Welcoming the talented Julia Reader as our next featured artist in The Designer Project – along with her wonderful fabric collection ‘Flowers & Foliage’!
To coincide with Julia’s fabrics being available in our Fabric Shop, she has also put together a guest blog which shares some background information about the artist herself, the inspiration for the collection and how Julia likes to work creatively. The blog is simply a joy to read! Keep reading to find out more!
Julia Reader
Hello! My name is Julia and I am the graphic designer and artist behind Julia Reader Creates! I work from a small light-filled studio in Mount Gambier, South Australia in which I sell a small range of creative products from original art and textiles to paper goods. I also teach watercolour from a large, refurbished farm-house table!
Watercolour paintings that will transfer to a pattern.
I live in the lovely Limestone Coast of South Australia. I am surrounded by nature and it fuels all of my creativity. I have a particular fascination with Australian native flora and fauna, but do love a dahlia too!
Princess Gum flower – design inspiration
My creative process usually starts with a photo that I have taken. My phone is filled with videos and photos of plants and their flowers – it’s a creative library of sorts. This library sits idle until I have a brush in hand, of which I search for the image that talks to me the most. A lot of the time I have no idea what I will create, and I love the spontaneity of that. Some of my best work has arrived from having fun and experimenting. I also have a love for colour and this finds its way into my work naturally.
Watercolour paintings that will transfer to a pattern.
I scan in my watercolour paintings and clean up the elements that I plan to use in my pattern. This can take quite a while to do, and oftentimes I don’t use everything that I paint. I tweak colours and layout until I am happy, and will also apply the pattern to a mock-up file just to see how the pattern will transfer to a product.
Crab Apples Watercolour Motifs
Crab Apples Design Mockups
I have a large store of watercolour paintings that I sift through every once in a while. I love to re-purpose my artwork and combine different elements and styles, so having this archive of artwork allows me to do that.
Stored Paintings for future inspiration
As an artist, my aim is to always create what feels aligned. By working in this way, my style remains authentic and will continue to evolve with me over time. I invite you to follow me on Instagram and Facebook where I share my work and my inspiration. Or, head over to my website where you can see everything that I do! I hope to see my patterns on your products in the future – and please make sure you tag me as I love to see where my creations end up!
Much love, Julia
Flowers & Foliage is a collection of nature-inspired, abstract prints that are influenced by the bright and wondrous things that Julia finds on her daily walks (she is a collector of leaves, shells, feathers and more). From the colour of Autumn leaves and crab-apples to the shapes of gum and grevillea leaves, these prints are designed with homewares in mind, but work beautifully on scarves, dresses and children’s wares.
Our next artist in focus for The Designer Project, with her groovy, fun loving prints is Tamsin Smyth! Tamsin brings with her TWO incredible collections ‘Sunny Side up” & ‘Carnivale Geo’ for this feature, which we are ever so grateful for.
Along with that, she has also put together this blog which invites you into her creative studio to see the behind the scenes to her creative process and how she dreams her patterns into being. Keep reading to find out more!
Tamsin Smyth
Hello you! My name is Tamsin Smyth, and I am a surface pattern designer and illustrator living on a creek near Byron Bay. I have always had vivid dreams about pattern and fashion and colour. I was fairly obsessed with the wallpapers of the seventies, and I can vividly remember the fabric patterns of my colourful wardrobe from my childhood and my glamourous Mum’s outfits. Thanks Mum!
Designing Process
I was absolutely obsessed with rainbows as a child, and my Mum helped me collect rainbow EVERYTHING. My life feels most centred when I am creating with and surrounded by colour, and colour makes my heart go plippety plop! Colours that sing, chubby shapes and flowers with a retro twist, is how I might describe my designs. With a passion for folk art and the natural environment, my designs tend to come from my imagination, which is my favourite place to dwell. I like to create my own sunshine through my art, and then share it with others. I am always surprised and delighted when someone likes my designs!
Rainbow Clouds Sketches
I am so excited to share my collections, Sunny Side Up and Carnivale Geo, with the Designer Project and Digital Fabrics. Woot! I quite often dream a pattern into being. I will wake up and scrawl a pattern I envisioned while asleep. That’s why my sketches are so brilliant! LOL. The sketches never quite match the dream, but I really love where they take me.
