We’ve been absolutely thrilled to have paper artist and surface pattern designer Ariane Nijssen of Aribombari take part in our latest instalment of The Designer Project and have adored showcasing her work! Ariane has made a range of her unique, detail-rich designs available in our Fabric Shop online with artwork that is suitable across both fashion and homewares applications. Ariane has also put together the blog below which details the different steps she takes to create her comprehensive body of paper-based materials, which are then transformed into her gorgeous designs. Keep reading to find out more about Ariane’s fascinating process!
Hello, I am Ariane Nijssen and I would like to tell you about how I create my patterns.
Ariane Nijssen in her home
I have recently joined Digital Fabrics as part of their Designer Project, so it seems like the right time to tell you about how I transform my ideas into digital files ready for printing on fabric. My patterns feature colourful, textural mini collages that all started as mono printed pieces of paper.
Hand-made printed and paper-cut elements
“Flower Power” homewares mock-up
It’s quite a process actually and that is what I like! It all starts with coming across shapes and textures around me; in my garden, my neighbourhood and even in my kitchen. I work out how I can get these ideas printed using a home-made gelatine plate. I sketch the patterns that I like and create stencils from them. Or I collect leaves or other objects that I know will work as masks or stencils in mono printing.
Hand-made printed and paper-cut elements
Most weeks I aim to spend a few hours printing, using the stencils I have made and layering older prints. I end up with interesting, colourful pieces of paper that are ready for collaging.
“Fish Market” design
“Fish Market” apron mock-up
Side note: gelatine printing is absolutely fantastic! Affordable, available, and lots of fun. But I have to warn you too – it is addictive! You’ll end up with stacks and stacks of prints! If you want to know more about gelatine printing, have a look at Pinterest.
At home gelatine printing
My collage process starts by choosing a colour palette and selecting matching prints from my stash. With those, a pair of scissors and a scalpel I kind of ‘paint with paper’ to create mini collages. I actually mostly do this at our dining table, which means that I have to stop working when my family is ready for dinner. I actually started collaging as a simple way to be creative in between family commitments – it is easily packed away and started again.
Ariane creating designs use her paper art
Once I have the mini collages ready, I scan them and use Photoshop to create the patterns that are ready for printing on fabric.
Development of “Zesty Citrus”
“Zesty Citrus” design
“Zesty Citrus” cushion mockup
I hope you like my quirky colourful patterns as much as I like creating them. If you would like to see more of my work (some designs are stand alone pieces, not repeat patterns for fabric printing), you can find me on Instagram @aribombari123.
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project initiative and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you want to be part of this and sure, we will be in touch.
Hi, I’m Louise from Radge Design. I’m a graphic designer & surface pattern maker based in outback Australia. I’ve always enjoyed creating. Art was my favourite subject at school and a bit at odds with my other maths/science subjects although they come in handy when working out repeats.
Louise Addison in her studio
My process is a little backwards in the day and age of digital design (I don’t own an iPad or digital sketching device).
I love pen and paper, almost all my designs start from sketches in my sketchbook.
I may have an idea in mind when I start, or I could be filling in time and in that case you never quite know where the illustrations will go as often. I sketch at night when sitting on the couch and watching TV.
Louise sketching motifs
After creating the random sketches, I scan them in and convert them to digital formats so that I can then edit and manipulate the motifs in Illustrator.
Some designs I design on the page as a repeat, others I create each individual element and then layer and arrange them on the screen to create a repeat pattern I am happy with.
Process works by Louise
The “Paintbrush Faces” collection is based on a few different sets of illustrations that I layered together to create the collection that is available at Digital Fabrics.
Printed fabric from the “Paintbrush Faces” Collection
I’m inspired by artists from a range of different movements and styles and especially like the Art Deco period for design in particular. I tend to design with limited colours in any one design. There may be a number of colours within the collection that complement each other without being evident in each pattern from the collection.
Louise sketching motfs
“Funky Friday”
“Funky Friday” dress mock-up
When working to a brief I will look at the information and then go away and brainstorm/sketch ideas for what I feel will work. Before then taking the next steps of scanning, altering motifs, adding colour and creating the repeat design.
“Mondrien Monday”
“Basic Sunshine”
“Blue Sunday”
I enjoy the challenges associated with taking the elements and creating a pattern that is pleasing to the eye and versatile so it can be used across a range of items from fabric to paper products or homewares items.
