Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Urton.
Hi Katrina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first began playing around with ice dyeing in 2015. I was bartending and nannying at the time and just making stuff for fun in my backyard when I had free time – which was rare for me back then – I remember thinking “I wish I could just dye things for a living” I laughed to myself because it seemed like such a far fetched dream – fast forward to 2020 – I was then working as an esthetician and was laid off when the pandemic hit – I desperately needed a creative outlet since I was unemployed and just sort of floating. So I started dyeing things for fun again out of my living room – I would dye things and post them on Instagram and slowly my friends started asking me to dye things for them – and they would post on Instagram and tag me. It was a time when everyone was trapped inside and heavily online – so my page gained a lot of traction. Next thing you know, that dream Id had all those years ago kind of became my reality! I also started doing flower deliveries around the same time. I was pretty much just trying to earn money in any way I could. My husband is a musician and was also out of work at the time so I saw an opportunity for us to both to be involved (me arranging and him delivering the flowers) and having helped my friend’s mom in her flower shop growing up – I knew a little about florals and decided I’d just go for it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has definitely not always been smooth. As with any business I’ve had periods of time when I’ve been super busy and people have been really engaged and times when I’m so slow I wonder if I should just throw in the towel. I’ve gone back to work as an esthetician this past year which has allowed me to embrace the slow periods instead of fear them. I’ve taken a step back from flowers for the time being. I’ve been enjoying growing the dye side of my business and focusing on my esthetics practice.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I like to refer to myself as a textile artist and a floral enthusiast. I specialize in ice dyeing – which is process that utilizes fiber-reactive dyes and ice on fabrics – creating really unique patterning. I’m known for my dishtowels, robes and bedding! I’m most proud of the uniqueness of each piece I make – due to the unpredictable nature of the process – there are no two pieces that are alike – and the style and vibe of my pieces are a little less traditional than most of the tie-dye stuff you see out there today
How do you think about happiness?
I love creating and getting lost in a process. Whether it be with flowers or dye, there is something really meditative about completely immersing yourself in creating something – time slows down a little bit and the noise inside of my head gets a little quieter – and at the end, I have something tactile that was born out of that process. That, to me, is pure bliss.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.janesaintmarie.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/janesaintmarie
