was born in 1998, and within that first year at a mom's group I was introduced, oh yeah, when you get those pictures, make sure you put 'em on paper and you get this sticker. I'm like, what? No, you just get those, uh, magnetic [00:21:00] things, stick it down.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: And let it, you know, get yellowed all around it. So, they showed me this 12 by 12 piece of paper and I got really scared. I'm like, what am I supposed to do with that? So I did smaller ones and I made lots and lots and lots of them. But then unfortunately, um, my first husband, um, passed from, um, a battle of his cancer in 2014, and that's when I kind of stopped. You know, um, I, I have all the books and I still have pages that I never put in books and, um, I'm keeping 'em for my kids, you know. But, um, now I just, I keep my memories in a different format, you know, through the travelers' notebooks and, um, other little projects like that.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you feel like these, like maybe smaller, more approachable, uh, activities like helped you cope with the loss of your husband?

Katrina Katz: That's a really good question. um, I believe that that, that, that [00:22:00] has helped try to keep the memories of my children that they want to have.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Katrina Katz: Along with, um, trying to make new memories. You know.

Jennifer Wilson: Sure.

Katrina Katz: I had a holiday book or I had a birthday book for them. But now that, you know, they're all grown up and doing, doing their own thing, we don't get together as much, you know?

So I don't have those pictures. But I think being able just to, um, if you wanna use the word scrapbook, everyday things, I've done that in the last couple months. And I've really enjoyed it. Even if it's the same cup that I've been using for coffee all week, I'll take a picture of it. sometimes I'll put it in my journal and sometimes, you know, I'll just keep it on the camera roll. But, um, yeah, I think, um, doing smaller project that's really has helped me.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, and I think even as you, um. In terms of going back to school for mental health counseling, like I just see so many [00:23:00] different connections with how you've supported yourself creatively, uh, throughout your life. And it seems almost like a natural next step. And I guess I'm just, I don't, I don't know you that well, but maybe I'm just extrapolating so.

Katrina Katz: Yeah, no. Yeah. Um, I, I'm also a, a retired massage therapist. Um, I have hypermobility syndrome and so, um, I'm proud that my thumbs never blew out because they always scared you that in school, like you're gonna blow out your thumbs, um, after so many years of it. And, um. I, you mentioned that of the creativity.

I kind of did a creativity with my those clients, but through, um, helping 'em heal, you know, through, um, their muscle pains and stuff. And so I think it is the next step of doing mental health counseling. And I do wanna bring in my artwork. I know my art's, not for everyone, but some of the creative practices that I have shared online, people will, um, personally messaged me saying, I [00:24:00] never thought of it that way. Or, thank you for sharing that particular item. I really needed to, you know, see that or hear that. And, um, you inspired me to give it another try. So.

Jennifer Wilson: Wonderful.

Katrina Katz: Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So what are you working on or in in terms of maybe notebooks throughout this year? Like what's on your creative plate?

Katrina Katz: Well, besides what I mentioned before of making those, um, those journaling bundles for my shop. I've been, um, I have a artist friend that exposed me to these books by Samantha Dion Baker. Um, she's a watercolor artist. Um, she does, um. have two of 'em. Draw Your Day and Draw Your Adventure. I think is the, the name of the second one. And, um, I looked through 'em and I went, this reminds me of Susan Branch, who's another watercolor artist. And, um, a young mom and stuff, [00:25:00] I, um, was gifted some Susan Branch things, and I was like, oh, I wanna be her when I grow up. That's, um, you know, you do different things, you try different stuff and it, it just didn't work out for me at that time.

But when I saw, um, Samantha's books, I went, oh my gosh, I could do it this way. They're like, no, because I might get bored. 'Cause I, I get bored very easily. Um, I'll do something for a period of time. I'm like, okay, I've done it. And so then I move on to something else. So this, I'm like, no, I wanna stick with my practice of putting something in my traveler's notebook, if not every day, at least a couple times a week. Like I can journal two ways. Or, you know, if you wanna put it like in a scrapbooking, two ways, or a memory keeping two ways. And so what I've done is in my traveler's notebook, I'll stick down all the ephemera or um, write out, you know, the words and stuff. And then I got this little, oh, think it's a [00:26:00] seven by seven inch, um, journal when I was in Chicago last. And, um, I said, now I'm gonna watercolor it. And I'm like, no, that'll be crazy. But then when I'm like, oh, I'll just take a snapshot like what, um, Samantha described in her book. So I'd pick one thing from that day. So let's say I had a bowl of soup and I talked about it or whatever in the traveler's notebook. And then in this little seven by seven, what I do is I would just water paint the bowl of soup. And then I might put the date and then write what the soup was and that was it. And that seems very simple, but at the same time it was really complex because I focused more on one moment. And then when I look at that page, I'm like, yep, that's that soup.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you feel like that practicing it over time has improved your confidence in that form of art?

