Meet Kara Lang | Fiber & Clay Jewelry Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kara Lang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kara, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Long ago, I had the dream to create and sell for a living but ended up taking a few different paths along the way. I’ve also always had a habit of creating things for myself but then I end up having all these extra materials to use to make more and don’t know what to do with it. Finally, after a lot of encouragement from family and friends, I started using the extra material to create inventory with the intent to sell online to family and friends and maybe do a holiday market or two. It wasn’t until COVID hit that I lost all my PRN work as a Physical Therapist Assistant and decided that while being a full-time stay at home mom I would use clay and fiber art to help support my growing family while maintaining a much-needed creative outlet being trapped in the house with a 2 year old, 8 year old and newly pregnant!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
This is a hard one because I feel like I wear so many different hats that are equally important and considered my “professional life and career”. I feel like my number one career is definitely a mother. I think people really look past the fact that as a parent I have the most important job in the world: raising the future generation. I am constantly reading from all perspectives and resources ways to raise these little humans to have the proper coping mechanisms, manners, independence, confidence, etc. The strength and confidence that pregnancy, birth and motherhood has given me has been a huge driver and inspiration to my business whether that be creating the “female empowerment” collection or just choosing to go after my dreams considering that’s what I’m raising my children to do.

Then there’s the typical, more socially-acceptable “professional life and career” with the one I have a piece of paper (a degree) in. I was first labeled a “Cartographer” with my Bachelor’s degree. After spending a small amount of time in the work place I quickly realized that the 9-5, sitting in a quiet office was not for me. So, I made a big change. I moved to Colorado from Illinois and did a whole lot of soul-searching while working as a server. Finally, I settled on a new career as a Physical Therapist Assistant with the intent to work in Pediatrics. I LOVE that career field. I love working with kids and knowing I’m doing something positive in their life but with the mix of wanting to raise my kids and a low market for PTA’s in my particular living area I went back to my roots. . . to the dream I had as an 18 year old going to flea markets and creating things from unique finds and eventually selling them! I don’t know why but when I hear the word “artist” I always think of a painter or someone who can draw really well. I can’t do either ha! So, getting to the point that I can call myself an “artist” was difficult – but, they are right. . . that is what I am and once I embraced that, the sky was the limit.

I think my art sets me apart from others because I take what is a pretty basic technique with macrame (essentially 2 types of knots) but with layering and different patterns I can create these pieces that are so intricate and unique. I find inspiration in other fiber artists and, like musicians do with other songs, I take bits of things I like from so many different sources to make my own designs and patterns. With the clay jewelry aspect I like mixing different standard colors to create unique colors that you can’t go to the store and reproduce it on your own. I try to use basic shapes, simple designs and neutral colors in my clay jewelry so that they can be worn with anything and for any occasion. I’ve always been obsessed with florals and lace and the vintage-vibe and really try to incorporate that too.

I’m excited to keep learning! The world of fiber art and clay jewelry is endless. I want to start mixing weaving into my designs and really grow my “female empowerment” collection. My time as a mother has really strengthened my feminist side and realization that so many of us women need a reminder of how incredibly strong and powerful we are – mentally, physically and in society. The recent decisions by the people that are supposed to be representing us have really lit a fire in me to contribute to women’s fight in this world. The fact that we create life and somehow are treated as if we’re just a piece of the puzzle when really we are the damn puzzle. We’re the creators of the puzzle of life and we should be hailed for the sacred vessels that we are!

It isn’t easy to be an artist and make a living in this world. I am definitely thankful for family and friends for their support but if it wasn’t for this wonderful, artistic community that I live in (Durango, CO) I don’t know that I ever would’ve been as successful. I’m from Illinois (just across the St. Louis, MO border) where people shop at malls and Target and other big stores. They aren’t as willing to pay a higher price for a handmade piece. The thought of paying $25 for a pair of handmade earrings seems crazy when they can go to Target and buy what’s trending for half the price. I won’t say this is how ALL the people are, of course, but I think it would be harder to receive the price that I deserve for my time, quality and creativity. That being said, I was also raised that way so I won’t lie – I will drive 45 min south sometimes just to have a Target fix haha but it is so refreshing to live in a place where there are almost no chain restaurants or stores and, instead, all are family-owned. Here in Durango everyone really wants to support their local community. They are willing to pay the extra money for something unique and to help support a small business. It’s like a whole new way of life and I couldn’t do it without this wonderful community.