Fabric Swatches
I tend to create bold shapes with no outlines, but I do love a bit of hand drawn line and texture too. I am also entranced by the rhythms of meadow flowers, and I have tailored a rolling meadow and some sweet snowbells for this collection. Once I have the sketch scanned into Adobe Illustrator, I can begin creating the vector shapes and playing with a colour palette. Often the elements evolve way past the initial sketch, but it’s a sure-fire springboard (the peekaboo rainbows sketch is a great example!). Quite often my designs end up large scale like my sunrise and sunset blooms, and my lolly jumbo gingham. I love a chubby check!
Tamsin in her Studio Space
I hope you find something in this collection to bring a little fun and whimsy into your life. I’d love to see what you create with them, so be sure to tag me on Instagram @tamsin.smyth so I can share the love!
Sunshine and rainbows, Tamsin x
Bum Bag Baby Muse
Sunny Side Up is a curated collection with a little bit of everything that Tamsin loves. The sketch here called Bumbag Baby is the muse of this collection, and she encapsulates the sweet fun and playfulness of Tamsin’s 1970’s childhood. The Carnivale Geo collection is a retro rainbow of tumbling fun inspired by the Ballet Russes costumes and vintage carnivals. Both collections feature the soothing hues of the seventies: peach orange, yellow and pale pink with pops of purple and blue. These designs would be great for any number of applications such as fashion garments, swimwear & beach wear, cushions, beanbags, table linen, tea towels, hair towels and robes! Each of Tamsin’s designs are available to be printed onto any of our stock fabrics. Simply head to our Fabric Shop online to view the whole collections and choose your favourite fabric!
Next up as our featured artist in The Designer Project is the wonderful Laura Armitage Vella from Monber and B Designs – with not one…but two textile collections ‘Sand in the Suitcase’ & ‘Winter Bunny’!
As part of Laura’s feature, the designer has also put together a guest blog which details her typical creative process as well as the things that inspire her! Keep reading to find out more!
Laura Armitage Vella
What a wonderful way to start the Winter Season, I’m so excited to be here to share some of my designs alongside the talented artist here at Digital Fabrics.
Sometimes I get asked what I do for work and I think it’s not really work – it’s just so much fun! I have always worked creatively studying fashion and working as a fashion designer for over 10 years. Before that, I was the kid in high school who spent lunchtimes in the art studio classroom working on creations and in primary school swapping other kids’ fruit roll-ups for drawings of dolphins. So it’s no surprise that I’m here doing pattern design and illustration, it did take me a while to get the message though but I’m so glad I did. Now I’m thrilled I get to share two collections with you here, Sand in the Suitcase and Winter Bunny.
Sand in the Suitcase Collection Sketches
My style of creating and coming up with ideas grows mostly in a very predictable order, I think after creating so many clothing ranges I find creative freedom in the predictability of order. I’m sharing a photo of both collections’ brainstorming pages – can you make sense of them? They are messy but the ideas come fast so I quickly jot down the feel of the collection, print ideas and names of each print.
‘Look Up’ design Original Sketches
I love working with photoshop but first I feel more flow working with pencil and paper and I like to play with the texture of paint and watercolour paper to get some saturated colour onto the page. I scan these into the computer and by this stage, the final print is really coming together in my mind and I wish sometimes I could work as fast as my imagination.
‘Shell Treasure’ design Original Sketches
As I work on the colour and scale of the elements I’m thinking about what the fabric will become, and what will it best be sewn into. ‘Sail Away’ print I have always imagined this in a skirt or a shoestring cami. I’m really looking forward to sewing this idea up though I’m a very slow sewer it may take me a while but I’ll share this with you as soon as it is done.
One of the most rewarding aspects of working in the creative industry is seeing how others interpret the patterns and what they will be created into. I would love to see what you would create with these prints or an idea you have if you would be ever so kind to share too.
Winter Bunny Collection Sketches
I’m always creating and sharing little ideas and projects through my instagram account and newsletter and would be super excited to see what you do with these beautifully printed fabrics so please share with me @monber_and_b and Digital Fabrics @digitalfabrics it would make my day!
