In the latest edition of our Meet the Designer series, we introduce Kelly Chin, a designer from San Francisco, California. Visit her Spoonflower shop, and keep reading to find out her influences and aspirations.

Meet the designer Kelly Chin (kaoru_sanchez)

 My day starts with…. coffee and sketches.

Design by Kaoru_sanchez
Design by Kaoru_sanchez

I fell in love with design… hanging out at my Aunt Kitty’s fabric store called Black Sheep Textiles. I was 9 years old when it hit me–a world filled with color and beautiful patterns.

Kaoru's design studio
Kelly’s design studio

What’s in my toolbox? My stylus pen, colorful hemp cord, a small hole punch, rivets, leather strips, swatches, and scissors.

Design by Kaoru_sanchez
Design by Kaoru_sanchez

When I’m in my studio, I feel… at peace, time flies by and I am rarely tired.

Kaoru_sanchez in repose
Kaoru_sanchez in repose

Who or what influences or inspires your work and why? I am a museum store buyer by day. Art inspires me. My friend and artist, the late Rex Ray inspires me. Marimekko inspires me as does Lucienne Day. I also love the wood block artist who shares my Japanese first name Kaoru Kawano.

Design by Kaoru_sanchez
Design by Kaoru_sanchez

My favorite small business shops include:

Modern Appealing Clothing (also known as MAC), Heliotrope SF Skincare, and Petel Design (beautiful weaved fabric from Mauritania).

Designer Kaoru Sanches
Designer Kaoru Sanches

If I could live in a painting,… I would live in an Ellsworth Kelly painting.

Red Blue Green by Ellsworth Kelly, 1963 via WikiArt
Red Blue Green by Ellsworth Kelly, 1963 via WikiArt

My favorite Spoonflower fabric to work with is…. Linen Cotton Canvas Ultra.

Design by Kaoru_sanchez
Design by Kaoru_sanchez

I’d love to see one of my designs turned into… a shower curtain.

Design by Kaoru_sanchez
Design by Kaoru_sanchez

My mantra is… water seeks its own level.


Kaoru_sanchezYou can visit Kelly’s Spoonflower shop and view her entire collection of modern designs. Connect with her on the web:

Website
Instagram
Thanks Kelly!