Back to School // Backpacks for the new school year

We're ready for the new school year! This summer we've been working hard getting some new school items up in our Society6 shop. We added some of our newest surface designs on notebooks, coffee mugs and what do you think about these fun backpacks?

Making a stop at the office supply store was a tradition when I was going to high school. I always had a hard time finding fun accessories, back in the day there weren't many fun prints to choose from. We were stuck with whatever big brands like Nike or Adidas came up with. They made school planners back then. I usually stuck with an MTV planner. That would be drenched in ink by the end of the school year, with doodles and little notes from friends. Pages would stick together because of all the disgusting things that were put between the pages. Stickers, wrapping paper, admission tickets from the movies. I always got creative in upgrading my planner. Oooooh those were the days. Now I make back to school products. For years I've been making designs for some Dutch brands: Girlsscene, my personal fave! Hema, Kruidvat and for Albert Heijn I created paper goods and notebooks, binders and wrapping paper. All the things you'd need for the new school year. But backpacks were usually way to pricy to produce so I didn't get to make a lot of those often. Now I have my own Society6 shop where I can add any design I like to backpacks like these. Cool right!? Check our shop for all backpack designs! And if you'd like to get one of our prints on there that aren't available yet, just reach out, we're happy to add these on to our products too!

Sources of inspiration // Bouldering // New free climbing inspired art, home decor and fashion items

As some of you might know already I have been struggling with fibromyalgia for as long as I can remember. As a kids I was pretty competitive, I loved sports, and I loved pushing my body. Winning that medal! I used to do gymnastics but when I was a teen my knees and ankles, my wrists, all got in the way of performing on a high level. Eventually I stopped all together and for a few years I didn’t so anything.

8 years ago I met my friend Ashni who is also a singer, you might know her from her number 1 hit single Wanna be close. She’s pretty popular at the moment, anyway where was I? Oh yes, my friend Ashni also worked as a dance instructor and during her classes I got back to moving again, enjoying a workout, without struggling as much with my own limits. Dancing became my way to unload and relax. I still love to dance, but unfortunately when my friend decided to focus on her music career I never found anyone so full of life and other dance classes just weren’t as awesome as I was used to.

Finding a new passion
Because I really need to keep my muscles strong due to my fibromyalgia I joined the gym. Oh my lord how much I dreaded to go there. There is absolutely no part of my that get’s excited doing these kinds of work outs. Staying fit is a struggle when you’re doing something you don’t like to I quit and thankfully right after that, a met an awesome dude person who introduced me to climbing. I always thought climbing would be way to heavy for my joints, but after a few tries I noticed it was much more a full body work out that just killing my hands. So I decided to give climbing a go.

I live in a pretty flat country so outdoor rock climbing is not much of an option. And I have to admit the boulders in the climbing gym are way easier on my hands, so climbing indoors has it’s perks. I have been climbing for a few months now and every time I leave the climbing gym I am energized. And my god, it has been a while I found something new that get’s me excited. So as you can imagine there are quite some new bouldering inspired new designs coming up.



Bouldering accessories
I started with some geometric prints, patterns for fabric and wallpaper created in Illustrator. But I also love the abstract shapes and colorful boulders so I decided to create a new series of photographic designs that are available on wall art, home decor like pillows and blankets, tech items like laptop sleeves and iPhone cases like the ones featured. And some really cool fashion pieces and accessories. I love the Society6 leggings. They are comfy, perfect for lazy nights on the couch but the fabric is strong enough to use for bouldering too! Yesssss perfect for bouldering those bouldering leggings. How awesome is that!

Check all bouldering items in our Society6 shop and let me know which ones you like best so we can make even more cool bouldering products. We would love a collab with a climbing gear brand. So if you have any connection please reach out!

Made with Little Smilemakers Studio Fabric // September 2015

It is so exciting to see a finished project after working hard on a new collection or a series of illustrations and surface patterns for our clients. But with finished fabric designs it is even a bigger surprise to see what customers create. To see how final products evolve when people put their own creative energy in there is amazing.

Here is our monthly blog post featuring some creative results from Australia, Sweden, United States and Canada. This is our new September selection. We love how Little Smilemakers creations are the foundation for other creatives all around the world to work with. If you browse around on Etsy for some kids fashion you are very likely to stumble upon some Little Smilemakers. Most creatives with small home based businesses sell their finished fashion and home decor projects via Etsy. So take a look and see if there is something for your little one too and support these small business owners.

Geometric triangle storage bags - Oxzyde
Oxzyde is all about handmade, unique products and specialize in cushions, wall art & homewares. Based in Melbourne, Australia. Our very trendy Little Smilemakers Triangle fabric was used for their new range of fabric storage bags. Oxzyde fabric storage bags come in two sizes, and many colours. All bags feature a plastic lined base which protects against water damage, making them great for pot plants or for serving bread on the table. A fun eye catches for your Scandinavian style interior. The uses for these little bags is unlimited. So take a look at the website to get one of these trendy bags.

Pale pastel ice-cream fashion - Tiny Tiger
Tiny Tiger is a small business based in Sweden. Living in India Hannah searched for an opportunity to be able to work from anywhere, independent of location, and that's how the idea of Tiny Tiger was born. Her passion for comfortable, organic and pretty baby clothes started when she became a mother and is the fuel behind the company. Now she creates hand made baby and toddler fashion and home posters. Take a look, she offers world wide shipping too!



Dachshund Cosmetic Bag - Tiny Tiger
For the love of pattern is a design studio based in Savannah, Georgia with a focus on textile design and creating signature handmade fashion accessories as well as home goods. Abby creates her own original textile designs but also uses Spoonflower fabric for her beautiful creations. Visit her website if you are getting curious!

Quirky foxes, clouds and bohemian feathers nursery textiles - My Little Hands
My Little Hands is an online shop, a place to find all things beautiful for your little one’s including bedding for babies and children, clothing, floor rugs and room decor including wall art, garlands and wallpaper. The Australian company is run by the gorgeous Emma Colombera. She has a heart for true designs and asked Little Smilemakers Studio to create a range of products for her shop. Check the entire new collection now.

We have already seen a lot of awesome sewing projects made by Little Smilemakers fabric customers. We made a little selection out of the dozen photographs that were sent to us or that we were tagged in. Cute home decor items. Personalized bedding, scarfs, leggings and head bands. So much to choose from! If you'd like to be featured in on of our monthly "made with..." posts. Please send us your images. If you are looking for cool designs for your own projects take a look around in our Spoonflower fabric shop and start creating!