Pattern Revival- Rockabilly Birds
New year, new colors for my old “Rockabilly Birds” design.
I created “Rockabilly Birds” for Spoonflower’s January 2019 design challenge. My entry placed 16th out of 302 entries. Looking at the entries from 2019, I am amazed to see how much the Spoonflower challenges have grown! These days there are usually 1,000 or more entires and it takes FOREVER to vote. If you are a fellow surface pattern designer reading this post, I’m sure you’ve seen those numbers too, but don’t let that dissuade you from entering. Even though the numbers are high and the talent is increasingly competitive, I still enter as many of the weekly challenges as I can. The challenges offer an opportunity for growth, community, and so much more. The weekly challenge also helps give the design you’ve entered a boost in the ocean of other designs on Spoonflower which in turn helps with future sales. For example, I have a few designs that didn’t even place top 60th that sell almost weekly.
The Rockabilly challenge was one of my favorites and I’ve always loved the design I entered. This week I’ve decided to dig it out (from my library of files), dust it off (open it in adobe Illustrator) and give it a new outfit (edit the colors). So here it is, a fresh version of “Rockabilly Birds” with more of a pastel vibe. I also decided this version needed it’s own fresh set of accessories (coordinates). The original design was blue with punchier pinks and yellows. I love them both, but if I could wallpaper my office in one, it would be the new pastel version with the light background.
Both versions of this design along with the new (and old) coordinates are available for sale in my Spoonflower shop on fabric, wallpaper and home decor items.
Collaboration! Laboratorio La Gufa
“Olive and Honey”, a fabric collection born from a collaboration with Laboratorio La Gufa.
From past experiences, I’ve found that design collaborations to create a new collection are fun way to fill my Spoonflower shop with more designs while helping me to learn more about what small business owners and makers need and why. For those I’ve collaborated with, it’s been an opportunity to see their vision come to life without the expensive design fees. When the designs are finished, they are uploaded to my Spoonflower shop and purchased as needed.
“Olive and Honey” is a fabric collection born from one such collaboration. Over the summer Giuliana of Laboratorio La Gufa reached out all the way from Italy. She makes beautiful reusable wax food wraps using organic cotton dipped in olive oil and beeswax. In the process, the fabric becomes much darker, often causing the designs to get lost. Her request was that I create a collection that could be mixed and matched and would allow the designs to stand out. After learning a little more about her product and hearing her ideas, I sent Giuliana some sketches and then rough drafts. Before long, the collection “Olive and Honey” was born! I follow Laboratorio La Gufa on Instagram and I have absolutely loved watching their reels and seeing photos of their products with my designs printed on them.
Visit Laboratorio La Gufa’s website and Instagram to buy their wraps and learn more about their process. Did I mention how much I love watching their reels?
You’ll find the rest of the collection my Spoonflower shop.
Floral No. 2232
Introducing Floral No. 2232, a fresh floral collection just in time for spring- or summer. I created two bolder, punchier color options of the main designs for the warmer months that can be used with the coordinates.
Introducing Floral No. 2232, a fresh floral collection just in time for spring- or summer. I created two bolder, punchier color options of the main designs for the warmer months that can be used with the coordinates.
After I received my sample prints for this collection from Spoonflower and compared them to my original illustration I was reminded (as I often am) of why I love pattern design, and why it’s become my primary method of creating. I created the original illustrations for this collection quickly with Indian ink and a pretty worn out nib that I’m just not ready to retire yet. There were mistakes, there were smudges. It wasn’t perfect. But sometimes in this form of art (or any form), those imperfections can bring opportunity. A lot of times in my process I create those imperfections intentionally. I often go over my lines twice, creating extra lines. When I can I work with Indian ink because it’s a little unpredictable- sometimes it drips, sometimes I accidentally drag my hand over a wet line- that smudge will add character later. After the illustrations are complete and I bring everything into the computer and start converting to vector, I end up with this little playground of icons packed with possibilities and the results are like a surprise, especially when I finish and then look at the original illustration next to the final products and think “all that from this?”.
Floral No. 2232 is available in my Spoonflower shop on fabric, wallpaper and home decor. A few designs from this collection are also available on products in my Redbubble shop.
Home on the Saguaro, 17th Place!
This design placed 17th in Spoonflower’s “Home on the Range” challenge. Here’s the story behind this design and where you can find it on fabric and other products.
Home on the Saguaro, my design for Spoonflower’s “Home on the Range” challenge, took 17th place. When I originally read the prompt for this challenge I was stuck on cowboy hats and horses but when I was ready to work on my entry, I read through the prompt again and the word saguaro jumped out at me. A saguaro is that tall desert cactus with many upward reaching arms. I’ve never seen one in person but from the photos I’ve seen they look absolutely magical, so I decided that the subject of my design would be saguaro cacti and the little critters that live in them. Since this pattern placed top 60th, it was automatically made available for sale as fabric and wallpaper so it can be purchased in my Spoonflower shop. I’ve created some fun coordinates to go with this design, swatches have been ordered and they’ll be available by the 2nd week of May.