Laura in her Studio
The Sand in the Suitcase collection is a trip down memory lane for anyone who has holidayed by the sea. Laura’s childhood was filled with holidays by the beach, waking up and going straight from pj’s to swimmers in the morning. Time was lost in the sand, creating games, building sandcastles and looking up close at all the small pieces of broken shells. Walking along the beach collecting shells only to look back to where you came from, and it is just a blurry dot in the distance. Eventually, the time comes to go home and on unpacking, there are always grains of sand in the bottom of the suitcase.
The Winter Bunny collection is inspired by the winter season – floating in the dreamy innocents of our little cherubs. This season is full of excitement and discovering pure joy for our winter wonderland. Crisp mornings delighting in finding the last of flowers. Winter Bunny, our elusive furry forest friend. If you are lucky, you’ll see a glimpse of his fluffy tail running across the field as the first light glitters on the dewy grass.
These designs would be great for a range of both Fashion & Interior projects! We’re thinking sweet pyjama sets and flowing dresses, or perhaps some cute cushions for your home? Each of Laura’s designs are available to be printed onto any of our stock fabrics. Simply head to our Fabric Shop online to view the whole collection and choose your favourite fabric!
We’ve absolutely adored sharing the beautiful work of Queensland-based designer Naomi Robinson and hope you’ve loved her designs as much as we have! Naomi’s designs bring a playful, fresh Spring-time vibe.
And reflects Naomi’s charming, organic and whimsy style.
To coincide with Naomi’s ‘Follow Me Sunshine’ collection being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which we’ve shared below! The blog takes a closer look at Naomi’s creative process, detailing every step from initial sketch to final design. The blog also includes gorgeous photographs and process images which really help tell the story of Naomi’s work and the ‘Follow Me Sunshine’ collection. Keep reading to find out more about Naomi Robinson and her stunning designs!
Naomi Robinson
Hi, I’m Naomi a watercolour and mixed media artist based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. A place that is rich with natural beauty, and very tropical! I have been a visual artist for over 10 years, taking to watercolour only a few years ago. And recently beginning my career in surface pattern design, an aspiration I have had since 2012. I grew up 40 acres of bushland, close to where I live now. Spending much of my childhood playing outside; pondering, observing and interacting with the natural world. This sense of wonder and excitement has impressed my soul, and greatly influences my arts practice today.
Naomi working on her Dandy Wishes print
You may have already seen my curated selection of designs ‘Follow Me Sunshine’ available here at Digital Fabrics, I’m super excited about it! They are intended to reflect my organic, whimsy and delicate style. As well as being a stand-alone collection offering a playful, fresh, Spring vibe. My process for creating a pattern collection begins with inspiration from the environment around me. I go on to ask myself a series of questions; “What specifically is intriguing or inspiring me? Shape, form or colour..?” “What feelings arise from that? I.e. imperfect, playful, tropical”.
Original Sketches
Once I have my descriptive words I go on to collate images together to create a mood board and gather any other images that can help me further tell the story. It’s a very intuitive process. Colour is the next step, and again it is done intuitively and in response to the feelings I experience from my descriptive words. When I’m ready to sit down to paint, I begin by quickly and roughly sketching the motifs on paper to practice their form and build some muscle memory. So that when I go to paint I’m able to retain a ‘loose’ style. I assess the painting as I go and ensure it’s in alignment with my key words.
Designing in Progress
Once I’m ‘in the flow’ (a few watercolour pages later!) I start to see beautiful and organic shapes arise. My painting technique allows the magic of watercolour to take centre stage. I work quickly, and try not to fuss or overwork it, as I believe the natural and earthy pigments of the paint mixed with water imbue the artwork with an aliveness, imperfection and beauty much better than my conscious mind ever could!
Creekside Maiden Motifs
I’m really looking forward to seeing my patterns live a new life on your gorgeous products! Please tag me @naomirdesigns and @digitalfabrics in your projects on social media. And if you’d like to see more of my artwork and designs, head on over to my Facebook or Instagram page @naomirdesigns, I’d love to connect with you there!
Patterns, Love and Nature. x Naomi
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been amazing sharing all of the wonderful designs by textile designer LeAnne Payne with you! We hope you’ve loved them just as much as we have. To coincide with LeAnne’s ‘Spring Picnic’ and ‘Australian Flora’ collections being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which further explains her creative process, what inspires her designs as well as bit more about herself.
