“Silver circle burst” {part of my emerging “Summer Dayz” collection}

I am always looking for similarities in life, rather than differences so working on designing co-ordinates as part of the “Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design” course has been a dream for me. Everything is falling into place as I create patterns to complement each other.

Co-ordinate sheets {or presentation sheets} like these really help us as designers and also prospective clients get a feel for how the designs can work together. It really does spark the imagination thinking of wallpaper, bedding, lampshades, stationery and lots more! That is only the beginning, imagine all the different color ways you can create too!

“Summer Dayz” co-ordinates.

I am learning the software slowly, and signing up for the adobe trial first really has helped me ease into it all without dishing out alot of cash upfront. I am also a “learn by doing” kinda gal, so once I got the hang of a few key elements and got my head around the layers concept, I am loving every moment.

Can you see the similarities? What kind of products can you see some of these designs on?

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Surtext show badge with mouse mat from Pink Light Design and postcard from Lemon Ribbon.

Tuesday I headed over to the last day of Surtex to do a walk round of the show and say hello to some lovely design friends old and new. This was my first time at Surtex and after diving into Module 1 of “The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design” I jumped at the opportunity to attend this trade show to learn more about exhibiting surface pattern designs.

Aisles and aisles of exhibitors

Over 300 exhibitors were at the show ranging from Artists, designers, studios, agents and licensing firms selling and licensing art and design.

I didn’t quite know where to start so I literally walked up and down each aisle, before going back to various booths that I knew of or that caught my eye.

Trend theater in the center of the exhibit, right next to the cafe!

There was also a new trend theater showing 30 minute presentations from experts sharing their perspectives of what’s ahead in color, design, styles, attitudes and lifestyles. Presentations from Edelkoort, Inc., Trendease International, Milou Ket, Stylesight, Trend House, Inc., Carlin International, LA Colors from Amsterdam, Mudpie, and Jo-An Jenkin’s TrendPulse.

Me and Elizabeth.

It was so good to meet ABSPD course participant and fellow flyer Elizabeth Gonzalez  at her booth. Elizabeth had contacted Surtex and signed up at the last minute. She was so thrilled to be one of the designers with her own booth.

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Great display from Tinsel Trading {in the National Stationery show part of the center}

Then I made my way around some of the other booths chatting and introducing myself. I chose designers/agents I knew of already or where their work really resonated with me. Below are the lovely people who were happy for me to take a photo of them and/or their booth and of course I always asked permission first. {Note: This is something to really keep in mind as some designs are not allowed to be photographed or some have a no photography policy to protect their work and the work of their designers.}

Thank you to the following for taking the time to say hello and spend some time chatting. :-)

Promo handout from Paper & Cloth.

The ladies at Paper & Cloth were lovely and had a beautiful booth {but due to no-photography policy, I was unable to take a photo so you cant see their smiling faces}

Khristian A Howell (center)

Khristian was super friendly and said she knew my work when I introduced myself! Her booth was filled with color, samples and smiling faces – so approachable. {This was a quiet 10 minutes where I took the opportunity to say hi as Khristian’s Booth was busy busy busy!}. Khristian is also one of the wonderful expert contributors for “The Art and Business of Surface pattern Design course”!

Kate Knight

Kate is a designer from Edinburgh in Scotland so of course I had to say hello to a fellow Brit! It was lovely to have a chat with her about the show. I loved the way she had her work displayed and it really made an impact as you walked past.

Sarah Watts at her fabulous booth.

Sarah was another super friendly designer. Her booth was by far the most innovative with the display, so I had to stop by and say hello! She was so lovely and bubbly – a joy to chat with. She said the show had been great and gave me a book recommendation on pattern design which was so nice of her!

Beautiful displays of art inspired by nature

Linadona Botanica had a beautiful booth which drew you in with designs inspired by nature. I loved how the product photos were also placed as part of the display.

Lovely Mel at Lemon Ribbon

Mel at Lemon Ribbon was another lovely friendly face to chat to. Also a fellow Brit! I promised to chop this photo so the designs in the background weren’t so prominent as they had been sold. I said I’d stop by again at Printsource New York, when they exhibit there in August.

Mary Beth Freet

Then finally I had the opportunity to say hi to Mary Beth from Pink Light Design {their booth was super busy all the time too!}. I love Mary Beth, she is always so happy and put down her late lunch to chat to me! We met at Printsource in 2011 and I also interviewed her on the blog soon after. She was so interested in finding out about my new design work and said she would love to see some if I was interested in being represented!

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So in conclusion, it was such a fabulous afternoon walking around the show, I also got to say hello to Tara Reed who was also one of the speakers for the conference program at Surtex. The other booth I wanted to go to was Lilla Rogers Studio, but as they were constantly busy, it felt inappropriate to stop by. I hope to catch them at Printsource in August. :-)

Surtex is held once a year so I have put a goal on my list to be represented by an agent or have my own booth for 2013!

Big Dreams!

Two lovely friends from across the street invited me to “an opening” at the James Rose Center in Ridgewood, NJ yesterday. I had no idea what to expect and thought it would be a lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon perusing “an exhibition”.

