Food & Drink
Artist Kristen Loffer Theiss Gets Creative with her Work/Life Balance
How one Mount Vernon mom gets creative
By Seattle Mag May 9, 2013
This article originally appeared in the July 2013 issue of Seattle magazine.
The act of parenting doesn’t allow parents an abundance of time for artistic endeavors. How could it, when you’ve got the life of (at least) one other human to organize in addition to your own? Yet Mount Vernon mom and artist Kristin Loffer Theiss has uncovered a trick to the work/life balance we may all be able to learn from: Draw your children into your creative pursuits so you can actually spend time doing them. Loffer Theiss has a line of plush mobiles, pillows, letterpress prints and clothing based on illustrations she creates freehand on a sewing machine. Along with her artist husband, Chris (view his ceramic sculpture at the new Bainbridge Island Museum of Art through September), Loffer Theiss has instilled a deep love of creativity in their 5-year-old son, Sayer. The budding artist can often be found drawing (he loves making his own maps) and exploring Mount Vernon, amusing proof of which you can follow on Instagram (@kltworks). “Sayer has learned that if he wants or needs something, like a bridge for his car, we can make one rather than go buy one,” Loffer Theiss explains. “He has his own small area to work in in almost every room, including my studio, and it’s not unusual to find all of us drawing, painting or working on a creative project together.” KLTworks products—which range from $12 for a print to $86 for a one-of-a-kind plush doll to $180 for a mobile—can be found online at kltworks.com and at Click! Design That Fits (West Seattle, 4540 California Ave. SW; 206.328.9252)
Follow Us
Seattle Author Wins Pulitzer Prize
Tessa Hulls wins for Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir
Seattle author Tessa Hulls has added a Pulitzer Prize to her growing list of accolades for Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir. The 2025 Pulitzers were announced May 5. Feeding Ghosts won in the “Memoir or Autobiography” category. As Seattle magazine wrote in a profile of Hulls last year, Feeding Ghosts “braids together the narratives of…
These Cultural Landmarks Honor Seattle’s AANHPI Community
Here’s an overview of some notable spots and happenings
The first Asian American immigrants landed in Seattle in the 1860s, just a decade after the city’s founding in 1852. Seattle is plentiful with sites that tell crucial stories about Seattle’s Asian American community, whether you choose to learn about historic neighborhoods and buildings in the International District or browse sculptures and paintings at the…
Book Excerpt: Old White Man Writing
Seattle resident Joshua Gidding examines his own white privilege
In his book, Old White Man Writing, Seattle resident Joshua Gidding attempts to come to terms with his privilege. Gidding grapples with the rapidly changing cultural norms in 21st-century America while examining his own racial biases and prejudices. As Manhattan Book Review notes: “Old White Man Writing is an introspective deep dive into an eventful life…
Glacial Expressions
Local scientist and painter Jill Pelto spotlights climate change in a multi-artist show at Slip Gallery
The divide between the arts and sciences is long-fostered and well-documented. From elementary school onward, children are often singled out for their penchant for math or artistic ability and guided toward classes — and later careers — that align with their right or left brain tendencies. For Jill Pelto — a local climate scientist, painter,…