I want people to know that if you have a dream and an endless-longing for something to do whatever you can to reach it. My love of creating began in my college years with a book called “Big-Ass Book of Crafts”. I made a lamp shade out of popsicle sticks and it was awesome. I feel like I’ve said so many times through out those years of how awesome it would be to create and sell for a living, but the pressures to have a “big person job” (as I like to call it aka the 9-5 office-type job) is high. They tell us, ‘you must go to college to be successful’, and you must figure it all out and pick that degree when you’re basically a baby (18 years old) when really it’s just not the case. I did go to college and chose a degree that I didn’t necessarily love. I turned against the creative and went for the “stable” and I hated it. I would never take it back because during college is when I took a trip to Silverton, CO and that is where my life really started. I worked as a Cartographer and put the dream of being a creative behind because that’s what was going to pay the bills, but it turns out it didn’t and my soul was dying quickly in that world. Finally, I took a chance and made a change and went back to Silverton after many summers to work at a t-shirt shop. Even after being offered the steady, stable job in STL. So many people thought I was insane. I sort of did too. I had $200 to my name but me and my beagle, Olly, drove out and made it work. That summer led to my permanent move in Durango. I still felt the pressures of getting another degree and having more stable work. At the time I loved being a server but I knew that I didn’t want that long term. It wasn’t until after getting that second degree and COVID hitting for me to go back to my roots – to create. It’s funny how everything has come full circle. I’m back to the dream I had when I was 18 and would have boxes of random things at flea markets to create other things out of. It was tough to find my niche and what I was good at but would also sell. I love my degrees and what they’ve taught me about the world. Eventually I will tap back into being a pediatric PTA but probably only part time when my kids are in school and I can still create, but it’s so cool to see where I’ve come with Belle and the Bear in the last few years and all the connections I’ve made. I would love and am hopeful for it to keep growing and maybe being a PTA will be the “side hustle”. I never gave up – I may have gone down different branches but I’m living my dream in Colorado and I’m so glad I took the chance, I made the change, I followed my heart and got back to my true roots and didn’t let my soul die in that office!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh gosh, the list could go on and on. I’ve actually done this several times trying to get friends from back home to move out here. I literally made a slide show with all the pictures and bullet points of what life is like here. Durango is a true gem. I love to brag on it but also don’t want the secret to get out too much so that it stays a gem haha. We are in such a perfect location here – a river runs through the town for everyone to get their river fix. If you drive 2 hrs west you’ll hit the desert with amazing features and parks to explore. If you drive 45 minutes north you’re in some of the most beautiful high country in Colorado.

Living in Silverton we would often get hikers from the Colorado Trail passing through. As a server, I got to know a lot of them and learn their stories. Almost every one of them would say how miraculous the San Juan Mountains are compared to the rest of the trail. The colors and jaggedness of our mountains was unlike any other area of the trail. I feel so incredibly lucky to have these mountains in my backyard. We also live in an area of enormous indigenous culture. It’s so great to learn the stories of the TRUE ancestors of this country – the Native Americans. It really connects you to the past and also open your eyes to the true stories of how this nation came to be.

There’s also just nothing better than waking up early in the morning for a hike when the air is cold and damp. You’re still so tired and for a second think about just snuggling back to bed, but you don’t. You get up and put on a sweater knowing very well in a few hours the sun will come up and remind you that you’re 6,512 ft closer to the sun. The drive to the trailhead is always clean and crisp with a Durango Joe’s Dirty Chai in one hand and a fresh blueberry muffin from Bread in the other. Getting your body moving in that early morning light is so sweet. Then by noon you’re on top of a mountain, looking down and realizing just how small you really are. How precious this time is in our lives. It really reminds you to make the best of it – to not sweat the small stuff. I’m still so guilty of that. I have horrible anxiety issues but every time I’m up there in the high country it brings me back to the earth and connects me to it’s roots again. There isn’t anything to fear in that moment. You can forget about society and all these little things we create and stress out about. Then, you go back down the mountain and drive back to town with still half of the day left. You can stop by your favorite local spot at 11th Street Station with your favorite food truck and drink. The possibilities here are endless!

Every time a friend comes to visit I always say, “Do you want high mountain, cool air trip? Do you want a night-life, dress up for dinner and go out trip? Should we do the circle going through the little towns of Silverton, Ouray, Rico and Dolores and check out all the nature hot springs and just chill? Or should we go bake in the sun in the desert and sleep under the stars next to the cactus and dirt? Or should we be river rats and tube and raft down the Animas or the Dolores (if it’s high enough)? Or should we be lake lovers and explore all the high country lakes with paddle boards and kayaks?” And really – we can do it all! We can have a whole week of one or we can have a day or two of each type. Again, the possibilities are endless.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My friends and family definitely deserve a big shoutout to where I am with Belle and the Bear. Not only did they give me the confidence that my work was worthy enough to call “art” but in the beginning they are the ones that bought products not only for themselves but also as gifts. I call them my “walking models” that are always showing off my jewelry and sending people to my website. Without them, I would still just be making things for myself and would not have had the confidence to truly accept myself as an “artist”.

This amazing town of Durango, CO also deserves a huge shoutout for being so welcoming of artists and seeing the true value in supporting local, small businesses. It is truly a place unlike any other and I’m so lucky to be surrounded by so many creatives and entrepreneurs achieving their dreams, but even if you aren’t a creative here there are still so many people who appreciate what we do. So many people are willing to pay a little more knowing that it’s handmade and that they’re helping to support a local dream and the local economy. Without this town, I would not have near the following that have!

Website: www.belleandthebeardesign.com

Instagram: @belleandthebeardesign

Facebook: @belleandthebeardesign

Image Credits
All images are taken by me!