A designing process // A brief step by step // From a cold crystal winter hike to a collection of woman's accessories

Since the cold weather is kicking in this week I thought it would be a good idea to talk a bit about my winter inspired collection, a series of designs I have worked on during the winter, and talk about the process of creation. From a walk through a cold winter forest to a collection of woman's accessories. From start to finish.

Last year I was asked to make another collection for Veritas Belgium. I just came back from my trip through the backwaters of India when I started the process of designing a new series of surface pattern designs during the freezing cold winter days of 2014.

With the raw images of India still in my head and after some winter hikes throughout the cold Dutch nature I started my research for this new series of prints. The first step is choosing a material. Usually I start drawing with a pen or pencil, but for this I felt like using a more raw material to make my drawings. Ink and dry brushes to represent the sharp edges of a winter day. The raw outline as an intense reflection of my present being.

White paper & black ink
I always start my drawing process on white paper with black ink. Color is something that will be added in a later stage. First I try to find a shape to represent what I want to create and what I feel. A combination of those two. The new collection should have a little look and feel of the collection I created a year before. This collection should be a logic follow up on what was already made. But a year later there is a different perspective to translate into the new design series. What I know already is that I want to use the raw intense emotion of the cold weather: create a translation of this raw winter woodland. The harsh shapes, clean crooked branches and cold winter weather vegetation.

100 pieces of paper
Finding the right shape for the foundations of the design takes up most time in the designing process. Searching for a base shape can take up to weeks. This collection was made with Indian Ink so that means I will have to be patient until the wet ink is dry too. This process of painting still is a pure translation of how I feel. Thoughts only get in the way of creating a pure output at this stage. How I look and feel can be brought back into simple shapes and if that shape is found I try to improve it and start repeating it until I feel it is just right. That means ending up with piles of paper with similar repetitive shapes. Painting is like a meditation. No thoughts only conversions of emotions translate to paper.



In search of composition
After finding the basic shapes the process begins of making the analog drawings into one colored vector shapes. My scanner is my best friend in the studio and is making a lot of working hours. Luckily for this process I have an assisted digitalizing the work. For this particular series of designs I have created almost a hundred pieces of paper filled with ink drawings. All these shaped will be imported into one vector document. From there the search to a strong basic repeat starts. Making combination of shapes, create layers add little textures and detailing. Another shape will evolve from here. The final prints should be related to one another but also need to have a design that is strong enough on itself. Should the shape be smaller of larger. Should a basic repeat be companied with a more tossed and contrasting composition?

Balancing colors & new compositions
Adding colors is the next step. Shapes can have a very different feel if you combine colors. Will the shape be strong enough? Will details fade or will they be too aggressive? Usually I start out with a few color schemes. Swatches I put together out of a pack of Pantone cards. For this series of designs I also had some color input from my client to work with and I will have to be looking for the right balance of working on a trend and creative a Little Smilemakers design without losing the authenticity. With a selected color scheme I will add the digital color.

When the colors are integrated into the repeat the files will be prepared for the sample printing process. That means the designs will be send to the client who will produce the final product with the print. At this stage the samples will result in small color tweaks. And then it can take up to a year to finally see the entire collection as a whole. But when it is finally there it is time to celebrate!

November news // Veritas new wonderful winter collection

For Veritas I have been working on a new series of print designs for this years winter collection. The developing process from design to product can take a while and after months of patiently waiting I saw a sneak peek of the collection in September during Veritas Blogger event. Now has November has come and the entire collection is now available in all Veritas stores and in their online webshop.

From ink drawing to surface pattern
For this new winter collection home wear and accessories I wanted to create something which was in line with designs I made last year. A clear follow up. I wanted to create a series of prints with the same look and feel. When I started the designing process for this collection I just came back from India. The little illustrations and repetitive prints have a raw edge to them. I decided to use raw brushes and Indian ink to shape my whimsical illustrations, the first step to a surface pattern. The imperfect shapes of raw nature reflect the emotions with the change of the seasons. During this time of year nature transforms from soft and colorful into clear and raw. The new shapes were a direct conversion to this raw emotion. If you look closely to the little shapes that built the pattern you can see these spontaneous curves.




After this first drawing phase I will sit down and convert my drawings into vector files. When I have them on my computer I first start with a composition. It can be a simple repeat or a combination of shapes together. I will move the illustrations around until they find the right balance and then add color. For this collection I wanted to use cold winter season colors in soft tones and combine those with a warmer orange. Just using the second color as a little pop. The small scaled illustrations give the pattern a romantic touch. The entire home wear series is made from soft pastel repeats and the pyjama's have a contrasting t-shirt with a enlarged details and patchwork on the front and little detailing.

Cuddle up in cosy homewear
For the accessories, the bags and scarfs, I wanted to make a stronger series in color. They are a bit more winterly and darker than the series of prints I made for home wear. All designs are also available as fabric. And there is an entire series of sewing supplies that are very handy in your DIY home. The home wear series also includes undies, warm winter socks and matching negliges to go with the feather, flowers and apple prints. Take a look at the entire Maaike Boot collection online and mix and match! Don't be shy and tag your items in your Instagram feed of post your selfie wearing one of the items on the Little Smilemakers Facebook page. Looking forward to see how you mix and match this winter.