I drew the original artwork for this pattern with pen and ink.
Home on the Saguaro is also available on a variety of products in my Redbubble Shop.
Jalapeño Business
Beer label illustration for Dirtbag Ales’ Jalapeño Business. Here’s a summery of my thoughts and process on this one.
I probably shouldn’t play favorites because each beer label illustration I’ve done is special in its own way, but for now I’m just going to go ahead and call this one my favorite. I designed this one a while ago for Dirtbag Ales. When Dirtbag Ales’ Head Brewer/ co-founder, Tito told me about the name of this beer and his ideas for the label last summer, I knew immediately where I wanted to go with the design. My initial sketch was on paper and then I used a combination of Procreate (on my iPad) and Photoshop to illustrate this piece. As the scene started to develop through my drawing process, I became very attached to Mr. Super Serious Jalapeño and his annoyingly cool co-worker, the Pineapple. Even in the initial sketch their personalities were apparent and I added small details in the background to emphasize this. These characters have their differences, during the work day, I image there’s a constant battle of who’s got more flavor, and Mr. Jalapeño probably spend s a lot of time trying to get The Pineapple to focus and stop drumming pencils on the desk they share, but united in a beer, they work really well together. You can find this tasty American Wheat Ale brewed with Jalapeño and Pineapple at the Dirtbag Ales’ Brewery in Hope Mills, N.C. or contact the Brewery to find out if it’s available at any of your local grocery stores.
This was my initial sketch of the Jalapeño business label.
Humming Bird Charm
I created the main pattern for my Hummingbird Charm collection in September as an entry to Spoonflower's 500th design challenge, the prompt was Artistic Voice.
I created the main pattern for my Hummingbird Charm collection in September as an entry to Spoonflower's 500th design challenge, the prompt was Artistic Voice. I like to push myself to try different mediums, but when I think about my style and what my clients hire me to do, it’s this hand drawn look that usually starts with a pen (or a brush pen on my ipad) I’m not sure what to call it, but this is my default style and what I’m best at. When I saw the prompt to the artistic voice competition, I wanted to skip it because it was so wide open and I had way too many ideas floating around, but then I started thinking of hummingbirds. Then I started seeing these seemingly magical little birds buzzing around my garden every time I’d sit outside on my front porch to work. With everything that went on in my life last summer, they were a refreshing reminder to appreciate the small things in life that can easily be overlooked. I decided to do a little research and I was intrigued by the symbolism and history connected to hummingbirds. Hummingbirds also seemed fitting because I am naturally drawn to pollinators and tend to create a lot of pollinator themed art and patterns.
I created this collection with warm sunny days in mind. I included a deep bold yellow and a punchy pink in the main pattern that combined seem to have such a summery feel good vibe. It’s available on fabric and wallpaper in my Spoonflower shop and I can see this hummingbird fabric being sewn into cute little ruffle bottomed one piece bathing suits or possibly sundresses for little girls.
This collection is available for sale in my Spoonflower shop on fabric, wallpaper and an assortment of home decor items.
Click here to shop the collection.
Here’s the original line drawing. I drew it using the procreate app on my iPad.
Produce Illustrations for Freshlist
Fruits and vegetables are at the top of my “favorite things to draw list”. I was very happy when a project in the form of fruits and vegetables came my way back in August when I got an illustration request from a Charlotte, NC based food delivery company called Freshlist.
Fruits and vegetables are at the top of my “favorite things to draw list”. I was very happy when a project in the form of fruits and vegetables came my way back in August when I got an illustration request from a grocery delivery company in Charlotte called Freshlist. One of the founders, Jesse, reached out and asked if I would be interested in illustrating produce for a giant seasonal clock he planned to have painted on the side of the Freshlist building. Of course I was interested! When it was time to start the project, Jesse sent me over a list of over 50 produce items- it was like a long grocery list but instead of delivering groceries I was to deliver persimmons, kumquats, okra, lemons, limes, collard greens and more in the form of vector illustrations. There were a few things I had never heard of like Paw Paw fruit and that took me down the rabbit hole of information, especially when I realized I could potentially find a paw paw tree in the woods near my house. I drew a few of each item on the list by hand using a .01 Pigma Micron pen. Freshlist is a company with a very down to earth organic vibe- they work directly with local farmers and food makers to deliver fresh, local food to their customers, so I wanted my illustrations to have that same feel to them. After everything on the list was drawn and approved I converted the drawings to vector and added color. These illustrations were then turned over to a local Charlotte artist who did an amazing job painting them onto the wall. The finished product is a large, colorful and functional seasonal clock. I love projects like this and it’s a great feeling to know I was able to play a role in contributing to the beautification of a community.
