Its not over, it's just the beginning

So week 5 and the final week of the brilliant Module 1 of the course.  Firstly a very big thank you to Rachael Taylor and Beth Kempton for producing and developing such an amazing, inspirational and supportive course.  I have had so much fun on the course  (The art and business of surface pattern design) and it has really made me think about the possibilities ahead.  Exciting times.

Secondly the course would not have been half as much fun if it hadn't been for the fabulously talented Facebook group who I  enjoyed the course with,  thank you to anyone who has liked or commented on a post, pattern or idea that I put out there.  You have helped me to be brave.  I also look forward to following your progress and seeing where your journey takes you.


I started with the idea of coordinates for main design and other places to put surface pattern onto.  The presentation sheet below actually took far longer than I expected but I am pleased with the way it came out.

We then discussed branding and logo,  This has, I will be honest with you, completely scared me.  I think it is far easier to create a brand for someone else than for myself.  This will be an ongoing project I feel and definitely not to be rushed but you may notice in the next few week some changes to the blog and Facebook, Twitter, Instagram pages as I play around with some ideas. Be pre-warned of scary uses of typography and colour choice ahead.  Also I am aware that I need to add some linking buttons to my blog too for now I can be found at these links above.  Busy times.

Next came technical repeats and Checks which I will hold my hands up and say I haven't quite finished.

And finished  Characters.  This is Painting Mouse.  She is my first character... ever!!

Module 2 will start soon so in the mean time I hope to produce some designs to add to my Spoonflower shop.  Will let you know when they are up and ready.

I also entered the lastest Tigerprint competition.. April 2014 was to design a floral Mothers Day Cards.  Wish me luck.

lets make patterns all day, everyday

Week 4 of the pattern design course (ABSPD) has been and gone and it was so much fun.  As you know I love patterns so taking in what I have done in week 1-3 I started making some patterns.  My work to date has been very much unlayered so I found layering quite difficult.  Placing a motif over another and hiding its prettiness seemed wrong, so imagine my surprise when the designs actually looked so much better when layered - seems so obvious now but my designs were really lacking this.  More layering in the future for sure.

We had some really cool and informative tips from the very awesome Marie Perkins, of Print & Pattern fame,  I am such a fan of her blog and try to read it everyday to stay up to date with current trends. We also started to think about describing  our own work.  This was tricky but will get easier as I create a large body of work.

We ended the week with a scarf project themed celebration.  I thought I would try something a bit different so went with a Mardi Gras theme using green, gold and purple as my pallette.  I know the edging is wrong.  Shhh dont tell anyone I'm sure they wont notice.

I also entered a competition run by the lovely ladies at By Hand London.  My design was not shortlisted this time but I am still really proud of it

Week 3 already but don't be blue.

This week was all about colour.  Like many children I remember my favorite colour would change weekly if not daily so when I was asked to think about my favorite colour I found it really difficult. My mind went completely blank.  I decided  that I could have lots of favorites.

  My wardrobe didn't help at all filled with black, grey and navy.  This will be changing in the future.  Here is what I would like it to look more like.  The ring and necklace at the bottom were Jane Austen's

Next I used Chipit to make swatches.  The photos are of places that I have been on holiday.  I didn't take these beautiful photographs but have vowed to travel more and take more photographs

Dead Vlei Namibia

Paris and Edinburgh

Finally I made a mood board from images collected from internet searching.  Link to each image is found on my pinterest board  I think these colours may feature in the upcoming blog revamp.

 Also a very big thank you to Rachael and Beth.  Each week of the course they are generously giving away a signed copy of Rachaels new book 20 ways to draw a doodle and this week I was lucky enough to win yay!  Its published 1st may

This is a late parrot. (update on week 2) *

Photo taken from Design Seeds

Just a quick update on week 2 of ABSPD course.  I have just come back from a lovely relaxing holiday so this is a bit delayed.  Had hoped to post whilst away but found we had no wifi so lots of sketching and photography instead.  Not such a hardship really.

