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MEET KARA FROM MOUNT VIC AND ME
MEET KARA! THE ARTIST BEHIND OUR NEWEST COLLECTION...
High up in the Blue Mountains (west of Sydney) in the historic village of Mount Victoria, designer Kara Cooper started the fabulously quirky Mount Vic and Me® in 2013.Kara’s collection of art tea towels, t-shirts, socks, greeting cards, sneakers, skirts, mugs, cushions, upholstered vintage chairs, wallpaper and fabrics are created in a fabulous 100-year-old café on the highway in Mount Vic. The studio is a mash of colour, textures, retro fun and nostalgia.
Where is your store? Tell us how long you've had it, opening hours etc.
At the top of the Blue Mountains
At the top of the Blue Mountains
We are open every Thursday and Saturday 10-3pm
115a Great Western Hwy
Mount Victoria NSW 2786
The studio shop has been around since 2017. It’s on the Great Western Highway in the historic village of Mount Victoria. It’s gorgeous here!
Tell us about Mount Victoria. How long have you been there? What drew you to it?
We moved here in 2012 and love it. I’d lived in the Blue Mountains but always thought Mount Vic was too far (being the last village before you drop into Hartley). It’s absolutely beautiful, a true village with a few antique shops, (ethical) taxidermist, classic old-style cinema, museum and great places to eat. We are incredible views from the escarpments and great bush walks.
Tell us about your fur babies. Names/age/are the rescues etc.
We have lots of fur kids. Badger the pug is 8, Andy the red cattle dog rescue is about 5-6 (can’t be sure of his background), Cosmo the rescue black long-haired cat, Marvin the lop-eared bunny, lots of chooks including d’Anvers and Hambergs and 2 male fantail pigeons who are in love and try to brood with the chook eggs!
How did you get into designing?
I have always drawn as a child. I was not doing well at high school and my art teacher encouraged me to sit the test to get into Graphic Design. I wanted to be an illustrator but she said Graphic Design would give me good grounding and the right tools. I still love it 30+ years later.
What inspires you to create?
It can be anything from the curve of rusty ironwork on a park bench, leaves hanging from the trees, a funny smile from a pooch sitting outside a cafe or colour combination I’ve never considered before. I try new things via my collection of fabrics and wallpapers on Spoonflower. I have 4000+ designs now!
What is your favourite thing to create?
At the moment it’s designing Hawaiian shirts. That classic, boxy shape allows for so much creative space. They have a history of being loud and garish so it’s fun to put my colourful take on them. I love seeing peoples faces when they try them on!
What is your favourite thing to draw?
Where can people find you on socials? (instagram handle etc)
Portraits of politicians. Love them or hate them, by sitting and drawing someone, really looking into the laugh lines of someone or their eyes gives you such a sense of who they are.
What is your website, what and where can people buy your stuff
www.mountvicandme.com
www.mountvicandme.com
Where can people find you on socials? (instagram handle etc)
Tea or coffee? Tea
Morning or evening? Morning
Sweet or savoury? Sweet
Humans or hounds? Hounds
Unicorn or dragon? Dragon
Playlists or podcasts? Podcasts - true crime
anything else weird, wonderful or random you would like to add.
I like dark comedy!