Meet Kat Borden | Artist & Developer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kat Borden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kat, what are you inspired by?
I’m deeply inspired by the amazing work that animal shelters do, often with very limited resources. From the moment I started tiny cat studio, I knew that I wanted to use my creative work to help provide food, treatment, and more to animals in need. I’ve started selling special handmade items, like stickers, button pins, and magnets, with 100% of the proceeds going to local shelters. It’s a way for me to channel my creativity into something meaningful, and the community in Michigan is great at coming together for a cause.

Currently, I’m raising funds for Community Cat Crew, a nonprofit cat rescue run by a group of hardworking and compassionate women in Hudsonville. Right now, they’re most in need of adult dry and wet cat food for their adoption center.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The name “tiny cat studio” came from my love of cats and my appreciation for small, everyday moments. Cats have always been a big source of comfort and joy for me, and I draw them all the time. I’m also very fond of the little things in life — A good cup of coffee. A gentle breeze rustling the trees. A sweet treat. A cute sticker… You get the idea! I believe that the tiny things really matter.

My shop offers whimsical, hand-crafted stationary and gifts that I hope evoke warm and cozy feelings in my customers. In addition to art, I’m passionate about software development and video game design, so I’m always working on a variety of projects in my home office. I’ve built a cozy workspace that I often share photos of on social media, and I’ve found that a lot of people really like that. I’m all about visual coziness.

Running a small business definitely has its challenges. It’s just me running the show, and that can be tough at times. On top of designing and making products, I also handle shipping, customer service, marketing, website development, inventory, finances, and more. It’s important to understand the time and resources you need at each step of the process while doing your best to avoid waste. I’ve learned that the most productive thing you can do for your creative mind is to build a good routine that works for you, and to make time to rest.

I’ve also learned that risk is where a lot of growth happens. I think people often wait until they feel completely ready to start something new. I always encourage people to just start, even if you don’t have the best equipment on the market, even if you’re still learning, even if you feel like you’re not “good enough” – which is a doubt that I hear creatives express a lot. Everyone has something unique to offer. You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take a visiting friend to some spots in Eastown — to Rebel for some unique home decor, and to Rainbow Resources for a stained glass ornament. For some good eats, I’d go to KCM for a kimbap, then to Furniture City Creamery for a scoop of scratch-made ice cream. I also think Gaslight Village in East Grand Rapids is particularly lovely this time of year, with holiday lights lining the streets, and Reed’s Lake is very serene at sunset.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m beyond grateful for the support of my family and friends in Michigan, especially my incredible parents, and from all over the world. I’ve met lots of kindred spirits while vending at Fulton Street Farmers Market in Grand Rapids, and I’ve made connections with many fellow artists. We constantly learn from and uplift each other. I encourage any prospective artists or entrepreneurs to put themselves out there and network. You may feel unsure about your abilities and doubt whether you have what it takes to be successful, but there are always people out there who will connect with your work. Having a community that believes in me is everything.

Website: https://www.tinycatstudio.co

Instagram: @tinycatstudio

Other: Ko-fi: @tinycatstudio
Etsy: @thetinycatstudio

Image Credits
@gretchenellephoto

@communitycatcrew