I HAD NO IDEA I was walking into this AMAZING home {down an ordinary street in suburbia} that had been created in the 1950′s by an innovative architect to find trees, simple living spaces and beautiful light at every turn.

A LIVING SPACE AMONGST THE TREES.

On the ground level there were gorgeous water features, walkways and little twists and turns around the corridors.

A mysterious place to have a little architectural adventure.

Beautiful light and simplistic detail

Indoor gardens and Japanese influences everywhere you turned.

Open roof to see the sky

No need to go outside to hug a tree.
{we had our photo taken here by a Ridgewood news reporter so who knows – we might be in the newspaper next week!}

Natural patterns

Enchanting features placed around the home.

James Rose wanted to create a metamorphosis “I decided to go at the construction as you might a painting or sculpture.” Rose wrote. “I set up the basic armature of walls, and roofs, and open spaces to establish their relationships, but left it free in detail to allow for improvisation. In that way it would never be “finished,” but constantly evolving from one stage to the next – a metamorphosis,” Rose wrote, “such as we find commonly in nature.”

Such an inspiring space and an afternoon viewing some of the fabulous entries into the “Suburbia Transformed 2.0” showcase

“Nature in their dance” minis in progress for the exhibition

It was so wonderful this past weekend, completely soaking myself in paint and color. It’s been so long since I had all my paints out, canvas all over the studio and just let loose.

I decided to get a start on some artwork for my upcoming “Dance” exhibition {with 2 other talented artists}, which is opening on Saturday June 23rd until July 15th. As many of you are aware, I am inspired by nature, so my interpretation of “Dance” is all about how nature dances in the breeze and has a natural dance of its own.

I had my studio windows open letting the cool sunny breeze flow through and light ambient music playing to set the scene.

It felt so good!

To get myself into my creative zone, I always listen to my own color meditations. The meditations are such a lovely way to relax, center myself and then get those creative juices flowing!

They always unblock and release anything that may be holding me back, so I can just “be”.

Color and creativity took over with a burst of energy.

I went a little wild and started creating patterns and color on 22 pieces!

The beginning stages of the “minis”

I love to work on multiple artworks all at once as I add a little to each, every so often and just let the color and creative energy take over.

Two larger 20×20 inch pieces in progress for the show

“Dance” will be held at the hobart co-operative gallery space in the Monroe Arts Center – June 23rd thru July 15th.

I’m really excited to see how they all turn out. {All to be revealed here in June}

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Fancy getting your own creative juices flowing?

I’ve been getting some lovely feedback from creatives who bought the color meditations during the special sale over the weekend, so am extending the offer of 50% off until THIS WEDNESDAY.

Click here to purchase and enter code: colorlove in the discount box to get all 7 color kits {kits include audio & 20+ page workbook} and 2 bonus meditations for ONLY $49.90.

Color your life and open up a creative word of possibility.

Creating a color palette from my own mixed media artwork.

OH MY GOODNESS!

I am so loving exploring all we are learning in “The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design” course. I have been catching up on this weeks color and pattern lessons and dived straight into learning the adobe Photoshop & Illustrator software.

This is a HUGE learning curve for me. It was a little frustrating at first as I knew exactly what I wanted to create, but didn’t know how! I am so glad there are amazing technical workshop lessons from Rachael Taylor as part of the class otherwise I would be completely lost!

I decided to keep it simple to start off with and scanned in a few of my motifs from my sketchbook into Photoshop, which are below.

As part of the class, I learned how to create basic motif placement and add color!

My very first designs using the color palettes from “Blooms” as a guide.

I then played around with some other existing artwork with the same motifs

We are REALLY diving into more pattern over the next two weeks, so cant wait to share more of this exploration.

Which do you like best?

A pile of sketchbooks I’ve been looking through to gather inspiration for module 1 of “The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design” course.

What was so great about being back at my family home in the UK last month, was digging around in my mums loft to find a wonderful selection of old sketchbooks {some over 20 years old} from my days at art school and ceramic design course.

Obviously obsessed with swirls 20 years ago! Taken from ceramic giftware ideas in my 1992 sketchbook!

What amazed me so much was how much inspiration I had gathered in those few years, long ago.

Pattern and color sketches from 1990 on my general art & design course.

I found color and pattern studies I had forgotten about

Nature sketches and a heart!

Sketches from nature and a re-connection with heART.

I think you may see an updated version of the heart in my first entry for the heART-Full Monday’s series here. Come join in!

Fruit studies! {1990}

It really inspired me to realize that once seeds are planted inside for ideas, they can sometimes take 20 years to re-appear!

Motif development and sketches from Module 1 “The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design” course. Also incorporating color studies for the April Color Challenge

“Motif studies from existing patterns” More studies from ABSPD

*LOVE* “Perfectly unfinished”

As I work through more of the exercises in Module 1 of the course, I am feeling PURE EXCITEMENT for using some of these ideas and sketches.  WATCH THIS SPACE. :-)

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How do you capture your design ideas and sketches?

Do you have favorite sketchbooks you like to go back to for inspiration?

