Skillshare Mini Challenge // Backgrounds for Everyone!

If you're following along with the Scripture Memory / Dwell Richly printable, here's the verse for week 42: 

But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Nehemiah 9:17 (ESV)

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A S S I G N M E N T

Mini Challenge for Bonnie Christine's Intro to Surface Pattern Design Class: Design a desktop wallpaper featuring your own artwork and favorite inspirational quote (for more examples, check out the free downloads under 'class project'). 

You can sign up for a free month of Skillshare here!

C L A S S   P R O J E C T

Desktop Background: I love the idea of this challenge but honestly, I rarely see my desktop background. There's a reason I design planners and organization printables... not because I'm organized but because it's my life goal to have structure, to get organized and to figure out a system. I have yet to achieve any of those goals. ;)

So, for this mini challenge, I played around with a few different desktop backgrounds to fit the styles of everyone. For those of you who keep a clean desktop, the ones who close out all windows at the end of the day so that they can open a fresh workspace every morning, I used the quote: "What she tackles, she conquers." Because trust me ladies, if you can create structure and strategy like that, I firmly believe that what you tackle, you will conquer. Plus, what a wonderfully motivating quote that would be to start your day with! 

And then I created this desktop background for people like me. People who always have countless windows and projects open, way too many to tackle in one day. People who, let's be honest, if you actually ever see your desktop, it's because you've stretched your trusty computer a little too far and it's given up on you. Time to close everything up and reboot. Time to take a break. Time to go pick some flowers on the wildside. ;) 

I realized after I posted the project and the name [Backgrounds for Everyone!] that I only posted feminine backgrounds so here's a gender neutral one. :)

Which background do you relate to the most? Feel free to use these backgrounds for your own desktop! 

Bloom of Hope // A New Surface Pattern Design!

If you're following along with the Scripture Memory / Dwell Richly printable, here's the verse for week 26 (which also happens to be the inspiration for this project): 

I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. Isaiah 41:18 (ESV)

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I've been taking Skillshare classes from Elizabeth Olwen and Bonnie Christine. If you haven't heard of Skillshare or looked into, go now. It is my, hands-down, most favorite learning site. If you click this link, you can get a free month membership. 

A S S I G N M E N T

Via Elizabeth Olwen: Your assignment is concept, illustrate, and design a repeat pattern. Surface design skills are applicable to countless projects, and whether you're a designer, illustrator, or simply looking for a fun and inspiring project, you'll love creating something that you can use at any size, on any project that means the most to you. Plus, it's always enjoyable to work on a project inspired by the things you love. So: pick motifs that have meaning for you (flowers, your favorite hobby, a special season), work them into a seamless repeat, and immerse yourself in the surface design process.

Upload your final repeat pattern. A completed project should include both the block both (1) on its own and (2) in a 3x5 repeating grid.

C L A S S   P R O J E C T

Pattern: Bloom of Hope

Mood Board: There are several different pieces of inspiration I'm compiling for this pattern. I started with the words 'bloom' and 'hope' which were originally inspired from Isaiah 41:18: "I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." I'd like for my pattern to express a refreshing growth with lots of vines, fresh blooms and budding florals. The floral photos are from our garden, which we lovlingly refer to as "the Todd Nest." I'd like to incorporate feathers because of the organic feel that they have. They just seem to add a sweet motion to a pattern when shaped well. Finally, I'd like to integrate large vintage blooms with a modern flair, inspired by the vintage hankies my great-grandmother passed down to me. My husband and I had a 'vintage hankie tree' at our wedding as one of the wedding favors for our female guests (pictured below). Side note: These were hankies we collected; not the ones my great-grandmother left me - those are all nestled in a special place in my studio. :) That was one of my favorite elements of our wedding and the designs on each hankie was unqiuely splendid. My final piece of inspiration is the song "Bloom" by Mae, which I can basically guarantee I'll be listening to on repeat as I design this pattern. :)

Color Palette: I'm really loving the colors below. They're a totally different direction from the bright colors on my mood board but they seem to offer a beautiful balance of light and dark. I like to think of these as my "desert collection" palette. 

Illustrations: Many of the illustrations and sketches have been inspired by the lovely details on the vintage hankies my great-grandmother passed down to me. The other ones were inspired by a crochet and sewing book from the 70's. I was super excited when Elizabeth suggested looking in old pattern books because I have several laying around in my studio as decor - I didn't even think about using them for illustration inspiration! 

I went ahead and made a secondary print as well - because I just. can't. stop!!

As much as I love this color palette for the desert collection, I've really been obsessing over pastels so I decided to do these as an alternate color way as well! 

I also decided to do my first official mockups!! Process: I created these journals with the pen tool (traced over an image of a journal). As the Fill, I used my pattern swatches then Effect > Drop Shadow. Then I added a slim band (Effect > Drop Shadow) to act as the band around the journal. 

For the pillows, I probably took the long way around but I'm pleased with how they turned out! Live Trace two pillow forms > change Fill Color to pattern swatch of choice > Save as transparent .png > Open in Photoshop > Effects: Add drop shadow and inner shadow > Save as transparent .png > Open in Illustrator and place them on artboard. 

I loved, loved, loved this course!!! Elizabeth Olwen is such an inspiration! I recommend many Skillshare classes but Elizabeth's is certainly one of my top favorites!