ANNOUNCING THE WOMAN OF THE MONTH
Fort Worth women are making headlines daily as business owners, entrepreneurs, top management officers, and political leaders. So, here at Fort Worth Woman, we are selecting one of our city’s shining stars each month. These are the movers and shakers you need to know, and we are proud to honor their accomplishments as our WOMEN OF THE MONTH.
Kelly Kay Vidrine
Owner/Artist of Kelly Kay Paper Co.
I am humbled and grateful to imagine that my artwork brings beauty into peoples’ lives and homes. I believe that stopping to appreciate beauty can ground us and bring us joy, an even more important legacy!
Meet October’s Fort Worth Woman!
Kelly Kay Vidrine is a native Texan, Texas Christian University graduate, wife of 13 years, mother of three, and local artist who is using her talent to make our city that much more beautiful. She is the kind of person who has a contagious spirit that makes those around her smile from deep within a well as a talent that naturally develops powerful meaning.
From an early age, Kelly developed her love of art and during her time at TCU where she learned to hone her skills in the Graphic Design program. After graduation, Kelly worked at a Fort Worth paper store and upon seeing the look of the products available at the time, she knew she could create designs that could truly compel a customer. Her wheels began to turn in developing what her design mark and determining what her next step would be.
She was then asked to design fancy invitations for a friend’s bridal shower. From there, Kelly began her own line and started her entrepreneurship journey. She threw a small ‘paper trunk show’ that was made complete with a custom-made, trunk die-cut, leather strapped invitation. She took her first few orders after the party and Kelly Kay Paper officially came to fruition. To fulfill these orders, Kelly had to learn about and grasp the idea of going to “market” with her designs. She signed up for a large local market, set up her own booth in Dallas, met a rep group that very day, and has continued working with them for the past decade. Kelly’s world has been full of vibrant color, rich texture, and beautiful designs and her designs have since been placed in over 100 stores nationwide.
Kelly finds inspiration for her designs anywhere: “highway wildflowers, great interior design, a beautiful color combination, inventive style of clothing, street graffiti, or friends’ celebrations. I try to stay current on trends in interiors and find that paper is about two to three years behind them”, she states. Once she creates a new design, Kelly places it in as many forms and pieces as possible such as her desk calendars, stationary, invitations, art prints, Table Grace Cards (mealtime prayer cards), “Joy Post” postcard collections, gift tags, paper pads, and greeting cards. Her designs are even expanding in to wallpaper which will be seen in the near future on an episode of an up and coming interior design TV show.
What Kelly loves about Fort Worth is “it’s perfectly eclectic mix of sophistication and appreciation of art with casual humble humility and cowboy culture. This city truly has it all and completely has my heart.” Kelly is one of the many of us who were brought here to attend TCU, fell in love with the Cowtown charm, found our Fort Worth purpose, and never left.
Beauty was Kelly’s word when describing her impact as a businesswoman on our city. “I am humbled and grateful to imagine that my artwork brings beauty into peoples’ lives and homes,” she states. When you see Kelly’s artwork you will see just that-shapes, color, and clean designs that truly do feel beautiful and even feel like home. “I believe that stopping to appreciate beauty can ground us and bring us joy, an even more important legacy!”
Kelly, thank you for the beauty, kindness, vibrant color, and creativity you have brought to our city! Your legacy is building quickly and we can’t wait to support your next adventure! Visit Kellykay.com to view her work or stop on by her booth at this year’s Christmas in Cowtown (Booth 1114) and say hello! To contact her about her artwork, a custom design, or to request paper samples, e-mail sales@kellykay.com.