We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Morstad a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kate, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I have always been a creative, but I never dreamed I could use my artistry to create a career. Especially this late in life.

I was raised to be practical, so I went to college, got a degree, and got a respectable job in the financial industry.

But I’ve always been creating on the side, whether it be art for friends, custom cakes, playing piano, teaching dance…whatever I could do to keep the creative juices flowing.

Just last year, I made a hat for myself and wore it out to a local concert. Several people asked where I got it. One friend asked if I could make her one. And then another, and another, and before I knew it I had sold fifteen hats in four months without even trying.

So here I am at fifty six, working in the stock market by day, making hats by night. And hiring a marketing director. And creating a Facebook Marketplace. And then a website. And taking custom orders. And doing photo shoots. And loving every minute of it.

Why did I wait so long to begin this adventure? Because I had no idea that it was one I wanted to take until I was already on it. And now the wheels are spinning so fast, I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

I have been researching events where my hats may be popular, and I’ve figured out if I do three or four of these events a year, I can quit my day job and be a full time creative! I never dreamed that was possible.

So there you have it, living proof that it’s never too late to follow your dreams, even if you don’t know what they are yet. They’ll find you, if you let them, just like MIle High Hattitude found me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

MIle HIgh Hattitude was born out of a happy accident.

I have been creative for as long as I can remember. I started studying piano and ballet at five, was writing plays with my neighbor in elementary school, and have always been involved in the arts throughout my education.

I began my college studies as a graphic designer, but was quickly talked out of it for being impractical. So I chose a “practical” career, but continued my artistic passions in my free time.

I tried making a go as a cake decorator, but the timing made it difficult while working a full time desk job.

Last year I saw someone wearing a hat that I absolutely loved. I asked where they got it, and when I saw the price I felt a bit of sticker shock. And I realized I could probably make the hat myself.

So I headed of to the craft store and the thrift store in search of the parts. And I had so much fun doing it, realizing I could put anything I wanted on this hat to make it uniquely mine.

When I wore the hat out in public for the first time, I received so many compliments and inquiries as to where I bought it.

One friend asked me to make a custom hat for her, so I threw myself into it, and she was very happy with the results. I made a few more hats and put them on Marketplace, and they sold within days.

At this point I realized I may be onto something. I spoke with a friend who is a marketing director, and she helped me put together the brand. We came up with a name, a logo, and a website, and Mile High Hattitude was born.

While I do enjoy making designs that I come up with on my own, the best part of this endeavor is finding the elements to make custom orders come to light. It is so fun to create hats as unique as my client’s personalities.

Every hat that I make is one of a kind, using a lot of found objects, with a lot of hand painted elements. I think that’s what makes the Mile High Hattitude brand unique; no one else will ever have a hat exactly like yours.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I was told from a young age that it is nearly impossible to have a career as a creative. And I believed it.

After years of working a nine to five, I have finally realized, those who told me that were wrong. And it is my goal to prove them wrong. And I finally believe enough in my art to believe that I can do it.

They say do what you love and the money will follow. I finally understand what they meant.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

The fun part of my journey has been making custom hats for non-creatives, because they get to have their input into what the final product will look like.

So in a way they get to take part in the creative process, which they may not have gotten to experience before. And in the end they get a one-of-a-kind hat that reflects their personality!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.milehighhattitude.com
• Facebook: Mile High Hattutde
• Other: [email protected]