About me Katty! and how I Started Koi Infinity
I graduated with a degree in Fine Arts and a minor in art history from FIU, though i originally studied biology, 3 years in, with only the chemistry requirements to finish i decided to go all in on myself and switch to fine arts. It was my passion, and that's when you know your purpose in life, and oftentimes it is what you enjoyed doing as a child. My thesis graduation project was a stop motion film that I wrote. I built the puppets and sets, took the photo stills, edited them to make a moving picture and even recorded and edited the sounds for it. It was a lot of trial and error and learning the craft, tools, and computer programs. That film ended up winning the Betty Laird Perry Project and the Frost Art Museum purchased it, and that is when i felt like all the hard work and risk i took switching career was the right direction for me because, when you truly set yourself for what you want, the whole universe conspires to give it to you, you just have to trust in the process, and believe in yourself and your dreams, right Luffy? I had a few more art shows after graduation, but it was during quarantine that I opened my online business Koi Infinity and started posting and selling things I made, things I can see myself wearing or using, and from there I kept growing.
I grew up working in my family's small business, my parents own a feng shui shop in Miami, I've worked there my whole life, we're a family business. I find joy in making my own things, I enjoy the process of it. I want to live a creative life, so I opened up my shop Koi Infinity during Covid, a shop for the jewelry and sunglasses I make using crystals, gems, and wire. I applied my knowledge of running a business to my creative pursuits and it was also a medium to keep me sane while we were in quarantine and the future was uncertain. I started making wire wrapped sunglasses and wire wrapped uterus pendants and I enjoyed the different possibilities I was creating for people who truly enjoyed wearing what I made. I did this for a few years making original designs and custom work and then for my 1 year anniversary with my boyfriend I pondered on what I should give him. I remembered when we first started dating that he sent me a video of a bouquet of kittens and he said this is what I want, and we both laughed. I thought about how I could make a bouquet for a man and one specifically for him. My boyfriend also loves anime and One Piece is his favorite and that is how i made my first bouquet, the one piece kitty bouquet. When the day came I gifted it to him and I saw how his face lit up. He was so happy and it made me so happy to see him that way. Something in me wanted to explore the idea of making these available for other people looking for anime bouquets, niche bouquets, or even bouquets for men. So I posted images of the bouquet I made for him and purchased enough material for 2 more bouquets and within days it sold. I was shocked and grateful. I felt inspired and motivated to create more designs, I had many ideas for original bouquets and I started working. I was excited and motivated to create new designs and post them as soon as I could, and I was getting good reviews and feedback, but most importantly I was happy reading how my bouquets were part of people’s special moments and memories. I was blessed at how my bouquets brought happiness. I was seeing so much love in the world, people telling me why they were purchasing the bouquet, how special the person was to them, and it was just beautiful seeing how thoughtful people are and how much they pay attention to their loved ones. It is the first time in my life that I felt fulfillment in my career. I found my path in life and most importantly my artwork was bringing happiness to people. I changed the direction of Koi Infinity, and my plush bouquet store began and I see it as being in the business of helping spread happiness, gratitude, and thoughtfulness to the special moments we hold dear to our hearts, the moments you look back with a smile and warmth, plus I get to be creative. And it is healing for both myself and the customer.