Minnesota woman runs successful jewelry business two years after heart transplant

MINNEAPOLIS – From her home office in Victoria, Minnesota, Katie White is working on a job she never intended.

In 2022, White received a heart transplant and a visit to Mayo’s Art at the Bedside program that would ultimately change the trajectory of her life.

Two years ago, White started a company — Katie White Designs — that sold her clay earrings in boutiques in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Now the business world is booming.

“I would say we’re in 20, 25 stores in the Twin Cities and Wisconsin, so it’s pretty big,” White said.

Her work is now sold at Statement Boutique in the North Loop of Minneapolis and at LaRose & Co. in Chanhassen – just to name a few.

“She came in and I couldn’t believe she had just had a heart transplant, and they were beautiful. I think I bought them all,” said Sarah LaRose, co-owner of LaRose & Co.

White had just received a new heart when she started making jewelry from her Mayo Clinic room.

“I feel really good, really strong, stronger than I’ve been my whole life,” White said.

She is also busier. White had to hire five women to meet the demand.

“This process showed me that I had no business experience. I had no jewelry making experience, and I just kept going and that’s the thing, you have to keep going,” White said. “I think having that experience makes you realize that there’s no reason not to try something because the worst that can happen is that it doesn’t work out and you just do something else that makes you happy.”

In this case, she succeeded with a job that paid her even more than her heart desired.

White also sells her lightweight earrings, made for women of all ages, online.

If you want to see her work in person, there are several options in the Twin Cities this month. On December 9, White will be at Meeting Point Holiday Market in Rosemount. Then you can find her at the European Christmas market in St. Paul on December 13 and 15. She will be on Santa Clause Lane in Chanhassen on December 14 and 15. On December 19th you can find her amazing earrings at Carver Junk Company in Chaska.