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Leave a comment below or even better a link to a blog post or piccies from your own sketchbooks.

My Full Moon Mandala this month is all about flourishing (my word for 2012!) I am back in the USA, getting settled and getting ready to work on some exciting new design projects. Back to basics, good food, balance and living life!

What are your dreams and thoughts for this Full Moon?

The Full Flower Moon {Northern Hemisphere}
What is flourishing and blooming in your life? How would you like to bloom?

Full Frost /Beaver Moon {Southern Hemisphere}
What are you inviting in to prepare for the winter season?

If you created a Full Moon Mandala/Dream board this month, please feel free to share the link in the comments below and I’ll pop by to say hi. Please also visit Jamie Ridler’s lovely Dream Board Circle to spread the love further.

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Next New Moon Gathering Invitation: May 20th
Next Full Moon revealing: June 4th
Northern: Full Strawberry Moon
Southern: Full Cold Moon

New to Full Moon Mandala’s/Dream Boards? Find out more here.

HELLO! and welcome back to First Friday Giveaways.

A monthly feature where I’ll be offering a fabulous giveaway from myself, sponsors or the universe in general!

This month is all about pink on the Color Challenge.

So of course our giveway is something lovely and pink!

There are two gifts this month for one lucky winner.

#1: handmade glass pendant by me.

{I just added lots of pendants into my recently re-opened Etsy store}

AND

#2: A lovely notebook to match

TO WIN: Simply post a comment below on what pink reminds you of. The winner will be chosen randomly and posted back here on Tuesday.

Have a great weekend everyone!

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UPDATE: THE WINNER IS –

Comment number 7 which is lovely Amanda @ Click. The Good News. I’ll be in touch to send you your 2 pressies!

Next First Friday Giveaway is Friday June 1st (I’ll announce as part of the color challenge post for June)

Gorgeous window display taken in Paddington, Sydney, Australia

Today is my 39th birthday and as I embark into my 40th year into this world, I’ve been thinking alot about my dreams and goals for the year ahead.

There are so many ideas swimming in my head and my biggest challenge is always focus! Taking time out traveling for 4 months, really did give me the space to quieten my mind, breathe, explore and enjoy every moment.

I love my vision board for 2012 {below} and seeing it everyday on my studio wall energizes my day and helps me focus on the path I know is the right one, one that I am focusing on for the next year. It was so interesting, creating this with my intuition this year as it really does have more on here about how I want to feel and how I want to express myself. The only image I am totally in the dark with is the little birdie on the bottom left corner, but I HAD to put him on there. So maybe he will reveal himself sometime over the next year. :-)

I love that!

2012 Vision Board

Most of the time, we think of goals as things we want to do, have or accomplish, when infact, its really about how we want to feel every day of our lives. The tasks and goals we set ourselves are just ways to help us get to those feelings, they are the strategies.

How would you like to feel everyday?

I want to feel:  Calm, balanced, energized, healthy, passionate, loved, inspired, free, secure….unlimited.

“I wish” taken at the Botanical gardens, Sydney, Australia

Wish [to want; desire; long for]

So with all those feelings in mind, I wish………….

To see my artwork, designs and patterns on fabric, interiors, china, walls.

To work with other creative souls who inspire me

To write {or be part of} a book combining color, energy, creativity and pattern

To travel to South America

To feel good about my body by nourishing and exercising it. {and fitting into all the wonderful clothes I have in my wardrobe}!

To learn to play the Spanish/Classical guitar and take singing lessons

To have a space that is a collaborate gallery, studio out the back and a place to have creative chat.

To continue to exhibit and sell artwork

To establish a life where I live between USA, Spain and the UK, seeing friends and family in different continents on a regular basis throughout the year.

I know there are many more, but keeping with my intentions….focus is key! :-)

How about you?

How would you like to feel everyday and what are your dreams to get there?

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P.S. Im also having a birthday sale in my ETSY shop.

Enter code:  “Birthday39″ for “buy one, get one free” on all prints. (let me know which one you’d like for free)

Enter code: “happy” for 20% off handmade books

“Pink Lillies” are one of my favourite flowers. {Photo taken in New Zealand}

I think I can honestly say pink is one, if not the most of my favorite colors! So am really excited for this month. I am back in my studio with all my materials and cannot wait to create some new work with this fabulous color!

When I see pink, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, it warms my heart and I love to wear pink out and about.

THE CHALLENGE:

• Create something using these beautiful colors with a combination of any of the additional shown above. (you can also include white or black in your creation)
• The colors don’t need to be 100% exact – the codes/numbers are listed for guidance and if you decide to create using a computer, you can grab these codes.
• Share it in the flickr group here
• Pop back here on the 28th where I will share mine. I will then invite you all to post a link to your work or blog post about it all and visit everyone who participated. Read more about the challenge and to sign up here

Some Prompts:

Here are some prompts to help you uncover these colors some more. Feel free to incorporate words or images from these into your work or comment in the comments below.

• How do these colors make you feel?
• What do these pinks remind you of?
• What are some of the things that come to mind when you see these colors together?

ENJOY! I cant wait to see what you all create!

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