Photo by Molly Harrell

Katie Runnels

If I had a vanity plate on my car, it would say: Ihatevntyplts

I can’t live without: hugs, family, green space, dogs and cats

What keeps me awake at night: my finances, animal cruelty, the war

My work: Mixed-media Art

I am most proud of: being self-employed

I am guilty of: using original personal photographs in artwork. Sorry, mom!

My blog:www.theconstantgatherer.blogspot.com

Favorite web sites:design*sponge, Flickr, Etsy, shopSCAD, mine!

My favorite possession: A large daisy afghan my grandmother made from a kit in the sixties.

My favorite body part: My hands.

I’m thinking about: How to be a more responsible consumer-especially where food is concerned.

Just finished reading: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

Words I live by: “Be a lamp or a lifeboat or a ladder.” -Rumi

My family: Husband, Jon. Cat, Midas.

My hometown: Fayetteville, Arkansas.

My passion:  Helping homeless animals.

One thing I never want to do again: Work for a large institution.

Last major purchase: Imac and Photoshop

The one item that has changed my life:Matte medium.

My theme song:Steppin’ Out by Michelle Shocked.

The food I could eat every day: Chips and salsa.

The most important thing I ever lost: Henry, my three-legged pug of ten years.

My best friend says I am: Passionate, giving, and creative.

I still can’t get the hang of: Balancing my checkbook.

I wish I’d known: That I needed to learn how to balance my checkbook.

The world would be a better place, if only:  People would do their research and be more proactive.

I’d like to learn to:  Enjoy exercise again.

Something most people don’t know about me: I have battled depression since I was in junior high or that I am passionate about animal rights. (is that too much??)

My mother always said: Be nice to everyone and make a new friend today!

The smartest woman I know:  (from TV) Suze Orman.

Always...adopt your pets.

Never...try to do it all yourself!