A little about Colette Paperie...
Colette Paperie is a design boutique and paper art studio located in Minneapolis. We offer quirky and clever greeting cards with a unique and interesting point of view. We also offer custom fine printed goods, a collection of everyday products and full custom design and printing for special occasions and business identities. Basically, we do paper.

Colette Paperie was established in 2008 by myself, Keli Catalano. I have always had a love of stationery and paper and I truly appreciate a finely crafted paper item. I love to keep this business personalized and small, to ensure a great experience for anyone who comes across this collection. The business began as just a small side business but has been broadened to greeting cards, calling cards, screenprinted journals, notepads, calendars, gift tags, labels and more. New ideas are explored daily. I strive to make every item a unique experience.

How do you support local businesses?
I began working with stationery by buying supplies at a local wholesale paper supplier in Minneapolis. I do my best to support only local product that is recycled and created in the U.S.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
Since making Colette Paperie my main gig, I'm pretty sure I don't do much of anything else. The lines really start to blur when you own your own business. If you're not working on it, you're probably thinking about it. I spend a lot of time making lists and jotting down ideas when I'm not creating things.

What first made you want to become an artist?
My mother owned a flower shop for most of my childhood, and I can probably trace my creative roots back to that. I went to school for fashion design, only to discover I liked paper much better than I liked fabric.

Describe your creative process.
I strive to make everything I create to be unique and have a point of view. I want people to have a reason for buying my card designs. It needs to make a statement. So while sometimes I hem and haw about a project, other times an idea just magically comes to me and whatever it is becomes a big seller. You never know what you're going to get, but you sure aren't going to find it at one of the big box stores!

What handmade possession do you most cherish?
I have quite a collection of handmade jewelry, handmade books, handmade soap… the list goes on and on. I think the most unique handmade possession I have is a pin cushion that looks like a pink frosted donut, that my lovely friend Robin made for me back in the days of apparel design.

Some other favorites of mine:
victorian mirrors and furniture, bows, hucksack linen, umbrellas, old tackleboxes, circus posters, birch wood, industrial decay, hot air balloons, sailboats, graffiti, typography, elephants, birdcages and anything square-shaped.

In ten years, where would you like to be?
Living in a downtown flat that has nothing stationery-related in it, and having my own studio space to work in during the day. I want to have a real "work" to go to every day. That space would allow me to have a true screenprinting studio, as well as the option to delve into other "big and messy" projects like papermaking, painting and letterpress.

Please also visit my blog, where I share bits and pieces of inspiration and an insider look into my daily life. Also, as always, feel free to say hello. Sometimes I need a little personal contact!