Come join us for another creative new year // Happy 2024!

Welcome to 2024! The 13th year of our studio. How time flies, it’s a little mad thinking back. All the projects we worked on, the vast amount of pattern designs we created for so many people all over the globe. Branding projects, logo designs and so much more. 

Our very first gig was one for a Dutch brand: Kruidvat. We designed prints for bags and notebooks. We soon started working for some German fabric suppliers. Attended trade shows in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich and Paris. We also found out why contracts are important and not all clients are honest people. We were trailblazers back then. Print designs were fairly new. Most artwork was still bought during trade shows and everything we did was a first. We didn’t have any peers to follow or look up to. A brand-new branch of business: surface pattern designing. I only learnt it was called surface pattern designer years in, can you believe?

We started building a proper foundation, some ground rules for our business, hired legal peeps helping with contracts. We soon learnt: stay away from big fish after figuring out; when your heart’s in it, you better make sure the people you work with have the same ethical values. So we turned away from energy draining businesses and money sharks and started focusing on smaller start up collabs, and we still Louise the process of seeing those new businesses grow and develop.

13 Years later...
Now 13 year later we have come at a point where the prints are easy to purchase, copy cats are everywhere and social media makes it impossible to protect created artwork. Those trailblazing days are long gone! After years of working our socials, this year we are opting for a less active social media approach, and we’ll be focusing more on the relationships we have. Hopefully that will give us some more energy to move inward (artists rule #1) create instead of trying to keep up with the rat race that once was a great (energizing) marketing tool but now turned into a toxic relationship. Time to get some more distance. We’ll be directing more people to our newsletter, use our website for updates & new work, post artist diaries here on the blog now and then, and of course we’ll still be posting on Insta, we love sharing finished results and love watching client posts. But it’ll be less of a chunk of our time & money spend on there. And that feels amazing already. Let’s get this 2024 party started!


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Made with Little Smilemakers Studio Fabric // Top 5 December 2018

It is so exciting to see a finished project after working hard on a new collection of design or a series of illustrations 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.

If you browse around on Etsy or Instagram for some kids fashion or home decoration you are very likely to stumble upon some Little Smilemakers prints. Most creatives with small home based businesses sell their projects via internet and tag us via Instagram. So we see some amazing things pop up in our feed every month. We love how Little Smilemakers creations are the foundation for other creatives all around the world to work with. So here is our monthly blog post that features some creative results from the US, Australia and India. This month we selected a whole bunch of winter and seasonal inspired fabrics, turned into the most gorgeous items. Kids fashion, nursery accessories and home and interior decoration, so much to choose from! We have selected some cute tote bags, leggings and soft sole shoes. Take a look and see if there is something for your little one too. This is our December top 5 selection.

1 // Daily Objects
Next to phone accessories, laptop cases and notebooks, Daily Objects now also launched a new collection of tote bags and pouches in different sizes with beautiful high quality leather detailing. We love those new totes! They make a perfect gift for Christmas. In Holland they have banned plastic bags, a cool shopper is a must. They also added some cool home decor to their range of products. Our prints are now also available on pillows. Oh yes and of course Daily Objects offers world wide shipping on their products too. Click here for their collection.

2 // Le Petit Bouton
Lisa Gillies a young mum and the owner of Le Petit Bouton. Like many new mums, she was madly searching for items for her little girl that were unique, on trend, and made with beautiful fabric and she was getting frustrated at not being able to find exactly what she wanted. That is why she decided to start her fun shop, stocking gorgeous little girls hair clips, hair ties and headbands using beautiful designer fabrics and organic knits. Our little reindeer girls have also been added to her webshop for this holiday season. Her products are perfect for special occasions, party favors, birthdays, baby showers, new arrivals, school, stocking fillers...the list goes on! Baby skyler is modeling her fun products. Such a cute little girl! Take a look at her shop if you want to get your hands on one.

3 // Olive the Things
For our seasonal ‘Made with’ post we selected a cute reindeer sweater. One our our personal favorites for this jolly season. This Utah based shop offers a great selection of soft sweaters, hoodies, shorts and other cool kids items. of you are looking for some cozy pieces for your little one, this is the place. take a look at their Etsy shop and check all fun mix & match pieces.



4 // Hazel & Holly
We love these cute Origami Santa leggings. Perfect leggings for the holiday season right? And suitable for both boys and girls. This Washington based shop offers handmade kids clothes has a wonderful collection of seasonal fashion for kids. We have created some new Christmas themes that were selected for her new range. Leggings, skirts, beanies. Check them all in her Etsy shop.

5 // Little Pitterpat
Every month a new set of soft soles pops up in our feed. Little Pitterpat has been using our designs for over two years now and we keep loving the way our fabrics are turned into the most adorable baby and toddler shoes. These soft soles baby shoes are made by hand in Sharies studio in Montana. For this months 'Made with' post we selected their Grizzly Bear Ski Slope print. One of our fave designs suitable for both boys and girls and we know how handy those gender neutral items can be. Looking for a baby shower gift? These cute shoes make a great present. So take a look into her shop if you want to have a pair of these. She has over 500 different items, yes lot's of different prints as well, to choose from.