Hello, I'm Kati
Welcome to our house. It's a little crazy with 2 small kids, a dog, a parakeet, a project in progress in every room, and something cooking in the kitchen, but it's home. This is my story of our fun, and a little crazy, DIY life. Join us as we DIY our way to a beautiful home on a budget!
I have a disease I like to refer to as the "I can make that" disease. When I see something I like, I instantly start figuring out how I can create it. I have a measuring tape on my key chain and a sketchbook in my purse so I can document my inspiration wherever it happens.
I've always been a creative person, my mother was that creative mother before the internet and Pinterest. We always had handmade Halloween costumes, green pancakes for St. Patrick's Day, and a month of activities leading up to Christmas. I remember one year my mom got a jig saw for Mother's Day, I didn't know that wasn't normal. Now I realize how she influenced my creativity so much.
I also have a love of cooking, and try to do it mostly from scratch. I desperately wanted to raise my kids with heathy eating habits and a love of new foods so I try to serve a home cooked meal almost every night of the week. Of course, life happens and we get pizza or Chick-Fil-A, but my kids also love to eat zucchini noodles with pesto and kale salads so I consider that a win.
I love trying new recipes.
There are so many amazing recipes on the web that you could never have to cook the same thing twice in your life. However, I usually change things up because I don't have an ingredient or I want to lighten up a dish or I just have something in the fridge that needs to be used up! My husband always laughs when someone asks for a recipe from me because it usually is accompanied with "but I changed it this way...".
My creative journey started in high school where I discovered a love for watercolor painting. Then I went to school for Fashion Design and fell in love with pattern making and fashion sketching. I was a seasoned seamstress because of the years I spent in 4H and learning to sew from, you guessed it, mom!
My love of fashion took me into retail where I spent years as a Regional Manager for a clothing company. I did enjoy my job, but I was spending my time managing not creating. When we started our family, we made it a goal to work towards me being a stay-at-home mom and the summer before my little girl turned 2, we were able to take the plunge. Now that I had "all that free time" being at home with the kids (believe me, I knew I wouldn't have free time but everyone else must have thought I would be watching General Hospital and eating bonbons while the kids sat nicely reading books in my clean house because they kept asking what I had planned to fill up my days after I quit), I was able to start working on the things I so desperately wanted to do (like the remodel that was taking a decade to complete).
After I quit my job I turned to the internet to fuel my creativity. I had always wanted to learn how to use Illustrator and be able to create digitally, but until recently I was struggling to figure it out. I took a Creative Live class by Bonnie Christine of Going Home to Roost and she changed by life! After a few hours, I was creating in Illustrator where I'd never been able to before, then after the course was completed, I was so inspired to jump into my creative journey and run head on into what might come next for me. So here I am!
I'm on a journey to finish all the projects in our house, continue to find healthier ways for our family to live, and just create something!
Join me for this journey, I'm sure there will be lots of fun things to see, some laughs, probably some tears, and a lot of coffee since I seem to be avoiding sleep to get everything done!
Jeanie says
I’m soooo glad that I found you! I love all of the freebie printables and I love that you have provided all of that great content for us. THANK YOU ! I’ve been looking for the answer to this question but haven’t found it . . . I’m assuming that the freebie printables are for personal use only, but I thought I’d check to see if any are available for commercial use. Not like mass production, but to sell a few at a Farmer’s Market or a fund raiser or something. Thanks again for all that you do for us.
Kati says
Hello Jeanie! Thanks so much for your kind words. Yes all the printables are for personal use only. If you are interested in using them to sell, please contact me and we can discuss commercial use licenses.
callwendi says
Hi Katie!
I also purchased the Calendar but cannot figure out how to print it out. Thanks so much!
Kati says
Were you able to download it? If you need me to resend the download button, let me know (or you can log-in to your account). To print it, I like to upload the PDF to my local print shop. I prefer Staples for this large calendar. Their engineering prints are a great price and work perfect for the giant calendar.
Ashley says
I purchased the calendar but can not find how to get the download to print it 🙁
Kati says
Hello Ashley! I just sent you an email with the order details and new download links. Let me know if you don’t see it.
Becky Arneth says
I want to get to the place where I can download printables…BUT …I do not remember my password and see no place where it offers me a choice if I forgot it…i love your stuff and ideas..please advise..Becky
Kati says
No worries Becky, I include the password in the bottom of each newsletter just in case you forget 😉
Wendi Garcia says
Hi Kati!
I’m trying to preorder one of the DIY kits (SO exciting!) But my address keeps popping up without my apartment number, and I can’t figure out how to change it. Thanks so much!
Kati says
I am trying to figure out what is going on, but it looks like it should be working. If you want to place the order without the apartment number, then reply to the confirmation email with your apartment number, I will make sure to manually type that into the address when shipping. And I will see if I can figure out this bug. Thanks!