Louise in her studio
You can check out more of Louise Addison’s work at Radge Design and via Instagram @radgedesign & @radgedesignfabric
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project initiative and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you want to be part of this and sure, we will be in touch.
Around two years ago, I decided to combine my skills as a graphic designer and an artist to create bespoke surface art. From this my small business, Trace of Colour, was born.
Tracy Hall in her studio
My designs have an arty feel about them and usually involve familiar shapes with curious perspectives and punchy colours. All my designs start from a quick pencilled sketch, then outlined and defined using ink markers. Whether it’s common objects or the fauna and wonder of seasonal change, it doesn’t matter, I love the simple process of drawing.
Every day I go on long walks with my two dogs and I always carry a sketch book with me – you’ll never know what you’ll see or what will pique the imagination. There’s an endless and amazing source of inspiration in this world.
Selection of Tracy’s designs
Once I’m happy with the finished image, I’ll scan it and use Photoshop to digitally enhance and create a repeat pattern. This way I can easily alter or adjust each element of the final design (colour, scale and/or texture) to suit any application or product. I’ve found this is the best way to personalise a pattern for my clients.
My dragonfly designs are a good example of this process. It started with two drawings and ended up being a collection of different colours and size patterns to suit fabrics for fashion and/or home décor.
Original sketches used for Tracy’s “Dragonfly” designs
“Dancing Dragonflies”
“Dragonfly Green Garden”
“Dragonfly Garden”
I have a lovely little room in my house that has become my studio. It’s decked-out with numerous bits of paraphernalia, material swatches and eclectic artwork. This is my creative space where I become completely immersed in the design process. I am not a hoarder by nature, but I don’t throw away any of my drawings and as a result, I have shelves full of sketch books. I tend to use my sketch books as others would mood boards. To me they represent a visual collage of ideas and inspiration for my pattern creations.
Tracy illustrating designs
I also love the history of textile design and have an extensive collection of pattern and textile books. It’s fascinating to learn about the origin of patterns – why they were created and their possible cultural connections. Did you know that the ‘animal skin’ pattern was created as a status symbol to give the wearer a sense of empowerment? This concept definitely influenced my animal skin patterns – we all need to feel empowered, right?
“By The Light Of The Moon”
“By The Light Of The Moon” Top
To me, patterns are what I call ‘usable art’. Generally we often wear dark or plain coloured clothing, and paint our homes in neutral tones. My style of artwork and patterns challenges this status quo.
A bespoke patterned piece of fabric can completely alter an outfit – giving it a ‘wow’ factor and make it look stunning. It can transform an old drab armchair into an eye-catching piece of furniture that everyone will rave about.
“Octopus Lace”
“Octopus Lace” Cushion Mockup
I truly enjoy the process of creating something from nothing and producing unique pieces of artwork that can be used as everyday items. I believe that most of us have an innate desire to style ourselves and the spaces we live in, so why not use my surface art and create something special.
You can view Tracy’s fabrics available in our Fabric Shop or follow Tracy’s creative journey on Instagram and Facebook.
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project initiative and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you want to be part of this and sure, we will be in touch.
Welcome to my little corner of the world, my name is Sami Sparrow, artist, author and designer. I’m delighted to share my work, process and latest collection “Favourite Things” with you. An extravaganza of fun, cute and character filled designs awaits you. Some hand-painted, all hand-drawn. I’m so thrilled to be teaming up with Digital Fabrics to bring you designs for you to create a more personal project with.
Sami Sparrow in her studio
“Favourite Things” is a collection of just that, a few of my favourite things. This diverse collection has a variety of designs, some created digitally, some painted but all hand-drawn. I enjoy creating in both styles depending on where the mood takes me. My work is inspired by my eclectic life and love for vintage, bright colours, children’s book illustrations and cute things in general; I like to think this is reflected in each of my designs. When developing this collection I wanted to bring a sense of comfort, homeliness and childhood excitement, with each design telling its own story.
Sami’s creative space
Sami hand-painting watercolour motifs
Behind the scenes in my studio, I take on the ‘more is more’ interior design concept. Being an extremely visual person, I enjoy being surrounded by an assortment of inspirational items that I have been collecting throughout my life and continue to curate on a regular occurrence. From childhood toys and books to vintage, geometric and graffiti works of art, my studio is my temple; my decorated hive; my place of creative oneness.