Keep reading to find out more!
LeAnne Payne
Hello! my name is LeAnne and I am the designer for Leanne Mary Designs. It is wonderful to be here at Digital Fabrics, an Australian owned and operated eco friendly fabric manufacturer. Digital fabrics have selected some of my stand alone designs to bring to you first, a collection of fun, whimsical designs.
LeAnne Sketching in Studio
At Leanne Mary Designs our focus is to bring designs that provide the solution to your project needs. If you have an idea, let me know and we can collaborate to bring it to life! I am blessed to live in the most beautiful part of the world, Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, where I live with my husband and one four legged friend. Our home is a peaceful haven from the busyness of the world and a place that I can create and enjoy my art, while getting inspiration from the bushland and lake. You will often see me stopping on our daily walks to pick up a twig or leaf because it has a great shape or colour, I find inspiration all around us.
LeAnne Sketching at Lake
I have always been an artist, dabbling away at watercolour, acrylics, digital, I even love coloured pencils. When I discovered Surface Pattern Design it blew my mind. I had never before thought of how the patterns on items came into being but once discovered I now see patterns everywhere! The moment I made my first repeating pattern is right up there in ‘Best moments of my life” I may just have emailed that pattern to everyone I knew I was so chuffed. And that was to be the start of an artistic obsession to make repeat patterns.
Watercolour Paintings
My process for making a pattern can start in a variety of ways but they all finish up the same way. With lots of refining in either illustrator or photoshop. I love the process of taking the motifs and making them into a repeat pattern but this is also the part that I take lots of time with. Going over each element to make a well balanced pattern. Why? Because I am passionate about art and illustrations and producing work that is quality and perfect for the project that you have in mind.
WIP Designs
I would love to see what you make with my designs, it is a buzz that never ends. Tag me on instagram @iamleannemary or send me a message: [email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/iamleannemary
https://linktr.ee/leannemarydesigns
Our current feature artist as part of The Designer Project is the wonderfully creative designer Nicole Wilton and we have been so fortunate to have her talents on board!
Nicole has offered a range of her hand-painted, watercolour designs as print-ready artwork in our Fabric Shop online, with each being available to print onto any of our stock fabrics! What’s more exciting is that the artist herself has shared with us a guest blog which discusses her primary inspirations and creative processes.
Keep reading to find out more about Nicole Wilton and her ‘Spring Harvest’ Collection!
Nicole Wilton
I’m more surprised than anyone when I tell people I am a watercolour artist and designer. I was previously studying medicine – true story, I was going to be a surgeon! And before that, I’d studied and worked as a medical scientist. Safe to say, I’d never really thought of myself as much of a Creative.
Painting in Studio
Completely self-taught, both in painting and the digital side of surface design, the learning curve has been steep to say the least. My designs all begin on paper. Sometimes I start by sketching out ideas, elements or whole patterns. And then I paint. A lot! All my designs are hand-painted in watercolour. I love the delicate honesty of watercolour. It is so beautifully imperfect, and captures the glorious forms and features in nature.
Painting at Desk
The whole process of painting – with an actual brush and paint and paper – it’s part of the joy of it all. Once scanned in, I can easily get lost in editing and creating patterns for hours. Seeing my paintings realised into patterns and ultimately products is such a thrill. I sewed an apron for my eldest girl using Heirloom Carrots – it brings a lot of fun and joy to the kitchen.
Painted Elements for Snow Pea Toss
As mama to three little people, I do most of my painting and design at night while they sleep! Our wildlings love to be involved in the process though too – we gather and forage together, sketch and paint. We’ve even collaborated on a few patterns.
Inspiration for Loads of Lemons
I’m never short of inspiration (just time!) – home-grown lemons led to Loads of Lemons, while veggies from the garden and our dinnerware set inspired Tossed Snow Peas and Wilton&Co Posy. I like to use neutral tones and simple forms to capture the striking beauty and understated elegance of Australian flora. While vibrant colours and playful patterns celebrate our delightfully ordinary days filled with gardening and honest joys.