Katrina Katz: Um, that, yeah, that's really a good way of asking it. I, um, I've only been at it for, um, two [00:27:00] months um, given myself, you know, I don't like when people say it, but like, you know, the permission of like, oh, I'm, I'm gonna do it every day. Which I did for a couple days, and then, you know, life gets in the way and I'm like, you know what?

That doesn't matter. Let's just pick and choose. But I think it's gotten me more confident that I've been more creative in like where I write the date on the page.

Or If I actually put words on the page. What really, and I haven't done it yet, um, if I wanna keep it black and white, meaning I just outline it in pen. Or if I'm going to like put watercolor over it.

I did try color pencil and that just didn't work for me in this particular book. But that's gonna be the hard part, Jennifer. Is like trying to figure out if, like, do I go back and do I color in those pages. You know, or will I, you know, just. It's in a black and white. It's okay, but it's been a lot of fun.

I, I would wholeheartedly [00:28:00] um, suggest this to everyone, to, I mean, you don't have to watercolor, you don't have to draw, but you just try to do in two formats.

Jennifer Wilson: I like that.

Katrina Katz: Just see how, it shows up.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I would, I guess I kind of do that now with stickers and journaling. But there's a certain degree of, I don't know, maybe I feel like it's a kind of a cop out to use the stickers versus creating my own art. Yeah.

Katrina Katz: And I had, I had a, uh, like a horrible, no good rotten day, I am moving to Australia. And um, all of a sudden I'm like, you know what? I'm just gonna put stickers down. I hear everyone does that and it's good for you. And so I grabbed all these stickers. I said, okay, everything that is pink. So that, I guess, made me calm down of that situation. It made me hyper focus on a task. But then also I took it one more and said, okay, I put on a color. so then it turned fun and all of a sudden whatever I [00:29:00] was upset about kind of faded away. And at the end I had all these stickers on the page and it was so pretty.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. Wait, so what did you just say about Australia?

Katrina Katz: Oh, the, oh, but it, it was a kid's book.

A Rotton, No Good, Horrible Day. And he goes, I think I'm gonna move to Australia. I forget the name of it. It was

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. I, I forgot that that was like part of the phrase. Okay.

Katrina Katz: Oh.

Jennifer Wilson: I, I, I definitely titled have titled at least one scrapbook page that before, so.

Katrina Katz: Oh.

Jennifer Wilson: I was just like, wait, you're moving to Australia. I, I think this should have been higher up in the conversation.

Katrina Katz: So that, that's the way I speak sometimes I just like, ah, go off a thing.

Jennifer Wilson: I get it. I get it. So you mentioned how, you know, you're kind of thrifty and you're crafting. Can you talk about the role of printable artwork in your current creative era? And, you know, maybe even not just yours, but like the world we live in now. It's so cool that we have this, uh, additional [00:30:00] form of bringing artwork into our crafting.

Katrina Katz: That was kind of a new concept to me when it was, was first introduced to me about, um, four or five years ago. I signed up for a class. Um, it was run by an artist at the time. Uh, her name is Shawna Clingerman, and in the emails it was like, well click on this, you'll get these printables and you print it out and cut it.

I'm like, what? What do you mean a printable? You mean like I have to fill out a form. And then of course I looked it up and understood what it was. And I'm like, this is brilliant. Um, in the early nineties and stuff, I know there was scrapbook stores everywhere.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Katrina Katz: You go and buy all your stuff and then there was, um, people selling scrapbook things in the homes and you could buy your stuff. Then this printable thing, I think, besides sharing other people's artwork, it was a form [00:31:00] of you don't have to buy that 50 page book and only use three pages out of it. Though like, oh, that's really cool and I really love all the patterns. And then you realize, you know, 10 years later you still have that pad of paper.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: So I think printables, um, are brilliant that way. They are more personable. Let's say you want to do something with, um. Okay, the Halloween's coming up, so you're like, I want my, um, the, the page I'm doing or the journal entry or even, you know, your calendar in your planner to look like, um, Halloween. But you don't wanna go to the craft store and try to find the stickers and et cetera.

