Katie Watts

Zoe met Katie Watts, jewelry artist of Harvesting Little Things, a few years ago, introduced by a mutual friend Erika Young. Katie is a true talent, inspiration, and jack-of-all-trades. She has an exceptional eye for sourcing beautiful gems of all kind.  She is also a nurturer, and has fostered over 38 rescue cats and kittens in her carefully curated home in Newport, Rhode Island.

Read more about how she’s navigated the aftermath of creative burnout, her creative process, and what she’s sketching up for the next few months.

On Home – 

The first time I walked into your home, I was enamored by your attention to every detail and the instant calmness I felt being there. How would you describe the style of your home?

The current style of the house is austere, modern with a strong undercurrent of natural textures (i.e. the wood pieces mounted to walls, stacked ocean stones). It’s minimal in palette, comfortable, eclectic, but classic. At the moment I am jamming hard on a combination of Hemmingway’s Cuba and Key West homes, crossed with Georgia Okeefe’s Abiqui New Mexico home, with a dash of Quaker-Amish vibes swirled in, and with splashes of Picasso’s studio.

So, you often mention this  “itch” you get, in relation to sourcing vintage. Can you tell me a little bit about the process of sourcing?

I love sourcing and styling, and I’ve spent a good amount of my career doing it. I love the challenge of bringing in collections of items for a photoshoot and reimagining the space in multiple ways just by switching out vases, books, art, and furnishings. It’s an opportunity to play with how an interior can feel and look, and how it can impact you on an intangible level.

When sourcing, if an item speaks to me and if it’s priced reasonably, then I buy it. There have even been happy accidents where I didn’t know why I loved something, and once I brought it home and looked into the history of the item I really understood its worth.  
I’m finding that I’m getting better at listening to myself and starting to feel who I am. That internal voice speaking to me about what works is becoming stronger and stronger. 

“Home is Sanctuary.”

What advice would you give to someone new to sourcing vintage furniture for their home?

Don’t buy something that only works in one room! If it doesn’t work in more than two rooms, it doesn’t come home with me. More often than not, even if it has a flare I make sure it follows that rule. 

Also, there is always an annual purge for me where I reassess what stays in my home and in my gemstone inventory. Too much clutter tends to completely overwhelm me. I either donate or sell whatever I don’t need or is no longer a fit for me. I just took two large boxes of rocks to Ghost Ranch as a donation.

Vintage is the backbone to all interior design work I do, the quality of workmanship and unique vision specific to each time period. It never goes out of style and is always a worthy investment. As your aesthetic changes you can explore new movements of design, always pushing the envelope and elevating your vision and execution.

Are there any particular styles you veer towards? How do you avoid shopping trends?

I do keep an eye on trends and what’s going on, but I don’t allow them to be the predominant guiding hand, whether it be in interior design or jewelry design. I allow my own voice and vibe to set the tone rather than follow what others may be doing.

What considerations do you make when sourcing for jewelry? 

When sourcing materials for my jewelry, I prefer to work with precious metals such as sterling silver and gold. I do not work currently work with faceted gemstones, and prefer to use semi-precious material, frequently buying rough rock to slab for use in my inlay.

I’ve recently found myself inspired by pastels and eagerly purchased delicate hued chalcedony as well as ethereal Guatemalan jade at this January’s Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. I allow the stones to speak to me both when selecting them for purchase and when cutting and placing them into designs. It is an internal conversation between myself and the rock — I see the colors and understand what will play well together, and I feel the strength of the material when cutting and shaping it.

On Creative Burnout –

Can we talk a little bit about your experience with creative burnout?

Burnout is absolutely a factor for a lot of people…those in corporate jobs as well as those working in creative fields. I spent the better part of the last decade plus working in creative environments assisting others manifest their dreams. I love the people I worked with and for, am in awe to this day of the talent and sheer will these incredible women have with forging their businesses in this crazy world. But I started to feel something was missing for me. Juggling multiple projects, and all that comes with that, ate up hours of the day and I found it difficult to dedicate quality time to explore my visions, work on my process, fine tune skill sets and create actual work. It was time for a change and to make the scary leap of putting myself and own creative pursuits first.