Painting Elements for Heirloom Carrots
Born and raised in the country, my love of all things rural is reflected in designs inspired by everything our home paddock has to offer. Alongside my wonderful husband, we’re raising our three little wildlings in our home among the gum trees. It’s simple. It’s honest. It’s joy.
You can follow along @nicolewiltondesign
Nicole Wilton
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
We’ve absolutely adored sharing the delicious ‘Blooms & Bakes’ Collection by artist Jenni Rogers for this installment of The Designer Project!
As passionately described by Jenni, “When I bake the texture and colours consume me – there is never ending inspiration from these subjects. It’s life and it is a part of us all”. Jenni’s creative process starts with feelings that she gains from the observation of these subjects. Then her mind starts to envision how it could look, usually painting from still life, photos or real life as in plain air.
We hope that you have all loved Jenni’s beautiful collection as much as we have! Each of Jenni’s designs can be found in our Fabric Shop online. Keep reading to find out more about Jenni’s work, inspirations and typical creative process!
Jenni Rogers
Hi, my name is Jenni Rogers, artist, surface pattern designer and chef and I’m based in the beautiful Byron Bay Hinterland. I love creating paintings/patterns that combine two of my favourite things – cooking and art.
And I’m super excited to be included in the Designer project with Digital Fabrics, thank you!
I thought I’d introduce myself by sharing a little behind the scenes look at how my patterns start, what my inspiration is and how my sketches and paintings evolve into the patterns you see here at Digital Fabrics.
Almost all of my initial inspiration comes from food in some way or another whether it be raw ingredients, like how vanilla paste sparkles in the sun on a teaspoon (that may sound odd to you…lol ) or a messy table after a great meal shared with family and friends, with serviettes, plates stacked, etc. Yes these are the things that capture my attention!
I find all aspects of food and cafes very emotional. I often associate memories to food. I know when I bake bread, I think of my dad in the kitchen baking these enormous loaves for our family, my Grandma and I making little, sweet jam mushrooms with icing and pastry stalks and my mum and I destroying the kitchen through cake decorating, every bowl and appliance in the house was used. Our favourite recipes remind us of our loved ones – when we create them, in a way, it brings them back to us. My paintings and then patterns are a way of capturing those images.
This is my initial process on how I create a pattern and it starts in the kitchen:
1/Photograph whilst making the recipe – usually cake!
2/ Eat baked goodies and share with family
3/ Sketch out different elements within the baking process to see what looks good and to plan how the recipe will read and if its easy to follow.
4/ play around with painting different parts of the process
5/ This is the finished painting below. I call it Recipe-art.
Once the painting is finished, I then use some or all of the elements within the painting to create patterns. I start by scanning in my finished painting, basically pulling it apart on photoshop and then arranging them into repeat patterns. I usually end up with at least 50+ patterns from each recipe, its actually hard to stop!
High Tea Design WIP
And this is the finished pattern.
“High Tea” and it’s available to use now within Digital Fabrics.
I would love to see what you make with my patterns and I hope this has inspired you to get busy creating! Please tag both Digital Fabrics (@digitalfabrics) and myself on Instagram or Facebook.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetart_by_jenni
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetartbyjenni
Happy Creating , Jenni
This photo below is where I paint smaller artworks and working in photoshop.
Jenni’s Art Studio
And this photo below is my art studio where I paint larger artworks and I can get a bit messy.
Jenni Rogers
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been amazing sharing all of the wonderful designs by textile designer Susanna April with you! We hope you’ve loved them just as much as we have. To coincide with Susanna’s ‘My Hearts Garden’ collection being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which further explains her self-taught design process, what inspires her designs as well as bit more about herself.
Keep reading to find out more!
Susanna April
Hi fabric lovers! I’m Susanna, an intuitive acrylic artist and designer from QLD, and I’m so excited to be a part of The Designer Project!
Susanna in her Studio
I’ve been painting and dabbling in art for years, but recently have come alive with discovering surface design – as a graphic designer by trade it’s been a dream come true to marry my two loves of paint and digital together!
My process is quite fluid and simple, and really just comes down to loving paint and loving the feeling of making beauty with my hands. My art practice is very connected to my spiritual journey and I call it ‘a creative journey of surrendering all’ – you will see this in the titles of my prints! Art has always been healing for me and I’m passionate about seeing it set others free from fear and awaken joy in people hearts.
