Layer by Layer

Issue #27

A weekly note from the studio

Oh hello!

School holidays always bring a different kind of rhythm, a little more juggling, a little more laughter, and a lot more improvisation. Between watercolour sessions, sketching new florals, and diving into training & challenges, the week already feels full in the best way.

We also took a family day to an Auckland theme park, and for the first time, my daughter was tall enough to go on all the rides with her older brother. Think roller coasters, water logs, mine shafts, go‑karts, bumper boats, and even an immersive 7‑dimensional laser‑blaster experience. She was in absolute heaven, and not scared at all.

The weather was cool but bright, the queues were short, and the kids had the time of their lives. I joined in on most of the rides (because how could I not?) and… let’s just say my body reminded me that I’m no longer 20. A little dizzy, a little wobbly, but worth every moment.

🎧 Natasha Gulliford - "Create Floral Patterns that sell – 5 Day Free Challenge"

Natasha Gulliford is hosting the "Create Floral Patterns that sell – 5 Day Free Challenge" in her facebook group. Follow the link if you want to jump right in on Day 1.

Creative Growth: What gets in the way?

As I started the new design challenge this week, one question keeps surfacing:

What truly stops us from creating and growing?

It’s rarely a lack of talent. It’s rarely a lack of ideas. More often, it’s the quiet, persistent beliefs that sit beneath the surface.

Here are three that show up again and again:

1. Focusing on the negatives Our brains are wired to spot danger, not possibility. It takes intention to notice what is working, what is blooming, and what is quietly improving with each brushstroke.
2. Comparison — the thief of joy Someone else’s chapter ten will always look more polished than our chapter three. But our work carries our stories, our hands, our lived experiences. No one else can make what we make.
3. Not making time for creativity Creativity doesn’t demand hours, it asks for presence. Ten minutes of play, one small sketch, a single colour study. Tiny steps compound into confidence, skill, and momentum.

On the Blog This Week: How Much Do Surface Pattern Designers Cost?

Hiring a surface pattern designer can feel like stepping into a foggy landscape. You know you need artwork (a repeat, a recolour, a custom fabric) but the pricing often feels mysterious, inconsistent, or hidden behind industry jargon. As both an interior designer and a surface pattern designer, I’ve sat on both sides of the table. I know what clients expect, what designers deliver, and why the cost of professional pattern design varies so widely.

This guide is here to clear the fog. Not with vague encouragement or “charge what you’re worth” clichés, but with real insight into how pricing works in the interiors world and what you’re actually paying for when you hire a designer.

Read the full blog post here:

Thank you for being here, for reading, for walking this creative path alongside me. May your week be filled with small joys and gentle courage.

In creativity and community,

Nelléne

See you next week!