We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Catherine Masi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Catherine below.

Catherine , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the decision of whether to donate a percentage of sales to an organization or cause – we’d love to hear the backstory of how you thought through this.

The mission behind my life and work has always overlapped – creating a harmonious home, for example, also nurtures a harmonious life. When we experience a safe haven and refuge, it is more likely that to fortify our well-being and nourish our ability and desire to connect with the world around us in the most positive and support ways…volunteering, donating, participating in community events, being there for others, that sort of thing. My work revolves around my life purpose … guiding clients to transform the design flow and beauty in their lived spaces, design and plan charitable fundraising events to highlight and donate to local non-profits, and I curate a weekly design and creativity newsletter that boosts inspiration and hope. When the world feels daunting, I look to the light of hope to be reminded of the good in humanity. A portion of my design services and newsletter profits is donated to a myriad of local, national, and global organizations that help struggling communities thrive. And every cent of profits from the fundraising events goes to select non-profits (they are always a labor of love for me). Some organizations supported have been Foster Love (a national non-profit that supports youths in the foster system), Hospice (support services for those impacted by terminal illness or grieving the loss of a loved one), Gwendolyn’s Playground (an inclusive playground fully accessible to disabled and able-bodied alike), Transition House (an organization that helps unhoused families transition into safe housing and steady employment), World Central Kitchen (immediately feeding communities impacted by natural disasters and humanitarian crises), and more. We are all connected and my life is fuller when I step outside of myself to contribute to the broader good.

Catherine , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

At the core of my personal life and career purpose is to create a welcoming and inclusive space for friends, family, and the communities around me. I receive such pleasure when friends, family, and clients visit my home and leave feeling seen, heard, loved, comforted, inspired, hopeful (and well fed…I credit that to my Italian heritage!). When I help to guide clients with ways to transform the flow and beauty of their space and they send follow-up messages sharing how they feel an elevated love for their home and next-level excitement and inspiration…this lights me up. Sharing bits and bobs of design and creativity in the weekly Light and Muse newsletter and receiving testimonials from readers on how it has sparked ideas and gave them hits of hope…the best feeling. And truly the greatest joy of hosting fundraising events – aside from money raised, of course- is witnessing a community of women from all different backgrounds come together, enjoy a beautiful and fun few hours, form friendships, united in a cause that supports a thriving community…it is a natural high that I will never feel desensitized to. My company, Light and Muse, is about love, hope, and inspiration. My job is finding more ways to share this with more people…a ripple effect, fingers crossed!

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had learned earlier on about the benefits of a good nap. I’ve been working since I was 11 years old and honestly it’s been non-stop for decades. I am just this year learning to take weekends off! Being a small business owner means that if I don’t do the work, it won’t get done. But what I am now realizing is that taking longer breaths of time to rest is the most restorative and loving and nurturing thing to do for self and career. Take those breaks, friends. Life and work become more manageable and inspiring. A worthy cause.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Failure is ultimately a form of success, if you play your cards right (meaning, keep an eye on the lessons). I recently told a friend that I’ve had many failures throughout my career and she seemed surprised. When I designed accessories, for example, some collections didn’t sell well at all. I think creative entrepreneurs in particular take this knockdown especially hard because the creative work and the creative heart are interwoven- it feels like a personal failure (which, ugh.) And when you’re an empath and giver like me, the resulting vibe is full on depletion. BUT. I wouldn’t trade any of it- in hindsight- because the lessons and growth of accountability have been intensely powerful catalysts for change for the better. I have found more peace in the failures and in letting them go in favor of redirecting toward a more illuminated path. Come to find out, there’s courage in risking failure and peace in scoping out the light through the cracks.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.LightandMuse.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/CatherineMasi
• Other: Substack design and creativity newsletter: https://catherinemasi.substack.com

Image Credits
Leela Cyd Edward Clynes