My 'very own' Module 3 Showcase!

As you know I am a proud graduate of the ABSPD, The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. Last year I completed all three modules of this ground breaking course. It is probably the best thing I have ever done in my life and has given me the tools and the confidence to pursue my dream of becoming a surface designer and above all not be content until I reach success!

 

 

Since the Module 3 classroom finished last October, we have all been waiting patiently for the final Module 3 Showcase to appear on Rachael Taylor's lovely blog. I was luckily enough to make it in both showcases for Modules 1 and 2. Obviously it is not possible to showcase everyones work there are just too many students and the standard is very high. To cut a long story short... I was not featured... I have been 'borked' as a fellow classmate said, I don't know what it means but I love the word, I just hope it isn't rude!

So to say the least I felt a bit bad about it I had hoped to be included just to 'crown' my year of hard work, however, I feel that this little setback will just make me work harder to achieve my goals. Here especially for you all is my 'very own' Module 3 Showcase, featuring work I prepared for the course over the last few months.

 
Congratulations go to all of my fellow classmates who successfully had their work featured in the Module 3 showcases. Below you will find links to all four posts dedicated to Module 3, which can be found directly on Rachael Taylor's blog. I recommend you take a good look, there really are a great number of very talented ladies out there and lots of quality work to be seen. Well done all of you!

http://rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.it/2013/01/module-3-graduate-showcase-part-1.html
http://rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.it/2013/01/module-3-graduate-showcase-part-2.html
http://rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.it/2013/01/module-3-graduate-showcase-part-3.html
http://rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.it/2013/01/module-3-graduate-showcase-part-4_26.html

Dream Design 16 - Tina Devins

Today I am so happy to restart my 'Dream Designs' blog feature, it's been a while and I am pleased to say I have some great designers and some lovely work lined up for the coming weeks so stay tuned.

Tina Devins of Dreaming on a Star is a surface pattern designer who is based in Ireland. After graduating with a BA in Interior Architecture Tina has discovered her real passion lies in surface pattern design. Her career has moved towards illustrating and creating patterns and she has kindly agreed to share with us her favourite design and her 'Dream' application for it.

 

‘Quirky Hearts’ is my favourite design because it incorporates one of my favourite icons – a love heart. There is something innocent and hopeful about drawing little love hearts all over your books as a child. This represents the spirit of Dreaming on a Star – innocent, childlike but full of hopes and dreams.
My dream application would be a stationery line at Paperchase. Paperchase designs are joyful and full of life. They have a quirky and playful element especially in the ‘cute’ lines and I like to think that my work would fit in with their style.

I have looked closely at Tina's portfolio and I find her work very fresh and fun loving. Quirky and graphic patterns radiate a sense of happiness which shines through in almost all of her designs. Her distinctive hand drawn style lends itself to some very cute character designs and also works well when using typographic elements. Tina has a very versatile portfolio of designs which are not only suitable for stationery but also for textiles and in particular the children's sector. I have a soft spot for heart designs of any form, so my favourites are the 'Quirky Hearts' patterns which Tina has chosen to send me for this feature.

Tina recently did a guest post on Tigerprints YouBlog which you can read here. Please also take some time to check out Tina's lovely website and blog Dreaming on a Star where you can see a larger selection of her work, or you can follow her on Twitter or Facebook.

Efuto news plus good news!

Yesterday I had a lovely surprise when I got home from work, a BEAUTIFUL coloured envelope was waiting for me. I had totally forgotten that Julie Hamilton of Artistically Afflicted had promised to send me one of her envelope designs. The surprise didn't finish there, inside was a card and message and a lovely selection of papers and cut outs to keep and use. How sweet can someone be? It is so wonderful to receive such loveliness in the post!
I have decided that I will do the same and make up a few extra Efutos and send them at random to people who comment on my blog. So keep an eye open for my Efuto post! 

Such a shame my photo is so awful... the real thing is MUCH nicer!

The second bit of good news is that after a long break Dream Designs will finally be back on Monday 28th January. I am so happy to be able to start up this feature post again, it is so enjoyable for me to catch up with these super talented ladies and their interesting work and ideas. Some exciting patterns are coming through and I am confident that you will find these fabulous designs inspiring. Until Monday... don't forget!

It's almost February! - 2013 Designer Calendar Project

The 2013 Designer Calendar project continues and as it's almost FEBRUARY you can now download this beautiful design by Tiffany Designs.

© Tiffany Designs

The Freebie Designer Calendar project is an idea by Maria Jose Bautista V and is totally curated and overseen by her.

The idea being for 12 surface pattern designers to each create a month using their unique style, the only guidelines being the format and the colour palette! The result is a very different calendar full of fun designs and patterns. You can check out all the details and download the month of February on Majo's blog. This month there is a feature about the designer behind Tiffany Designs who has 'lovingly' created a design clearly inspired by Valentines Day! 

You can get your copy of February to print and keep HERE
I will remind you all every month so that you don't forget download your free copy :)

Sneaky peek - inspired by architechture!

As promised a 'sneaky peek' of a new collection I am working on at the moment. It is still without a title but has been inspired by architecture.

Buildings, castles, churches, windows, doorways, tiles and patterns, clocktowers and staircases. The patterns seem to have a medieval feel to them, should I add a knight in shining armour?

 

Please let me know what you think... I look forward to reading your comments.

Let's fly! bloghop... Thank you and news.

