When you find an incredibly talented artist, it is hard to not want to share them with everyone you know!
That is how I feel about our preferred sponsor, the gals Katy AND Jane from KatyJane Designs.
These two create unique invitation illustrations with a vintage inspiration and are just a delight to get to know...read on to learn more about them!
{and stay tuned at the end of the post for the $100 giveaway to their shop!}
{Question} Tell us about the story of how
KatyJane Designs came about?
{Answer} It evolved from an invitation I designed for my daughters 4th birthday (she is now 6). Katy saw a gap in the market for personalised invitations like the one i had done, that were design-led and stylish and proposed the business idea to me. I had a background in Design and Katy in Kid's Marketing, so it was a good match.
So following some research we developed a plan to be able to make these an affordable product that were accessible to other lovers of ‘all things beautiful’. At the time it sounded like a bit of fun! From there KatyJane Designs was born.
Now it has evolved to include a much larger range of stationery, including Personlised invitations, Fill-in invitation packs, Greeting cards, gift tags, badges, bag tags and much more.
{Question} What inspires you and your designs?
{Answer} I love bold colour and pattern, but also modern simplistic style.
I have a fetish for beautiful fabrics and wallpapers. All the designs are inspired by the different children I design them for - their little quirks and their interests and loves. The KatyJane style has evolved from a combination of all of these things. As a designer I was so excited and refreshed to see the re-emergence of pattern, colour and texture over the past 5 years in product design. After years of minimal/sleek/white on white and simple design(which I do love as well). There was a lot of beautiful kids clothing coming out and products, but party stationery seemed to be missing the mark. There seemed to be lots of stereotypical and 'character-based' invitations out there and a handful of ‘beautiful’ designer invitations that appealed to the parents, but not to children.
We wanted to offer an alternative that both kids and their parents would love.
{Question} If you had to pick your two favorite designs you offer at the moment, what would they be and why?
{Answer} The whale has always been a favourite of mine, I love the simplicity and the boldness of it. I love the teal green and the blue and red polka dot together.
The other one would have to be the whimsical fairy - it is a new edition to our range and not only does it have a beautiful old vintage illustration in it, but
the flower pattern on her dress and back of the invitation is a very old and beautiful piece of fabric that my Grandma gave to me, which I have used as part of the invitation, so it is very sentimental and nostalgic to me.
{Question} Tell us a bit about what we might expect to see in 2011...can you share any little hints?
{Answer} We have spent a lot of time this year focusing on getting our product out to retailers and shops, so I am hoping that we can get back to the creative side of things in 2011. So
keep a look out for new designs, new products and with hopefully something for the grown ups!
{Question} We would LOVE to know a bit more about the women behind
KatyJane Designs.
Favorite Color Red (is it that obvious?)
Favorite Dessert A very addictive
chocolate tart a friend made a few weeks ago for dessert.
It was served with raspberries smashed and then drizzled over the top and served with rich vanilla ice cream. To make it even naughtier, you can warm it up to melt the chocolate tart - making it completely evil! :) Yum
Favorite Line of Clothing Quick Brown Fox and Esprit
Favorite Place To Shop Online http://www.mozi.com.au/
Favorite Vacation Spot Rottnest Island - its just 30 mins off the coast of Perth, Australia - it is just gorgeous,
no cars - safe for the kids and you ride bikes everywhere. It has the most divine beaches you have ever seen!
{Question}Your fabulous designs are modern, but with a vintage twist. Do you have a passion for vintage design? If so, what are some vintage designers and/or artists that inspire you?
{Answer} It feels like it was almost by luck that vintage has become so popular.
A lot of the original designs began in late 2008, shortly before the complete vintage revival! I am inspired by old children's illustrators and sometimes am lucky enough to be able to use some of these in our designs that are in the public domain (out of copyright). Maybe that's why there is such a vintage revival at the moment, because we have access to these beautiful things.
Some of the children's book illustrators I love are Molly Brett, and Marguerite Davis. I only wish I was as talented as they are!
{Question} Your product range varies from fill in invitations to gift labels and custom printed everything-in-between. You also do custom designs. If a client or reader is interested in something custom, what is the best way to go about contacting you?
{Answer} The best thing to do is to email us with their requirements and any ideas they have regarding colour, themes etc that can help us to provide a costing for them. The more detailed the better. Its also good to know which of our designs they like, so we can create a design that they like, as this gives us an idea of their taste.
