My name is Katie, and I like naps.

In 2011, I was living in a tiny cottage by the lake in Seattle. I was working as a designer for other companies, but what I really wanted was to support myself with my own art.

One day, I printed a sweet, simple phrase in red text on a white card: "I like you and naps." I showed it to my sister, and she encouraged me to put it on Etsy. So in January 2012, I listed my naps card and a few others with no expectations. Within weeks, more than 60,000 people had shared my cards on social media. So much of my shop sold out, I had to close it temporarily.

Since those early days, my business has grown -- from vending at an outdoor Seattle market every weekend to selling my cards in stores regionally, then nationally, then internationally. Sad Shop cards are now sold at stores across the U.S. and the world, with features at Paper Source, Nordstrom, and West Elm.

Sad Shop cards are printed at a local Seattle print shop on 100% recycled paper. My cards are recommended by Vogue.com, Huffington Post, and BuzzFeed. They have been shared by actress Zooey Deschanel and fashionista Lauren Conrad.

"I like you and naps" is still my signature card and best seller. (The phrase has since been borrowed by many artists and companies. I'm proud to have been the original.)

I am very thankful to support myself with art! And I'm honored that people use something I make to connect with people they love. What started as a simple expression of my love for naps has grown beyond anything I could have imagined.

Thank you!

Katie
Sad Shop