Welcome! My name is Kathryn Rodenbach, my friends and family know me as Kate. I have had a lifelong interest in art cultivated at a very early age. I grew up in a small town in rural Illinois in a family where creativity was always encouraged. My formative years were spent pursuing various arts and crafts including painting, making greeting cards, papermaking, bookmaking and beaded jewelry. Landing a job in registration at the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 1996 was a dream come true. I found endless sources of inspiration in the varied collections, but could not find the time to pursue my artistic endeavors. After five years with the IMA my contract ended and I found myself between positions and looking for a creative outlet. I began taking classes at the Indianapolis Art Center in various media and decided I would pursue my painting. I joined CCA Gallery in Zionsville, IN in 2008 and began to sell my paintings to the public through the gallery and various art fairs. This was moderately successful, but still not quite what I was looking for. I started making jewelry to sell and began experimenting with making little beaded figures which lead to a line of bead people I call "Beadkins". Looking around my studio one day I wondered if there was some way I could combine all of my skills learned over the years into one art form and use some of the many interesting things I had "hoarded" over the years. I have always loved anything with wings so I decided the figures would probably be fairies. When I added recycled and vintage pieces to the mix I developed what is now known as "Junk Fairies". These whimsical figures now come in all shapes and sizes and sit, hang or stand on their own. I am having a blast making them - when they are finished I give them a name and a short biography. They continue to evolve - it will be interesting to see where this artistic journey takes me next! I will keep you posted!