We recently connected with Kerstin Rao and have shared our conversation below.
Kerstin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
In 2021, I was commissioned to draw a sunflower bouquet as a birthday gift to celebrate the 60th birthday of a cancer survivor – a very meaningful request. The day I began the drawing, Russia invaded Ukraine. I learned that sunflowers represent peace and prosperity, so I infused my drawing with strength and good wishes for the Ukrainian people as well as for the birthday recipient.
My drawing, titled ‘Sunflower Resilience’ is now a fundraiser I use to support Save the Children’s efforts with displaced Ukrainian families.
Kerstin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hi, I’m Kerstin Rao, artist and owner of Vivid Cottage, a made-in-Connecticut stationery and fabric home goods company founded in May 2021. Born from the loneliness of lockdown, my hand-drawn, colored-pencil floral illustrations brightened my friends’ days, and now I offer a boost to your spirits, too. Vivid Cottage brings a bright, fresh take to classic stationery, calendars, and fabric home goods.
During lockdown, I searched for any ray of hope, and found them in my friend Kristin Burrello’s bouquets at the Westport Farmers Market. Her gorgeous and original arrangements re-awakened my artistic sensibility, and I began to draw again – it had been 10 years since I last did a series of drawings.
I posted my drawings online and friends asked me to make them into greeting cards. As a lifelong lover of letters, I could not resist! And so, Vivid Cottage was born.
When you buy from Vivid Cottage, you are also supporting other small Connecticut-based businesses, including…
*** Kristin Burrello of Muddy Feet Flower Farm, who grows the flowers in Ashford, Connecticut.
*** The Westport Farmers Market is where I buy the flowers directly from Kristin. I spend 15-20 hours capturing the blooms using ink and Prismacolor pencils.
*** Mark Bunger of respected Westport company ImageWorks runs the impressive scanning machine from Germany – one of only four such machines in the USA.
*** Donny Robertino of Gway Print in Norwalk sources the high quality paper and materials to meet my exacting standards. I cannot say enough good things about the folks at Gway!
*** Suzanne Knapp is the graphic designer who lays out my calendar designs, greeting card templates, box labels, and show materials. In less than 2 weeks she created my brand-new catalog, marketing postcard, panel poster, and 25 updated greeting cards for my first-ever trade show at NY Now in the Javits Center in February 2023.
*** Jasleni Brito of Windsor, CT is the artist and designer behind my beautiful Vivid Cottage website. She is a brand magician and I highly recommend her!
*** Our fabric goods are printed and sewn in California on 100% cotton flour sack and twill materials.
Still less than two years old, Vivid Cottage is run in an actual cottage in Westport, CT. In fact, we have solar panels on our roof, recycle everything we can, and have a small carbon footprint. We’ve converted our yard to native landscaping with oak, pine, and River Birch trees and a gorgeous pollinator meadow. I’ve got swings all around the place to enjoy iced tea in the afternoon sun.
From art & design to packing & shipping, it’s done with love here in Vivid Cottage.
A bit more about me – I was born and grew up in the Twin Cities in Minnesota and spent my adolescence in Kentucky and still have family in Lexington. At Vassar College I majored in painting and fine art, then got my Master’s in Special Education at Bank Street College in NYC.
I’ve studied at the Art Students’ League, School of Visual Arts (hey Shannon Broder!), and Eastern Kentucky University. Way back when I took master’s classes in art in Florence, Italy then backpacked around Europe.
My primary career was classroom teaching, and I loved every bit of my time with students, colleagues, and parents! My specialty was serving gifted children, preserving their sparks of curiosity and creativity in a conformist world.
Now I’ve started two businesses. Vivid Cottage was created to share my artwork and love of stationery and fine home goods with my customers. Curate Your Mate helps me offer empowering and practical strategies to people frustrated by dating at midlife. As a dating mindset coach, I share what I learned from dating in my 40s to find my own extraordinary love (shout out to my husband – we celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary this year!)
I’m a member of the Greeting Card Association and Jenny Pace’s Better Business Collective based in the UK. I’ve just joined The Creative Powerhouse Society by Gingiber’s Stacie Bloomfield. And I’ve received terrific business education from the Women’s Business and Development Council (WBDC.)
In January I was awarded a LaunchPad Grant by the WBDC!
Oh – and just for fun, I perform long-form improv comedy with my beloved team, Fairfield of Dreams, at Sea Tea Theater in Hartford and the tri-state area.
Want a custom order? Any of our drawings can be adapted to new products. Give us a call!
I hope my story inspires others to test the waters to bring their own creations into the world!
Have you ever had to pivot?
I had no idea it was time for me to change my profession – I honestly thought I’d be a classroom teacher until the maximum retirement age allowed – I adored my students! However, it took lockdown and all those hours mixed with both dread and reflection to discover something new was beginning for me.
Classroom teaching has become one of the most attacked and maligned services in our country. Those of us who teach often enter the field to inspire children, encourage them to find their way, and share a subject we ourselves are passionate about.
Over the years I was an educator, I saw darkening political forces, the toxic nature of social media, greater efforts to control what teachers can and cannot say, an increase in micromanagement by administrators who were driven by a growing obsession with testing data. I witnessed an increase in student crises and aggression and an erosion of structural support, making it difficult to keep classrooms healthy and thriving. So much pressure was placed on teachers to fix society’s problems, while at the same time funding dried up. All of this left teachers maligned, dispirited, and many left the profession.
I was lucky. I felt real support in my district from administrators, colleagues, parents, and students. Even so, the whole enterprise of education had shifted during the decades I taught, and during lockdown I felt called to make a fresh start.
But to start what? I found myself drawing the wildflower bouquets I bought at our local farmers market. It brightened my spirits and cheered up my friends. I started making and selling greeting cards, which led me to consider starting a business.
I have to say I feel incredibly alive and curious, challenged and dedicated to building my business. I’m still not turning a profit, and I’ve been reassured that a product-based business can take a few years before we see a return on investment.
But the return I’ve already received is a rejuvenated spirit and a renewed sense of purpose. My passion is to help people connect and brighten each other’s spirits, and I am so grateful my artwork can serve in this way.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My mission is to help people spread connection and joy! Just yesterday, I was teaching an art lesson at a women’s club. One woman approached me and told me this story:
“My sister lost her home in Hurricane Ida. She had to leave her home of 40 years and move to another state to stay with a friend. All she had was a bed. The holidays were approaching, and she called me to say, ‘I have nothing to give. I don’t even have paper to write letters.’ So, I bought a box of your greeting cards and sent them to her. She loved them! All she wanted to do was express gratitude and stay in touch with her friends — and your cards helped her stay connected.’
Stories like this one remind me that our creative work can touch lives and lift spirits.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vividcottage.com
- Instagram: @vividcottage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vividcottage
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstinwarnerrao/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsPGXI9l4cjxmSL2BCLMzcg?app=desktop
Image Credits
Kerstin Rao