I start by layering many sheets of paper with acrylics to get in the ‘flow’ – usually at 10pm at night because I have two tiny and beautiful but also very needy kiddos. After I get in the groove I’ll work on a canvas piece or two, layering the colours intuitively – there’s not really a method to my creativity – sometimes it works, and often it does not! But the longer I persevere the more wonderful and delightful discoveries I make.
I like to think of my style as a ‘colourful minimalist’, there’s nothing better than seeing a certain colour shine on a background of white! I choose my palettes to sing together and don’t often use contrasting colours.
After I’m happy with an artwork I will either scan via my art scanner or take a high res photograph, and then create a seamless repeat in photoshop. I love how abstract art looks when it’s large scale – especially on textiles and clothing – almost like wearing a piece of art!
You can follow me along for the journey over @susannaapril, I share my heart and creative process quite openly. I would love to see the creations you make from my prints!
Thanks for reading, happy sewing!
Susanna x
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been so amazing sharing all of these beautiful designs by textile designer Andrea Maurer with you! We feel to privellaged to have not only one..but two stunning collections from her. To coincide with Andrea’s ‘Warm Winter’ and ‘Coming Home’ collections being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which further explains her self-taught design process, what inspires her designs as well as bit more about herself.
Keep reading to find out more!
Andrea Maurer
Hello! I’m Andrea Maurer and so excited to be included in the Digital Fabrics designer project. A selection of my prints will be available as part of their print on demand offering which I think is just a wonderful option for makers and creatives to have unique fabric without the minimums required by other suppliers.
Flowers are my go to inspiration! If I could spend my days surrounded by flowers and basking in the sun I would! My colour palette usually leans towards soft tonal colours and would say this is inspired by vintage wallpapers and textiles. My style is naturally feminine and I love creating a whimsical timeless feeling in my prints.
Andrea in her studio
My process often begins with an idea of a composition or at least of one or two elements. Once I get these original ideas onto paper I can see the rest of the print coming to life. This blossoming of an idea usually leads to many elements that help create a collection of prints which have originated from the original feeling of those first few sketches and paintings.
Once I have finished drawing or painting I then can’t wait to get my artwork digitised and imported into photoshop so I can clean them up and start playing around with a composition for a print. I scan them in and am always amazed at how well everything translates onto my screen! I love the flexibility of working digitally and being able to change the colours and composition to create a different feeling than if it was left on paper. After putting it into repeat the print is born and can be made into absolutely anything which is such a thrill!
Original watercolour motifs for ‘Winter Pantry’ Design
I love using mock ups to see how my print would look once it is made up into something and the way it looks on folds of fabric and wrapped around the body or onto a product. This process is really addictive and makes me want to turn everything into a print, which I nearly always try to do.
Winter Fruits Design
I am so passionate about creating and love the studio space in the corner of my home that allows me this sacred time to create amidst the chaos of being a mother to a tiny human. I try to keep paintbrushes and pencils close by so that when I have a spare moment I can create without much fuss. It’s important to me to see the artwork that I’ve created in the past and love, this helps me to know that I can do it again and builds my confidence to keep creating even if I’m not feeling 100% inspired in that moment.
Winter Fruits Product Mockup
I’m so grateful to be a part of this platform of other designers doing amazing things and whose artwork I love! I hope some people resonate with my prints and I can’t wait to see the creations and designs that come of it.
Thanks Digital Fabrics!
– Andrea x
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been an absolute blast sharing the playful work of Dominique Collins for our current installment of The Designer Project and we hope you’ve fallen as in love with her designs as we have! The Brisbane-based designer creates illustrations and print designs which typically incorporate bright vibrant colours and hand drawn motifs . We’re so thrilled to have Dominique’s ‘Whimsical Nature’ collection available in our Fabric Shop and are keen to see all the inventive ways our fabulous customers will use them! As part of Dominique’s feature the designer has also put together a guest blog which details her typical creative process as well as the things that inspire her! We’ve shared the blog post below so keep reading to find out more about Dominique and her charming designs!
