motif monday | no.2

Happy Monday everyone! I'm back with my second week of my illustrated patterns. This is an adaptation of some work I did for a holiday box wrap for a client. Even though the holidays are over, I think the cool colors in this design are still appropriate for our chilly January weather. Speaking of weather, I am more than ready for this winter season to pass- it has been a cold one here in NC! My husband has had to put up with me complaining about how unfair having a January birthday is. No fun outdoor activities, no camping trips or pool parties, just trying to stay bundled up, which is also not conducive to fun birthday outfits. Ha! But enough complaints from me, enjoy the rest of your week!

motif monday | no.1

I often find myself working on new patterns and motifs of repeated designs and illustrations either for a client, a school project, or just for practice. Playing with positive and negative space, balance, and repetition is honestly one of my favorite things to do. It's like exercise for my brain, it's a work out that leaves me feeling renewed and stronger. I know that sounds kind of silly but I really do love it, and since I have so many of these patterns stored on my computer, I thought I'd start sharing some of them here. Each Monday (hopefully) I'll be posting a new pattern here. Either something I've saved from another project or something I just whipped up for fun. Colors may be changed to better display here and I'll let you know what the pattern was a part of. 

This design is one I created for a school project that was a direct mail piece for our downtown farmer's market. I used the pattern on parts of the background of this multi-paged piece. (I'll let you know when I have photos of the final piece up on my site). I illustrated all of the produce and items and tried to do a mix of irregular, organic drawings with some perfectly geometric ones. I duplicated and repeated the items several times until I had a playful mix of shapes and space. Since this was simply a school project, and not something for a client, I may hold on to this design and try to use it again for something else. Maybe fabric? Anyways, thanks for letting me share. Hope you enjoy!

bundled up

It's kind of funny that my Friday post was talking about my desire to move with a quick pace and steady productivity as we enter 2014; because right now all I really want to do is cuddle up on the couch with a cup of tea and a good book. Maybe it's the 18 degree temperatures we've been experiencing, or the end of a long winter break, but I am in serious nesting mode. I've found myself wanting to be surrounded by warm woods and metals, rich textures, and neutral colors. Here are a few of the things I am craving for a cozy home and wardrobe. Stay warm friends!

Sweater (similar), rolling pins, mug, bracelet, beanie, boots, rug, scissors, plant ring. 

forward in 2014

Just like everyone else this week, I have spent some time reflecting on the year past and thinking about the one ahead. I liked the idea I've seen around the web of choosing one word to focus on this year instead of creating a list of lofty goals or resolutions. One word feels more attainable as well as more intentional, that word should be something that sort of encompasses all of your goals and hopes for the year. So after tossing around a few different words for my 2014, I have chosen FORWARD.

There are a lot of reasons why I think the word forward is appropriate for me for the upcoming year but most importantly it is because it is the direction I want to constantly be moving. If 2013 was for big changes, embracing opportunities and for learning to be quiet still while letting the Universe sort of speak to me, than 2014 is for grabbing my future with two anxious hands and running full speed ahead. Forward means I have no time to dwell in the past, to let anxiety or fear over-take me, because I am moving far too quickly for that. Forward means I am packing light and moving on. Clutter and non-essentials will not fit in my carry-on so they're just going to have to be left behind. Forward means my husband and I will be making big plans and taking on some big new adventures. Forward means motion in the physical sense to, creating more momentum and activity in my day-to-day routine to help keep me healthy and balanced while keeping up with this pace. Forward means instead of getting bogged down in the day-to-day details of life and letting them fill my time, I will devote more time to focus on what I want my future to look, feel, and sound like. I will take intentional steps to work towards that future. Two-thousand fourteen will be a good year, a year in motion.

I feel like I've taken a big step towards this goal already with the launch of my new site and am ready to take a few more steps forward into this big, brand-new year.

*I found great inspiration for choosing my 2014 word and for this post from here, here, and here.

photo from our trip this summer to the NC Outer Banks and design by me.

new site and lots to do

Happy Holidays! I wanted to share that I finally got my site up and live! It is named Heart & Craft Creative and will hopefully be a name I can use for all of my art and design work into the future. It's still in the early stages and has some kinks to be worked out but it is finally out there living on the web. With the year coming to a close and this big task being almost crossed off the list, I am deep in reflection and planning mode. Planning next steps; such as bringing the new brand look across all platforms like here and my shop, and reflecting on what I've done in the last year since quitting my teaching job, taking on more freelance work, and going back to school; but that's another post for another day- maybe in another year like 2014.

Please take a second to pop over to my site and check out some never-before-seen work and projects. Cheers!

