Rising Stars: Meet Kamara

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamara.  

Kamara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Co-founded in December 2022, Dirty Hands-Free Mind has focused heavily on attending markets and vendor events. The company is founded on the idea that connecting to your inner self and the earth through creativity promotes mental wellness. I am an artist selling sustainable handmade items with an emphasis on woodwork, sculpting, and painting. I also accept commissions and offer art classes. I have been creating all my life but just recently started selling as Dirty Hands-Free Mind. Everything is sourced and made locally by me. I use a variety of power and hand tools. The company launched with a 3-weekend market in December 2022 and jumped on an opportunity to have a pop-up storefront for the last 2 weeks of December. Since the ending of the pop-up shop, the business has been at vendor events, farmers markets, pop-up markets, festivals, as well as online. The business is rapidly building a following and community while traveling across Michigan and Ontario. 

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 biggest obstacle thus far has been choosing a name. Both my partner Kelsey and I have been artistic and creative since childhood, and I’ve always known I wanted to go into business with my art, but I wanted a name that encompasses how creating makes me feel and how I create with a variety of mediums and products. I would have started the business sooner had the name come to me. My partner and I worked on jewelry inventory for over a year, struggling to choose a name before we could launch the business. Once we finally decided on Dirty Hands-Free Mind, things just took off! 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have troubles working on just one thing at a time, so I’m usually working on several mediums at once. I do woodworking, which right now is primarily wooden vases, jewelry boxes, and wooden jewelry. I also make beaded jewelry and resin jewelry. I paint in multiple ways, such as on canvas, on wood, and virtually. I also sculpt with clay and make candles. I also make paper and do photography. I’m currently learning metalwork and leatherwork and plan to learn glasswork in the future. The combination of my work being handmade, sustainable, and diverse really sets me apart because most artists stick to only 1 or 2 mediums, and very few focus on recycling and repurposing nature and other materials. I reclaim the majority of my wood and forage for it myself; I also sift for rocks, fossils, and minerals to add to my jewelry. When customers request custom commissions, they truly get a one-of-a-kind piece. 

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
In simplest terms, success is doing what I love every day and actually making a profit. To be able to work full-time as an artist is a huge blessing, and every sale pushes my imposter syndrome further away. One of my favorite ways to measure success is by the way I make people feel. Customers often comment on the energy my art exudes, how they can tell I’m hard working, and that my products are made with love. Seeing people get excited and giddy over something I made and hearing their kind thoughts really makes my day. The way my art makes people feel can be really breathtaking to me. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dirtyhandsfreemind.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/dirtyhandsfreemind?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088652522830&mibextid=ZbWKwL