#challenge 141

[squarecarousel]

Challenge 141: Story Time Through Patterns: Road Trip In the late spring/early summer, Jordan and I have planned a 6 week camping adventure-- we're renting an Escape van and seeing a lot of national parks. (Really hoping COVID will be enough under control at this point where it will be safe to camp-- we aren't visiting any family or anything like that, either just to clarify. We take the pandemic incredibly seriously and haven't even been in a grocery store in almost a year now!) Planning and daydreaming about it has been helping me get through this year, so I thought it would be fun to do a little print series inspired by our future adventures. My main print is a standard narrative pattern with illustrated elements from a road trip: mountains, cacti, a road, the van, camping gear, etc. Then my supporting prints are more simplified and design-based with one being some of the scrubby plants that will be in the first pattern, and the second taking the shape of the mountains and making more of an abstract design. Although the first pattern is really fun, it's more limited in usage. The other two could be used widely on fabrics, etc. and have a broader audience. Caitlin

[natashatraymond]

Challenge 141: Story Time Through Patterns: Space Mouse

Up up and away! This tiny mouse takes a rocket into space to gift Ms. Moon with a mushroom gift. I separately wood burned all the pieces, photographed them and then digitally re-arranged the elements. I thought this set would make a great kids bedroom set. The main pattern for a comforter, and two supporting pillowcases. 

I’m pretty happy with this style and have really enjoyed playing with patterns. They’re typically outside my comfort zone but I love the idea of making more fabrics for my tiny home <3

- Natasha

[squarecarousel]

Challenge 141: Story Time Through Patterns: Birdie and Wormy

With Spring right around the corner, and all waiting for the brisk winter air to slowly slip back into its hibernation again. With a careful ear and mindful eye we can hear the birds chirping in the sky and the earthworms squirming in the ground. A fresh awakening and a feeling of anew amongst all the showering dirt feelings of the past springs. It's time of new growth and seeding into this year, reaching new height as far as a bird in the sky can fly and planting in new plans rooted and grounded in the earth as the earthworm. Equally provide for each other and equally working together to prosper into what will be an amazing year.

-Emily McA

[squarecarousel]

Challenge 141: Story Time Through Patterns: Day in the Life of a Happy Cat I recently got a sweet kitty named Cardamom, and she’s been taking up a lot of my headspace by being cute and needing attention. Naturally, I had to make a cat-themed pattern collection! 

I wanted to showcase the relaxed side of cat life, so I focused on their stretches, and made a variation of a polka dot with the most common cat sleeping position. 

-Sayada

[squarecarousel]

Challenge 141: Story Time Through Patterns: Space Mouse

Up up and away! This tiny mouse takes a rocket into space to gift Ms. Moon with a mushroom gift. I separately wood burned all the pieces, photographed them and then digitally re-arranged the elements. I thought this set would make a great kids bedroom set. The main pattern for a comforter, and two supporting pillowcases.

I’m pretty happy with this style and have really enjoyed playing with patterns. They’re typically outside my comfort zone but I love the idea of making more fabrics for my tiny home <3

- Natasha

[squarecarousel]

Challenge 141: Story Time Through Patterns: 2021

I’m so happy to be back for 2021! This year was off to a rough start, and has really taken a toll physically, mentally, as well as on my normal creative workflow. While I was scrolling mindlessly I found this beautiful bird picture that spoke to me. I started sketching one of the birds just to get myself back in the groove again after not really feeling so motivated to draw lately...and I realized the bird had the same colors as the 2021 Pantone colors of the year which symbolize “a duo of strength, resilience and unrelenting hopefulness, and that together, yellow and gray illuminate the fortitude of the human spirit and showcase the power of unity in times of uncertainty”. - Target

Having been seeing a lot of previews of the new Middle Earth Amazon Series and witnessing the orcs and Sauron's army attack our Minas Tirith last week in real life...I thought to see if Tolkien written any pieces that were about birds. Since C.S. Lewis hung out with him often, I happened to come across the perfect story that I think has the same feel of what 2021 has been like so far and hope that it will be like in the days to come.

C.S. Lewis writing is as follows:

"This year the summer will come true. This year. This year.

Winds will not strip the blossom from the apple trees This year, nor want of rain destroy the peas.

This year time’s nature will no more defeat you, Nor all the promised moments in their passing cheat you.

This time they will not lead you round and back To Autumn, one year older, by the well-worn track.

This year, this year, as all these flowers foretell, We shall escape the circle and undo the spell.

Often deceived, yet open once again your heart, Quick, quick, quick, quick!—the gates are drawn apart."

The 2021 Colors of the Year and the symbolic meanings these colors represent were my main inspiration of this collection with the imagery and metaphors of C.S. Lewis' short story, along with symbols of resilience, easing the passing of grief with grace while making room for the new, how much beauty is in our strength, love, and unity, and faith in hope for better years to come. To read more in-detail about each pattern please follow my instagram!

I hope everyone has a much better new years, and to stay safe and healthy!


-Tina   


Tina’s Etsy Shop



Tina’s Website 



Tina’s Instagram

[squarecarousel]

Challenge 141: Story Time Through Patterns: Patisserie 

Patterns aren’t my forte so I definitely saw this challenge as an opportunity to learn something new and have some fun!

The main pattern is a patisserie smorgasbord, with treats ranging from macarons to eclairs! I wanted to stick with non-local colors for the entire collection, something that highlighted the light/ fun aspect of these delicate creations. Both supporting patterns pull individual elements from the main design, showcasing the amazing range that can be achieved, even while recycling assets. *P.S. added the main pattern to my Society6 😜

Elizabeth B.

[squarecarousel]

Challenge 141: Story Time Through Patterns: Travel Day Dream

Having been stuck at home for almost a full year now, and having sadly canceled a lot of travel plans that were supposed to happen in the spring and summer, I’ve found myself daydreaming about one day being able to travel again. My boyfriend and I had been toying with the idea of going on a trip to the southwest before Covid hit, so I felt very drawn to the Spanish pueblo style architecture when developing these patterns. The main one is quite obviously a very literal architectural pattern, and the two secondary patterns implement some more subtle architectural elements like bricks and a more abstract take on mosaic tiles.

I’m crossing my fingers that maybe by this time next year I can finally plan a trip with these patterns in hand!

-Sarah