Typographic Dog Quotes - New Graphic Designs for The Paws

We've been working with The Paws for a couple of years already, and we made tons of surface pattern designs for their dog accessory range. This week we worked on some typography designs for a new range of products. And we couldn't be more pleased with the result.

Typography & Graphic Design was my mayor in Art School. While making logos for clients I can use that love for typography very often but somehow we've not been creating many typograhy designs lately. So it was wonderful creating a series of new designs for one of our favorite customers. We loved playing with type, styles and color. And adding a small illustration here are there.


If you like what you see and need some artwork for your hoodies, shirts or paper goods. if you need any print designs or illustrations for your business you can find more info on our website and get in touch with us there.

Black and white and soft pale // Hot Selling fabric 2015

Little Smilemakers designs usually are colorful prints on a white surface. The past few weeks we have been redecorating the Little Smilemakers Studio office and put up some pale nude powder tone prints. Whites make colors pop and there is no other color that creates a more peaceful environment to work in. I was inspired by numerous visits to art galleries and museums that always present art on clean fresh white walls. But the winter also brings a clean crisp vibe into the office. The powder white snow, the softened sounds absorbed by the thick layer of snow. During the winter I always feel the need to make my surroundings more calm.

After redecoration the studio I felt like holding on to the new calm color scheme of the work place. I decided to make an entire series of designs that would be gender neutral. The prints and patterns that are being sold as gender neutrals are usually based on soft pastel tones of green and yellow. Since I am not a big fan of both colors I decided to make an entire series of with fresh whites contrasting blacks and shades of gray and beige. Little Smilemakers designs usually contain numerous bright colors. It has been a challenge but also very mindful to work with only white, black and shades of earthy tones. Imagine the number of colors that usually are used in the prints. I did not have to worry about a color scheme for a change. It was all reduced to the basics and focus was on the composition and detailing more that on working with a certain color scheme. A relief!

This month I was also arranging a baby shower for one of my best friends and it strikes me that gender neutral prints, wallpapers, home decor items and fabrics are so hard to find since there are enough creative artists working on the theme. I hope with this series of designs there is enough to choose from for decoration your soft neutral nursery.



Reducing colors might be useful in the gender neutral theme but I still love to work with bright strong colors. But if you are looking for more beige and gray tones, we have an entire collection ready to be produced on fabrics. Geometric abstracts, woodland animals, Indian summer themes and many more. So check out the shop. All designs will be added to our collection first week of March so stay tuned!

Little Smilemakers fabric // New Spoonflower fabric // Scandinavian style animals and gender neutral kids themes

We have some new awesome fabric in our Spoonflower shop. And we upload around 60 designs each month. We already have over a 1200 designs up in the shop. So many designs to choose from! So from now on we will have a new monthly feature here on the blog. We will feature new designs and trending themes so you have a better view about what's happening and what's new.

This month we would like to show you some new Scandinavian style themed designs in gender neutral colors. Black and whites, shades of gray and beige. We have worked on new grizzly bears. The one featured here is available in 4 different color schemes. Bright blue, pink, pastels and this gender neutral color version. From here we have created a matching arrows and crosses print in black and white.

Winter is coming closer and for the new colder season we have some new color versions of our geometric clouds fabric up in the shop and added new geometric mountain designs with little tiny snow flakes. When winter comes and visit us in europe, australia warms up again and prepares for summer. For all you Aussies we have some fun summer themes too. What about this fun gender neutral hippie bus? We are looking forward to seeing this print turned into fun kids clothes! But our very favorite new print must be the armadillo. Such a quirky animal! Which one of these new prints is your favorite?

If you are interested in purchasing one of these fabrics, here are the links to this month features fabric designs:
Grizzly bears design // Arrows and crosses design // Geometric clouds design // Armadillo country design // Fuji winter design // Hippie bus design

Happy Halloween // enjoy fright night

It's Halloween again! Are your ready for this year's fright night? Traditionally October 31 is the day to remember the dead. But nowadays it is a time to dress up and have fun. And we love to see what all our fabric customers are creating this year. Fun pumpkin leggings, black cat dresses. We have seen so many cute designs made with our Little Smilemakers Spoonflower fabric.

And even though this holiday has turned into this crazy dress up party world wide, it is also a day to remember those that passed. Enjoy this joyful holiday, celebrate and remember the life of those whom have passed and left a mark in your life or have influenced your being. Happy Halloween!

