Lindsay is definitely one of my favorite gals in the world. She is someone I speak of often because she helps make my online shops and sites look so great. She is also a sponsor that I really would love for you to get to know.

Meet Lindsay Landis of Pattern & Paw and Purr Design:

Name: Lindsay Landis

Business Name: Pattern & Paw and Purr Design

Where are you located?
Nashville, TN

What is it that you design and create?
Cat and dog collars, leashes, and accessories, plus matching key fobs for people too.

What is your favorite part of the design process?
Ribbon! Ok, so I have a little bit of an obsession. I love ribbons and I love seeing the beautiful patterns and designs become something else. I’m a graphic designer by trade - and so I also love creating things - like postcards and banners and fun graphics for the website.

How did you come up with your business name?
It actually recently changed. I had been known as Lindsay Designs for 3 years. We recently started a graphic/web design company (dubbed Purr Design - because we love cats!) as well, and I felt that having two Design/Designs business names was way too confusing. So as of January 1st, we changed the name to Pattern and Paw. I felt that it was an elegant name, catchy, and that described the product without directly saying ‘pet collars’. The patterns of the collars are one of the key things that makes them so unique, so being able to bring this into the name of the business was ideal!

Where/How did this all begin?
Short story - it all began almost 4 years ago with a ribbon belt and an ebay account. Needless to say, I grew out of that pretty quick! I started doing pet collars the following year, and have since abandoned the short-lived fad of the ribbon belts. I love making things for pets. I feel they are often ignored when it comes to fashionable duds, cats especially (if you’ve checked out the collar selection at your local pet-mega store, you’ll know what I mean!). My fiance, Taylor, recently joined on as a partner in the business, and now manages the shipping and billing departments (hehe). It’s such a great opportunity for us to spend time together, and work from home (our commute is the greatest!), we’re loving every minute of it.

Who or what inspires you?
Colors and patterns inspire me. Seeing combinations together than you wouldn’t normally expect. Kitty inspires me with her cuteness. Seeing other designers in action inspires me. I guess life in general! It’s all so inspiring.

What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
Do what you love. Because if you start doing something just because it sells, but don’t truly enjoy it, it’s going to be much harder to develop a successful business.

What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
Well, I have some truly lovely necklaces by you, my lady (onafriday.net)! I wear them more than anything else. I also have a fetish for handmade soap, and have received some lovely soaps in exchange for some label design work from valhallasoap.com.

What’s on your iPod/music player right now?
Whatever Taylor gives me. He’s the music man, I just borrow it. I’ve got a few favorites right now, such as Josh Ritter, the Traveling Wilburys, the Felice Brothers, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, and Jackie Greene.

What t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
Lost for one… is my all time favorite. I’m also a big fan of Grey’s Anatomy, the Colbert Report, and Good Eats on the Food Network.

What was the last movie you watched?
License to Wed - we had a netflix of it the other night. Silly, as Robin Williams usually is, but cute.

What’s your favorite food?
Cupcakes. No question there. I’m a big baker. It’s how I deal with stress. Whereas some people (like Taylor…) turn to obsessive behaviors like cleaning or just plain panic when they get stressed - my stress, on the other hand, turns into cookies and cupcakes and cinnamon rolls. Not a bad deal!

What’s your favorite candy?
I love all candy, though I’ve never been one to turn down a Reese’s!

Coffee or Tea?
Neither. I’ve never been a huge tea drinker, and too much caffeine gives me the shakes. I love it, but I can’t drink it.

What store could you walk around in for hours and be happy?
Anthropologie - though I’d stop being happy because I can’t afford to buy everything there! Or Whole Foods… makes me salivate… but again, so expensive it’s depressing!!

Any pets?
One kitty, Kalypso, who is spoiled rotten and knows it. I post lots of silly photos of her on the Pattern & Paw blog.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
I love visiting my grandma in New York and Florida, and my parents out in California. I’ve always wanted to check out North Carolina - it seems like a great place. I hate flying, so while I’d love to visit Europe and the rest of the world, I’m scared sh*tless about spending that much time on a plane!

If you could be a superhero, what would your name be and what would be your superpowers?
Super Cupcake Woman! My power would be to produce delicious cupcakes instantly. hehe. Or something.

Any celebrity crushes?
I’ve never been one for celebrity crushes.

Favorite Holiday?
Hanukah, maybe… I love my potato pancakes!

If you were a shoe, what shoe would you be?
A comfy ballet flat or a flip flop. Cute and casual…. and short. hehe.

What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
I’m pretty happy as I am! Though I do wish I was a few inches taller (just a few!).

Favorite piece of clothing?
My comfy jeans. I’ve got two pairs and wear them just about every day.

Do you speak any other languages? If not, would you like to learn one?
I took Spanish in high school, but probably couldn’t speak a proper sentence now. Whoops!

It’s 2008 already! Oh yes, so soon. What are your plans for the year?
Build the businesses. We’re hoping to start saving as much as we can to buy a cool urban loft downtown. Dreaming, yes, but if we do well enough with the businesses it might not be so far off!

Thank you so much for sharing, Lindsay. Even I learned a few new things about you! Ha, ha!

Big Dog Collars (Mod Dots Teal, Mango Micro Dots, Prep Hearts): $17.50 - $19.50; Cat Collars (Blueberry Argyle, Candy Mod, Jazz Dots): $11.00 - $13.00:
  

Dash in Turquoise Tropic Dots Dog Collar: $18.50; Kalypso in Fiesta Cat Collar: $12.00:

Toy Dog Collars (Safari Natural, Pacific Argyle, Strawberry Taffy): $11.00 - $13.00; Kalypso in Bias Cyan Cat Collar: $12.00:

Enjoy 15% off your next purchase with coupon code “MIXEDPLATE“.  Offer good through May 31, 2008.