Basic Pattern Overlays *Giveaway*

Today, I'm really thrilled to be taking part in the "Passion for Pattern" bloghop.  Welcome if you just arrived from the Colour Book Studio blog.  We all recently met through the fab e-course "Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design".  As you can imagine, we're passionate about pattern!

As a digital designer, I'm always looking for ways of smarter working.  My digital toolbox is a vital part of my creative process and is full of design staples.  These make my workflow smarter and a little faster.  For example, when I design a new pattern, I always keep the original Illustrator & Photoshop files in their full layer format.  Apart from proving a working timeline and good work practice to have your original files, it makes for easier editing if you decide to change a colour theme.  It can even make a great starting point for a brand new pattern.

For every new pattern I design, I always add some basic patterns to the set.  With each new basic pattern created, I've saved it in a folder in my "Digital Toolbox" folder as basic "go to" patterns.  I now have  a neat little time saving collection of everything from geometrics, florals to damask.

And so I decided it would be neat to do a special giveaway for this blog post to celebrate the "Passion for Pattern" bloghop.  I've put together a little set of basic pattern overlays that inlcude chevrons, dots, circles and stripes.  They are in transparent PNG file format, 12"x12" and 300dpi.  You can grab the giveaway HERE in my online store.  Hope they'll be of some use to you!

 

If you've never used pattern overlays, I've also got a great little tutorial, that'll show you ways to colour them.  Be sure to check it out as it shows you how to create a clipping path and how to use layer blend modes.  Enjoy!

Please be sure to leave a comment.  Let me know what other patterns you'd love to see as overlays.  Also, if you have any "working smarter" tips!  I'd love to hear them!

Be sure to jump ahead to the next gorgeous pattern blog, Leslie Doughty.

"The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design"

Back in November, I signed up for an e-course, "The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design", by UK surface pattern designer, Rachael Taylor and "Do What You Love" life coach, Beth Nicholls.  From the second I saw it on Beth's blog, it spoke to me and I knew I had to do it.

I've always doodled.  I've always loved pattern and colour.  But I'm not someone that's ever had yearnings to be a fabric designer or any kind of surface pattern design, actually.  I saw an opportunity to learn more about pattern design.  And hopefully be inspired to create some new product lines for my online store.

There are 3 Modules, each one can be purchased as separate e-courses and are wothy in their own right.  However, I wanted to do all 3 Modules.  I somehow felt I would miss out if I didn't do all three!  From the start of Module 1 to the end of Module 3 it was pretty full on.  The content, which included creative exercises, industry information, technical workshops, business advice and much more, was top notch.  Inspiring.  Motivating.  Challenging.

The first thing that spoke to me was that my incessent need to doodle hasn't been (and isn't) a waste of time! Ha!  What a simple revelation. In Module 1 of the course, I discovered the joy of putting my doodles to good use.  I'd only ever used my sketch books as a way of putting design ideas together.  Creating mood boards and themes for each new idea or graphic set.  Now, I had a whole new creative process.

As the course progressed, I did have moments of confusion.  Maybe I could be a fabric designer?  Or, I know, I'm going to be wallpaper designer!!  Yes, that's it.  Oh no.  That's not for me.  I'm going to design a new range of home decor products.  Yep, that's it.  But it wasn't.  Ultimately, I believe it was just inspiration.  A realisation that I could actually do any of those things if I wanted to.

It's knowing that the possiblities are there for me and my business.  I have an open heart and mind to continue to learn and evolve while staying true and grounded to my original vision and dreams!  "The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design" course was an investment into my business and my ongoing love and passion of colour and design!  Worth every penny, and then some.

Patriotic Designs

Anyone else loving all the Union Jack designs around at the moment? I love them. Wander what St.Andrew, George and Patrick would make of it all?  Red, white and blue everywhere.  Celebrating our Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics has a lot to do with it, of course.

From home decor, paper crafting, fabrics to soft furnishings, these patriotic Union Jack designs are everywhere. Even food.  I saw some yummy cupcakes at a local shopping mall.  So red, white and blue.  So British.  So en vogue.

 I love it!  I'm proud to be British.  Design trends come and go.  I'm hoping this wave of patriotism remains for a very long time.  We need it!

For more inspiration I created a "I Love Great Britain" board at Pinterest.  Go take a peek!