Meet Kris Stewart | Artisan & Bookbinder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kris Stewart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kris, what principle do you value most?
Integrity. Whether it’s being honest in my interactions with customers, the integrity of my craft, or simply being true to who I am, integrity is the most important thing to me. Being a solo-preneur, my business is me, and I think Scroll & Ink’s slow and steady growth has enabled me to keep my values in the forefront as I make decisions. The quality of the craft, being as eco-friendly as possible, giving back to the causes I care about, it’s all there.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I learned how to make books over 20 years ago when my son was an infant. It started as a hobby while I was a stay-at-home mom, but I paid attention as friends of mine started selling their wares online through this new marketplace called Etsy. Instead of getting a “real” job when my son moved to middle school, I started my own Etsy shop selling hand bound photo albums. I didn’t take it too seriously until my son left for college 5 years ago. Today, while it’s still a one-woman shop, I’ve started working more on product development, branding, and social media, and when the pandemic hit, I designed my own website. I wear a lot of hats including my favorite: Maker. Currently I create leather journals, sketchbooks, and my most popular items, whiskey and bourbon tasting notebooks. (I make notebooks for wine and beer, too!) I believe functional objects should be both beautiful and well-crafted and my books reflect that. They’re tactile and visually interesting — I want you to want to use them! Since I’m an introvert I’ve had to challenge myself to get out there and teach classes, sell in person, join groups, and even do videos and a live TV spot! Five years ago I would’ve said I’m happy simply hanging out in my studio, but now these things are a basic part of my business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Louisville so food and drink are a priority! We also have some fabulous attractions worth seeing. If you’re downtown, be sure to visit the Muhammad Ali Center and the free (yes, free!) art museum at the 21C Hotel. There are many distillery tours to choose from in the downtown area, all offering something a little different. When it’s time to eat (or drink) head to Mussel & Burger Bar or 8-Up. I also like Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen for something totally casual. Just east of downtown, walk around Nulu and check out the boutiques, then stop for a beer at Sixth Street Brewing or a treat at Louisville Cream. Bar Vetti or Mayan Cafe are excellent options for food. A little south of downtown is Old Louisville (my neighborhood!), which boasts the largest contiguous area of Victorian houses in the country. Take a tour of the Conrad-Caldwell House and stroll along tree-lined St. James and Belgravia Courts. You can hang out with the locals at Old Lou Brew or The Tavern. You can also get an elegant meal at Buck’s. Other things to do in Louisville: poke around the huge Mellwood Antiques and any other shops or galleries that are open while you’re there, take a tour at Churchill Downs, and find Muhammad Ali’s gravesite at Cave Hill Cemetery. You might want to burn some of those extra calories off walking around the 2.5 mile loop at Cherokee Park or along the waterfront. If you need to stop for coffee, try Safai or Fante’s.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to thank Beth Tobey for mentoring me when I first started out and my current group of creative friends for keeping me inspired and motivated.

Website: www.scrollandink.com

Instagram: @scrollandinkbookbinding

Facebook: @scrollandinkbookbinding

Image Credits
the two photos of me, please credit JD Stewart.