Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimber Casteel.
Hi Kimber, 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 have always been an artistic and creative person. My friends have often referred to me as a “Jill of all trades”. When I was a freshman in college, I opened my Etsy shop and began selling handmade greeting cards, small paintings, and fabric flower hairpins that I previously had only made just for fun. I was also working in Human Resources while pursuing my studies. To have strangers be able to find my work and choose to purchase it was absolutely thrilling. I was 18 when I started to put myself and my art out into the world, and never thought that my selling my artwork on the side would lead to me selling my artwork full-time.
Over the years, what I chose to make and sell varied. In the early 2010’s, I taught myself how to embroider and became a master of my craft. I started to get recognition for my realistic, hand embroidered wedding bouquet replicas. 2020 changed a LOT of things for me personally. In lieu of travel, people were shifting their spending to buying thoughtful, handmade gifts online. I was able to make the decision to leave my corporate, full time career in Human Resources to pursue being a full time artist! I enjoy being all well rounded creative. Whether it is food, drinks, paintings, embroidery, or some other medium, I thoroughly enjoy being able to use my time and talent to brighten and enrich the lives of others through my creativity!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest struggle I face is finding ways to reach new customers, as someone that doesn’t particularly like “selling myself” online. Art is also one of the most undervalued aspects of our society. We are living in a world where people have access to various mediums of art via social media, which they can consume for “free”, so it is hard to always convey the importance of paying for art and supporting artists. Every single person’s life is enriched by someone else’s creativity. Navigating the ebbs and flows the state of the economy and politics has on people’s spending decisions has been the most difficult aspect of being a full time artist. Spending money on art is hard to justify when so many people are struggling to pay their basic living expenses. Even my own consumer behaviors have changed significantly in the past couple of years, so I do deeply understand the choices people are having to make, and I am riding the wave because I love what I do.
It has not been easy and choosing to pursue art fulltime was a hard decision to make at first. Ultimately, there were many personal reasons that led to me making the decision to take a step back from corporate HR, and the biggest concern I will always have will be about my financial health and stability long term. With planning and saving, I was able to make this decision that has overall been better for my mental and physical health. Of course, I couldn’t have come to this decision without the input of my darling husband, who never had a doubt about how far the quality of my art would take me. Having my biggest fan by my side has made this lows of this journey much easier to navigate.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in hand embroidery. My most popular offering is a hand embroidered replica of wedding bouquets, or really any special flower or floral arrangement. My work has been recognized by the Knot, Netflix, Martha Stewart dot com, and even in international magazines!
Mastering hand embroidery took me well over a decade, and I am still refining my skills year after year. Hand embroidery is so different from machine embroidery, and it is always important for me that people understand the difference. I personally draw every bouquet/custom design onto fabric and hand stitch every single leaf, flower, and letter. I can build texture, blend colors, and replicate flowers in a way that a machine could never do. I am very proud of my work because it is a true art. In a world where everything is mass produced to end up in landfills, I am specializing in making custom art for people that takes hours upon hours. You cannot buy what I sell in a store because everything I make is made 100% to my customers specifications. I also take custom requests and sell special pieces like embroidered pet portraits, nursery decor, and so much more! I love personalizing shirts and other keepsakes for special occasions as well. As a master of my craft, I know that my customers are going to receive a quality piece of artwork.
What were you like growing up?
I have been drawn to whimsy from a very young age. I have always loved colorful art, making every day things beautiful, taking photos of flowers (or really anything I find pretty). I was very much “indoorsy” and would have rather spent an afternoon inside crafting vs. running around outside. I spent my Friday nights scrapbooking as a teenager, painting on my bedroom floor, or cooking and baking. Becoming a barista was one of my first jobs and it solidified by love for being creative with food and drinks and coming up with unique flavor combinations. These are things that have always brought me joy, and still do today. I like making people laugh and I am a deeply sentimental and sensitive person that feels so lucky to be able to make art that helps people remember really important parts of their life. I have always enjoyed live music and spent a lot of time at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ, going to concerts with friends. I tried to learn how to play the guitar when I was younger, but quickly realized I am not musically inclined. Fortunately for me, it worked out because I found a lot of other things I am really good at!
Pricing:
- Wedding bouquet replicas: start at $175
- Floral name signs start at $165
- Christmas Ornament pricing varies by design.
- Custom design requests are always welcome and are priced according to complexity and size.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimartdesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimartdesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimartdesigns
- Other: Email for Inquiries: hello@kimartdesigns.com
