Kathryn Lemaster

Art and Design

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Archives for February 2015

The Perfectly Imperfect “Come Back” Post

Hello friends! Near and far, old and new. I’ve missed you all while the blog has been in “hibernation” for several months. Here’s a bit of the back story on that – fellow bloggers, listen up – I betcha some of you can relate…

Initially, I pushed the pause button for some blog restructuring. Then, my wonderful clients kept me so busy that the plans I had for blogging had to take a back burner through the holidays to meet all of our deadlines. Once the new year hit, I wanted to come back and say hello, but I’ll admit I felt guilty for being absent so long. I wanted to have a perfect plan in place first, complete with a detailed blog calendar, a stockpile of posts on ingenious new topics stored up ahead of time – you know, all of the things the experts say you need for blogging “success.” The longer I waited, the more perfect I felt my “come back” post and plan had to be. I became petrified of not measuring up, and like petrified things do, I stood still.

Then, one day last week, I was listing to my favorite podcast and the whole thing was a very aptly timed, divine intervention. The podcast was episode 19 of Launching Creative by the brilliants Nik Parks and David Rock (which aired last summer, meaning I’m 34 weeks behind on my favorite podcast, if that tells you anything about how I’m falling behind in every area of my life…) The equally brilliant man they interviewed on that episode, was Ryan Hanley of Content Warfare.

The show was going along, being wonderfully enlightening and all, when suddenly near the end Ryan got all revved up and on a “soapbox” as he called it – this is what he said:

“Anyone who tells you – as a creative, as a business person, as someone who’s just starting out – that there is a way you HAVE to do something,  like, it HAS to be done this way in order to be successful, is just trying to sell you something that isn’t going to work. Every single case of someone becoming successful or just being happy with what they have and what they’ve created – they’ve done it their own way. Now, granted, there are some basic best practices and some things that can help you, but, no matter if you’re writing about something as boring as insurance or something as interesting as the “Humans of New York” guy – JUST DO IT YOUR WAY. If you’re up front with people and say like, “Hey, I’m not gonna post a blog for a month but I will be back in a month” – I promise you, that the people who actually are reading your content are going to come back in a month, because they like you.” -Ryan Hanley, Launching Creative Podcast.

That rocked my world. I suddenly felt a weight lifted. I felt free – to be myself, to be candid, unscheduled and unconventional. What’s crazy I don’t really struggle with authenticity in other areas of my life and work – just blogging, apparently. It was such an intimidating tight rope walk of thinking I had to do everything a certain way in order to be a “real” blogger. I was constantly comparing myself to others who have paved the way to blogging success and have it all figured out, so to speak. While I definitely want to learn from others, I really don’t want to do things “their” way.

As it turns out, all I really wanted is to be one of those people Ryan was talking about, who is “happy with what they have and what they’ve created.” It’s not about a popularity contest. It’s not about success by other’s standards. It’s not about a numbers game (although checking site stats can be addicting, as I like fun graphs and charts it makes…). It is about authenticity – sharing real stories, ideas, and beauty with real people. If what I share in this space resonates with or inspires even one person – then I am happy, and that to me, is success.

So if you stick around you will be following the candid journey of an eager creative, small business owner, imperfectionist in the making (I feel like we need an AA group for recovering perfectionists…) and I will do my best to do my best at sharing with you victories that are won, mistakes that are made, lessons that are learned, ideas that are had, and beauty that is created and discovered along the way.

This is me in my early days of creating pretty things (or “Get Well Soon” banners, apparently…) when I didn’t worry about what people thought of my art. I just wanted to hang with my girls, have some fun, and make stuff. Looks like success to me!

Thank you, Ryan, for your words of wisdom, thank you Nik and David for creating a platform where I could hear them, and thank God for the perfect timing. 34 weeks behind, yet exactly on time.

“If you’re authentic, people will connect with you and they’ll let you work through those troubles, as long as you’re moving forward.” -Ryan Hanley

Keep moving forward, and stay inspired.

Much love and gratitude,

Kathryn

PS: In all this sharing about sharing, I failed to mention today is a very special day… it’s Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design’s 2nd birthday, what what?!?! What a happy day, indeed. I will probably eat a bunch of victory cupcakes later and post pretty pictures about it. Oh wait, no – that’s what we did last year… hmmm. Oh right, and it was DELICIOUS!

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So much growth around here this spring. 🥹🌿 P So much growth around here this spring. 🥹🌿 Plantly, personally, relationally, familialy, professionally, educationally, spiritually, recreationally, socially… so many ways. 🤍 

Liam love has ached from growing pains in his legs as he’s shot up taller this year, and I can’t help but think of many points over the last year I’ve cried out over the same thing in my own way, internally. It’s been a year of repotting and acclimating, shedding withering leaves, sprouting new ones unexpectedly, and pressing through rocky soil at times. But through it all, we water and tend to - our plants, our hearts, and eachother. We received tending to and watering, from our loving Gardener and from one another. We learn what that looks and feels like. We remember, we practice, and keep adding to each new discovery of what helps us thrive. Old downtrodden pathways healing, covered over with new growth, and new pathways (in at least my nervous system and brain that so needed it) being bushwhacked (as my friend recently wished me all the grace and success with 😂🙏🏼) and becoming more familiar: a new normal. 