The week was all about sketching.  However instead of still life drawing it was experimenting with paint and other media to produce textures.  They really lift a pattern so I know I will be making plenty more of these in the future.  They were also super quick to do.  Really need to get the sewing machine out and create some textures with that too.

 I was starting to panic about how best to store all these loose pieces of paper but I really shouldn't have worried as we then got to see inside some beautiful sketchbooks and see how other artists use their sketch books.  I always love looking through sketchbooks.

The last part of the week was about finding my style.  The exercises here were really fun and my style was not at all what I was expecting but strangely really accurate too.  I had thought my style was bright and geometric but the majority of the images I love are floral..  There was also some colours that kept appearing and I'm sure that these will not only influence my colour choices for pattern but also my wardrobe.  Already considering getting some coral nail polish and embracing colour - but thats for next week...

* Monty Pythons Parrot Sketch

I love pattern

Wow what a week last week was.  I have just finished week one of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design (ABSPD) Module 1 Designing your way, and have loved every minute.  The course is 5 weeks long and is all online.   It is run by surface pattern designer, Rachael Taylor.  The first week is all about inspiration.

I began with some photography which helped to start seeing things differently.
 Here are a few of my photos of rectangles and circles.  I won't put them all up - dont worry.

These photos were then used to make sketches to create abstract motifs.  A big challenge for me was to have confidence in my sketching.  After some initial doubts I came up with these motifs and hope to use these some time in a pattern.

tyres and air bricks are inspirational - who knew?

I also did some sketches of some flowers based around hydrangeas and then made a very simple pattern on the computer. This pattern was also submitted to the most recent Tigerprint competition all but in a black and white version (the theme was Black and White).  Wish me luck.

Really loving the blue

Another part of this week was deconstructing patterns.  This opened my eyes to which sort of patterns I am drawn to and this will definitely help me with my own style.
After week one I am really pleased that I have taken this course.  The facebook group community are really supportive and encouraging and I look forward to seeing not only my own designs develop and grow but also those of my fellow students.  I also like that we are all working on the same initial idea but the way we interpret it is soo different.   I need to love using Photoshop as much as I love Illustrator.  Thank you Beth Kempton and Rachael Taylor for creating such a wonderful course - enjoying every minute and a little sad that week one is over.

Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap Update

Well I should have posted this on Saturday when I received this but I've found myself caught up in ABSPD module 1 - more on this another time.

So Saturday lunchtime this beautiful postcard arrived. It took 9 days and had come all the way from Australia.  Its amazing really when you think about it.  It now sits next to my computer to help inspire me on those days when creating is more difficult.  You know the ones where you compare your beginning to other peoples middles.

On the reverse it had this quote

“Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it.”

Rabindranath Tagore

Thank you Ramona 


This was my first time and I loved taking part in this and will be definitely doing it again

Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap

Well it must have been a quiet day or just the idea of sending something out to someone just for fun, but I signed up for this through the do what you love for life site.  This is the 7th year it has run but my first time and perfect way to combine two things I love sewing and design.  I will give you a hint that this one is destined for Australia.  I hadn't planned on it but it seems I was drawn to Australian colours of yellow and green so very appropriate.

So this is the process that was involved in making it.  On Monday my friend introduced me to print making - which I had never tried before.  I made a simple collage using this process, with one piece of yellow tissue paper and drew some fantastical flowers on the reverse allowing the black ink to create splodgy lines  - I guess spring is here -   I really was inspired by this very quick image.  I guess this is the bit where I was  innovative with paper within my postcard design.

 I scanned, traced and added texture gradient and transparency in illustrator and printed out on cream card.

I chose a font that looked like fingerpainting - fun and splodgy  I also added what create means to me - repeat being really important to me

I raided my stash of ribbons and buttons carefully selecting those that I thought added to the spring theme.  The crochet  was chosen to give it a celebratory bunting spring fair feel.  the silver to convey rain and dew.  the green reminds me of spring leaves on the trees and the purple/white is the crocus/snowdrop