Hello! Thank you for joining me in my first ever blog post!! I feel very much late to the blog party but never late than never right?
I wanted to share my story on how I took a small spark of a dream and feeling like a “hobby artist” to gaining courage (“one ounce of courage” as Bonnie Christine says) to starting up my own Part Rime business as A Surface Pattern designer
Before Surface Pattern design and currently, I work as a Production Artist. Which is fancy term for pre-press artist. I have an Associates Degree in Graphic Design and years of working experience in illustrator. Prior to the course, I had no idea where to go to do Textile design. A former coworker once asked what I’d be doing if I wasn’t m doing what I was doing now without hesitation I said “fabric design. Designs on shower curtains, bedding, clothes stuff like that”. Prior to that day I never acknowledged this dream. I never looked into it. I always looked at patterns on products and thought It would be fun to do but never connected that I could do it as a job and be paid for it. She asked “what can we do to make that happen” I put it in the back of my mind and wondered here and there what the answer would be. Years after that conversation, I had applied for a textile designer job and got the formal(yet encouraging) letter of “we are going with someone with more experience”. Something about the letter felt as if it were a push to keep going to get answers. I was left thinking “but how?” How do I pursue this, do I have to go to university and start another degree or is there courses in just this? That’s when I took to Pinterest and started searching. I hadn’t heard the term “surface pattern design”. I was searching textile design. Then one night the term popped in my head so I searched and VOLA…there was Bonnie. She had a course. This beautiful lady with great hair named Bonnie Christine has a course!! I asked the universe for this and here it is!! This is what I was looking for.
I worried about the cost and time. As a single mother of two, I didn’t want to take money or time from the family for a pursuit that I wasn’t sure would be worth the investment of time and money. I was nervous. What if I really didn’t want to be a surface designer? What if I learn nothing new from the course? I already had years of working experience in Illustrator, will I get something new? What WILL I get out of this? Can I run a business like I dream of doing? Self doubt even creeped in and asked if I was talented enough.
I took a leap. I knew the questions and doubt would stop me if I listened to them. I told my self I’d regret letting it slip by. Since I had the opportunity now, I knew I needed to take it.
After being humbled by the course, I learned there is a reason we should put aside ego and learn from others. I learned this path of Surface pattern design IS for me. Education is ALWAYS worth your time and money. I learned more tools that I wasn’t using in illustrator in my professional career. One thing I liked the most as we went week after week lesson after lesson, other students would post questions on the immersion course or on Facebook. I took the opportunity to read as many questions and answers I could because others asked questions I didn’t think of. I learned through Bonnie and from the community that was built because of the course. We really do thrive from being in a tribe.
In 2019, after taking the course, I changed my last name, going back to my maiden name(this was a big deal for me) AND I added a middle name. I was never legally given a middle name until 2019. This established my company name for surface pattern design under the moniker “Shanna Lynne” and bought my website domain for Shanna Mills. I’ve started outlining a plan for my surface pattern design and my fine art businesses (I may replan this in 2020 when my domain needs renewed) throughout 2019 I did something creative pretty much every day. If I wasn’t drawing in my tablet I was working on paintings and sketches, biting pattern ideas, doing research, taking courses on Skillshare, rewatching the Immersion lessons. Something every evening creative related. With the patterns I made in 2019, which were numerous, about 64! Some are variations of one motif or different color ways. Due to an iPad crash I lost some 😞 Real world lesson learned to back up files! I’ve created accounts in both Redbubble and Society6 from these designs. I have art ready to be sold to the public and bought a mug with my favorite pattern on it. Having that physical piece and holding it, seeing it produced, fills me with so much pride and hope for my business and future as a surface pattern designer!
For Christmas this year I designed a tea towel along with custom wrapping paper for my family. I wanted to thank them for their support in my venture and show them what I’ve been working on. They were a hit! They say they won’t use them because they are “too cute” haha, My family is so much fun!
My biggest accomplishment from the course had been gaining the self confidence that I CAN do this. I am talented enough, I am driven enough. I am part of a community of like minded individuals that are supportive and encouraging. I learned to go with the flow, it takes time and consistency to get to your goals, but it will happen.
If anyone is reluctant to take the course I want to encourage them to jump. The course gives much more than outlined by Bonnie. She’s created wonderful educational videos that are set at a great pace for novices and experts with illustrator. Even if by the end you realize maybe fabric design isn’t where your dreams are, you’ll be inspired to find where your dreams fit. She is available and willing to answer questions. As a bonus, course brings a community of like minded people together. It’s worth every minute. Every second. Every penny. Finding Bonnies course truly has changed my life. As cliche as that sounds, finding Bonnies course really was a life changing moment for me that I’ll always be grateful for. I cannot our into words clearly my gratitude to Bonnie and her course. I am truly honored to be partnre with her as an affliate and introduce this course to the universe.
Sign up now to join Bonnie Christine For a FREE master course that beg February 10th 202
Shanna Lynne Design 