Bird Print for sale on Brickyard Buffalo!

Good morning! For the next few days my Bird Print is up for sale on the amazing pop-up shop site Brickyard Buffalo! I love this site, they feature such a great collection of items, and I was so happy to be contacted by them about selling one of my prints. Even more exciting- you can customize your own color of the print! I have a color chart with 30 color options so you will definitely be able to find something to perfectly match your style, mood, or home decor. They're really discounted, only 7.99, and there is a limited amount so hop over to Brickyard Buffalo and check out the sale!

Crop Hunger Walk and Run

Just a quick pop in to say a little bit about this great event that I was lucky enough to design this year's shirt and artwork for! Taking place on October 20th, the Greater Greensboro Crop Hunger Walk and Run is a 5k event that is so impressive because it has an impact here locally in our little part of North Carolina but also globally. This year's theme is One World, One Community, One Step. Here are some details straight from the Greensboro Urban Ministry site:


The Greater Greensboro CROP Hunger Walk and Run is a 5k (3.1 miles) community event that raises funds to fight hunger. 25% of the funds raised go to Potter’s House Community Kitchen at Greensboro Urban Ministry. With the 75% going to Church World Service to meet human needs and foster self-reliance in over 80 countries.

Pretty neat, huh? Also, here is a nice article that I was interviewed for to promote the event and share the story about the inspiration behind my shirt design. Find out more about the event or sign up to participate, donate, or volunteer here.

Print Collective

You guys, I have the most exciting news! After almost two years of contributing to this project, Print Collective, is finally here!  Print Collective is a book of Screenprinting tips, projects, and techniques that I was asked to be a part of, along with nine other (such talented) artists from around the world. It hits the market on October 1st and you can order it right here or here. Crazy, right? People keep saying "you've been published," and it sounds ridiculous every time I hear it but it's true! Along with the two projects I contributed to the book, I also sent in tons of images, doodles, and designs that are now part of a CD that comes with the book that you can use to make your own prints. I worked with the nicest people, especially Jenny Doh and Lark Publishing, during this project and I can't wait for it to be out to the public.


Here is a more-detailed description of the publication:

In recent years, printmaking- and screenprinting in particular- has been experiencing a renaissance among crafts, designers, and artists. The popularity of designer printed fabrics, limited edition runs of tees, art prints, and more has fed the interest of crafters.

In Print Collective, each featured printer provides readers with a project of two that teaches a core technique. Examples include overprinting, screenprinting text, painting your prints, creating high contrast prints, using alternative exposure methods (like cyanotype) and more. You can truly choose your own printing adventure; in addition to the technique, each artist provides 15-20 motifs on the enclosed CD.

And a sneak peek of a couple of my pages!

Pattern Play

It's been a long time.  As in months.  But in my defense I have been transitioning jobs, going to school full-time, and doing an internship at a design firm one town over.  It's been great fun, lots of work, but most of all it has been eye-opening.  One of the things I have found myself most interested in working on over this season has been creating and playing with visual patterns.  Sometimes one repeated shape, other times several sketches growing into a larger design.  I can't get enough of playing with proportions, balancing positive and negative space, and manipulating color.  I just wanted to give you a little peek into what I've been up to and in the next weeks hope to share more of the specifics of some projects I've worked on and some of the exciting things that have been happening around the studio and the rest of life here lately.  

forming thoughts and making work

I've been doing a lot of reading lately about the process of design, not actually designing, but just the way we go about thinking, drafting, planning, and creating in the design world. Way too often I get wrapped up in having so much to accomplish, so many projects to finish that I don't really allow myself the time to just think about the design. My mind goes on autopilot, pulling inspiration from god knows where, and I end up churning out a design I am only halfway pleased with. The articles and posts I've been reading lately have inspired and challenged me to go about this whole process differently. To put the time into letting inspiration grow organically so your results don't feel like a hodge-podge of ideas you've seen somewhere before; and to just think about the early steps of design as being just as important as that moment when you sit down at the computer to execute an idea. I feel like this way of processing information and inspiration will also lend itself to a little more balance between life and work. I have a hard time processing inspiration I encounter on a day to day basis because I'm so rushed to instead be working, but now I plan on giving a little more breathing room to the simple acts of idea creation, sketching, and reflection.

Here are the readings that I am referring to, see if you can find the quote that I did the design below from.

AIGA: Beyond Craft & Tools

Inspiration vs. Imitation

The Fresh Exchange

Also a great video interview with Paula Scher.

What are your thoughts on finding inspiration, waiting for ideas to strike, and getting to work on any of your creative endeavors?