to and fro

I always move between two worlds with my work. I go from very illustrative and loose to more graphic and simple. If I had to pick one I'd stick with the latter but I enjoy working both ways. I find that lately I've been craving the work with the loser illustrations and sketches. I've been working on them during the week as a warm-up to my day. It's been a great practice that keeps my design mind nimble.

Typically, I look at my lose sketches and imagine them in a more graphic and reduced format. Today is a great example of how my sketch inspired a pattern that I'm really loving at the moment. Behind the scenes I've also been working on an adult coloring book. I'll show you some spreads when the time comes. Cant wait!

• • •

Most of these products can now be found in my Society6 shop. I haven't had time to update my Spoonflower shop but that will be forthcoming as well.

Ta-ta for now!

buds & stems - a feeling of connection

This is my new Buds & Stems collection (coming soon to Spoonflower). Just three simple little patterns that I love so and came about through the work I've been posting for my shop. It's like spring truly invaded my work (not a bad thing for sure!). I tried coming up with another pattern to make it a balanced set of four but it wasn't happening. So I let the group stay as is. I notice that I've been doing that with other parts of my work — I'm not forcing things. I'm just letting them be.

This year in particular I've been letting things develop more naturally and working on truly listening to my inner creative voice. You'd think that I'd have that well taken care of by now. But I can tell when I'm falling off the rails my work doesn't feel as genuine. One thing that has helped me a lot is that I've been conscious about staying offline for longer periods of time. The less I look at Pinterest, random web sites and blogs, the more I can see myself in what I'm designing. Don't take me wrong — I love seeing what other artists are creating (specially when it's in a medium I don't work in), but time away is time to recharge and it really works.

So, here's to more work that is truly me.

Have a great day everyone!

• • •

TIP:: I didn't have dark blue ribbon so I made one out of thin strips of blue card stock. I wrapped the gift with one piece, used another one for the bow and third tiny one for the center of the bow. I was going to make a typically symmetrical ribbon but this lopsided version seemed more interesting to me. That's it!

joy collection - svgs and printables

The first collection of the year is called Joy. It includes SVG cutting files and printables in two colorways — yellow and red.

I wanted to create a group of patterns and shapes that would coordinate all the way through different product lines. This collection is included in my Society6 products as I showed you the other day and will be coming soon in the manner of fabric and gift wrap on Spoonflower (still waiting for samples).

My ideas for the printables (8 letter-sized sheets of each pattern):
- To wrap small gifts
- Make envelope liners
- To make cards and hangtags
- To decorate scrapbooking layouts (including pocket scrapbooking like Project Life)
- Anything else you can come up with!

I'm pretty proud of this collection and if truth be told it does make me joyful when I look at it.
I hope you enjoy it too!

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The Joy Collection is free from now until 1/11 with the purchase of $5.98 and above.
Code: thankyou
Important: Make sure to add the code to the GRAY Shopping Cart link at the top of the website home page.

joy collection - svgs and printables

The first collection of the year is called Joy. It includes SVG cutting files and printables in two colorways — yellow and red.

I wanted to create a group of patterns and shapes that would coordinate all the way through different product lines. This collection is included in my Society6 products as I showed you the other day and will be coming soon in the manner of fabric and gift wrap on Spoonflower (still waiting for samples).

My ideas for the printables (8 letter-sized sheets of each pattern):
- To wrap small gifts
- Make envelope liners
- To make cards and hangtags
- To decorate scrapbooking layouts (including pocket scrapbooking like Project Life)
- Anything else you can come up with!

I'm pretty proud of this collection and if truth be told it does make me joyful when I look at it.
I hope you enjoy it too!

---

The Joy Collection is free from now until 1/11 with the purchase of $5.98 and above.
Code: thankyou
Important: Make sure to add the code to the GRAY Shopping Cart link at the top of the website home page.

2015 starts with joy!

Happy new year everyone! Don't you just love the feeling of a brand new year?

When I started to think about what I want to accomplish in 2015 I was working on this new collection. I decided to name it Joy because it was inspired by one of my favorite flowers—the Gerbera daisies. Daisies have always seemed like such cheerful flowers to me. I started sketching them out and whittled down the flowers and leaves to the simplest of forms. I like this part of working because dancing around that line of simple or too simple has always interested me. It feels like a challenging game of sorts (welcome to my inner workings! ha!).

As I designed the patterns I tried coming up with different names for the collection and Joy just kept popping up over and over again. I did feel rather in sync, so clear-headed/focused and energized (almost giddy!) with the creation of every pattern so I guess the name is quite fitting.

The first products using this line can be seen on my Society6 shop. You'll see how I translate this collection to SVG cutting files very soon! 

No new year's resolutions around here! We're going to work on our Happiness Jars. I think it's a great idea and I can't wait to see all my favorite 2015 happy moments at the end of the year!

2015 starts with joy!

Happy new year everyone! Don't you just love the feeling of a brand new year?