Selected designs from the “Favourite Things” Collection
“Bugs – Leaf Green”
Interestingly, I’ve just realised I do not tend to share my creative process very much. So I’ll give you a taste of how my creative brain works. Each of my designs begin with me sitting down and doing a bit of inspirational research. As I said, I’m a very visual person and my eyes love to devour as much content as possible. Colours, shapes, movement and expression are just some of the attributes I will be seeking to recreate with my own style. This also helps me to decide if the design will be hand-painted or digitally drawn. With sketch book in hand I roughly draft some ideas. Once I have a page filled with concepts I refine my scribbles in another sketch book giving the designs more character and personality. Depending on my desired format, I will either photograph the sketch to re-draw digitally in Procreate, or re-draw on crisp paper and begin painting for an organic finish before scanning and digitally creating the pattern repeat. This process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks to complete.
Sami working on the “Cats and Dogs” design
“Favourite Things” Collection designs bag mockup
An exceptional example of my digital work is “City Scape”. This piece is inspired by the skyscrapers and tall buildings crammed into a small space in cities all across the world. I love the geometric shapes of these buildings and how shadows and light play on the faces of the structures throughout the day. The piece was a great challenge to create and had to be made digitally to get the sharp edges and angles I was looking for. For a beautiful contrast why not use this geometric charm on a flowing dress, skirt or robe.
“City Scape”
“Favourite Things” Collection design mockup
As for hand-painted designs, you cannot go past “Floral Fungi”. This complex smaller scale design sprung to life through my love for the natural world. I’m a long-time admirer of fungi and feel they are just as beautiful as many flowers, so incorporating them with flowers was a natural progression for this creation. I knew I wanted to capture the organic textures left by using watercolour paint as details within both the flowers and fungi, so this design had no chance of going digital until it was time to create the repeat. I feel this design would look stunning as a blouse, cushion or even a shawl.
“Floral Fungi”
“Floral Fungi” robe mockup
“Favourite Things” Collection designs cushion mockup
I’m excited to bring our stories together and see what you create with my designs. From “Cats and Dogs” to “Butterfly Collector” to “Bugs”; “Book Worm” or “Donuts” there is just as many awesome fabric bases to choose from at Digital Fabrics as there are designs to choose. You will only be limited by your imagination for what we could achieve together. Please share your projects with me via Facebook or Instagram, I just can’t wait to see what you make. Thank you so much for your time and happy creating!
Sami in the studio with her fur babies
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project initiative and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you want to be part of this and sure, we will be in touch.
The third creative powerhouse to feature in The Designer Project is artist and designer Anna Markula. As part of the instalment Anna has made a range of her captivating designs available in our Fabric Shop online and we are so thrilled to be able to offer these for printing on any of our stock fabrics! Anna herself has put together this blog which invites you into her creative studio to see what goes into Girl and the Deep Blue Sea designs.
Hi everyone! Anna here from Girl and the Deep Blue Sea – I’m so excited to have some of my pattern designs available through Digital Fabrics. Girl and the Deep Blue Sea is all about fun, vibrant, tropical vibes and I hope you enjoy this blog post about my design process.
Anna Markula in her studio
I created Girl and the Deep Blue Sea to allow an escape from the everyday…. a shimmering, vibrant, lush, neon-esque tropical island surrounded by crystal clear waters bursting with colour and life!
My goal with my designs is to capture a certain feeling or a fleeting moment, like water ripples in the sun, or that overwhelming joy from dancing to your favourite song.
One of Anna’s many moodboards
Anna’s creative space
I love creating Pinterest boards with images that capture the feeling of Girl and the Deep Blue Sea, and often gain inspiration for my designs from this. I also have a huge photographic library from years of travelling, and am constantly inspired being outdoors in nature, especially at the beach or snorkelling a coral reef!
I work with a variety of mediums, mostly acrylics and watercolours. I love to experiment with different art materials to get a particular look I am after.
I like to work from a moodboard, but will often see (or dream!) the final design in my head and then I will work out how to create it.
‘Blue Diamonds’ design
‘Blue Diamonds’ design used for a beach throw
Process work for the ‘Blue Diamonds’ design
When I’m ready to start a new design, I set myself up with my moodboard images, some fun music (like Pnau), and the colour palette and art materials I want to work with.
