In Conversation with a Super Mom - Jenna Katz
A voyage through her inspiring"cabinet of curiosities", about the beauty of being tucked away in the Topanga canyon, chicken coops, making jewelry and playing ice cream shop with her daughter.
Jenna and I met in 2018 as coworkers and instantly became friends. We traveled, made floral arrangements, organized trunk shows, put up fair booths, and sold jewelry together. I eventually went back to fashion merchandising and she started Jenna Katz Fine Jewelry. I saw her bloom in her own business as she started building the foundation of her brand, heirloom after heirloom, and I couldn’t be happier for her.
Her creative universe is so inspiring and calming. A blend of nature, craftsmanship, art, and architecture, with vintage references to fuel her warm vibe and aesthetic. She always has an eye for the small niche artist and she is also the cool mum who knows how to keep a good work-life balance, led by simplicity.
Tell us your story—How and when did you become a mom?
JK: I gave birth a week after my 31st birthday. I almost shared a birthday with my 1-year-old daughter, Lyle. Surprisingly becoming a mom wasn’t something I always dreamed of. I never really grew up wanting kids, and I didn’t have much experience being around them. But as my friends started having kids, I couldn’t help feeling pressured that it was the right thing to do. So it happened quite fast and naturally even though we had to face unexpected challenges.
When we first decided we wanted to start trying to get pregnant, my OB recommended a genetic panel and we discovered that both my partner and I were carriers of cystic fibrosis. The medical advice was to do IVF to avoid any difficult decisions, but a friend who’s a genetic counselor suggested trying naturally since I was young and we could test the placenta at 12-15 weeks. We knew there was a 25% chance, so I took the risk and it was an emotional process, but we were lucky and my daughter wasn’t impacted.
Now, thinking about a second child, it feels more emotionally charged because we understand the stakes more deeply. I was raised with two sisters and love the energy of a big family, but I also understand why many people choose to have just one child, in our modern world it’s a lot.
Motherhood and Lifestyle
You live in Topanga, one of the most special pockets of LA. Make us dream—what’s a typical day like up there tucked away into the woods?
JK: I grew up in Brentwood, but my partner is from Topanga, and his parents live just down the street. It’s the perfect mix of being in nature and up in the mountains but still close to the city. Fridays are my favorite, I take Lyle to the farmers market in the morning, and then we go to the community center and to the park. It makes for such a fun and wholesome start to the day.
We’re not fully immersed in the Topanga community since we also spend a lot of time with friends and family in other parts of LA, but I love the rhythm of life here. Our basement is a playroom, we love to cook, and we have a sauna, which has become my little weekly retreat. We take walks with our dog and are currently renovating the garden. I’m not into growing my veggies because gophers and pests drive me crazy, and I prefer to support local farmers.
That said, I really want a chicken coop. We babysat our neighbor’s chickens and pig recently, and it was so much fun: feeding them, taking care of them with the kids, and seeing the full cycle of composting food scraps and getting fresh eggs. We have also a little pond so we have three chickens and two ducks on the way!
I love the buzz of the city, but I also like coming home to the quiet. Canyon Gourmet has the best wine and snacks, and Endless Color is our go-to for pizza—it’s super kid-friendly. But we don’t eat out a ton with Lyle yet; home is where we prefer to be.
How would you describe your parenting style, and what has surprised you most about motherhood?
JK: I try to be laid-back as much as possible, I don’t want to be a helicopter mom. It came naturally in some ways, but I do have to remind myself to relax and let things unfold. My biggest challenge is patience. Walker, my partner, is much more patient, which helps balance things out. I try to follow Lyle’s lead, she’s so independent and strong-willed.
The biggest surprise has been how natural it feels. No one prepares you for how hard it is, but also for how intuitive it becomes. I was never a “kid person,” I even asked my mom if I’d love my baby as much as I love my dog when I was pregnant. And then, of course, it just clicked.
Motherhood is constant change, you learn to roll with it. Every stage has new challenges. Pregnancy and birth are so raw, but in a way they do prepare you for the intensity of what’s to come.
How do you and your partner share parenting duties? Any struggles or tips?
JK: We split things pretty evenly. I do most of the tidying and picking up toys etc, and he does more deep cleaning. He loves to cook, and we tag-team for evening routine, he baths her, and I put her to bed. We try to eat dinner together as a family at least three times a week.
I have a shorter fuse and sometimes get overwhelmed. When that happens, I just say it. I’ll tell Walker I need a break. The mental load of managing childcare, school, activities, social life, and work falls on me and sometimes it’s a lot.