We’ve been in our home sweet 1930’s cottage for a year now, and I am so incredibly proud of the ways we’ve each branched out and up, roots sinking in deeper through the dark and sometimes rough terrain, finding eachother even there and locking arms deep in the soil as well as holding hands with leaves reaching toward the light together, be it by sun or by moon. 🌳 

“they will be known as might oaks of righteousness, planted by Yahweh as a living display of His glory.” Isa. 61:3b

“and He sees to it that each seed gets a new body of it’s own and becomes the plant He designed it to be. “ 1 Cor. 15:38b

(PS! I released a new podcast episode this week sparked from the above verse. I share how the Lord’s been speaking to me through plant imagery / terminology, things I’ve been learning about our design for consistent watering / rewatering, my heart / ways I’m learning to relate now as I’ve been overcoming some old fear based, faulty thinking, that’s made room for new and beautiful growth. You can listen to it on Spotify on the Unhindered podcast or profile link!🪴)
Part 2 of this bright and happy retro-inspired kit Part 2 of this bright and happy retro-inspired kitchen before & after, cause I’m still not over it yet… 😍 #minttobe

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#thatsdarling #vintagedecoration #vintagedishes #tilebar #fiestawear #kitchenremodel #kitchendecor #kitchen #kitchendesign #homeimprovement #interiorinspo #whitekitchencabinets #whitekitchen #kitchengoals #homesweethome #diydesign #theartofslowliving #thehappynow #flashesofdelight #diyhomedecor #verilymoment #pursuepretty #interiorstyled #interiordecor #interiordesign #kjlartanddesign
In the midst of a full and challenging season, tim In the midst of a full and challenging season, time stood still for a blissful 24 hr spring break escape with my loves, March 23-24. 🌿✨ 💦 🌸 ☀️🥹💞 We took Mabel Ann the Main Line, our sweet lil 1947 vintage camper trailer out on her maiden voyage before we start the reno updates! We were so happy in her little aluminum form, we didn’t want to leave! 🤍

#familymemories #springbreak2023 #lakecatherinestatepark #arkansasstateparks #thenaturalstate #thegreatoutdoors #chasingwaterfalls #vintagecamper #glampinglife #thatsdarlingmovement #optoutdoors #gonecamping #gonefishing #lifeisgood #arkansasonly
An unbelievably fun, cheerful and bright kitchen b An unbelievably fun, cheerful and bright kitchen before & after, hot off the press from @forrest_addison_roberts camera. 📷 😍 🙌🏼 💐 Absolutely loved going back to see this retro-inspired kitchen design that these creative clients and our fav contractor crushed implementing! 👏🏼 

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#thatsdarling #vintagedecoration #vintagedishes #tilebar #fiestawear #kitchenremodel #kitchendecor #kitchen #kitchendesign #homeimprovement #interiorinspo #whitekitchencabinets #whitekitchen #kitchengoals #homesweethome #diydesign #theartofslowliving #thehappynow #flashesofdelight #diyhomedecor #verilymoment #pursuepretty #interiorstyled #interiordecor #interiordesign #kjlartanddesign
Weather report from an Arkansas wilderness, just a Weather report from an Arkansas wilderness, just after sunrise yesterday.🕵🏻‍♀️ Lovely weather we’ve been having lately - thunderous water with a 197% chance of falling. 💦😅

Adventuring with @forrest_addison_roberts will forever be one of my favorite reasons to wake up before dawn. 🌌 🥾 ☺️ 

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#neverstopexploring #waterfallwednesday #arkansaswaterfalls #arkansasoutdoors #optoutdoors #hikinglove #coupleswhohike #arkansasonly #naturereels #hikeyourownhike #waterfallphotography #waterfallhike #waterfallchasing #reelfunny #neature
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It is a delight to work with Kathryn LeMaster. She is a good listener who has been able to help us transition into a smaller home while still keeping the essence of our family intact.

- CINDI C.

My husband and I decided to update our house focusing on the kitchen and bathrooms. We were so impressed from the beginning with Kathryn! She was easy to work with and took our vision and made it all come together! She was extremely professional and we highly recommend her. Thanks Kathryn!! We couldn't be happier!!!

- LAURA D.

I have been doing business with Kathryn for several years, where she had played an integral role to enhance the quality and appeal of the visual impact of our furniture in TV commercial s. She independently picks products that perfectly match each commercial. She is also an absolute pleasure to work with. She is flexible when needed, and always has a positive disposition.

- LAWRENCE ZIGERELLI, PRESIDENT/CEO, FFO HOME

We asked Kathryn to create sets for a food shoot with multiple items. She created sets with for each dish and had them passed them off with the client who was out of town. She was extremely organized and methodical about how she purchased and approved each set. Not only was her work exceptional, her presence made the client feel at ease.

- DERO SANFORD, OWNER, THINKDERO

We highly recommend Kathryn. She listened to us as her clients and executed ideas based upon our design style. We had bought a new house and asked her to help us furnish, design, and style It. We appreciated her detailed drawings and ability to "show" us the vision and plan. She is quick to respond and allows for flexibility based upon timeline needs. Once deciding together on budget, she works toward that goal. She is a lot of fun to work with!

- CHRISTY H.

Kathryn assisted me in styling and accessorizing our new home. She nailed my design ideas and style based on the questionnaire and my comments. I was amazed at how she was able to match my style exactly! It would have taken me years to accomplish what she accomplished in one day. I would highly recommend her and look forward to working with her again in the future.

- BEVERLY R.

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