Kitty Latané, the tinsmith we featured in March, had quite a busy autumn. T&C Latané, the studio she shares with her husband Tom, was featured in the 20th Annual Fresh Art Fall Tour. Kitty and Tom also hosted a filmmaker who was part of the annual Flyway Film Festival, for which Kitty designed a special-edition film reel cookie cutter.
Even more exciting is Kitty being named as a featured artist in the 2018 Julmarknad, a popular holiday market being held this weekend at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thus she is busy in her workshop, designing and producing handcrafted Christmas ornaments, cookie cutters, and other tin treasures, including a number of Scandinavian-inspired designs such as horses and Viking ships. Kitty will be featuring a newly designed cookie cutter in the shape of a Swedish crown, and her traditional tin cookie cutters in the shapes of hearts, ice skates, and mittens along with “all sorts of cute animals” will also be available.
“Every project has its favorite moments, but one of the real joys of any kind of work, and certainly with any craft work, is that when you run into a problem, there is a thrill in getting over that problem. I do like completing a collection of objects and knowing people enjoy them. A new favorite cookie cutter this year is the crown as it will be something distinctive. I do love the mitten cookie cutter, and, I admit, it is fun to work on the animals—especially the pig and the penguin.”
—Kitty Latané
My conversation with Kitty reminded me that her creations are meant to be kept and treasured and that, in a world of temporary and disposable things, she provides objects that are lasting and special. Her perspective on her enjoyment of her work (and of nature) resonates with me. The star ornament she crafted hangs in our kitchen window all year long. Why put it away when I enjoy it no matter the season.
Do you have a beloved seasonal object that you display all year long?
[Photography by Moon Lake Multimedia. All rights reserved.]
Mary
Oh gosh, I may need to get to ASI tomorrow,😀beautiful creations…love.
Susan Clark
Mary, I hope you were able to attend Julemarknad and meet Kitty! I’m enjoying looking at my tin ornaments that are handing in my kitchen window. They look so pretty against the snowy backdrop.