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

Hi Katie, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I donate a percentage of all sales to support organ transplant patients and kids with congenital heart disease.

I had a heart transplant and understand first hand how much of a financial strain a major medical setback can be. I donate to support patients after their transplant, when they can’t work and need a lot of extra help.

I donate money to help send kids with congenital heart disease to camp. Camp Odayin is a great camp that gives kids with special restrictions a place to have fun and be a kid. I think that is so important.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started Katie White Designs in the hospital, right after my heart transplant. I started working with Clay while I was living in the hospital to pass the time and fell in love with making jewelry. Making jewelry kept my hands busy and my mind off of the pain I was in after heart surgery. Being creative was the distraction I needed during really tough days. Working on my jewelry gave me a reason to get out of bed, and oudh myself to get well again.

I am most proud of how well made my earrings are today. They weren’t always that way. It has taken 2 years of making jewelry every single day to get to where I am today. It’s practice, over and over again that makes you good at something. When I started making clay earrings I knew what I wanted them to look like and feel like, but they were not very good in the beginning! And that’s ok. I kept working and working at it and eventually it got easier and working with clay felt like second nature to me.

I now donate a percentage of sales to other people like me, who have had organ transplants. The transplant process can take a real toll financially on a family and my hope is to be able to give back and help others when they need it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The North Loop:

I would want to our week out in the north loop of Mpls. The North loop has so many great shops and restaurants, coffee shops and it’s dog friendly! My earrings are sold at Statement Boutique which has great women’s cloths! My favorite restaurant in the North Loop is the Monty Carlo. So good

I think the best time to visit Minnesota is in the Fall. I would take my friend to the Landscape Arboretum to see the magical fall colors. We would head to the apple House to get homegrown apple and grapes. I love making homemade applesauce & grape juice every fall!

The North Shore:

We would head 2 hours north to Duluth to see Lake Superior and eat at Lake Ave. we would spend the day in canal park.

Then we would head further north to Grand Marais. We would spend the morning skipping rocks and eating doughnuts at Worlds Best, coffee at Java Moose. We would go hiking and stay at a cozy cabin rental in town

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband Jason has been my rock solid support since the very beginning of Katie White Designs. He has been with me through the highs and lows and all the in between. He has been my sounding board and has even assembled earrings when things got busy!

Website: http://www.katiewhitedesigns.store

Instagram: @katiewhitedesigns15

Image Credits
Vanesa LaTorre Photography

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