When I started to think about what I want to accomplish in 2015 I was working on this new collection. I decided to name it Joy because it was inspired by one of my favorite flowers—the Gerbera daisies. Daisies have always seemed like such cheerful flowers to me. I started sketching them out and whittled down the flowers and leaves to the simplest of forms. I like this part of working because dancing around that line of simple or too simple has always interested me. It feels like a challenging game of sorts (welcome to my inner workings! ha!).

As I designed the patterns I tried coming up with different names for the collection and Joy just kept popping up over and over again. I did feel rather in sync, so clear-headed/focused and energized (almost giddy!) with the creation of every pattern so I guess the name is quite fitting.

The first products using this line can be seen on my Society6 shop. You'll see how I translate this collection to SVG cutting files very soon! 

No new year's resolutions around here! We're going to work on our Happiness Jars. I think it's a great idea and I can't wait to see all my favorite 2015 happy moments at the end of the year!

happy thanksgiving!

I'm just popping in really quickly to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving! For those of you that celebrate this holiday I wish you the best of times with your families. For those of you that don't have a great week and maybe join us in being grateful for everything we have. It's always nice to stop and realize how lucky we are isn't it?

I will have a small shop update next weekend so stay tuned!

happy thanksgiving!

I'm just popping in really quickly to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving! For those of you that celebrate this holiday I wish you the best of times with your families. For those of you that don't have a great week and maybe join us in being grateful for everything we have. It's always nice to stop and realize how lucky we are isn't it?

I will have a small shop update next weekend so stay tuned!

pattern making soothes the soul

I hope you don't get tired of seeing these because this is what I'm into right now. Building my pattern collection is taking over any free time I have. I'm taking advantage of the creative momentum while it lasts. I get into a focused relaxed state when I'm working on them. Maybe that's why they're so addicting!

The top pattern, Just Seeds (in Evening Blue and Clear Day) is something that originally started from a sketch of daisies that I worked on over the weekend. I love how the background color changes the look of the design so radically. I couldn't make up my mind over which I preferred so they're both uploaded in my Society6 shop.

On the Farm (in pink and blue) is part of a collection of four patterns that will also be coming as fabric and wrapping paper. Some of you may remember me posting previously but it wasn't really finished until now.

Now that I think about it I think these two patterns show off my two illustrative sides. I love organic more natural looking shapes but I also enjoy exploring the more graphic and clean lined side of things too. It's more exciting to explore in two completely different worlds!

Happy Monday everyone!

signs of spring

The weather is finally starting to warm up and it could not have any sooner. I'm definitely not a cold weather person! The birds are signing their tunes incessantly and I love it.

I think this weather and the promise of spring also makes me more creative. So I've been trying to juggle the time between pattern designing and new paper projects. I want to do everything! Since I obviously can't here's a little something—Signs of Spring—which I finished over the weekend. 

This is actually part of a four pattern collection that will be coming to my Spoonflower shop soon and is now available at Society6.

Time for some sketching in bed! Ta-ta!

signs of spring

The weather is finally starting to warm up and it could not have any sooner. I'm definitely not a cold weather person! The birds are signing their tunes incessantly and I love it.

I think this weather and the promise of spring also makes me more creative. So I've been trying to juggle the time between pattern designing and new paper projects. I want to do everything! Since I obviously can't here's a little something—Signs of Spring—which I finished over the weekend. 

This is actually part of a four pattern collection that will be coming to my Spoonflower shop soon and is now available at Society6.

Time for some sketching in bed! Ta-ta!

a different twist on a paper christmas wreath

Hello December! I can't believe it. Every year I say the same thing but—wow. This is just weird to be only a few weeks away from Christmas. It always seems to sneak up on me.

Our Thanksgiving break was pretty quiet considering we were trading fevers and coughs. Round and round we went. Not too bad. But, yes, annoying. 

I literally had not touched a piece of paper, just for fun, in weeks. A couple of nights ago I couldn't take it any longer and I stayed up way longer than I really should have. The thing is that when I'm in the mood, it doesn't matter when it strikes I just go for it. This wreath (which has been floating around in my head for literally months) and some simple patterns to go along with it are the results. Incidentally the frame is also made of paper (found in my shop here).

I need to stay healthy because I'm in countdown mode this week. I'll be heading to NYC on Thursday to participate in the Most Gifted Wrapper contest! I entered on a whim and now I'm one of 8 finalists that will be competing. I can't wait to see how it goes. Bryant Park here I come! 

Hope you're all doing well!

let's play!

A little late but here is today's freebie! Recognize her? She's one of the characters on my journal cover that I showed you last week.

Speaking of which, I didn't make the cut for the Lilla Rogers' Glabal Talent Search. I was prepared for being ok with whatever happened—and I am ok. I'd be lying if I told you it isn't disappointing not to make it to the next round. At the same time I truly do believe that things happen when and how they should. I trust that my work will find an avenue into the licensing arena in other ways—probably in unexpected ways. I still see my work on wrapping paper, fabric, stickers, etc. For now here is what it could potentially look like.