Hello October // Colorful transition time

Hello October! My favorite time of the year. When leaves change color and a renewed buzzing energy fills up the working days. When temperature drops but we still pretend there is nothing wrong with getting a drink on a terrace, just stretching summer and enjoy every second of what's left of the warmth. October is a month of transitioning. Letting go & preparing for what is to come and don't forget: make room for new things.

Many things are happening! This fall the new Veritas collection will be launched. The fall winter collection contains new bags, scarfs, cosy home wear and lot's of new fun accessories. After the very successful collection last year I was asked to make an entire collection of prints. Can not wait to see it in the shops.

This past summer has been a crazy hectic one where we welcomed a few new customers from the UK, Poland, South Africa and Australia. Now we are approaching winter most projects get finalized. Hopefully the new finished products will be launched shortly. We have been working on some nursery collections, a new fabric range and cute little shoes for toddlers. It always takes a while before the prints are finished and the finished products are ready. Can not wait to see it all! Of course it will be up here too.

And of course. With every new season there are new designs in the Spoonflower fabric shop. New winter 14/15 prints are up. Make sure to order in time for christmas and skip the holiday rush!

Veritas press event // the amazing new office // presenting their new end-of-year collection

This past tuesday Veritas had organized a press event in their new office to show their festive end-of-year collections of accessories and new fabric. I was invited to make a little presentation about the designing process of the new fall collection I created and show attendees the final result of the entire collection that will be in shops by the end of this year.

The day started with a little tour around the amazing new office. Vanessa Boel, head of styling and visual branding manager at Veritas, had the opportunity to shape her own office environment and took on the job as decorator. With little spontaneous threats of typography and inspiring quotes. Room for creative projects and workshops. Little nooks to hang out and create your own cozy bubble, the building now reflects what Veritas has stand for, for over more that 100 years. A company that stimulates individual creativity.

After a delightful Christmas themed lunch it was time to get something done. Press and bloggers were invited to join several workshops, get a little make over and also listen to my story about the new collection that will be in shops this November.

New woman's accessories, sewing supplies, cozy home wear and fabric. It will be all available very soon. I will keep you posted!

Although talking about my process and design workflow is not really my thing I have enjoyed every minute of it. It was so much fun to feel this great energy going around the building, talk to so many inspirational people. Thank you Veritas for an incredible day! And of course a big thanks to all peeps that came over to check out the fall collection.

> New Fabric - Mint & Coral | New fabric trends for the new season

Have you seen the new fabric already? Little Smilemakers Studio has worked together with Robert Kaufman this winter on some very cool new textile designs. But we have also worked on the new trends for this summer. Check out all new fabrics in the Spoonflower shop. We are excited to let you know we have added over 60 designs these past two months. Check them here: http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/littlesmilemakers

Pastels will make a come back during the warmer season, they never really have been away. But the new soft colors will be coming back to stay. Some coral and mint designs are a must this summer. Also the new raw nature trend has set in. You have seen the large leafs and brazil influences in home decor textiles? They will be in your 2014 wardrobe I am sure. Fall will be a green jungle festival.

Little Smilemakers Studio has also made an entire new Veritas collection for fall. This fashionable collection will be in Veritas shops from November. Raw shapes and retro influences will be the key inspiration for this new scandinavian chic boho look. Have fun!

> Veritas winter sale | Comfy Little Smilemakers undies & hipsters

This year I have been working for Veritas fall collection. Now Veritas has started their winter sale. Some of the items are reduced in price. I did not show the collection of comfy underwear before. They looked kinda not-very-winter-like. If this image looks a bit chilly, no worries. There is also a lounge wear collection up for sale! Enjoy - Link to Veritas Webshop.

> Little Smilemakers Studio fabric | Project DIY Pillow Case

It's lovely to see what people create from my designs. Lately I have been receiving lot's of projects made with my Veritas collection of Sew-be-do fabric. Skirts, dresses, little girls onsies and pillow cases. So much fun to see all these creative peoples finished projects.

If you are looking for some inspiration. This is one of my favorite projects. Made by a Belgian blogger Eline: Pluto Meisje. Look at that cute little illustration! If you want some more of where this came from, visit her blog and enjoy!

> New Veritas fall collection | available in all stores & in the webshop

Designing an entire collection always takes some time from start to production and to finish. But after months of eagerly waiting on the result, the collection will be available in the Veritas shops from tomorrow on. Fashion accessories, bags, scarfs and en entire Veritas Sewbedo collection, it's all there. If you haven't got time to visit a store location, check their online shop and let them deliver your favorite items on your doorstep.

This project for me has been very fun to work at. My 'creative career' started with a brief study in Belgium. Wen I was fifteen I started my Visual Design studies in Antwerp and there i discovered the Veritas shop. I fell in love with there very 'different from Dutch market' collection. Now almost 15 years later I hope someone will feel the same way looking at my collection. I still visit the shop every fall for new warm winter items.

The Veritas collection contains very wearable cozy fall items. But also some more crafty items like fabric by the yard and stitched patches and sewing boxes. So hopefully you can find something suitable for yourself.



Fan of the Little Smilemakers prints? Check our facebook page about upcoming projects, new fabric and paper goods.