A beacon of courage and care stands Kate Jones, owner of Om Shanti Handcrafts.
“I spent fifteen years married to a man who said he loved me - and did all he could to make me afraid, unsure of myself, and thoroughly dependent on him for everything. I finally got up the gumption to leave, just over three years ago, and moved [from Pennsylvania to Longmont, Colorado] to start over.”

While trying to remember how to be herself and “not this guy’s wife,” Kate had some ups and downs during her first moments in Colorado. Working several jobs that left her longing for a more satisfactory way of making a living, Kate finally decided that she should take something she loved and put it to work. Thanks to a friend that she had met through the Society for Creative Anachronism (a historical reenactment group founded in 1966, with the aim of studying and recreating pre-17th century Western European cultures and their histories) in college, Kate had lots of herbs and essential oils that needed to be put to use!

Kate’s interest in herbal lore has lead her to owning her own business creating unique bath salts, salves, body scrubs, lip balms, soaps, and other pampering and medicinal products that she researches and tests on herself or other willing “victims.” Kate describes her products as “100% natural, simple, luxurious, relaxing, pampering, and necessary.” Kate does her best to keep ingredients local as well - she even trades with a nearby apiary for beeswax and honey. For now, Kate gets her herbs from the local herb shop, but she states she will have her own garden soon! Due to his charm and charisma that helps attract new customers to her products when she’s at events, Kate has enlisted Loiosh (her cat) as her Vice President of Marketing.

Kate’s passion and courage has helped her become the woman she is today, “I've learned a lot and I've grown a lot, and it hasn't been easy, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything!”