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Artist Kristen Loffer Theiss Gets Creative with her Work/Life Balance
How one Mount Vernon mom gets creative
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)
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