Simply Said… Cat from Designing Moms

A while ago, Cat asked me to guest blog on Designing Moms. What a honor that was for me because I had been a follower of Designing Moms for a while. Cat herself is an amazing designer creating some of the most beautiful paper products and stationary. Today, we are learning a bit about Cat and her designs. Cat simply said…

My name is Cat and I design a line of stationery goods named “Cat Seto“. I run my design studio and shop in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco which is just a few blocks from the famed “Crooked Street”. On any given day, you can probably find me climbing up a hill, doodling at the studio or wolfing down a fish burrito at Nick’s Tacos. I also write a blog called Designing Moms. We are all designers…stationery, cake, textile, editorial, toy and many more. We blog about our lives balancing design, creative projects and little ones. I feel absolutely inspired and honored to be in the presence of such amazing women and mothers!

How would you describe your style of design?

For the first couple of years I would say vintage chic, but I am obsessed with retro/mod patterns as well and find myself mixing and matching those elements with all of my designs.

Where do you go to be inspired?

I’m finding myself more and more inspired by people vs. things lately. I still get completely psyched when I see amazing storefronts or the vintage green muni cars rumbling up and down Market Street…but just the other week I was looking up wild flowers in the middle of the night after meeting an elderly woman at the grocery store who studied horticulture all her life. She was just adorable.

What is a simplifying trick you use in your own life?

You’re asking the wrong person–I always find myself biting off more than I can chew! Although I’ve learned that if I have to spin a lot of plates, to make sure they are all plates that I want to spin.

How do you inspire your children to be creative?

I can only learn from my parents who were both instrumental in making sure they were cheerleaders in my creative pursuits without influencing me with their own personal tastes and opinions. I grew up in a small house with a big family and creativity was always my own “thing”…a place to retreat and explore independently.

What is a skill you would love to learn?

Can I name two? Sewing and rock climbing. What a way to conquer aversions to needles and heights!