You might think that designing patterns starts with studying trends or following a creative plan. And sometimes, it can. But for me, developing a new pattern often begins with a single persistent idea or a theme that won’t stop circling in my head until I finally give it form. My thoughts are mostly visual, sometimes with words attached. This is the story behind my newest pattern.
Since completing my Farmiliar Places collection last year, I’ve focused on producing products that feature some of those designs, including tea towels, pillow covers and stickers. But in the back of my mind, new pattern ideas have been quietly bubbling away. One day last summer, I was driving along a dirt road and passed a small goat farm. In the yard beside the barn, a few of the goats stood proudly atop old wooden picnic tables like mountain climbers surveying their domain. Something about their confidence caught my imagination immediately. Goats have a magnetic quality with a blend of athletic energy, eccentric behaviour, rough coats, insistent bleats, and, of course, those unforgettable rectangular irises in their golden eyes. When they returned to my thoughts this year, I knew it was time to pay attention.
At the end of September, I set out to find some goats to photograph. I’d spotted a few south of St. Marys, but not in a setting where I felt comfortable approaching them. Eventually after some research, I located a farm in northern Perth County that welcomed visitors and where I could easily spend time getting closer to them through my camera lens. I shot a series of images to use as reference material for my drawings and began developing a series of motifs in the same engraving-inspired style as my earlier work.
One of my subjects on my field trip.
One of the motifs I developed for the pattern.
Once I had all the individual motifs created, I moved on to the most intricate part — composing the pattern structure. My goal was to build a narrative that captures the daily life of this spirited herd (can you spot the interloper?). It’s always a challenge to weave all the elements together into a composition that feels balanced and lively, but with each new design, this process becomes more instinctive. After several days of wrestling with these elements, this is where I landed, showcasing the animals in their environment including their cozy shelter and two storey playhouse.
My finished pattern.
I’d love to hear what you think of Going to the Goats, the latest addition to my growing menagerie of pattern stories.
On With The Show!
As my garden winds down for the season, I’m turning my attention to the holidays! I’ll be at the 7th Annual Holiday Market at Four Winds Barn in Brussels, Ontario on Sunday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
I'll have all of these designs on hand plus a few new ones!
This beautiful venue will be filled with talented makers and handmade treasures. I’ll be bringing along a selection of my patterned tea towels and new brushed cotton pillow covers, perfect for holiday gifting or a little home refresh.
✨Entry is by donation, and I’d love to see some familiar faces there! Can’t make it in person? Keep an eye out! I’ll be adding some of these items to my online shop in November.
Retail Partners
If you're in this beautiful area, here's a list of retailers who are stocking my products.
As a reward for finishing my goat pattern, I took a doodling break. I quickly composed an underlying structure by tracing and overlapping the outlines of everyday objects, and then filled it up with textures, lines and simple drawings. Once the original piece was completed, I easily created a whole group of patterns using slices of the drawing.
In this creative mindset, I don’t think too hard, and just kind of let go. It’s relaxing way to intuitively use my favourite media of markers and fineliners. Attached, you'll find one of these fun patterns swatches from this exercise that you can print, use as a digital background or for whatever purpose you'd like!
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