I love to then spend a few hours just painting and creating lots of motifs – and usually drinking lots of green tea too!
Creative process behind the ‘Palm Swirl’ design
‘Palm Swirl’ design
‘Palm Swirl’ design used for a cushion
I then scan everything into Photoshop and start the fun part of turning the motifs into a repeat pattern. I will often layer my artwork with photographs to create a unique design, or sometimes I will create a design purely from my photographs such as Blue Lagoon.
The absolutely most exciting part of the process is seeing my designs in real life as lovely fabrics, and imagining what could be created with them.
‘Bird of Paradiso’ design
Anna at work in the studio
Anna’s ‘Summer Nights’ Collection
I hope you enjoyed this blog post, and that you are inspired to bring some Girl and the Deep Blue Sea into your life!
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project initiative and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you want to be part of this and sure, I will be in touch.
We’ve been incredibly lucky to have the very talented Surface Pattern Designer Crystal Kruger take part in the latest instalment of The Designer Project. As part of the initiative, Crystal has made a range of her designs available in our Fabric Shop online which can be printed onto any of our stock fabrics! In her blog post Crystal shares plenty of gorgeous snaps of her gorgeous designs, process work and creative space.
Hi everyone, I’m Crystal Kruger, the designer behind Skye St. Studio. I’m excited to share my new collection ‘From the Garden’ with you all and even more excited that you will be able to print my designs onto your favourite fabrics through Digital Fabrics.
Crystal Kruger in her creative studio
The ‘From the Garden’ collection is inspired by all things nature. Each print is a little bit nostalgic, but is also modern, soulful and trend relevant. The collection celebrates the comfort and joy of having a backyard garden or courtyard (or even a favourite local park) and of growing up playing in grandparents’ flower gardens, crunching along pebble driveways and a swing or two around the Hills Hoist. ‘From the Garden’ also gives a nod to our recent times in isolation, to romantic dreams of having your own fruit trees or veggie patch, being more self-sufficient or having a tree change and rediscovering the joys of home.
“From The Garden Collection” mood board
Collection of pretty finds in Crystal’s studio
There is quite a bit of variety in the collection, with some great trans-seasonal prints including florals, abstracts, stripes and fruity prints, which are so much fun! There are definitely patterns that are suitable for fashion, homewares, upholstery and accessories.
“From The Garden” textile collection
“Clementine Rose” fabric design used to upholster a chair
You will also find variety in the scale of the motifs across the collection, including a small-scale pattern called ‘Inky Botanical Ditsy’, which is asking to be made into some gorgeous dress!
‘Inky Botanical Ditsy’ design printed on Ponti fabric
I especially love the energy and joy of the ‘Summer Dahlias’ print, but there are some darker, moodier patterns as well, if that’s more your style!
‘Summer Dahlias’ design printed on Ponti fabric
All of my patterns start as hand-drawn and hand-painted motifs that I then digitise, clean up and then put into a repeating layout. I love that I can capture the organic feeling of a painting, all those lovely textures and variations in colour through digital fabric printing.
Crystal Kruger sketching designs in her studio
Clementine Rose hand painted artwork
“From The Garden Collection” hand painted motifs
I love to work with gouache paints because they are so versatile, from gorgeous washy ombre colours to solid, bold block colours. Cleaning up hand-painted motifs in Photoshop is definitely a labour of love, but worth it to have all those wonderful hand-painted marks and brush strokes.
Lemonade design- hand painted elements
‘Lemonade” design digitally printed on Demi fabric.
“Lemonade” fabric design used for a dress
You can see some of the behind the scenes photos of original artworks and motifs, paintings in progress and my studio space. My studio is based at my home in Sydney and I love my days working here creatively. It is a bit of an eclectic space, with some vintage/retro and upcycled furniture, lots of colour and plenty of inspiring items I have collected from my travels around the world. Oh and also lots of design books and plants – which finish off the perfect studio space! Part-time, I am also a design teacher, so it is wonderful to have that balance between my own creative projects and helping others manage their projects and learn design skills.
Crystal’s furry studio assistant
I can’t wait to see what all of you wonderful sewers and designers out there make with my prints, feel free to tag me on Facebook and Instagram so I can share your amazing creations! I would love to see some gorgeous upholstery or bedlinen made from the ‘Clementine Rose’ print, or perhaps the ‘Frutti Tutti’ stripe. Maybe some fun summer dresses made from the ‘Lemonade’ and ‘Papaya Spot’ patterns? There are so many great fabric bases to choose from at Digital Fabrics, so almost any project is possible!
