KATHERINE WOLF @KATADELLIC for LEAF NATION

What was your journey to working with resin as a medium? Art has always been an escape for me, but I started working with resin in 2016. I was doing a ceramics project in college and wanted to incorporate mixed media – my art teacher recommended I try out this thing called ‘resin.’ I bought some, watched tutorials online and was like, ‘Woah. This is kind of cool. I want to do this.’ I suddenly was no longer interested in ceramics at all and actually dropped out of college during that time because I became so focused on working with resin.

How did you get your start in your niche of making miniatures? I started focusing really hard on the scale model aspect in 2020. I had been serving tables and doing art on the side forever, and I would have a breakfast shift, come home and work on a project, then post whatever I did that day. I didn’t even think of it. I was just consistently sharing with the world, ‘Hey, this is what I'm working on. This is something I'm excited about.’ One of my pictures went viral and I think other people saw what I was doing and thought it was unique – so they would share it, and it just kept growing from there. Then the pandemic hit and I didn’t want to serve anymore, and thought maybe it was time to just focus on my art. I bought a website and started posting like crazy. That’s when companies started noticing me and being like, ‘Hey, this is cool. Would you make minis of our product?’ I had this moment where I was like, ‘Oh, I can do this!’ So that's kind of how it all started.

Where do you draw inspiration from, and how does Cannabis play a role in your artistic process? Almost everything I've done has had something to do with a small version of weed stuff. I’ve always been really intrigued by Cannabis. These days, I’m inspired by Japanese resin techniques because they’re a lot more in-depth than the ones here. In the U.S., a resin pour is just one thing in a mold – but in Japanese culture, they’ll be inspired by all these little details. It’s about as much detail as you can put into one little space. It’s almost gaudy. And I was like, ‘I like that. I want to do that, but I want it to be inspired by my own stuff.’ levelheady.com | @levelheady

What would you say is fun about you and your art? I just love fun! I genuinely believe magic is real and want to bring a little bit of that feeling to people through my art. I want them to feel transported, and I think that’s the really fun thing about my minis – people can look at them and be like, ‘Oh my god, this is my smoke table at home!’ There’s also the connection we all have to miniatures from our inner child. It brings you back to being like, ‘This is so small, I would have played with this when I was a kid. But I like it as an adult because it’s my torch?’ It’s kind of a paradox … it’s silly and there’s no reason for it, other than to look at it and smile or think or show someone. Even if your only response is to laugh at my art, that makes me happy because I brought joy out of someone by doing something that I enjoyed.

Miss Shirley’s Cafe is undeniably one of the most popular breakfast destinations in Baltimore, having been featured in hundreds of news and television programs over the years. It can be best described as a casual upscale eatery with southern fundamentals, utilizing as many locally-sourced ingredients as humanly possible. They have locations in Roland Park, the Inner Harbor, Annapolis and even in BWI Airport. You can find everything from morning cocktails to house-made donuts to crabcake and fried chicken sandwiches. Their pancakes and waffles cannot be ignored either, with weekly specials in addition to their classics like chicken and waffles, coconut cream stuffed french toast and banana chocolate chip pancakes. Wherever you are located, this place is worth the drive – they don’t take reservations, so try and show up early to beat the crowd. 513 W Cold Spring Ln, Baltimore, MD

Open 8AM-3PM Daily | missshirleys.com @missshirleys

The Corner Pantry (opened in 2014) is owned and operated by Emily and Neill

Howell, a couple who met at an Oscars event which Emily helped coordinate, and Neill catered. Neill is from England and brings a ton of flair to the menu here, including a fish and chips special on Fridays that is bringing some serious heat to Falls Road. The dedicated staff at this cafe are extremely passionate about the food, including a pastry staff of all women. My favorite menu item here is the Coronation Chicken Salad Sandwich featuring curried chicken salad, TCP mango chutney, raisins and toasted almonds, served on toasted lemon and rosemary bread. 6080 Falls Rd, Baltimore, MD | 7AM-3PM Mon-Fri | 8AM-3PM Sat Closed Sunday | corner-pantry.com | @thecornerpantry

Coronation Chicken Salad Sandwich