Meet Kathrin Woetzlmayr | Woodworker

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

Hi Kathrin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
What is better than doing what you love, get paid for it and be your own boss? I’ve always loved to craft, I knitted, crochet, sew, then I started to sell my handmade jewelry in LA for a little while and refurbish and resell furniture.
That’s when I found out I like working with wood a lot.
It was fun to fix up and re-paint or stain cool furniture pieces but I also wanted to make my own ideas.
That’s what I did once my husband and I moved to Colorado in 2015 and I had a garage for the first time to work in.
Since I started making and selling my own handmade ideas I wanted to make my dream come true and start my very own business, which is called now Kraftylishh.
I always wanted to have a flexible schedule, being able to work from home and having creative freedom.
I think most people do, I was just one of the lucky ones who got the opportunity to do so.
It is so rewarding to be able to make unique pieces that people love and want to put in their homes and I just really enjoy being able to do what I love and being able to support my family with it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am born and raised in Austria and moved to LA in 2009. 2015 my husband and I moved to Colorado and I finally had enough space to fully venture out into the woodworking world.
Definitely wasn’t always easy, there was a lot of doubt at the beginning, if I am really going to be able to turn my ideas into a real business and make sales. My support system and the fact that I did sell some items helped me to keep going.
I am most proud of how much I’ve learned and how far I’ve come since I started. I started with the bare minimum of tools and just started to make things I liked or that we needed, like doggy stairs for our pup.
Then I found out about woodworking classes at Red rocks community college and I took 4 different classes with them, introduction to fine woodworking, carving, turning and inlay. That’s when I fell in love with the idea of making my own woodworking projects.
Now I am making a variety of different size and style plant hangers, shelfs, propagation stations, barn quilts, custom wood signs, air plant holders, Macramé pieces, wooden vases and wall hangings.
I am very proud of my plant hangers. I started making them when it was time to bring all the plants in from the outside and I didn’t have enough space for all my plants on our living room floor.
I’ve been always looking for that idea that would be practical, cool and people actually want and need it. I love making my plant hangers switching up designs and trying out new styles.
Also I use a lot of repurposed wood. Wood is just such a cool material to work with, that will last for such a long time if it is well made and good taken care of.
I enjoy finding cool wood pieces with special grains and designs in them. The wood pieces don’t always have to be perfect looking either, that’s what makes some pieces so unique and special.                                                                  I just started to sell my things in The Barn in castle rock.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok, so we would definitely go to Red Rocks catch a show or yoga because it’s always fun there and the venue is beautiful. Have some food and drinks at Whiskey Row that’s right next to Coors field and then explore DT Denver for a bit.
See a local band like Thumpin, they are awesome!
Or check out some cool Beergarden’s/Brewery’s.
Lots of yummy restaurants like Angelo’s Taverna in Littleton or maybe the Zoo or a Museum.
There are beautiful hiking spots, parks and lakes all around here that are fun to go to.
If there’s enough time, there are also cool hot springs to check out in the mountains.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband!! He’s always been my number one fan! He’s always been standing right behind me and supporting all my crafting/woodworking ventures. He also came up with my awesome business name Kraftylishh. His encouragement, honesty, support and love play a very big part in where I am today with my business. Thank you so much my love!

Website: kraftylishh.com

Instagram: @kraftylishh86

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kraftylishh86/shop/?referral_code=page_shop_tab&preview=1

Image Credits
Sarah McNew