Dreams really do come true
I’ve been making patterns over the past few months with a vanilla latte at the ready and my tabby cat, Link, by my side. It’s finally time to reveal three collections that are now available on Spoonflower! Each pattern has two colors, which means you have 48 options to choose from. So exciting!
Seeing my artwork on fabric is a bit of a dream, is this really happening? With Spoonflower, you can make your home more uniquely you. They have pillows, curtains, wallpaper, sheets, tablecloths and more. If you like to sew, you can choose from a variety of fabrics from their signature cotton to jersey. Let’s take a behind-the-scenes tour of how I like to create patterns.
A behind-the-scenes look into making a surface pattern design
Pattern-making is my new obsession. It’s so fun and there are so many possibilities to explore. I’m a painter, so the biggest challenge I had when I started making patterns was figuring out my style—again. I knew I wanted to use some of my traditional art techniques, keep the texture on point, and have a painterly style.
I found out I could vectorize (that means make it a digital piece of art) my pencil sketches, brush marks, watercolors, mark-making papers, and more. It took a bit of time to realize if I painted in layers it would be easier to work with in Illustrator.
One of the best parts about making my artwork digital is the recoloring available. I can change a black mark into any color I want. It’s a magical thing to watch.
Next, it’s time to play with the various drawings and marks to make motifs. Motifs are groups of items that go together, like a flower and leaves or a bird on a branch.
Once I have some motifs created it’s time to get started on a pattern. This is another favorite part because it's like putting a puzzle together. Jigsaw puzzles are kind of my thing. I remember going to this puzzle shop at Peddlers Village with my grandparents when I was eight and they would let me pick out a puzzle every time. I can still picture the one I picked with a white kitten walking across piano keys.
Back to patterns. After maneuvering items around the digital canvas, a pattern begins to take shape. Once I have a completed pattern, I test it on a mockup picture to see how it might look on an actual item.
Then it’s time to start another pattern.
Why use Spoonflower for fabric and home decor purchases
I chose Spoonflower as a way to share my patterns with the world because I wanted to make it easy for you to create a home that you love. Creating a lovely atmosphere in your home is a way to show yourself and your loved ones that you have a cozy, safe space to spend your time.
Spoonflower has a range of products that can spruce up the rooms in your home. Whether you need some new pillows or want to change up the colors in your bedroom, you can find them at Spoonflower. I love that wallpaper is coming back—yes, they have that too—in peel-and-stick options. That’s much less stressful than wallpapering the old way and then realizing you don’t like it.
If you like to sew, they have a variety of fabric types available. You can choose from cotton, linen, jersey, and more depending on the project you want to sew.
Sustainability is one of their top initiatives. They use a pigment printing process to reduce the use of materials and water, they minimize fabric waste by only printing what is needed, and they use a trusted set of vendors who use ethically sourced materials. They also have a variety of organic fabrics and eco-conscious wallpapers for you to choose from.
Even better, the packaging your items arrive in is compostable. If you don’t compost, you can recycle them.
How to create a cohesive room with collections
To make it easy when you’re redecorating you can choose fabrics from the same collection. You can find my patterns sorted into collections when you visit my Spoonflower shop. Check out this example using my In Between collection.
Let’s say you want to revamp your living room. Start with your wallpaper. Let’s choose Cricket Song. This gives us a focal point. Next, the pillows. What will complement your wallpaper beautifully? How about Twilight Blooms? Next, a throw blanket. Let’s use Last Light.
Enjoy this low-stress way to redecorate!
At this point, you’ve learned more about what’s involved with making a pattern, why Spoonflower is an excellent place to purchase items, and how to create a cohesive room with collections. You can create a beautiful home that feels like you with sustainable items from Spoonflower. My collections are available now, ready and waiting for you to check them out. What will you choose first?