“Frutti Tutti” design digitally printed on Ponti fabric
“From The Garden” fabric collection used in kitchen textiles set
“Papaya Spots” fabric design digitally printed on Ponti fabric
“Papaya Spots” fabric design used for a dress
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project initiative and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you want to be part of this and sure, I will be in touch.
Our first designer at The Designer Project – Artists designed fabrics and textile goods program, is simply wonderful human, textile designer Katy Dee from @shiztastic. She is passionate about all things prints, textiles and surface design and has unique fun cheerful design style that is she known for. Here is what Katy has to share about her beautiful collection.
Hi all! Katy Dee from @shiztastic here with some exciting news.. You may have seen in the recent newsletter that I have some print designs up in the Digital Fabrics fabric shop that you can choose to print on any fabric of your choice which is pretty fun! We can’t wait to see what you might make from them, perhaps a dress or some cushions?! The internet has many answers to this question.
I am excited to launch a small curated collection of textile prints that are suitable for fashion or interiors, they range in scale and each one began as an original artwork, painting or collage.
We thought it would be fun to share with you some studio behind the scene photos where the designs were made as well as some ideas for what you can use the fabrics for and a small guide of how I made them and their inspiration. Fun!
Most of my prints are inspired by botanicals, op shop finds, shapes and general fun that have an 80’s colour palette running through them even when I try to avoid it. I love bold bright clashing colours and shapes and exploring the fun you can have with it. Playful bold prints for you and your home.
Katy Dee -Studio Shot
Most of my prints begin as paintings or collages in some form or another. I tend to paint sheets of colours and/or shapes and play around until I find the colour or scale that I want or I might paint an artwork straight up. This process can be a labour of love and I like to take my time and enjoy it as it is the part I find most fun!
Painted Love fabric design – Original scan.
This is an example of what an original artwork “Painted Love” scanned in will look like before it has been cleaned up digitally and then turned into a repeating artwork. I use both Photoshop and Illustrator to create my prints and both have qualities that are great for different things. This design was inspired by the 80’s and a love for double denim! It is a funky print full of pizzazz and nostalgia, a stripy print suitable for fashion or interiors.
‘Painted Love’ Imagined as a skirt
Here is an example of how ‘Painted Love’ fabric would look as a skirt! This print is available here and could be printed on a fashion fabric such as London or Oliver to make a skirt like this one. Get in touch with the team at Digital Fabrics to chat about other printing base fabrics that are available for your sewing DIY project.
Painted Love fabric design printed on Ponti print base fabric
Wild Thing fabric design -original scan
This is the original scan of the print ‘Wild Thing’ that is also available in the shop. It began as a series of funky leopard print paintings in my favourite colour combo, Pink and red! I then took it to the computer to clean it up, change scale, background colour and create a repeat:
Studio shot – Digital editing of Wild Thing fabric design
My studio space is a very bright and colourful place to be. I like to be surrounded by things and artists that inspire me as well as my plants, that I try to keep alive and many trinkets that I have collected. I have lots of artwork up as well as fabric samples and vintage finds to reference when I need to.
Wild Thing fabric design after digital adjustments
‘Wild Thing’ fabric design ended up with a cobalt blue background because I just felt like it needed to be super bold and brash, just a fun twist on the classic animal print. This print would be great on an interior fabric as a statement piece such as a cushion or even a chair. You can order this print here and can be ordered on all-sorts of fabric for your crafty needs.
Wild Thing fabric design printed on Aerocorp fabric base
I hope you have enjoyed seeing behind the scenes and perhaps have given you an idea for a fun sewing project while we are all stuck indoors in this strange pandemic time.
You can view more of my designs in the fabric shop where you can choose the print base fabric and how many metres you want, minimum is only 1m!
Katy Dee painting botanical elements
Katy Dee at work designing her next fabric collection
Thank you for taking the time to have a read, I would love to see what you make with my designs and hope this has inspired you one way or another! Please tag both Digital Fabrics and me in any crafty projects you undertake with these fabrics!
If you want to follow along with my design stories, come find me on Instagram or Facebook. Big Love, Katy Dee
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project initiative and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you want to be part of this and sure, I will be in touch.