Dominique Collins
Hi everyone! My name is Dominique Collins, everyone calls me Stixy. I am over the moon to be working with Digital Fabrics as part of the Designer Project. I currently own and run Stixylin, a very new illustration and pattern design business, I only started this in May 2022. I live in sunny Brisbane, with my hubby and two energetic children who keep me on toes and push me to create new designs and illustrations each week, with all their little requests (I love it!). I am following my dream as a creative freelancer so I can spend more time with my family while doing what I love.
Workspace + WIP Designs
Recently I took the leap to be a full-time artist/designer/business woman while being a full-time mum of two. I have been passionate about art and creating colourful designs since I was a child living in South Africa. Most of my work is self-taught and I love exploring different mediums, but found Procreate and Adobe Fresco are what I love to use the most (not to mention those apps being easy to travel with as you only need to take your iPad).
Fabric Testing of Falling Blueberry Leaves
I am excited to share my curated collection of pattern designs, creative inspiration and process and give you a sneak peak at my workspace. My work is still new and evolving in ways I could only dream of, with nature and family as my biggest inspiration. My work typically incorporates bright vibrant colours, hand drawn motifs and illustrations.
Work in Progress Falling Soft Blueberry Leaves
A little sneak peak into my workspace and how I got my dream space. We build our house two years ago and I designed it with a front office, featuring a great big floor to ceiling window which offers the best natural light. My workspace is generally clean with my iPad, computers and some fabric swatches and maybe a workbook. While creating I am always at my desk or on the couch, even sometimes outside. Depending on my creative mood, you will find me wondering the house with my iPad in hand and a big pot of coffee or tea floating around.
Dominique working on Blooms and Shrooms Design
Most of my inspiration comes form being outdoors, either with the kids or while running/cycling. Nature offers such a great inspirational palette of colours and shapes. My curated collection reflects this with rainbows, leaves, snakes and flowers.
My creative process will vary depending on what I am creating. I will often be prompted by something in nature that catches my eye and quickly try to sketch it or take a photo of it to use as a reference. I will sketch my ideas digitally on separate layers so I can adjust and move motifs around before creating the final design. Often I will get creative input from my son or daughter on new ideas and colours or if I am feeling stuck. During my creative process, I will search Pinterest for images to go on my mood-board to help select a colour palette and maybe alternative ideas to help me bring more life to my designs.
Snakes in Leaves Digital Sketch
An example of my kids helping me, will be when my daughter told me how she imagines snakes gathering in the leaves, their beautiful colours and how they flow from one destination to the next. From this I was able to create Snakes in Leaves Peachy Pink. All hand drawn in procreate with the colours and shapes on the snakes selected by my daughter.
Rainbows Forever Work in Progress
Design Workspace ft. Rainbows Forever Design
Rainbows Forever was inspired by the rainy days in Brisbane and the beautiful rainbows that followed every storm. Everyone has down days just like the storms, we need to remind ourselves that there is a rainbow after every down/stormy day. The pattern started as a single digital watercolour painting and then I started to play around in procreate to make it into a seamless pattern. This was one of the first patterns I created this year and by far still one of my favourites.
Blooms and Shrooms Original Sketch
Blooms and Shrooms Original Sketch Closeup
Blooms and Shrooms Moodboard
Blooms and Shrooms was first created as a whimsical illustration and has since been re-worked into a seamless pattern. The motifs are inspired by vibrant mushrooms and my daughters love for pretty little flowers. She helped me select photos for my moodboard from Pinterest to help create the inspiration and guide for creating this pattern. I used a magnolia tree and morel mushroom colour palette to create a bright yet whimsical feel. Once I finished drawing this illustration in procreate, I exported it to Adobe illustrator to create it into a pattern.
Sewing!! I have never tried making a dress with a sewing machine even though I own one. Its about time I took the leap. Definitely a new skill I would love to learn as there are so many great designs on Digital Fabrics. I would really love to create a Rainbow Forever Skirt to brighten my day everyday.
Design Workspace
I hope you enjoyed my work and the behind the scenes of my creative process. I look forward to seeing what you will make with these lovely designs. You can view more of my designs in the fabric shop and I would love to see what you will create with them. Please tag both Digital Fabrics and myself in any projects or crafts you make with these fabrics.
Follow me on Instagram or Facebook to view more designs and how I make them. Heaps of Love Stixy.
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!