There’s no doubt that Noémie McGovern is going to do big things. The full-time graphic designer, and face behind the unique blog As Ink Remains, met with me in a crowded coffee shop on a cold Sunday to talk about how the content she posts helps her stay inspired and creative. Over tea we discussed décor, fashion, cats, recipes, her engagement, her future goals and the cultural revolution happening in the city that she now calls home.

Erin Jones: How did As Ink Remains come to fruition?
Noémie McGovern: I was in China for a year, came back and realized that I wanted to do something to stay creative. I wanted to cover new restaurants that I really liked, cover style the way that I saw it, and to try and stay inspired as well: to push myself to post something every day to stay in tune with what was going on in Toronto.

EJ: You cover fashion, décor, cats, and food. How would you categorize your blog?
NM: That’s actually the hardest thing for me to do.

There are people that really only do food, or really only do fashion. I feel like it’s just [for] inspiration; that’s how I see it.

EJ: What about Toronto inspires you and the content you post?
NM: I feel like there’s a different culture now in Toronto. Maybe it’s just our generation. We’re so entrepreneurial. We want to have a say in our life and the city we live in, and not just accept the big stores like H&M. People get out there and they support this community that is really growing, and that’s what I’m really enjoying about it.

EJ: Between being a graphic designer and writing your blog, you probably have to be really creative. How do you keep the creative juices flowing?
NM: There’s always something new to find – that’s what I always have to tell myself. The toughest part is having to work full-time then come home and blog. I basically have two full-time jobs. Knowing a lot of creative people helps; I find passion in them and carry it over into my own work.

EJ: You refer to yourself as a “foodie”. When did you develop a passion for food and cooking?
NM: I grew up with a dad who loved to cook and loved to bake. I was really the only kid in university who would go home and cook a meal for herself or her friends. I appreciate good food because I know how much time and work goes into it. I like to make things that are a little bit different. It’s really interesting to see how food trends go and how [in Toronto] they get picked up and translated by people. This whole rustic food business, this sharing of food, puts a whole emphasis on community, which is nice. That’s how I see food, as a community thing.

EJ: What are some of your favourite places to eat in Toronto?
NM: The place I go to the most is probably Saving Grace down on Dundas. It’s really simple food but it’s done well.

EJ: You post a lot of really good photography on your blog that you have taken. Are you professionally trained?
Nm: No, I guess it was my dad.

He was a photographer for school when he was growing up. He’s just always had a passion for photography. It’s where I learned how to take a photo. I took a few photography classes in school and it was just a huge passion for me, but it’s something that I’ve sort of learned on my own. I google everything.

EJ: How has As Ink Remains changed your life?
NM: I’m a lot more in-tune with what’s going on in Toronto and what’s going on with trends in terms of design and fashion. It’s kept me creative. It’s a good way to be pushed to be consistent. I really want to go into something a little bit bigger, so it’s a great way to think of new ideas.

EJ: Where do you hope to see your blog in the next five years?
NM: Hopefully in the next five years it will be an extension of my work, whereas right now I feel like my work is an extension of the blog. I want to focus more on street style in Toronto; there’s not much going on here in terms of Toronto blogs. I would love to do more DIY (do it yourself) projects; those are really fun. I would love to do more food related posts with recipes and videos.