We can also do adjustments (like colours, wording etc.) to our range, these might be small changes or modifications to a single or a combination of designs. This can be a more affordable way to provide a design that suits our clients needs without the expense of getting a completely new custom design.
{Question} Any hints for how to use your printables throughout a party (from the party table to dessert table, favor bags to activity stations)?
{Answer} A lot of our designs have simple but bold patterns incorporated into them, like stars, spots or stripes, this makes it easy to accessorise and keep the party theme running across an event.
{image from Helen Mallamace}
Our thank you tags can be used on party bags, or as labels on the party table, ordered with a mix of ribbon they look devine.
{Image from Helen Mallamace}
We have had people have cookies and cakes made to match different elements on our invitations.
{image from Helen Mallamace}
{Image from Julie Dean Queen of Cakes}
But I can't wait to see what you would do with our products in a party Kate!
{Question} The big question: how do you balance work and family? What are your priorities, and how do you stick to them?
{Answer} It's not easy, and I wouldn't say its balanced yet!
Starting up a business is incredibly demanding, physically and emotionally. We both work from home, so trying to separate work from home life is very difficult, but I think we will both have a few New Years Resolutions to help combat this!
{Question} As you know, we are all about celebrating the lives of children, and your products thus far are definitely child-oriented. Do you have a special spot for children's invitation and printable design? Any plans to expand to adult themed designs also?
{Answer} Children absolutely love receiving post - in fact there is still something magical for most grown-ups too when it’s not a bill – ripping open that colour envelope in the anticipation of it being a party invitation or a card. Birthdays are to be celebrated and as such parents want it to be special and memorable. We saw a gap in the Market, and spending so much time with our Kids it was a natural progression. I do love designing things for kids, it is so rewarding and they are so appreciative! You can play around a lot and have a lot of fun.
I would really like to do a range for Adult's - so keep an eye out in 2011 for the grown ups. In the meantime though - its not just the kids that love our invites, we do get Adults ordering our invites - whether its for a 30th or an 80th. Its a bit of fun, which is what a party should be all about!
{Question} Some of your designs remind me of artwork I would hang on a wall--just beautiful. Do you have any intention of offering prints of your designs? {we would love that!}
{Answer} Oh.. thank you!
We are planning to expand our range to include other products, and are considering wall art/stickers. This is something for 2011 and at this stage we are not sure whether it would be a collaborative process or we would produce them ourselves. We will keep you posted!
{Question} Do you accept international orders?
{Answer} Yes we love international orders. It can take up to 2 weeks for postage and about a week for design and print, so you just need to factor that in and plan ahead.
{Question} What is your fondest childhood memory of a birthday party (yours, or one you attended)?
{Answer} The special food my mum used to make for our parties. She took so much time and care and made things like Jelly oranges - They are oranges quartered then she would scoop out all of the orange and replace it with Jelly!.. so 70's!
{Question} How do you celebrate birthdays and life's special moments at home now?
{Answer} There always has to be cake! It needs to be home made and lovingly decorated together, of course I find it a little difficult to relinquish all control - being a designer, so I make the tricky bits when the kids are asleep and alway's have something they can do. For the kids we usually have a party and I spend days trying to rack my brains on what the party theme can be.
My four year old just had a farm party - at an animal farm, which was a lot of fun, they had tractor rides, she got to feed a baby lamb and play with all her friends, and I got to have a great time planning it! The best party idea I think I have hosted so far, was my 5 year old daughters umbrella party. We had chinese paper umbrella's set up on poles, with paint and smocks. All the children got to paint their own and take it with them. It was fabulous, and people still talk about it a year later.
A tremendous thanks to the lovely ladies from
KatyJane Designs for an absolutely
FABULOUS interview!
Now, here is your chance to win a $100AU gift certificate to their shop!!!!!
Here's how to enter:
Visit KatyJane's shop here, and come back leaving a comment on this blog post telling us your two favorite designs.
THAT'S IT! BUT...
Looking for extra chances to win? For SIX ADDITIONAL ENTRIES....
1. Become a fan of Katy Jane Designs, and come back here leaving us a separate comment (just one!!!) letting us know so. We will award you with THREE additional entries (no need to tell us three times!)
2. Become a fan of Kate Landers Events, LLC, and come back here leaving us a third comment letting us know so. We will award you with THREE additional entries (no need to tell us three times!)
One lucky winner will be selected at random. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on Monday, December 13th.
Must be at least 18 years of age or older to enter.
Good Luck!!!
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