Last month I shared the story of how my illustrated mystery novel for children led me to name my creative business, SassiNiemand. You can read my first blog about naming my business here. But knowing where the name came from was only the beginning. I still had to figure out how to actually design repeat patterns, set up a creative business, and find the confidence to share my work. (Read it here if you haven’t already)
This blog is about that next step in my journey: how I learned surface pattern design, the courses that launched me, the challenges I entered, and the design that gave me both my logo and my mantra – The Sky is the Limit.
Taking My First Steps into Surface Pattern Design
Like many new artists, I started with doodles and curiosity. I knew I loved sketching and painting, but I didn’t know how to turn drawings into repeating designs that could work on fabric, wallpaper, or home décor.
My first taste of surface pattern design came through a free online class called From Doodles to Dollars with Anne LaFollette. That short course opened my eyes to the possibilities of Adobe Illustrator and gave me the courage to take her full program, The Pattern Design Academy.
It was in that community that I learned how to build seamless repeats, refine my motifs, and understand the fundamentals of surface design for products. Anne’s teaching was patient and practical, and it gave me a foundation I still rely on today.
Learning the Business Side of Creativity
Once I’d found my feet with Illustrator and repeats, I realised there was another gap in my journey: the business side. How do you take art and actually build a career from it?
That’s when I discovered Stacie Bloomfield. I joined her course Leverage Your Art, which focuses on the practical, business side of being a creative. I also became a member of her Creative Powerhouse Society, which offers ongoing lessons and community support.
As a grandfathered-in member, I also receive all new course updates at no extra cost — and honestly, it’s one of the best investments I’ve made in myself to date.
Between Anne’s teaching on design and Stacie’s guidance on business, I finally felt like I had both halves of the puzzle: the creativity and the strategy.
My Very First Spoonflower Design
Of course, nothing replaces putting your work out there. My very first surface design that I was not scared to share was uploaded to Spoonflower, several months after doing the courses. The design featured flamingoes in various posses. At the time, I was proud of it, and honestly, for a beginner, it wasn’t bad. I even entered it for a Spoonflower challenge. Needless to say it did not fair well.
Looking back, I’m glad I entered that flamingo design even though it didn’t fare well. If I’d waited until I was “ready,” I might never have started. Entering early gave me the push to keep learning. Now, with more experience under my belt, I look at that flamingo design and see a hundred ways I could rework it. That’s part of the journey: every design becomes a snapshot of where you were at the time, and each step makes you better.
Entering the Spoonflower Break Room Wallpaper Challenge
One of my first big leaps was entering the Spoonflower Break Room Wallpaper Challenge. The brief was to create a wallpaper design for Spoonflower’s own workplace — a space where staff could relax and be inspired.
I created a design featuring swallows flying across a cloudy backdrop in layered shades of blue and white. I called it The Sky’s the Limit.
To my surprise, it placed 65th in the top 100. For a newcomer, that felt like a huge win. Even more importantly, the design started selling — and it continues to be one of my bestsellers on Spoonflower today.
This design also inspired other patterns in the same collection, including the swirl motif I now use as part of my website background and many of my Pinterest pins. It’s a reminder of how a single idea can ripple out into a whole creative identity.
Why the Swallow Became My Logo
The Sky is the Limit didn’t just become a bestseller — it became the heart of my brand. I realised the swallow symbolised everything I wanted my creative business to stand for: freedom, creativity, movement, and possibility.
When it came time to create my logo, I didn’t have to look far. The swallow became my icon — a reminder that I started with a single design, entered with hope, and found both recognition and momentum.
Even as my logo has evolved, the swallow has always remained. It’s my mantra: The sky’s the limit.
What I Learned from Those Early Days
Looking back, those first steps taught me lessons I still carry:
- Courses can give you a foundation, but it’s practice that builds confidence.
- Competitions aren’t only about winning — they’re about learning, visibility, and growth.
- Sometimes one design can anchor your whole journey. For me, it was the swallows.
I didn’t know at the time that entering one challenge would give me both my first bestseller and my lifelong brand symbol. But that’s the beauty of creative work: you never know which sketch will take flight.
Looking Ahead
In my next blog, I’ll share more about my other early design competitions — the wins, the flops, and the lessons I learned from putting my work into the world.
In the meantime, you can still find The Sky is the Limit available as wallpaper and fabric on Spoonflower, and you’ll see echoes of that design philosophy in many of my current collections.
Because for me, and for SassiNiemand, the sky really is the limit.