The holidays have arrived

 

The holiday season is upon us—a time of joy, connection, and finding just the right gift to bring a smile to someone’s face. While the hustle and bustle of the season can feel overwhelming, there’s something truly magical about giving thoughtful, handmade gifts. This year, I invite you to slow down and consider shopping from small businesses and artists who pour their heart and creativity into everything they make. This year Sarah Bourne Rafferty has created a gift guide including the works of 18 artists. Check it out here: https://atwaterdesigns.myflodesk.com/holiday-gift-guide There just may be that perfect artist-created item within.

 

I’ve been busy creating something extra special for the holidays. My handmade ornaments combine watercolor art with wood ornaments that I have painted in traditional Christmas colors. There are 6 designs to choose from, each with a little bit of “perfectly imperfect” charm that comes from being lovingly handcrafted.

These ornaments will debut at a local in-person show on Saturday, November 23rd, and then make their way to my Etsy shop for those who prefer to shop from the comfort of home. If you are in Eastern PA, join me at Haycock Township Community Center, 1014 Old Bethlehem Rd, Quakertown.

Keep an eye on my Etsy shop if you’d like to add one of these to your holiday collection!

"Christmas is not as much about opening presents as it is about opening our hearts." – Janice Maeditere

Thank you for supporting artists and makers this holiday season—it means the world to us. Wishing you a joyful and heart-filled holiday season!

https://janethilddesign.etsy.com

 
 

Color Palette - Seasonal Dream

Embracing Fall: A Celebration of Color and Reflection

As the luscious greens of summer fade into the cozy warm hues of autumn, there's a sense of reflection in the air. The deep oranges, golden yellows, and earthy browns of fall evoke feelings of grounding and transformation. These colors remind us of the cyclical nature of life—letting go, embracing change, and finding beauty in transition.
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." – Albert Camus

To honor autumn, I’ve created a color palette from this photo I took of our pond. The blending of colors from the depth of the leaf laden water, to the rich fall leaves, and the spark of green duckweed, create a vibrant mix filled with life.

Below, you’ll find the photo that inspired this palette, the color swatches drawn from it, and six patterns reimagined with the hues of fall. These tones are not just about beauty—they symbolize warmth, renewal, and connection to the earth.

 
photo and matching palette with recolors of designwork

Patterns from top left: Poppies, Bird Wreath, Morning Birds, Poppy Rows, Dot Tile, Sour Cherries

Get the palette here with a few extra tints and shades to round out the colors: Fall Pond Palette.ASE

Let me know how the palette works for your designs. And if you share them on Instagram tag me @janethilddesign. Enjoy!

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Pattern Development - Canna Indica Leaf

 

I’ve always been inspired by nature, and the bold, tropical beauty of Canna Indica leaves provided the perfect muse for my latest design project. Just look at these incredible variegated leaves!

I started by painting a single Canna Indica leaf in watercolor, capturing its vibrant greens and rich textures.

I don’t recommend creating a pattern from one single leaf painting. Ideally, I will paint 3-5 good versions of a motif so I can be sure my pattern has some variety. The leaf texture was tricky for me to capture. I decided to see what I could do with this single leaf before I go back to attempt more and work it into my collection.

This plant doesn’t grow individual leaves but creates a bundle together. To capture that idea, I wanted a pattern that filled the frame with layered leaves. I used some tricks for layering motifs to arrive at the balance you see in the repeat below.

Canna Leaf Layered - available for licensing

I’m including a video of the 13 different iterations I worked through in Photoshop as I refined the repeat to achieve balance and flow.

Whether you’re a fellow artist or simply love botanical motifs, I hope this inspires you to explore new ways to bring nature into your creative work.

Tell me in the comments: What other product mockups should I try this pattern on?

Are you struggling to develop repeat patterns or create mockups to use in social media and your shop?

Are you behind in getting your holiday shop up and running? Let’s talk about it. I offer freelance design help to artists who are struggling to get it ALL done. Fill out the form below to start the conversation.