Ep 103: Kathleen Wille - High Five Lemon and the Gift of Almost Perfect
Kathleen Willie is the artist behind High Five Lemon, a jewelry line rooted in stones, feeling, and the beauty of things that don’t need to meet someone else’s idea of perfect in order to be deeply loved.
In our conversation, Kathleen shares the story behind the name High Five Lemon, which began with her beloved pug, Lemon, who had been passed over for the show ring but was everything to Kathleen. That thread of seeing value where others might overlook it carries beautifully into the way Kathleen talks about her work, her love of stones with personality, and the handmade details that remind us something was shaped by a real person.
Kathleen is also a creative director in advertising, so creativity is woven into her life in more than one way. But metalsmithing has given her something different. A place to make with her hands, trust her eye, and follow the pull of a stone without forcing it to become anything other than what it wants to be.
This episode is a warm and honest conversation about custom work, perfectionism, pricing, creative boundaries, finding your voice, and the vulnerability that comes with sharing work that feels deeply personal.
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Kathleen on Instagram: @high5lemon
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