I’m self-employed, and my work is a great reset for me. Long weekends or vacations with no structure can feel exhausting, so I make sure to plan little breaks, dinners with friends, facials, and solo nights at home. I don’t feel guilty about needing time for myself. I try to be fully present when I get this time off, whether it is with my family or alone.
I used to do TM (Transcendental Meditation), and it had a huge impact on me. I don’t make time for it now, but maybe I’ll return to it. These days, my morning coffee is my meditation. I wake up early, sit with my coffee, and just breathe before the day starts.
What’s one mom hack that has saved your sanity?
JK: Always having snacks on me. She loves to eat and I make these easy popsicles from coconut milk and fruit smoothies so I can finish my dinner in peace while she happily enjoys her “ice cream”
And my slow cooker! I make one big batch of meat a week and repurpose it into different meals. Such a lifesaver.
One thing you swore you’d never do as a mom but do now?
JK: I really wanted to make sure everything she eats is perfectly healthy, but as she is a really good eater I became more relaxed around snacks and treats and the occasional cupcake or french fries.
On being a Mom and Business Owner
How did you start your fine jewelry brand, and where do you find your inspiration?
JK: I’ve always loved jewelry. I started working with Polly Wales, took some classes, and set up a small home studio. During COVID, I experimented more, and things grew organically. I didn’t intend to create a business at first, it was just something I loved doing and people started reaching out for custom work, that is how the brand was born.
I get inspired by ancient and vintage jewelry, architecture, and nature. Usually, i'll have an idea come to me, then i'll just sketch it out and make it. I don’t overthink it. The process of bringing a design to life is incredibly gratifying to me.
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Has motherhood changed, slowed or enhanced your creative process at all?
JK: Travel is one of my biggest inspirations, but motherhood has made me appreciate my creative work even more. It keeps me grounded and connected to myself. It keeps my mind busy from the baby day to day.
What’s the biggest challenge of balancing motherhood and work?
JK: As for all of us the biggest challenge is finding “The Time” to do everything. I don’t mix work and parenting, I either work, or I’m with Lyle. Multitasking between the two stresses me out. So I have been trying to make a clear separation. This is why I don't make any jewelry at home, instead, I commute to my downtown studio 3 times a week.
I know it is a topic that you have always been curious about, what are your thoughts on daycare and have they evolved since becoming a mother?
JK: I was influenced by you to try daycare, and turns out I loved it! We started when she was 6 months old. I like the fact that she is around other kids, learn to share, and do different activities. It is not very common in my circle of friends or the US in general. A lot of the moms have nannies or are just stay-at-home moms until the kids are old enough to start preschool around two years old. Our daycare closed after the fires, so now we have a nanny to help us when I am downtown, but Lyle will start preschool in September. She meets up with other nannies for social time at the park and library so she still gets some social time which is the thing I liked the most about her being at daycare.
What piece of jewelry you’ve made holds the most meaning for you?
JK: A ring I made as a push present for myself. It became the inspiration for my logo and overall branding it features a Lily.
What’s next for you—both as a mom and a designer?
JK: I am focusing on finishing our house that was designed by Walker, it’s been a long project. I also want to take Lyle on an international trip to explore. We went to Greece when she was 10 months old so thinking about Asia this time.
Business-wise, I’m focused on steady and organic growth. I don’t want things to scale too fast; I just want to keep creating in a way that allows flexibility; work but also time for my daughter.
Jenna Special Mom Edit:
Something for Bebe
A cute brand: For cool handmade patchwork pants
A Kid's book: Love the illustrations of Gorilla by Anthony Browne
A toy: A sink that recycles water and captures attention for a good amount of time!
Something I swear by: A snacking cup for walks in our neighborhood
Something for Mama
A podcast: Boob to food on all motherhood topics
A show: I love a good crime series or thriller, Mr Inbetween and The Day of Jackal
A Self-care idea - A face mask in the sauna, can’t beat 15 min of silence, and a nice cold shower afterward.
A date night idea: A dinner at RVR in Venice.
A fashion item: Basic tees from Flore Flore
A favorite self-care spot, the barrel sauna
Something for Casa
Ceramics by Rebekah Miles
A slow cooker gifted by my mom
Something to Eat
This Brisket is an amazing and really easy recipe that my mom makes, and we started making it too. Something we all love to eat, we make in the morning and is ready by the evening, and perfect for leftovers.
Thank you for being so open, honest, and real.
I love doing these interviews. Each of us has a story to tell, and I hope they resonate with you as much as they do with me.
If you need an amazing push present or any custom jewelry, Jenna is your girl!
Much Love,
Xxx
Marina
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Love it 😘
ravie de mieux connaitre Jenna!