Q&A with Kate & Molly

This summer I started an infrequent Q&A post, first with the talented Polaroid artist,Jen Gotch, followed by the now famous Abbey Nova of Abbey Goes Design Scouting.Today, I am delighted to have Kate and Molly Prentiss from the beautiful blog, KISS the PAPER, a paper blog correspondence of two sisters, Molly & Kate. Thank you both for taking part in Sugar Pie's Q&A. 1) Where did you come up with the blog idea of KISS the PAPER?  And Have you always been big letter writers? Well, we actually thought about this a lot. It took us a few months to come up with a format that felt RIGHT. The idea got stared because we wanted to work on a collaborative project and at the time, Molly was still living in Brooklyn. We knew we wanted it to be handmade and personal but also have the ability to work from different places. Kate: I have always been a big letter writer. During my teenage years, my walls were covered with letters that my best friends and I wrote to one another, and I also had pen pals in Iceland. Now we email!

letters from high school

Molly: I have recently acquired 3 pen pals - one in New York, one in Oakland, and one in the Philippines! It has been a really therapeutic and enjoyable experience to write letter to people who I barely know. I love the fact that they are tangible objects that you can save and find again years later, they become works of art in themselves.

 

An old letter, i love the design on the envelope - a piece of art

2. Kate, you have a design company called Kate Prentiss Design, how did you get your start as an art director and running your own business? Well, I went to design school at the California College of the Arts and majored in graphic design. My first job out of school was designing for Wired Magazine. After several design jobs, I decided to start my own business. I feel a lot more connected to the work I do now, probably due to the close connection I have with my clients. 

3) Molly, your personal blog, Blogging Molly features wonderful drawings, in your profile you state, you try and draw everyday. Have you always been interested in Art and what is your preferred medium? I have always been interested and in some way attracted to art and writing, but have just recently made these things a major part in my life. My favorite tool has always been a good black ink pen that can make just the right line, which I use to draw to write. I also love calligraphy pens and Indian ink. There is something about dipping the pen in ink that feels so satisfying.

4) What has been catching your eye lately? We really like how handmade + homegrown things are everywhere right now. Seeing the human element in objects and art warms our heart.

"Art by Mike Perry, creator of the book Handjob, a catalog of type. We love hand drawn letters!" 

"From "Loveless Ramblings and Other Cynical Musings"- an amazing blog! 'Awkward hearts!'

"Photographs by Carmen Winant - dailyafterthought - so beautiful and natural"

4) Where do you get your inspiration? Walking down the street, shops like  atomic garden + august and the curiosity shoppe + nest (all in the Bay Area), fabric stores, websites, blogs, the design in my latte foam, street stencils, independent book shops, Alameda flea market, the CCA fashion studio, branches, flowers, fruit, music and highway 1. 

Highway 1 

Heart Lattes

Street Stencils

6. Beautiful images of how the sisters feel about each other.