surface design advice

Meet the Designer: Sareka Smith of sarekaunique

August 20, 2018

Meet the Designer: Sareka Unique of sarekaunique | Spoonflower Blog

This week we’re back for another installment of our Meet the Designer series to introduce Michigan based illustrator and designer Sareka Unique, otherwise known as sarekaunique in the Spoonflower Marketplace. Experiencing Sareka’s art is like exploring a candy-colored dreamscape full of texture, movement and wonder within her perfectly juxtaposed geometric and organic shaped design elements. She has a lot to say about color and offers some excellent tips for choosing the perfect palette, so stick around for a really fun interview!

My day starts with…

“Hitting my snooze button about five times. I’m not a morning person at all and am usually up until about 3 a.m. engulfed in my creative projects. During the week, I work 45-50 hours for a trucking company doing trade compliance and when I come home in the evenings a lot of that time is spent with my family and my dog, Carter. After everyone is tucked away for the night I go into my studio/ bedroom/ living space and turn up the music or put on a podcast to get me in the zone. Sometimes I’m up painting and drawing, or batching Instagram posts, or updating my website and just doing whatever needs to be done until I can’t hold my eyes open anymore. I don’t do this every night or I wouldn’t be able to function at work the next day but the goal of being able to do what I love full-time fuels me and gives me that energy I need on the nights that I am up until 3 a.m.”

7 Tips for Designing a Cut-and-Sew Project

August 8, 2018

Have you ever wondered how designers in the Spoonflower community create the adorable cut-and-sew projects you’ve been eyeing in the Marketplace? From the purrrfect zipper pouch (see the how-to here) to a giftable hedgehog plushie, the only limit to creating your very own cut-and-sew project is your imagination. To help you get started, Spoonflower designer Ceri Staziker–cerigwen in the Marketplace–is sharing seven design tips for successfully creating a cut-and-sew project. By the time you’re done, you’ll never underestimate the power of a fat quarter!

7 Tips for Designing a Cut-and-Sew Project | Spoonflower Blog

Spoonflower designer cerigwen knows a thing or two about cut-and-sew projects!

The Do’s and Don’ts of Fabric Design

March 18, 2016

For the most part, there are no rules when it comes to creating a surface design. All mediums are welcome, all shapes, sizes and colors can make for an interesting repeat. However, that's not to say there aren't still a few mistakes you want to avoid. Nine-time Spoonflower Design Challenge winner Virginia O. is here to steer you in the right direction with six do's and 6 don'ts for budding designers to keep in mind!