And so you might have an artist on Etsy or somewhere else that has the perfect Halloween thing that you've been looking for. Print it out, you use it. But then the neat thing is, is like, oh, I wanna make a Halloween card from that, you [00:32:00] have it at your disposal. You don't have to go back in the car, go back to the store, you know, and buy some more. So I think that's what's been really neat. And I tried my best like everyone else 'cause I know it's very, a lot of us out there. But, um, I had an Etsy shop at one time and only made a hundred dollars. But I wasn't doing it for the money, I was doing it to show people my art. But, um, I do have some printables in my Ko-Fi shop. Um. Now that are of my artwork, and it varies. Um, I know I'm not for everyone, but I have different styles in there. But, um, in between I've had the privilege of donating printables that I've created. Um, for retreats. There's a lady that does campaigns for, um, different, um, causes. And she asked for donation of printables for that particular cause.

So I would [00:33:00] create those. Um, also I've done, let's see, the retreats. Oh, and then, um, full circle, Shawna Clingerman, the one I signed up the class.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Katrina Katz: To learn things from. Um. Three years later, she was running a workshop and she asked me to make a printable.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, wonderful.

Katrina Katz: Oh, this is so cool. So that's, that's been really neat to do.

Jennifer Wilson: So are there any other, like short term projects, like things that you're looking to pick up or you're just starting? Um, not things that weren't, that are not really like a practice, but something that has some boundaries around it.

Katrina Katz: Yeah. I, I was hemming and hawing if I wanted to share this or not. I can't really share the details, but I am wrapping up a really cool art project with a fellow artist friend. And, um, as soon as we wrap it up, we're going to share it. But it's been really neat because it's been a one-on-one project. Um, she hasn't seen what I've done and I haven't seen what she's done yet, but we're [00:34:00] doing like the same prompts, if that makes sense.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: Like, you know, if, if I made a list for us and I'm like, okay, you know, you, you're going to use these seven colors and one stencil, you know, and then that type of thing. I'm also, after I said I, I don't scrapbook anymore. Um, I've been sitting on it for like two years. Um, I, I got a ring binder at a thrift shop I'm going to, um, put a birthday book together. For myself.

Jennifer Wilson: I love it.

Katrina Katz: Um, yeah, I was, I was born in October and, um, back in the day, you were able to stay in the hospital forever. So I, the family story was, I was brought home on Halloween. Halloween was my most cool, favorite holiday ever. So I've been gathering anything, printables scrapbook paper, um, stickers that are halloweeny. And I've been [00:35:00] finding photos of when, of myself, when I'm young, all the way up to my 50th birthday. That's when I got the idea. Four years ago. um, I just wanna put it together. I don't know if it'll be completely chronological, but just photos of me, you know, for every year of my birthday. I thought that'd be a lot of fun.

Jennifer Wilson: That is so cool. I love that project idea. I really encouraging you to find your momentum on that so that you can celebrate, um, having that completed.

Katrina Katz: Yeah, everything's in a shoebox, you know? Gotta love those shoe boxes.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, no doubt. For sure. So you've been open online about being a neurodivergent creator, and you've mentioned some things related to that in our conversation. Why do you think it's important to talk about our differences?

Katrina Katz: Yes. I've just newly discovered part of my neurodivergency. About three years ago when I was diagnosed with, um, [00:36:00] autism. I already knew. I already, uh, I already knew I already had a ADHD. And um, I also have a hearing impairment. And so, um, communicating has even before the internet and everything has been always a struggle for me. Um, when we, um, when we'd have to talk on the phone or, um, even in person. And so talking about like, yes, I have this neuro divergencies, but um, oh, see having a hard time right now.

Jennifer Wilson: That's ok.

