MEET THE SMALLEST TRIBE

8. What creative challenges would you like to conquer in the next 12 months.

Well there’s a belief that owning a handmade business is 10% creating and 90% running a business and it’s often said with the intent being that running the business is bad or boring or dull. I actually find running a business to be a very creative challenge. You have to be creative with your time and your resources and skills, with your cash flow and with your decision making. There’s definitely some areas that I’d like to improve over the next 12 months! In terms of actual creating, I’d love to stop dreaming about releasing mini collections on Spoonflower, and start doing it.

9. What’s your 3 favourite creative projects that you’ve made that reflect who you are as a creative?

One would be the advent calendar I made for the kiddos. It’s very simple, verging on boring, and uses colours and styles that aren’t ones I’d usually use. It was never really about what it looked like, more what it was; something for the kiddos to look forward to, something fun to make memories with. The same year I made that, I spent hours and hours and hours making a car play mat for my son for Christmas. It has roads, a river, the ocean, complete with little flappy waves, a jetty, a beach, little flowers and textures all over it. My kiddlets use it together now and build Lego and Duplo buildings for it, drive cars and build boats, set up farms with the figurine animals, throw it over pillows and cushions to make mountains and hills. I think most mothers who also enjoy being creative and crafty would agree that making things for our kids is often one of our main inspirations to get making! The last would have to be The Smallest Tribe. I get so much joy and satisfaction from what I do and it definitely reflects both who I am as a creative and as a person.

10. If you weren’t running The Smallest Tribe, what other creative endeavour would you like to master?

I have always wanted to learn how to use a pottery wheel! I’d make mugs and bowls all day long. I think that’s why I think of myself as a maker, not an artist, I always want what I make to have a purpose or a use beyond just being decorative.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with my readers?

I think you’re amazing, but they’re here reading your blog so they already know that! The other thing is that if there’s something you dream about doing, just do it already! Maybe it won’t look exactly how you pictured it, maybe it’ll turn out different, maybe you’ll start and realise you don’t actually want it at all. But just start.

You can find Kathryn in the following places: Online Shop | Facebook | Instagram

If you’re in Syndey on the weekend of 12 – 13 December Kathryn will be at The Finders Keepers selling her amazing products so you can see and feel her amazing clothes, have a chat and maybe put a little bit of The Smallest Tribe under your Christmas tree this year.