We recently had the chance to connect with Katie Morone and have shared our conversation below.
Katie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. When was the last time you felt true joy?
Love this question. The last time I felt true joy was when I received one of my biggest wholesale orders ever a few weeks ago. Wholesale has been a struggle for me but the last few months I’ve really tried to make it my #1 priority. I send out hundreds of pitch emails, over 500 postcards, interacted with stores I admire on socials – everything I could think of. And it worked! I got a handful of new accounts & have begun some wonderful relationships with the store owners. It’s a wonderful feeling when your hard work pays off and someone truly enjoys your work. Such a confidence builder.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Katie, a former ballet dancer and freelance graphic designer. In 2019, craving a creative outlet of my own, I launched Line & Kind Paper Co. Greeting cards were the perfect fit; they combined the emotion of ballet, the refined aesthetic of design, and my love for meaningful connection. 6 years in, L&K continues to grow, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to believe I was a terribly shy person. While I am naturally quiet, I’ve come to believe that it comes from ‘listening’ being one of my strengths, rather than an unwillingness to talk or be involved. I’ve found listening to those around me, really taking in their point of view, helps me be a more engaged conversationalist. I want those around me to feel heard, and know that what I’m contributing to the conversation is thought-out and intentional, rather than a throwaway.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I grew up in the world of ballet from a young age, and while it gave me many strengths – determination, attention to detail, etc. – it also gave me several negatives that I’m still working through. The constant comparison game in deep within me and I carried that heavily into my graphic design work. It’s only in the last few months that I’ve really found confidence in my design work, especially for my business. It’s taken me a long time to recognize that my work has value in and of itself, away from others. It’s a work in progress but it’s so much better than it was!
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
100%. The only place I show up publicly is on Instagram. I truly do my best to share to good and the bad. Not too long ago, I shared a not-so-great pop-up experience, and I received so many messages thanking me for being honest. It was very affirming. Is my profile curated? Sure. Do I spend a lot of time keeping it that way? Of course. But I value my brand’s first impression. And while on the surface it might seem overly curated, once you start diving in and reading you’ll see the true me.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
While I was dancing, there was a role I really wanted. Year after year, I tried my best to convince the creative team that I was a good fit. It was only after someone new came into the organization that I got the opportunity to dance that role. Seeing my name on the list was wonderful! But after those first few initial moments, it felt exactly the same as every other role I danced. Did it give me confidence that the creative team saw me? Yes. But it affirmed for me that the joy really is in the work. If you don’t love the process, the end result doesn’t matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lineandkind.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lineandkind/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lineandkind/
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lineandkind/
