A decorative pattern of ivory-colored swirls and curls on a light brown background.

Dare to be Different

I’m a color-loving DIYer and artist dedicated to helping you create a space that surrounds you with products that uniquely reflect YOU!

A woman with short curly hair and earrings holding a tablet with interior design images inside.

As a life-long crafty girl, I create art and designs for people who are tired of a cookie-cutter, stepped-off-the-pages-of-a-magazine environment.  My patterns and illustrations are for folks who want to give their homes, offices, and wardrobes a more personal touch. 

A woman with curly dark hair, wearing glasses and a pink shirt, sitting outdoors in a park with green trees in the background. She is coloring a flower drawing in a notebook.

Maker at Heart!

Some of my fondest memories of childhood involve going to the fabric store with my mother.  Walking up and down the aisles, running my fingers along the tall bolts of fabric until we found the perfect one for our project.  Turning page after page of the huge pattern books to find something that matched our vision.  Pulling out the long, heavy drawers to search the pattern packets for the correct number.  Finding buttons and ribbons and zippers that would match just so!

Then, I would sit near her little sewing table, playing with the straight pins in the little tomato pin cushion as she whipped up a pinafore for my first day of Kindergarten or matching Easter dresses or flannel nightgowns for my sister and me. 

Fun Fact:

I am currently using that little sewing table as my iMac desk!

A room with a large color palette poster on the wall, two desktop computers (one with a white frame and the other with a light-colored frame), a small black laptop, a white keyboard, and a white mouse. There is a round, light green upholstered ottoman in front of the computers and dark wooden furniture supporting the devices.

My Dad’s childhood desk that my Mom used for sewing

A teal arrow forming a circular motion clockwise.
A heart shape made from white string or thread on a rough wooden surface outdoors, with blurred green foliage in the background.
Pink knitted baby sweater with heart-shaped buttons on a black surface.
Person knitting with purple yarn on their lap by swimming pool.

As I grew up, I expanded my own creativity into all types of arts and crafts.  I still remember my 3rd grade diorama project on the Plains Indians.  I got an A++ because I worked so hard on it!  I loved to color and doodle, practiced calligraphy, did latch hook and cross stitching kits, carved wood, and eventually learned basic sewing.  I even learned to knit and crochet!

When my husband and I bought our first little house, I eagerly set to making it our home.  I painted walls, trim, and cabinets, and sewed curtains and pillow covers.  I arranged and re-arranged (and re-re-arranged!) furniture and pictures, and collected decor and knick knacks that were meaningful to us.  And, when our daughter came along, well!  You know I couldn’t wait to sew dresses and play clothes for her and to decorate her room with one-of-a-kind artwork!  I fully threw myself into DIY mode to make gifts for our family and friends. 

A colorful wall hanging art piece made of vertical strands of yarn in orange, navy, white, gray, and turquoise, attached to a curved branch on a plain white wall, over a navy blue bed with two table lamps on side tables visible below.
Two acrylic paintings of Boxer dogs on pink blue backgrounds, placed on a wooden table.

In our second home, I had the opportunity to build the dining table of my dreams — a 14-footer!! — to hold my extended family all in one place.  Nothing makes my heart FULLER (is that a word??) than when my table is full!

I still very excitedly change up my decor to match the seasons — tabletop items, linens, pillow covers, and artwork.  It brings me such joy!  But, I sometimes struggle to find fabric and products that really feel like “me.”  I’m not too fancy.  I’m a little silly.  I just want my family and friends to feel comfortable in “my” home — not a showroom!

A long wooden dining table set for a meal with white plates, silverware, and candles in glass holders. The table has a yellow and white floral table runner, and white upholstered chairs with slipcovers surround it. In the background, a sideboard with decorative items and a mirror is visible, along with a staircase, a piano, and a window with natural light.
A decorated Christmas tree in a corner with red and gold ribbons, ornaments, and a gold star on top, near a window. A table with a red and black checkered table runner is set with holiday decorations, including a floral centerpiece, candles, and glass jars filled with berries and ornaments.
A collection of Easter-themed decorations and gifts displayed on a wooden table. The items include ceramic, wooden, and resin bunnies in white and gold, along with an original acrylic painting of a white bunny on a bright spring green background.

Now, I have the opportunity to share my designs with other folks who want to create a space full of personal touches.  I think, in a world where so much is curated for them, where influencers tell them what to like, and where AI artwork is fast and cheap, people are longing for a deeper connection and a way to remind themselves that they’re humans. 

My Method

Naturally, although my designs are digitized in their final form, everything starts as a tug in my heart.  Of course, I am often inspired when I am on a hike in the woods here in beautiful middle Tennessee.  This brings about designs that convey a sense of natural wonder, simplicity, and peace.  But, I am also inspired by the absurdity of this life!  Whether it’s a spark of an idea created in a crazy conversation with my daughter (we’re hysterical!) or some impossible what-ifs that my imagination concocts, I end up with designs that don’t take themselves too seriously.  I want folks to remember to find joy in the nooks and crannies of life.

A person with brown hair, wearing a ring on their finger, is drawing on a sketchbook with colored markers. The sketchbook has colorful floral drawings. There are numerous markers scattered on a dark wooden surface. The person's hand rests on their head, and they are wearing a white watch.

Once the idea for a new design starts rattling around in my brain, I can barely wait to start sketching it out!  I pop in my earbuds and listen to some lo-fi jams to keep me focused.  I primarily start with a sketch in Procreate, because it makes it so easy to re-work and refine.  I will generally do the “inking” stage in black and white so I can see all the elements in more contrast, with a different layer for each element that I anticipate being in a different color.  What happens next depends upon the end use of the design and the “feel” I want to convey. Sometimes, I just stick to Procreate for simple raster (pixel-based) designs that keep the oh-so-lovely textures and depth. Or, I vectorize my elements and bring them over to Affinity to finalize my pattern or design.  I find that working with vectors gives me more flexibility to refine my designs for use on many different types of products. 

Person sitting at a wooden table drawing a decorative gold and white pattern on a tablet with a stylus, wearing a colorful bangle bracelet.

I definitely think AI is a powerful tool for any creative entrepreneur, but I never use it for designing.  Everything I make is hand-drawn by me.

Stylized light blue signature with a small heart at the bottom right.