Meet Catherine Kinderknecht

We had the good fortune of connecting with Catherine Kinderknecht and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Catherine, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
“hmmm…. I’m not really finding what I’m looking for… I wonder if I can make one. I wonder if other people may want to buy one too??”

It may sound fairly simple but after a couple nights of Mahjong with a new group of friends, I was on the hunt for my own Mahjong Mat. I wanted one that had softer colors, a little more aesthetically pleasing in my neutral home, and versatile for other table games etc. I just could not find what I was looking for! As a mom of two young kids and 5 months pregnant, I was only interested in acquiring practical things that could be used for multiple reasons… enter Wren Mats. Within six weeks from that girls night I had a business name, a sample mat in hand, and a new website. We still laugh to this day that the business evolved so quickly and organically.

My work as a Nurse Practitioner in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit begs for a creative outlet. Creating mats and connecting with people in this unique way has given me a lot of energy and joy. I have designed mats for several hotels and mahjong clubs as well as individuals wanting their own custom mats. This process of creating something new and working with customers to make sure they have the best experience and a perfect mat in the end has been such a privilege.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at a local children’s hospital in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and have worked in Administration for Advanced Practice Providers. My career in healthcare has been far from easy but far greater than what I could have imagined. This rewarding work is full of challenges. With each shift in the ICU, we are faced with tragic and heartbreaking stories. We navigate difficult family situations and we see children overcome pain and sickness with incredible strength. I choose to live with the joy of Jesus, knowing that He is greater than all of the pain and heartache.

This is my “career” but my daily jobs as a mother, a wife, a friend, and a business owner are all informed by my experiences in the hospital and vice versa. Even working as a mat designer and entrepreneur, I want people to feel really valued and important and taken care of. Thats is how I run Wren Mats. You will always be met with kindness.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Over the past 14 years of living in Fort Worth, I have watched the city change so much! For starters, I would tell a friend to stay in the Bowie House! It is western influenced with such elegance! The Bowie House is tasteful and comfortable and I LOVE the restaurant and bar downstairs. We would likely set up a game of Mahjong downstairs in the billard room and bring a Wren Mat to play on. There are a few “can’t miss meals” in Fort Worth that include the Hudson House, Pacific Table, Elerbes, and a Marias Margarita. Are the kids there too? We would certainly go to the Zoo and could not miss shopping at Collins and Conley children’s boutique! Did you know they even have a kids play table in the store?! Its adorable. We would spend time outside walking on the Trinity Trails and stop for a latte at Press Cafe. One of my favorite local creators is Kendall Davis and we would shop her pottery at Shop Harmoni. Concluding the week, we would browse the Farmer’s Market outside of Press Cafe and make it home with a loaf of Sourdough from Trent at Icon Bread. There are so many incredible places and people in Fort Worth that make it “home.”

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The beautiful women of the Aledo Mahj Moms group have been my sounding board, my cheerleaders, my first customers… Mahjong and this company has given me a surprising gift of wonderful friendships and community and I could not be more grateful.

And let’s not forget my husband Jay who smiled and said “go for it!” He takes interest in my designs and my customers and loves asking about my business- a very genuine way to love someone. He has a strong background in sales so having his as a co-Pilot in this endeavor is very beneficial. I honestly could not have done it without his encouragement. Oh annnnnd I was very pregnant and mats are quite heavy to haul so he became the warehouse boy (lugged them up and down stairs for pop ups and Christmas in Cowtown)… what a hero!

Website: wrenmats.com

Instagram: wrenmats