Author Archives: admin

Bad Ass Backpack

MATS Bootcamp is back!  I truly love these 5 months!  Surrounded “virtually” by brilliant artists, designers, and makers.  Our March assignment was to design a bad ass backpack with abstract patterns.  Abstract patterns is really tough for me, but I trust Lilla, and so I tackled the mini.

Instead of taking a stroll outside in a New England March, I opted for a stroll around my office and home.  I found plenty of objects that I love there.  Pens, a cactus, elements from furniture, frames, shelves etc.  In the end, it just didn’t feel abstract enough.  I decided to pull out my alcohol inks and see what I could create.  I also made some marks.

This is by far my favorite part.  I still have not mastered it, but I did successfully create a half drop repeat in PhotoShop with the help of Jessica Swift’s pattern camp!  This is a skill I have been trying to get down for over a year!  I love the texture that this technique creates.  I spent a great deal of time exploring abstracts and mark making

Above is only 6 of the patterns that came from this exercise.  My biggest challenge in this assignment was creating coordinates.  With Illustrator patterns, I can usually pick out one element and blow it up, or shrink it, change the background, but because this was mainly about the texture of the background I struggled with coordinates.  This is definitely a process I will be working on as projects allow for more abstract play.  I’m hoping to be able to offer a collection featuring these abstract patterns.

Making the mock up is always fun!  So many combinations and just thrilling to see designs “come to life”.  Also, there are so many elements to coordinate!  Different patterns, straps, color and bag style….oh my!  As I mocked them up I could see how some lend themselves beautifully to fabric.  Some were better large!  Some were definitely better as a phone case.  Exploring and experimenting definitely opened my eyes to many possibilities!

The final piece of the project was lettering.  Serendipity…a happy accident….seemed very fitting for what happens when you drop alcohol ink on a tile and wait to see what shape it creates.  I was a kid again….a scientist in my own little experiment.  Hope you enjoyed reading about my process and will check out my next project!

Dogs Days Plate Collection

Our second assignment for Make Art That Sells (MATS) A is from the home decor industry.  Lilla asked us to take a look at Staffordshire Figures.  Of course I was drawn to the dogs and cats, and the beautiful blues.  I do try to incorporate other colors, but I LOVE blue, and all of it’s…Continue Reading

Macaroni Kitchen Fabric Collection

  Right after Thanksgiving this past year there was a fabulous sale at Make Art That Sells.  So I took advantage and bought myself an early Christmas present….MATS A.  This is a self paced course which either runs 5 weeks, or however long you need.  I started the middle of January, and finished the first two…Continue Reading

MATS Bootcamp Continued

My last two MATS Bootcamp assignments were in June and July.  These are two very busy months in my household.  My four kids ages 5-11 all have many end of school activities and summer begins.  I am still finding a balance between parenting and following my career dreams.  MATS Bootcamp was an awesome way to…Continue Reading

Always An Art Student

 Last year I discovered Make Art That Sells by Lilla Rogers.  Each year MATS runs a contest called MATS GTS or Make Art That Sells Global Talent Search.  It seemed like a perfect opportunity to stretch my creative wings.  It is a truly unique experience to participate with amazing artists from all stages in their…Continue Reading

Been away for a while…

   I’ve been away from my blog for a while, but for a good reason! I have been super busy helping a client launch a new shop.  I’m SO excited for her and her new venture. I haven’t taken a break from patterns. I’ve been adding one every week, and you can see some at Spoonflower or…Continue Reading

52 Patterns in 2015-Week 5

Art and design is all about seeing things a little bit differently. Inspiration is everywhere! Beauty is in everyday things, and we just have to look very carefully to see the wonder of it all. It’s all about looking at objects from a different perspective and conveying that unique perspective.  One of the wonderful assignments…Continue Reading

52 Patterns in 2015 -Week 4

I cannot believe it is the end of January already!  After over 2 feet of snow falling at the beginning of the week and enjoying the new falling snow this week, I was happy to sit down and work on my floral collection.  It may be quite some time before I feel that this is…Continue Reading

52 Patterns-Week 3

This is the beginning of what I hope will be a collection.  The first couple weeks of my Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design Module 1 class was all about sketching.  Before we even created a pattern, it was about the process…first thoughts, first marks.  One assignment was to draw something that fascinated you.…Continue Reading

52 patterns for 2015 – Weeks 1&2

      My first two patterns for 2015 have been entered into Spoonflower’s weekly contest, which is a wonderful way for me to add patterns in the New Year.  Both of these patterns involve hand drawn elements and I could not be happier to be drawing on a daily basis again.  These can be found…Continue Reading