Carol@BlueskyatHome says
Kati, in spite of missing the deadline and being almost there, I think you did a fantastic job. Love your bold use of blue on the cabinets and the cool backsplash. I’m posting a ORC roundup on June 6th of kitchen transformations and you are on my list. Congrats on a job well done.
Kati says
Thank you so much Carol! I might have been a little too ambition with the complete kitchen remodel in such a short time 😉
Laura Hernandez says
Hi KATI! I have tried and tried to get into the library according to the directions posted in comments, but it just takes me to huge domain.com. Help? ????????
Laura Hernandez says
Also I cannot get into it through me email
Laura says
Thanks for being so nice and helpful. I did finally get into the library.
Blessings,
Laura
Kati says
So sorry! I am wondering if you accidentally clicked on one of the ads to take you to that website. No clue why else it would do that. Click here and then enter the password you received in your welcome email. Let me know if you have any other problems and I can help you out!
Kristina Herz says
Hello I originally had the download for the paper lanterns in my silhouette but appears to have disappeared have you removed them from the site or can I get the link again. Have had many problems with log in etc. Needed lanterns for upcoming party, please help
Kati says
So sorry about the troubles Kristina. Once you sign up for the weekly newsletter, you will get an email with the password and link to the library (double check that it didn’t accidentally go to your junk folder). And if you ever forget, I also include the password in the bottom of the newsletter that is sent out every Thursday.
Mikki says
I am trying to access the library, but I am having difficulty. Can you please assist.
Kati says
So sorry about that Mikki. You can access the library here: https://housefulofhandmade.com/subscriber-library/.
Brandy says
I have spent way longer than id like to admit trying to get the mermaid prinatables. Ive signed up and searched and searched and I cannot find a link for the invitation. The only thing I find is the blog for the party (which is so crazy adorable btw)
Ive used my phone and my computer and still cant find it.
Kati says
You will need to go to https://housefulofhandmade.com/subscriber-library/. There you can enter your password and find all the printables, just click on the links below the picture of the party.
Michele Trow says
My password is not working. Can you help?
Kati says
I’ll send you an email Michele!
Michelle says
I think the statement “I can make that” is just a natural for those with creative minds! I know I catch myself saying the same thing, especially when I check the price tag for those items. Your mother getting a jig saw for Mothers Day is great, I have asked for one myself. lol One day I will have that dream room with ALL my craft materials and tools.. one day I am still holding on for it.
Kati says
Ha ha! I agree, it is just second nature to creatives. Hopefully you can start getting some fun tools and have a craft room to create in!
Kelli Este says
You have really inspired me! Now all my creative juices are screaming at me to get started. Will you please list the name of the class you used to learn illustrator? Or possibly a link?
I am a disabled nurse and a very crafty mom. I have tons of ideas, but my body doesn’t have any gas to keep up with my mind. Maybe I could create in illustrator, and others can bring my ideas to life? That would be Awesome!!
Kati says
I am so happy to inspire you Kelli! I took a surface pattern design from Bonnie Christine (her website is goinghometoroost.com). She shared the class at creativemarket.com and also on skillshare.com (plus more classes). She broke down all the basics of Illustrator and then went into details about creating an pattern with your design. Very inspiring. I hope can you find a way to use your creativity!
Kelli Este says
Yay!!! I read your were using illustrator and I wondered where you learned. You definitely know how to help a girl out!! Thank you again my new friend!! I will let you know how it turns out for me. ?
Kati says
Good luck! It takes a minute to get comfortable, but keep going because it will get easy I promise.
Petra Botha says
I LOVE this website because I have the same disease. I’m retired and have all the time to create something. Thank you.
Kati Farrer says
Thanks so much Petra! I hope you are enjoying all the extra hours to create.
Lissette says
My dream goal to be able to retire to craft…one day! Really like the crafty vibes 🙂
Kati says
That sounds like the perfect goal! Crafting is life 🙂
Cathy says
I love this idea and can’t wait to sew one up. I did however find a 96×72 and a 108×72 liner. For us, I think the larger size will work better..
Kati Farrer says
The size I made works well, but a larger size would be awesome! I just bought mine at Target and learned later that you can find larger sizes of the liners online or in specialty stores. I’d love to see pictures when you are done 🙂
Sandra Allen says
I have the same disease!! I pinned and liked you and would love to exchange ideas from time to time. If you would like to visit my site it’s http://www.miss-elaine-yus.com (get it…Misc).
I bore my friends and family to tears sometimes with ‘no don’t buy that I can make it for almost nothing’…
Love the site. Sandi
Kati Farrer says
Nice to meet a kindred spirit Sandra! I think my husband gets annoyed with me saying “I cam make that” because I usually don’t have time to make it all. Thanks so much for visiting,
Kati
(PS Love your website name!)
Lynne says
What password? How do I find it? I can’t access free prints WHY?
Kati Farrer says
I’m so sorry about the confusion. The Library of Free Downloads is a gift for my email subscribers. You can subscribe by entering your name and email in the link in my sidebar. You will get the password after you confirm your email.