I got that push this past July while taking a workshop at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. I spent 14 days immersed in nothing but creating jewelry; focused on fine tuning my metal smithing skills and pushed the limits of my inlay work to new levels. 12 hours a day blissfully spent on cutting rock, shaping it and watching a challenging design come to life. All surrounded by people who understood me, the obsession, the work and shared the same passion!

“The world was telling me this is the correct path, however long and winding, this is it.”

A past instructor, and well know inlay artist in his own right Roger Wilber, visited the ranch during the end-of-week art show, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with him and have him critique my piece. Not only did he recognize the time and attention to detail that went into the piece but he said it reminded him of Charles Loloma’s work.

To be considered and to share space in the same breath with such an icon of inlay — someone who influenced and shaped jewelry design so significantly — was beyond anything I could imagine. It was validation that what I felt in my soul as a calling was the true course. The world was telling me this is the correct path, however long and winding, this is it.  

What were the effects of burnout on your health?

My body definitely began to send me clear messages that I needed to make changes, ending up in the ER with chest pains was a wake up call. I made the decision to step back and away from my project management position, take time to slow down, quiet my head, and begin building a different path.

I think there is a lot of pressure we take on from society telling us we’re supposed to be able to do it all. Thankfully, in my case, my body was able to communicate with me and bring me to reality. It stopped me from fighting what wasn’t serving me so I could redirect. I think it’s especially important for creatives to be in tune with this subconscious messaging. Some creative people do well under pressure and chaos, and some really do not. I find the path to figuring it out for me has been a real roller coaster. 

“It’s okay to just not ‘do’ all the time.”

Can you describe your process for re-resourcing yourself? 

For now, I’m taking things slow. I spend a lot of time trying to quiet my mind. I also have been doing yoga and boxing. I can tell you that during my rest so far, my passion has only increased.

On Creative Authenticity –

When are you living most closely, or most true, to yourself?

I have a bit of a dual personality. There is my creative side, but also my more logistics-focused side which was what came out mostly when I was working in interiors. There is a quote that I always think of: “Whatever wolf you feed is the wolf that survives.” And that’s how it’s been with my career so far. 

What has living in Newport taught you about yourself and your creative process?

Newport has taught me that I am connected to the natural world deeply, in particular, the ocean – the sight, the sound, the smells. My process is fairly organic and heavily influenced by my environment. Work is created in waves – sometimes slow and gentle, other times at a frenetic pace.

On Jewelry Design –

How did your jewelry design practice start?

I learned inlay during a one week workshop in 2017 from Navajo inlay artist Richard Tsosie. I then took a one week workshop at Ghost Ranch in 2018 and 2019, then in 2021 I returned for two weeks — one to focus on metal smithing, and one for stone work (inlay).

I have plans to return to Ghost Ranch this summer for a week’s open studio and am set to take Hopi Jewelry: Stone Setting, Overlay & Stamps with Roy Talahaftewa. I hope the course will help bring things to the next level. I almost have that ah-ha level with what I’m sketching.

Can you speak a little bit about your process?

I fabricate inlay cuffs, meaning they are crafted by hand. The process involves sheet metal — it is first measured, cut, shaped and side channel rails soldered before the inlay process can happen.

Other methods I use include: wax carving, casting, and molding for various designs. Models, which allow for multiple pieces to be reproduced, are made in wax or plaster, then taken to caster for either direct molding or casting into brass or bronze.

While metal smithing is a part of the process of creating inlay jewelry, it is the lapidary work which is my true passion. It is very tactile, and has a certain element of obsessing with rocks — texture, color, pattern, how it feels when it is being cut and shaped.

I am strongly influenced by Navajo design, how inlay & silversmithing plays such an integral role in the Dine culture, the significance of certain stones and the symbols incorporated within each piece that is crafted. I honor the roots of this practice, allow it to guide my voice and weave my own intuition into this flow. The teachings of Richard Tsosie are my foundation, allowing me to make informed decisions while simultaneously encouraging me to follow my own voice.

“I want the jewelry to be an extension of me, and a way for those who wear them to express themselves.”

What styles of inlay jewelry do you create most?

My passion is for large statement pieces like cuffs which allow me the space to play with the stones, kind of like quilting. But I love designing rings, pendants, and earrings as well. I try to be cognizant that not everyone wants to wear giant cuffs so there is an effort to produce petite pieces that are equally stunning just on a smaller scale.