I told you that the artwork on the cover could be used in other ways! Today I used it for a card embellishment and for wrapping paper designs—all mockups but it's fun to see the potential, right? The cover design is available at Society6 as a print and cushion cover.

Go ahead and get your freebie gal here and have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Ahh wait... about the freebie!
I added the shoe by gluing a little scrap of pink paper to the front of the foot. Then I turned the girl upside down to use the body/foot as a guide to cut out the shape of the shoe. It was too small to cut with the machine. You'll also notice that the lower arm needs to be tucked behind the duck. I used foam dots to give the whole thing a bit more dimension. That's it—have fun!

I'm at Surtex!

Ok, I couldn't resist! I had to post a little something. My brother and I got to New York City today and we're ready to set up the booth tomorrow. I haven't been in the city since we left the area when I was 10 so this is like seeing everything with new eyes. The energy is very palpable specially when out hotel is only a block away from Times Square!

I'm very excited to get going. Those of you that follow me on Facebook know that I started a new Instagram account and I've been sharing a few photos there. Come visit my stream here—and if you happen to be at the Javits Center this weekend come by my booth— #664.

Wish me luck! Woohoo!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! XO

it is a good thing

Sometimes I put so much on my plate that before I know it... boom! I crash. I'm getting close to that point right about now. At the same time I'm having one of those days where I think I'm so lucky to be doing what I do. Gratitude is a good thing—yes it is!

• • •

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
—William Arthur Ward

• • •

The photo is a little preview of what I've been working on and so is the card that I made for OCC day 3 (layering).

day 23 - just create

Design work (a logo) took over my day. So, I did make something. I just can't show it. But my determination to actually show something today turned out fruitful. When flat, this may not be the most exciting pattern ever, but I'm very excited about the way I'm going to be using it. I'll be showing you tomorrow!

This brings me to something a bit different...

Inspired by a couple of comments on yesterday's post I was wondering how the rest of you feel before you start a project.

- Do you feel held back about the time, energy and materials you're going to use or do you just jump in with gusto?

- Are you a planner with projects or you more of a spontaneous type of maker?

I'm not one to hold back. If I'm completely honest sometimes my every day responsibilities (hello laundry?) are forgotten for the sake of making. As far as the second question, I'm a little bit of both. My sketches lead me to planning. But on nights like tonight I start something on a whim and end up with a great project idea (not always!).

So how about you? What kind of maker are you?

• • •

This is part of a my 26 days of making series.

day 14 - one last coat

Here they are. These are the coasters that I just finished with one final coat of Mod Podge. For those of you that missed it, the tutorial to make them is here.

Off to get the rest of things taken care of today!

• • •

This is part of a my 26 days of making series.

new patterns on spoonflower

These are two designs that I've posted on Spoonflower. One is an older design and the one on the right is the latest one I played around with in the spring.

Some of you may wonder about my occasional ventures into fabric. The truth of the matter is that I really would love to see these on paper. While that happens (if it does, that would be another can of worms—albeit an exciting one to tackle) I like my patterns to at least see the light of day.



The fabrics with yellow in them will become cushions that are badly needed around here. We'll see if I like them when I get them done. Aside from our yellow kitchen our living room, studio and entrance spaces are decorated with neutral earthy tones and I know these would seriously jump out. But it doesn't hurt to try, right?

• • •

Thank you to OhDeeDoh for including my Alphabet Flash Cards in an adorable grouping of school-inspired decor.

children's themed fabric

Remember the pattern designs I showed you a couple of weeks ago (which also match my alphabet flash cards)? They are now available for purchase on Spoonflower. I can't wait to see how these patterns take life in sewing projects. I'm not even sure what I'm going to use my sample for yet. My little C was eyeing the animals for bedding for her dolls!

Animal Friends | Circles & Rods | Sweet Stripes



It feels a bit strange to put my designs on fabric since I'm supposed to be the 'paper person' but I see how this can work for different projects. I'll stand back and let you have all the fun. I've had my fair share with the design process.

collaboration

I was sketching out some ideas when my little C asked me if she could work on something herself. It didn't surprise me all that much since she's done that before—and even though she has her own sketchbooks, she prefers that we share mine. Sometimes I'll turn to a new page and a little one of her doodles is on it. More often than not, I have no idea when it was made. It's just there to give me a sweet hello.

Yesterday I was drawing on the left page while she was working on the opposite side.



I traced some of her rectangles and came up with this pattern (the proportions will be larger in the final piece). I love it so much that I'm going to get it printed as soon as I decide what color to use.



It thrills me to see my little C interested in what I do. Sometimes I wonder if the reason is that she'll be artistic herself or that she simply wants to hang out with Mom. I'll take either one.

Do you have little ones that follow in your footsteps? What do they do?