> Condoleance voor kinderen | condolance postcards for kids | Girls & Boys

Een vrolijk onderwerp is het niet maar al een aantal mensen hebben me gevraagd of ik ook condoleance kaarten in mijn collectie had. Niet een algemene kaart voor een oma of tante, maar bij overlijden van een baby of jonge kinderen. Toen ik pas geleden helaas zelf op zoek was naar een gepast kaartje bij overlijden van een kindje uit mijn eigen omgeving ontdekte ik dat er niet veel ontwerpen te vinden waren.

De bestaande designs waren ontzettend deprimerend en bij het bekijken van de kaart alleen barst je in snikken uit. De condoleance kaartjes zijn veelal niet gericht op kinderen maar oudere mensen. Daarom besloot ik dat het tijd was voor wat meer keuze. Ik heb een aantal kaartjes ontworpen voor mijn online Kaartje2Go portfolio. Deze worden deze week aan mijn kaartjes webshop toegevoegd. Nee, niet leuk om even door te struinen maar wel ontwerpen die passend zijn voor een hele trieste situatie als overlijden van een kind of baby. Mocht je op zoek zijn naar een vrolijker thema, die zijn er gelukkig volop.

> Happy christmas decoration | pimp your online cards for the holidays

by Maaike Boot

Christmas is the time of the year to dust of and use your good old mailbox! Send out some personalised christmas cards via Kaartje2Go and add some Little Smilemaker Studio xmas illustrations or holiday frames. Enjoy!

> I love the smell of fresh postcards! Lovely present, a Little Smilemakers Studio pack of postcards!

by Maaike Boot

After coming back from my trip to Amsterdam i found this package from Drukkerij Edauw + Johannissen waiting for me! A big pile of Little Smilemakers postcards. With the 'Enjoy the little things in life' text.

> BZK - Brochures en Folders

by Maaike Boot

> Miriam Zink, Hang on Mi design

Logo design, flyer and poster design for Miriam Zink Design. Hang on Mi skyline for herbs and spices. Working together with product designer Miriam Zink is always a blast. In my seach for a good hanging system for my winter coats we came up with this cute little skyline for your kitchen or incoming mail. You can hang things, like towels, on the small metal buildings and also stash it with postcards, notes, recipes or place little cans for herbs and spices. My coats still need a cool thing to hang on but my herbs are very fashionably urban now!
by Maaike Boot

> New online Zazzle and Kaartje2Go cards!

All new Condolance, Birthday, Wedding and Invitation cards online. With owl pattern, crazy kids farm pattern or take a look at the quote cards section with cute little sayings and wishes for friends or family members. I also added a small lomography portfolio. Take a look and enjoy!

by Maaike Boot

> New condolence card design for Kaartje2Go

by Maaike Boot

> ECP-EPN invitation

by Maaike Boot

> A year of stationary sketches

by Maaike Boot

I have worked for a company that made lot's of back to school items and stationary. This image is an overview of a year worth of work. A huge collection, not every design made the final cut though.

> Website design Global IMF

by Maaike Boot

> Cute pink flower pattern for textile

New patterns are coming! New season designs are in progress. So keep checking my portfolio on shutterstock for a new summer breeze! by Maaike Boot

> Rode Kruis EHBO pictogrammen

We werken alweer een tijdje aan de nieuwe EHBO items voor het Rode Kruis. Voor een nieuwe folder en flyerlijn worden momenteel pictogrammen gemaakt per onderwerp. Super leuke klus natuurlijk. Bij deze alvast een voorproefje!

by Maaike Boot

> Hondenblues honden portretten van een fotograaf in de volgende Hondenleven

> Hondenleven zoekt jouw oude jeugdfoto's!

De nieuwe editie is alweer richting de drukker maar hondenleven is voor een nieuwe rubriek nog steeds op zoek naar foto's waar jij en de hond van je jeugd op staan. Heb jij een leuke retro foto van jezelf met je oude viervoeter stuur deze dan op naar het blad! Foto's vanaf 1mb zijn bruikbaar en vergeet er niet een leuke anekdote van je jeugdhond bij in te zenden. Opsturen kan naar: Hondenleven@gmail.com

by Maaike Boot

> Nieuwe Hondenleven ligt nu in de winkel!

by Maaike Boot

Hondenleven nummer 8 ligt nu in de winkel! Bomvol fijne verhalen en tips voor en over jouw viervoeter. In dit nummer staat ook een artikel over Martin Gaus en zijn hondenleven. Het is weer een mooi nummer geworden.

> Lisus Identity

image by Maaike Boot