Not only did she sacrifice her body for 3 kids in 36 months ( read that one again), she gave up her teaching career, traveling and her enthusiasm of wine. She was ready to gain her “self” back with high momentum and BOOM : in comes the covid pandemic. Now what? Kate found sanctuary and confidence creating art.
“My greatest lesson is that creativity equals confidence. I found that by tapping back into my creative self at a time when it was very difficult to do so, I found my true self again. I believe art making (and other creative endeavors) offers kids and adults opportunities to be their most confident selves” - Kate Hujer
Read her story here! And follow her and her studio @makingwavesartstudio on IG! Photo Credit : Erin F Photography
What made you start or brought you where you are today ? Tell us your Story. What makes you a Buffalo Boss Babe?
I am a mom to 3 beautiful, energetic, funny, and creative kids (Vera...4, Nala...4, and Victor...2.5). My husband, Tristan, and I created 3 babies in 36 months. Amazing. And so so so exhausting. I’m pretty sure I didn’t sleep for about 4 years. Funny and also SO NOT funny! Having that many littles in such a short amount of time completely consumed me. In good ways and bad. During those early years of parenthood I found my newest passion - creating a family that unapologetically does things our own way. I also gave up A LOT. I gave up teaching to be home with our babies (I taught middle and elementary art in 3 local school districts for a decade. I was really good at it and while I was home I deeply missed designing lessons and teaching kids about the power of creativity). I gave up traveling (pre-kids Tristan and I traveled to Europe regularly. I also took high school and middle school students to Australia and seven countries in Europe in the summers as a delegation leader with the People to People Student Ambassador Program). I gave up formally studying wine (right before having Vera I had passed The Court of Master Sommeliers Level 1 Exam). I gave up making art. I gave up my body. I gave up forward progress. Part of all of the giving up was survival. And part was actively not valuing myself. Hard to say. But true. At the end of 2019, when Victor was starting to sleep through the night, I declared 2020 my year to re-enter the world. How do you think that worked out?! 🤣 After getting through the early months of the pandemic, and honestly suffering mentally, emotionally, and physically from the stress, I decided enough was enough. I needed something. For me. I used my artistic skills and creativity to start creating Art Boxes for kids and adults. I started selling the Boxes at local markets last spring decided to start offering art classes for kids. Last summer I taught lessons in Bidwell Park and this past fall and winter I taught at Little Buffalo Play. Towards the end of 2021 I turned my Art Box business into a subscription service and I now ship all over the U.S. Then at the beginning of 2022 I started feeling that it was time for something something BIG. I felt READY. Ready to combine all of the best versions of myself I've told you about in this story so far - an engaged educator, a present mom and wife, a community builder and a source of creative energy and ideas for others. I started casually looking at spaces around the city and fell in love with my current studio space (285 Parkside) in February. And I'm now PROUD owner of Buffalo's newest creative space for families - Making Waves Art Studio.
Who are your favorite people to follow ?
Locally - @aliceeverafterbooks @littlebuffaloplay @tumblesplaycafe @nickelcity_waxandwane @efferervescenceskincare @thebeardchic @buffaloseamery @jam_parkside @fairycakesbuffalo Outside of Buffalo - LOTS of art studios - @mericherryla @artstrongnyc @flourishstudioandclassroom to name a few
What are your favorite things to do in the area ? Buffalo and greater WNY
So many things. My family and I hit up the Elmwood/Bidwell Market almost week from May - October. My late great uncle helped found The Market and he and my (now 95 year old) grandmother sold their strawberries and vegetables at the market up until just a few years ago. My husband and I love hanging out at all of our amazing cafes - JAM Parkside, Tipico, Remedy House to name a few. I shop almost exclusively at Anna Grace and Modern Nostalgia. My kids and I play at Little Buffalo Play and Tumbles Play Cafe in the winter months and hang out at local playgrounds and parks in the summer.
Tell us about your favorite collaboration or dream collaborations ?
Right now I'm collaborating quite a bit with my neighbor, Alice, Ever After Books. Meg is a former kindergarten teacher, turned children's bookstore owner and working a few storefronts down from her is a dream. This summer we are teaming up to offer 2 Read & Create Camps for kids ages 5 - 8. We'll be doing a story time each morning in the book shop and making art related to the stories we read in the Studio.
If you could have coffee with anyone in the world who would it be?
Brene Brown
What are your hopes, dreams, goals. Big or small?
I want to grow my business to include multiple locations locally, nationwide, worldwide. Also, unrelated to my business I want to one day continue studying wine and travel the world as I learn. I also want to work locally helping solve issues related to homelessness.
Tell us about your family?
I am Mama to 3 beautiful kids. Vera is 5 years old. Nala is 4 years old. Victor is almost 3 years old. And I'm married to Tristan, my partner of 21 years.
FEEL GOOD FAVORITES
Restaurant in Buffalo: Las Puertas
Color: Green
Super Power: A Super Power I have - connecting with kids...A traditional Super Power I wish I had - being invisible
Animal : Elephant
Season of the year: Fall
Favorite thing about Buffalo / WNY: How the culture changes from season to season