Katya has a background of working with children, and what she liked most about all children was that they are very open, sincere and natural.  When Katya started designing bears she wanted to endow her bears with these same qualities.  Katya considers all her toys to be children to some extent, and it is very important to her that her bears look as if they are ‘alive’ - even if they don't look like real bears.  Katya’s slogan is, "Feel with your soul!”  When she is making a toy she gives a small part of her soul to it, and that is what she wants the bear owners to feel.  

In 2012 Katya won her first Golden George at the TeddyBear Total exhibition held annually in Munster, Germany.  She won her second such award in 2013, this time in the Master Class category, open only to artists who have previously won a Golden George in the Premium Class.