Layer by Layer

Issue #29

A weekly note from the studio

Oh hello!

Every week I share a little window into my studio. I talk about the projects I’m working on, the experiments happening on my desk, and the small, steady steps I’m taking to grow a sustainable creative business. There’s so much advice out there about how to make art and patterns, but very little about how to build a thriving, long-term creative practice. So I’m taking you on my journey and sharing it all as I go.

A new pattern called Gingko

This week I finally brought a long-held idea to life.

Two months ago, during an autumn walk, I gathered a handful of gingko leaves. Those beautiful fan-shaped treasures that turn into the most luminous gold colours. I pressed them in my diary and forgot about them… until a few slipped out onto my desk .

It felt like a sign.

I scanned the dried leaves, vectorized the black-and-white silhouettes in Adobe Illustrator, recoloured them, and built a half-drop diamond layout that feels both modern and gently nostalgic. The result is Gingko: a pattern rooted in memory, season, and quiet observation.

I’ve mocked it up as wallpaper. It's both fun and fresh and I am interested to hear what you think about it.

Painting a Giant Cherry

I also spent time with my Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolours, painting a giant cherry. It's glossy, dimensional, almost jewel-like. I get so excited when I get to experience this: transforming a flat, matte sheet of paper into a fruit that looks like you could pluck it right off the page.

I’m dreaming up pattern ideas for this cherry, and here are a few directions I’m exploring:

• Cherry orchard trailing pattern
• Pop-art cherry repeats
• Cherries paired with blue-and-white porcelain motifs

If any of these spark something for you, let me know. I’d love to develop one further.

Building Your Creative Business

Let’s make your work discoverable. One thing at a time, 10 minutes a day. Join me in working through this SEO workshop in September.

Growing a creative business often means juggling inspiration with practicality, and I know how important it is to keep expenses low while still moving forward. I love sharing free resources that genuinely help.

14-Day “Fall in Love with SEO” Challenge

A gentle, beginner-friendly way to understand SEO and start improving your visibility. One small step at a time.

On the Blog This Week:

What Are the 3 Main Types of Textile Design for the Interiors Market?

Textile design is one of the quiet forces behind every beautifully resolved interior. In luxury residential spaces especially, fabrics do far more than soften a room. They set the emotional tone, influence longevity, and determine how a space feels to live in day after day.

As both an interior designer and a surface pattern designer, I’ve worked extensively with all three major textile types used in interiors: printed, woven, and embellished fabrics. Each plays a distinct role, and understanding their strengths helps clients make confident, long‑lasting choices.

This post brings together my professional experience, technical knowledge, and the way I personally approach textile selection and design for luxury homes in New Zealand.

If you’re curious, you can read the full post here:

I’d Love to Hear From You

Is this newsletter helpful, inspiring, or interesting?

What would you like to see more of: studio process, pattern development, business-building insights, creative routines, or something else entirely?

Your feedback helps me shape this space into something meaningful for both of us.

In creativity and community,

Nelléne

See you next week!