That time Samin Nosrat and I talked tablecloths

Two major things happened recently:

1️⃣ The Wonder Collection launches next week on October 21st.
2️⃣ I (kind of) had a conversation with Samin Nosrat.

Both equally thrilling, both equally nerve-inducing.

The Wonder Collection has been a long time coming - months of sketching, painting, and reworking every color variation. It’s full of whimsy and childhood nostalgia and that “oh wow” feeling you get when you slow down enough to notice something wonderful. Dinosaurs, butterflies and flowers, space, and all the sports coming so soon!

And Samin? If you don't know who she is - the short is that she wrote a cookbook that completely shook the cookbook world to it's core.

Samin is basically my north star in the kitchen. I went to her Good Things book tour here in Houston, clutching my copy (in my prototype pencil print bag) like it was a golden ticket and hoping I could get it signed. She completely changed how I think about food with Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat - she makes cooking feel like joy instead of homework.

When I saw the question box at the entrance, I thought, why not? I scribbled down a question asking what her ideal tablecloth design would be (because, you know, 2025 dinner party resolution checked ✅). I figured it would get lost in a sea of brilliant food nerd questions.

But then—she said my name.
From the stage.
In front of a full theater.

Cue internal screaming. Oh my god, she's holding the card with my question!

She shared how every textile and print in her book was one of her own tablecloths or napkins - pieces she picked for how they layered, the stories they told, the way they sparked joy. Her favorite, she said, was the textile that started the salad section.
Isn’t that the whole point of art? To make you feel something - joy, comfort, wonder - every time you walk past it.

So as I get ready to launch the Wonder Collection next week, that’s what I hope it does for you. I hope it brings a little spark of happiness to your home, whether it’s in your kiddo’s room, your office, or wherever you hang your favorite pieces.

Because art - like Samin’s food - isn’t just decoration. It’s an experience that touches your soul.

Inside My Studio

This week is all about final touches: listing, mockups, and a mild amount of website admin chaos. My test prints are rolling in, and I can’t even tell the originals from the reproductions. The color saturation? Chef’s kiss. Juicy watercolor tones on beautifully thick paper.

Let's get a little sneak preview, yes?

I also used one of my new tote prototypes to carry my cookbook to Samin’s event and it passed the comfort and durability test with flying colors. I might add it to the shop for the holidays because, honestly, it’s too good not to share.

What I'm Cooking

Remember how I said I’d bring store-bought Rice Krispie treats to National Night Out to “save time”?
Yeah… about that…

Then I saw Lidey Heuck’s Caramel Delight Rice Krispie Treats and, well, self-control who? I ran to the store during my lunch break and made them in under 30 minutes. Picture the love child of Rice Krispies and Samoas. Dangerous. Delicious. 10/10 recommend.

Meal plan highlight of the week? Pinch of Yum’s Harissa Meatballs. Even Bonnie polished off her leftovers. That’s a five-star review in this house.

And when I’m not baking at inopportune times, I’m plotting my first meal from Samin’s Good Things cookbook. My dream scenario: Saturday morning, quiet house, a hot cup of coffee, and uninterrupted cookbook reading time. (A girl can dream - “sleeping in” here means 7 a.m.)

Creative Sparks

Samin ended her talk with a simple, beautiful reminder:

Gather with friends every week and eat together. The food doesn’t have to be perfect. The house doesn’t have to be spotless. Just gather, eat, and enjoy each other’s company.

So, consider this your sign to host something imperfect and cozy soon. I’m plotting a mini Sunday supper club with the neighborhood crew.

What I'm Reading

I’m halfway through Katherine Center’s newest novel - pure escapism in the best way. 

Also read (listened to) I Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen (recommended by another artist) and… meh. A bit too “status isn’t happiness.”...we get it.

Back to my comfort zone: romance novels and cookbooks.

Up next: Mate (for spooky season), Samin’s Good Things, and maybe a New Year’s Day brunch aperitif recipe that apparently needs six weeks to ferment. (Plan ahead, people.)

Coming Up...

We’re one week out from the Wonder Collection launch and my excitement is off the charts. Next Tuesday’s email will include your exclusive subscriber-only code for the biggest sale of the year.

In the meantime, I hope you find a little pocket of cozy: a warm cup of coffee, a good book, a new recipe, or a few friends around the table.

Cozy season’s calling—and I’m here for it.

<3

Katie