Today we’d like to introduce you to Princess Kate.
Hi Princess, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I spent 10 years teaching special education and loved every bit of it. When my twins were born, I stepped away to manage the beautiful chaos of early motherhood. About two years in, during the restful pockets of the day when the twins were napping, I felt this pull to start painting again. My French bulldog, Chuy, and I would curl up on the couch with our favorite shows on in the background, and I’d paint. I relished every minute of it.
Friends caught wind of it, and as happens to every artist at some point, the pet portrait requests started rolling in. Mostly for fun, I opened an Etsy shop to see what would happen. When it took off, I realized I’d stumbled into something that could actually work around my family’s schedule and needs, not just as a creative outlet but a real path forward. I started with pet portraits and kept saying yes to what came next: family portraiture, wedding invitations, real estate renderings, stationery, classes and events, abstract work.
Block printing has been my favorite era so far. It combines surface pattern design, color play, and hands-on, physical work, everything I love. There’s something meditative about the act of carving; I find it deeply calming. It’s where I’ve landed for the time being, and I fell in love with the craft all over again.
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?
Oh, I don’t have nearly enough room to cover everything that’s gone wrong along the way! As artists, we’re at the mercy of supplies that dry out, inspiration that dries up, printers that refuse to cooperate, and people who just don’t take the craft seriously. I can’t tell you how many times someone’s referred to my “little Etsy shop,” or asked me to take on a big project “for exposure.” (We’ve all heard that one)
COVID hit right as I was finding my stride with in-person classes, and everything came to a halt. My husband is a physician, so those early months meant a lot of time alone, worrying about him, about my teacher friends heading back into classrooms, about all of it. Making masks gave me something I could actually do with my hands during a time when nothing felt within my control. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it was useful, and it kept me steady.
And honestly, the wild ride hasn’t really stopped since. The business has had incredible highs and stretches where the economy is humming and people are eager to invest in art for their homes, and then, seemingly out of nowhere, another disaster (natural, social, economic, take your pick) reminds us that art is often the first thing people cut when things feel uncertain. We learn to ride the waves rather than panic at each one.
Pressure inspires change and we find a way to persevere. The juice has always been worth the squeeze.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in hand-carved block prints, designing and cutting each block myself, then printing them by hand, which means every original has these lovely small imperfections that make it one-of-a-kind. Today, most of what I sell are giclée reproductions of those original block prints, so more people can bring the work home, but the design always starts with a hand-carved block.
What I hope sets me apart is a genuinely Midwest-nice approach, both in how I run this business and in the work itself. My color palettes and textures are made to play well with others: they pair nicely with wallpaper, existing patterns, and the accent colors already in a room, pulling them out to let them shine rather than competing with them. It’s the art equivalent of being a good houseguest – it fits in without disappearing, and has enough personality to stand on its own. That same spirit carries over into how I treat people! I care about the person on the other end of every piece, whether that’s a customer, a stockist, or a fellow small business owner. I answer my own messages and remember people’s stories, building real relationships rather than transactions. That community-first mindset has shaped almost everything about how I run this business.
Honestly, what I’m proudest of is the community I’ve built along the way, the friendships, the unexpected partnerships, the people who’ve become part of this journey with me. I’ve also been incredibly grateful for some press recognition, including features in several local publications as well as House & Garden and British Vogue, which still feels surreal to say out loud. More than the accolades, what really gets me is knowing my artwork is hanging in so many homes and shops across the globe. There’s something really meaningful about a piece I made at my kitchen table finding its way into someone else’s everyday life.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Looking back, three qualities have shaped this journey more than anything else: a willingness to leap before I felt ready, the communication skills I didn’t realize I was building for years, and the people I’ve surrounded myself with along the way.
First, I had to get comfortable moving before I felt fully prepared. Creative businesses rarely grow in a straight line, and waiting for the “right” moment or a guaranteed outcome would’ve kept me standing still forever. I’ve launched things that flopped, pivoted more than once, and made plenty of calls that look messy in hindsight, but every one of them taught me something the last one couldn’t. My advice: start before you feel ready, adjust as you go, and trust that momentum teaches you more than planning ever will.
Second, ten years in the classroom gave me tools I didn’t expect to use in business. Teaching trains you to read a room, explain things clearly, manage expectations, and stay calm when things don’t go to plan, and it turns out those are the exact skills that run a creative business. Newsletters, social captions, customer conversations, even pitching to press, is all just teaching in a different room. My advice: look at what already feels natural to you. Whatever background you’re coming from, chances are it left you with skills that quietly set you apart.
Third, community has carried me more than I ever expected. I’ve been lucky to know people who challenge me, cheer me on, and remind me I’m not building this alone. So much of my best thinking has come out of conversations with other makers, creatives, and small business owners who understand the highs and lows of this life. My advice: find your people, the ones in a similar season as you and invest in those relationships. Grab coffee, collaborate, share ideas freely. It doesn’t need to be formal to make waves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theprintsprincess.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprintsprincess
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprintsprincess
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theprintsprincess
- Other: https://www.faire.com/direct/theprintsprincess