To learn more about Freshlist, visit Freshlist.com
These Lucky Little Grasshoppers placed 12th
Grasshoppers symbolize luck, progress and positivity. They move by leaping and hopping. They can't leap or hop backward, only forward and sideways. This design was my entry for Spoonflower’s yellow and gray competition.
Grasshoppers symbolize luck, progress and positivity. They move by leaping and hopping. They can't leap or hop backward, only forward and sideways. This design was my entry for Spoonflower’s yellow and gray competition. It got a lot of love in voting and was awarded 12th place!
I chose grasshoppers as a subject because what they symbolize really resonated with me, especially after the year I had in 2020. As I journey through the unknown of 2021 I am hopeful that luck, progress and positivity are on my side.
This design is available in my Spoonflower shop on fabric, wallpaper and an assortment of home decor products.
A blue and green version of this design is available in my Redbubble shop on all sorts of fun products.
Hand Drawn Flowers
Flowers are one of my absolute favorite subjects to work with so when I saw that Spoonflower was having a “Hand Drawn Florals” design challenge, I was all over it... Here’s the scoop on this design, how I came up with and where you can find the finished product.
Flowers are one of my absolute favorite subjects to work with so when I saw that Spoonflower was having a “Hand Drawn Florals” design challenge, I was all over it. I spent a few hours researching wild flowers, specifically ones native to North Carolina, where I live. I kind of got a little lost in the process. I love flowers. Have I said that yet? Anyway, I did an ink drawing of the flowers I decided to work with such as chicory (so much fun to draw), wild roses, rose hips, and thistles to name a few. There were over a thousand entries for this challenge so I didn’t place anywhere in the top 60 this time but that’s ok. There are a lot of talented artists on the Spoonflower platform and competition is tough, but it’s worth it to enter when I can. I see Spoonflower challenges as opportunities to create new designs and collections, it’s always helpful to have a prompt to work with and they’re usually subjects I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. I didn’t create a huge collection from this one, maybe I’ll add a few more designs later but in the meantime there’s a darker color way of the main design, an option without the grid lines and a clover coordinate available in two options. Click here to shop this collection in my Spoonflower shop where it’s available on fabric, wallpaper and an assortment of home decor items.
Click to visit my Spoonflower shop where you can buy any of these designs on fabric or wallpaper.
Metamorphous
Today is the first day of 2021. It’s New Year’s Day.
When I think about this past year and try to sum it up, the only word I can find is metamorphosis. My life today is so different from what it was on this day last year, it has forever been changed. In the past, I’ve found myself spending New Year’s Day making notes about all the things I’ll do differently. Today I’m just wishing I could have some of the things I lost last year back.
I drew this New Year’s Day using the Procreate App on my iPad.
Today is the first day of 2021. It’s New Year’s Day.
When I think about this past year and try to sum it up, the only word I can find is metamorphosis. My life today is so different from what it was on this day last year, it has forever been changed. In the past, I’ve found myself spending New Year’s Day making notes about all the things I’ll do differently. Today I’m just wishing I could have some of the things I lost last year back.
I think we all lost some of our freedom last year as a result of this “pandemic” and that’s been weighing heavily on me. All of the things I used to take for granted. Things I never imagined would be something I’d ever find myself missing. Freedom to travel, freedom to go to the grocery store without covering my face, freedom to send my kids to school. A lot of people welcomed the extra time at home and it was nice for my family at first too, but when 2 weeks turned into the rest of the year and the work slowed to almost a halt for me, it wasn’t nice anymore. I know I’m not the only one, but I just have to vent a little, I’m tired of it. I’ll take the new year, but not the “pandemic”.
As if 2020 was a cruel joke, the pandemic was minor compared to other things the year had for us. We lost my Grandpa in April, followed by our dear friend and neighbor, Ryan (who was only 37) in June to the ocean, the next month my stepdad was taken by the lake. And then as if three wasn’t enough, my younger sister who was only 27 passed away right before Thanksgiving. I spent the last month of 2020 full of anxiety wondering who would be next.
2020 was an absolute nightmare.
However, when the clock struck 12 this morning on January 1st, 2021, I was still standing. In retrospect, I have a lot to be thankful for and while I’m still processing the events of 2020, I’ve learned a lot and my outlook today is so different from what it was on this day last year. As doors closed, other doors opened. Life has changed and will keep changing. Our family grew by three when my nieces and nephew came to live with us. There are 6 kids in my house now and they are all thriving, every day is an adventure. My husband made it through his first year of retirement from the U.S. Army and has a job that he loves. We have the most amazing neighbors, friends, and extended family. My husband also gave me his “woodshop” and we converted it into a studio for me (more to come on that when it’s 100% finished) so I can hopefully get back to making art and being productive regardless of if the kids are at home or not.
2021, I don’t know what’s in store but I think it’s best to just take it a day at a time.