Say hello to Kate Dowling aka @kateandtheink
1) How did Kate and the Ink come about?
I started K.A.T.I after designing cards for friends and family. They loved my designs and encouraged me to turn it into a business. I’ve always loved sending letters and cards to people. I still think that receiving a handwritten note or card is one of life’s greatest pleasures!
2) As a kid, what did you want to be when you were older?
I was always destined to be in a creative job I think. I loved drawing and making things from a young age. When I was at secondary school, I actually wanted to be a shoe designer and product design at Glasgow School of Art seemed like a good fit for me. I never did go into shoe design and to tell you the truth, I would still love to (maybe I’ll go back and train one day!)
3) Who is your inspiration?
Wow, that’s such a hard question. I love mid-century design - Henry Moore, Charles and Ray Eames and Lucienne Day's designs. I love Orla Kiely's designs. I collect Catherine Holm enamel kitchen ware from the 60’s! And I’m inspired by nature; especially the sea and seabirds.
4) What would be your most amazing adventure to go on?
Ah, do I have to choose just one?
I would love to visit Japan (cherry blossom, sushi, snowboarding, Japanese stationery)
I’d love to go on a conservation field trip (surveying snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan maybe or whale recording in the Azores, I’ve looked into this!)
Or Sea kayaking in Patagonia
5) What's your favourite song?
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon. I’ve always loved it and when I was giving birth to our son Fergus, the anaesthetists in theatre were playing a Simon and Garfunkel compilation and it was playing. What a song to be born to!
6) Who would play you in a movie?
Honestly don’t think I can answer this question but I think anything Frances McDormand touches is usually pretty spectacular.
7) What do you think is the best thing about living in Edinburgh?
Walks in the Pentlands, Autumn in the Hermitage, films at the Cameo, pints of Pilot beer (slightly biased, Pilot is my partner’s brewery), the festival and the lovely shops of Stockbridge (including Willow Boutique!)
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