Hi everyone. I do hope you enjoyed the Let's fly! bloghop. 
It was a huge success and there was a great amount of super work for you to see whilst hopping about all over the world! Although the bloghop has officially finished you can still take ride on the merry-go-round. We clever ladies have relinked the bloghop so that it will remain forever on our blogs... well almost forever. Thanks to all of you who took time to visit the first time round. If you didn't have time then now you have no excuse!

It goes without saying that I am a very busy lady and to be honest I don't have as much time as I would like to do patterny things (VERY FRUSTRATING!!!!). At the moment I am working on a lovely freelance project creating five different 30 second animations which will go live on Youtube at the end of March. It is a whole new and exciting world for me and I am enjoying myself emormously... it also helps to pay the bills which my 'patterny' work isn't quite doing at the moment. So be patient and I will get back to you all with new work and projects as soon as possible. On Monday I will begin the week with a sneaky peek at a couple of patterns I have managed to create in my 'reduced' pattern making time. Also next week will see the return of Dream Designs... I will be showcasing a designer and their dream design and product. So things will be looking up, hope to see you then. x

The Little White Book of Surface Pattern Designers

A while back I did mention that our EFUTO envelopes would all be finishing in a new free resource, an on-line directory. The Little White Book of Surface Pattern Designers is the only virtual directory dedicated solely to Surface Design. Almost 80 designers feature in this first edition. It provides a great tool for agents, journalists, bloggers and manufacturers that are looking for new creative talent in this particular field.

A massive thank you goes to Gill Eggleston of Pattern Addict whose idea it was in the first place and who has worked so hard since October organising the whole thing. The directory has only been public for a week or so but is already enjoying great success. Needless to say I am happy to be part of it. You can find me (and my envelope) on page 47, go take a look! Also for easy and quick future consultation just click on the button top right.

Be free, fly high... dream a little too!

Hello and welcome to Nice and Fancy. You are in the middle of the great New Year's Let's fly! - Bloghop where over 50 surface pattern designers are showcasing their work. We hope you will find the whole thing fun and inspiring. After visiting Nicky Ovitt's lovely blog in California, U.S.A. I hope you will now enjoy my post.

My name is Dawn Clarkson and I am a graphic designer 'turned' surface pattern designer. With more than 20 years of design experience I am now pursuing my dream of becoming a full-time surface designer. 
My style can be considered bold and audace, I experiment with different techniques and materials, and use both hand drawn and computer styles. Often inspired by nature my patterns are colourful and generally contain complicated repeats.
I have designed three patterns especially for the Let's fly! - Bloghop. The theme 'Let's fly!' inspired me to think of KITES, the freedom they represent and the bright and happy atmosphere they evoke. I have created two seamless patterns and a placement print complete with a few inspirational words 'Be free, fly high', which could be used as a greetings card. My colour palette is governed by Pantone's colour of the year Emerald -  Pantone17-5641. 

Emerald Kites

Ditsy Kites

Whilst creating these designs it made me think closely about how I work and I have realised that I consider hard work and professionalism as a natural part of my work process. At this point I decided my everyday routine is missing a bit of freedom, a few dreams, the ability to fly, the hunger to achieve. I need to inject a large dose of these qualities into my work so I have decided that my motto for 2013 will be 'Be free, fly high!'

Greetings card design

I have many plans for 2013 and wish to realise as many of these goals as possible. Although I have enjoyed years of success in my graphic design career I now want to feel the satisfaction of creating patterns that will enrich the lives of the people who own them. I cannot hide the fact that I would love to see my designs on different home products and on warm and tactile fabrics.

Here's hoping I have inspired you to return and visit my blog again and maybe become a regular follower? All of my news and plans for 2013 I will share here on this blog so please make a note and come back soon. Now it is time for you to continue your journey on the great Let's fly! - Bloghop, I wish you a super day and I hope we all entertain and inspire you. We have all worked hard to complete today's achievement, it has involved a lot of teamwork. Please continue the Let's fly! - Bloghop by joining Julianne Hall of jookiku who is based in Australia.

Bloghop - Let's fly!

I am thrilled to be taking part in a super BLOGHOP from 10th  - 13th January inspired by Pantone's colour of the year EMERALD. Rosie Martinez-Dekker from Believe Creative Studios has put together almost 50 designers from all over the world who will be creating a showcase of their work under the theme of "Let's fly!" to celebrate our aim to fly as professionals in 2013.

If you are not familiar with a bloghop it works like this. The first person on the list writes a blog post and showcases exclusive work relevant to the theme and colour palette chosen, then adds a link to the next blog at the end of the post. Make sure you have a bit of time and a good cup of tea by your side because it will take some time to "hop" to the last blog. It is a great and fun way for us to promote our work and our blogs. We hope for you it will be enjoyable and inspirational. 

The bloghop begins with Pattern Addict and we will all link on from there. I am excited to be part of this event, but be patient, I am way down the list so don't give up before you find me... have a super time!

Happy New Year - Buon Anno

Hello everyone! Happy New Year, I do hope it will be a good one for all of us.

My year has started off well. One of my designs has been included in a 2013 calendar which will be availble to download free every month. The project has been organised by my good friend (and talented designer) Maria Jose Bautista V.

January 2013 designed by ©Maria Jose Bautista V

The idea being for 12 surface pattern designers to each create a month using their unique style, the only guidelines being the format and the colour palette! The result is a very different calendar full of fun designs and patterns. You can check out all the details and download the month of January on Majo's blog. On the last Monday of every month Majo will do a feature about the following designer and make the next download available. 

I am previewing a detail of the month of January which was designed by Majo and a small peek at all the other months. By the way, you will have to wait until July to download my design which features a beautiful mermaid!