My work tends to be more modern, with play on pattern or color in a reserved but bold way. I only work with sterling silver at the moment, but hope to incorporate gold moving forward. Each piece is a one of a kind, hand-finished and handcrafted at every step of the process. I want to create heirloom pieces that speak to those that are drawn to wear them. I want the jewelry to be an extension of me and a way for those who wear them to express themselves.

How long does the creation process take? 

A cuff could take anywhere from a week to four weeks and so tend to be more expensive, not only for producing but for people to buy. I try to stay cognizant of that when planning. This is also another reason that I plan to focus on smaller pieces. 

What projects are on the horizon for you? 

Later this year, I will post my work for sale through my website and Instagram. The idea is to keep my work curated, small, and special. I’m not interested in mass production or growing too much. I want to find clients that have a certain aesthetic, and really seek out and want what I make.

My website will have a small section for found objects, such as vintage rugs and things of that nature. There will be a small gallery for people to buy those specially sourced home items. 

While I am not currently exploring placing any of my pieces in a boutique, I would love to show at Field + Supply in upstate New York just once. The vendors that participate in that curated show are incredible artists and this would be a fantastic opportunity to get a feel for what potential clients like and do not like with regards to my work, to connect with other creatives, and to gain better insight into operating a creative business.

On Fostering – 

We met two summers ago when I adopted two adorable kittens from your foster litter. We instantly bonded through mutual love for the animals, amongst many other things! Can you share more about how you got into fostering cats/kittens? 

We fell into fostering after following a rescue group in NYC on Instagram. We started with an adult male cat named Rubik, who incidentally broke free of the carrier after it was handed to my husband, Mark. It took the couple who had been temporarily holding him two weeks to relocate him in the park where he hid! He then got really car sick on the way back to Rhode Island in the carrier, foaming at the mouth, peeing and vomiting. It was a memorable first foster.

What goes into the process of fostering? 

Typically we see a post from known rescuers or groups needing a foster, we reach out and most often we drive down to the location and collect the animals either from the site or from whomever may be temporarily holding them. Then it’s back to Rhode Island, a visit to our vet, quarantine in a crate until fleas are eliminated, then up to the guest room. 

The animals get whatever vet care they need and we feed, medicate, care, and socialize them until they are old enough and ready for forever homes, at which point we reach out to our connections to ask for PR help.  We have also driven down to NYC for adoption events.  We do final home inspections, and final interviews with potential adopters to ensure the placement will fit the animal’s needs.

Can you share the highs/lows of fostering?

Lows: the death of a foster (we have only lost one poor baby), dealing with life threatening illness, and not being able to make the transition for them comfortable right away.

The highs are the joy of watching the little ones grow into healthy strong kittens, seeing personalities develop, and seeing the love match when the perfect homes are found.  We are still in contact with a number of adopters.

You are not just a cat-momma but also a dog-momma! What does being connected with animals daily mean to you? 

I’ve always loved animals of every species and find them pure and honest creatures. They are bringers of joy, love and peace – what more is needed in life?

What do you wish you had understood earlier in your life?

Just because you didn’t go to art school doesn’t mean you can’t produce beautiful art, literature, architecture, etc. I would love to see more encouragement for people starting anew at 40-50 year of age.

Reaching a certain age doesn't mean you’re past your due date. I have gone through it before, I was told “you didn’t go to art school and you’re too old, so you’ll never be considered or taken seriously in the field.” But it is never too late and there is never a wrong time. It’s okay if your path needs to change to help feed what your soul needs. I think this is not discussed enough, and not normalized enough and I wish it was. 

“Don’t turn down the volume on what your soul or gut is telling you.”

If there is a path to change, I want people to know that it’s okay to stop doing what they are doing and instead do what instead feeds their soul, and maybe more people have been able to recognize and make that shift with Covid. What I have learned is: don’t turn down the volume on what your soul or gut is telling you. By doing that you could deprive yourself of your greatest passion.

What does being a Newport Woman mean to you?

We are so lucky to have so many amazing role models that are women in Newport. 

There are so many creative, beautifully strong women here and yet, no one is on the same path, which I find inspiring. And you know, some will be moms, some will not. I do find it healthiest for women to be amongst a variety of women, so we can learn from one another. And I love the ability to have so many connections to other women in a small town.

To connect with Katie and to keep an eye on her work, you can follow her on Instagram @HarvestingLittleThings.