Katrina Katz: I think, I think it's important for me to share all of that because there might be someone out there, I mean we're not all alike, but they might be going through some similar struggle. And didn't know that they had a voice that they could use. I think it's important to share also because not a lot of people are aware of the differences within [00:37:00] having ADHD or having autism or other neurodiverse things because we're all different.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Katrina Katz: But at the same time, we can have an empathy and we can have a just a little better understanding of each other. Um, in our shop we have, uh, various people that come through our doors. And then recently, uh, a deaf couple came in and it was really neat because I was able to use my ASL skills, American Sign Language Skills. Which I have no one to talk to in a ASL, so I'm like really rusty. But they, they were just gobbling it all up.

So I guess in my roundabout way, um, it's important to share our differences because that's what makes us, us. But then at the same time, there might be someone out there that like, oh, quote unquote, I know it's very cliche, like, oh, I'm the only one.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: But then when [00:38:00] they realize that, oh, they're going through it similarly, and this is how they work through it, through their art or through journaling. I just think it's, you know, a neat way to, um, to connect in our day and age.

Jennifer Wilson: How did you, um, how did your creativity, uh, help or support you as you explored your diagnosis of autism?

Katrina Katz: Um. I finally realized that I didn't have to fit in one box of doing things a certain way. Or, um, let's say you and I and three others signed up for class of some kind. And we all got the same supplies. And then the teacher goes, okay, this is how you're gonna put this, page together. And then I'm like, no, I'm not.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: I'm like, no. [00:39:00] And I see it like five different ways, but everyone's being so dutiful students and putting the objects on the page that way. So It just like, it really helped me realize that I can create my own way.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Katrina Katz: Um. Is it, do I want it to sell? No. Sometimes yes, but it's just my way of being creative and I think I've been able to expand. And not having to explain why I created what I just did.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, I imagine that feels just, uh, empowering and just further gives you more confidence in what you're doing.

Katrina Katz: Yeah, it, it does. And then also I don't feel that if everyone is doing a certain thing or using a certain item that I'm like, well, I'll be over here being creative, but I'm going to do, um, embroidery right now, you know, that type of thing.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: So [00:40:00] I just, I'm, I'm glad that I'm able to expand my horizons of, um, creativity.

Jennifer Wilson: Is there one thing you'd want our audience to better understand about you?

Katrina Katz: Well, um.

Jennifer Wilson: I mean, that could be a whole hour conversation of a hundred things.

Katrina Katz: Oh, it could be. Yeah, totally. I could break it down. We could do pinpoints. Um, but as you probably just saw my long windedness sometimes of answering things, I think I feel that I have to explain myself before you get to know me. Because it's like, here, here, here are the requirements.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Katrina Katz: And it's like, oh, okay. You're not scared. All right. Now we'll have a conversation. But no, um, I enjoy, uh, this is a hard one.

Jennifer Wilson: That's okay.

Katrina Katz: I think I understand people and where they're coming from and it's not like I'm trying to, um, like walk a mile in their [00:41:00] shoes. But I think when people finally get to know me, either online or in person, they realize how down to earth, which I know is cliche, but down to earth and like understanding I am.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Katrina Katz: And that I want the best for other people. Not just for myself. So, um, I don't call myself like a cheerleader, but I do have people that will, like we were talking about before, about my neurodiversity or other things that I've done in my journals. And like, wow, that really hit me, da da, da. All of a sudden we have kind of, I guess, a conversation friendship.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Katrina Katz: You know, that we, you know, that all of a sudden they'll just reach out to me. You know, and then we just, you know, and it's, and I think it's kind of neat. So I guess in the short of it is that I, I'm a very understandable person and I guess sometimes that might not come across.

Jennifer Wilson: No, I get that. I get that.

Katrina Katz: You don't [00:42:00] really know, don't know me yet.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. Our last question today, um, what have you learned about your crafting as you've learned more about yourself. In terms of how you've created in the past, the things that you like to do, your behaviors and decisions?

Katrina Katz: Yeah. Um. I, I realize I don't have to keep doing the same thing.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Katrina Katz: I might have already touched on this, but um, I realized like when I decided not to do 12 by 12 scrapbook pages, that didn't stop me from collecting memories for my kids to have when they're older, you know, by taking photos of them. Or wherever I go sometimes, like on a walk I'll see a cool rock or something, I'll grab that. That kind of brings into my craft room and or my studio and it brings creativity. Of like, you know, looking like, oh yeah, that's where I was when I saw that rock. And then I can envision, [00:43:00] something that I might wanna create from that, like a drawing of that place. Um, I know that I'm not one that has to buy every toy.

