Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Owens.
Hi Kristin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
As a child, I loved disassembling and reassembling things around the house. My passion for doing something with my hands and mind grew as I got older. I used to dabble with wood here and there after I got home from work, but that all started when I was sleeping on a legit “pallet bed” at my townhouse when I lived in Chattanooga. I decided that the pallets were well overdue, and one of my fraternity brothers inspired me to build my first big project, a floating platform bed. And from there on, I was more interested than ever in learning how to make things. I was a Sales Representative for Sherwin Williams, so I had the privilege of visiting various job sites and seeing the artisans and carpenters at work. After my first year as a Sales Rep, I vowed to be a sponge and soak everything I possibly could while I was with the company. In 2016 I ended up relocating to Memphis, Tennessee, to start a family and intentionally pursue my passion for carpentry. As the year went on, I started getting more inquiries for more extensive and challenging pieces, given my level of craftsmanship at the time. I then decided to turn my Frayser childhood home’s garage into a woodshop I would faithfully be in each day after getting off my full-time job. From there on, it was a lot of sermons, motivational speeches, and a lot of YouTube “how to” videos. Then it clicked that while I was with the company, use the money I was earning to invest in the essential tools I’d need to get started. From then on, I would watch numerous videos and buy the tools being used, then teach myself how to use them to achieve a particular look. From then on, I decided to share the process consistently, got around some other talented craftsmen, and order inquiries started to come in
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 not been smooth, but I’m a firm believer that “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” so I remain steady in my faith and stay consistent through my tough seasons of life. I’ve had various challenges/struggles, from having to work on my craft every day after working my full-time job. The battle of being self-taught and learning from trial and error, ensuring I produced an excellent product for my customers, working in a shop with no heat or air and little to no space. It was also a challenge to learn and charge my worth. I took on marketing pieces (projects I had the opportunity to do but only worked with a specific budget) while ensuring I produced an excellent product for my customers. I appreciate all my challenges because they taught me much about myself and how to do things differently.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a craftsman who creates custom furniture pieces that bring smiles to people’s faces. I’m most proud of being blessed with the opportunity to create a business doing what I love. What sets me apart from others is my determination and drive/ level of patience to allow the process to run its course.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I wanted to be able to have a mentor that I could be transparent with along my journey and be able to ask all the questions I possibly could. When it came to finding mentors, I started off subscribing to various YouTube channels; as time went on, God placed people in my path so that I could pick their brains when it came to a skill set I might not have understood at the time. My advice on finding a mentor is to do the work and ask questions while remaining a sponge as you continue to soak up all the knowledge you possibly can. Someone will see your potential and be willing to help you along the way. People don’t mind helping you as long as they see you are ready to invest the time in yourself.
Contact Info:
- Email: Www.humbledkreations@gmail.com
- Instagram: @HumbledKreationsLLC