Jennifer Wilson: Hmm.

Katrina Katz: I've, I've gone to a couple retreats and then I've tried the toys out.

I'll, I can't, sorry, I can't name a certain thing, right now. But I'm just like, oh, well I just dodged the bullet on that one and didn't buy that. I'm so glad I didn't purchase that because I'm like, I would not be using it right now.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, and I mean like I think the more we understand like love that for you, but not for me. The more we can feel.

Katrina Katz: A good way of putting

Jennifer Wilson: Excited and confident in the things we are doing and to be able to let go of that like FOMO that we might have about it.

Katrina Katz: Yeah, that, that's a really good way of, of putting it. Um. My sister, I consider her a master knitter. And [00:44:00] when she was getting into it, I'm like, I can do that too. Um, and so I got the spinning wheel, taught myself how to, um, spin yarn. She started to dye yarn, I found it very fascinating. So I started to dye yarn. I used to weave. Um, I have a, I still have it. It's, it's a, not a huge, um, loom, but I, I know how to weave. So I guess what I'm trying to say is I, I try things and sometimes I love it and do it for a very long period of time. And other times, like what we, me is like, um, glad you enjoy that, but that's not for me.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Katrina Katz: And I think that's, that's, that's really what makes us unique too, you know, in that, you know, we each have our own thing.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and it's fun to discover, like sometimes we don't know until we try. We think that this might fit well, and then we realize, oh, I didn't realize.

Katrina Katz: Yeah. I, um, like you never, ever have to send me any washi tape [00:45:00] with flowers on it. Unless they're like the Japanese cherry blossoms, but flower washi in general, just save that.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh well, oh, they can send it to me instead. So.

Katrina Katz: Okay. If I ever get any, I'll pass it on to you. But I, I was in a, washi tape swap one time and I said, just save your money. Do not send me if you just have flowers. I'm like, I have nothing against it. It just, it just doesn't do it for me.

Jennifer Wilson: So interesting. I probably use flower washi tape, uh, multiple times a week.

Katrina Katz: Okay. I love flowers. Don't get me wrong. I take so many pictures of wild flowers, you know, when they're in season. But just, I don't know, something about that Washi tape.

Jennifer Wilson: You gotta, you gotta figure out what works for you.

Katrina Katz: Yep.

Jennifer Wilson: This has been such a fun conversation. I appreciate you sharing so openly with us. Can you share where our audience can find you online and anything else you haven't [00:46:00] mentioned that might be new or coming up?

Katrina Katz: Yeah, absolutely. I'm on Instagram, on YouTube and the Kofi Shop. Now Instagram and YouTube share the same, um, thing of PaperPensAndCoffee. And then my Kofi shop or coffee shop, however people pronounce it, is Studio Ten 70. And that, um, the Studio Ten 70 is spelled a little different. The first word is studio and then TEN, and then the number seven and number zero.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay, great.

Katrina Katz: The fun thing behind that name is when I was living in Arizona, my mom, um, bought a house in our neighborhood and she had her little sewing room. So she goes, well, you need to come over and do art. And so my dad made a shelf, um, desk in the closet area.

It was like the smallest studio I've ever had at the best. And so she goes, well, [00:47:00] we have to name this. And so, um, the address of the street that she was living on at the time was 10 70. And I was born in October in 1970.

Jennifer Wilson: Wow.

Katrina Katz: Studio 10 70. And she's like, yeah. So I've always like held onto that.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that. What a wonderful coincidence.

Katrina Katz: Yeah, so, so, um, in, yeah, the Instagram and, and the YouTube is paper pens and coffee. And real quick about that one, um, obviously I like everything, paint, pens and paper. And when living in Portland, Oregon, and plethora of mom and pop coffee shops.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Katrina Katz: So I'm like, well, why not? I just add coffee to the end of that.

Jennifer Wilson: We'll definitely include all those links. Thank you again for spending time with me.

Katrina Katz: Absolutely. Thank you so much.

Jennifer Wilson: And to all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to scrapbook and create your way.