A Finished Collection & Immersion Graduation
Studio Notes Issue 7 | May 14, 2026
I just finished watching my Immersion Graduation replay after a very long day at work. 🥹🥹 Before I started watching, I wrote down three questions on a sticky not that I thought I would answer here when all the feelings are still really raw.
How do I feel?
Pouring champagne to watch my Immersion graduation.
Super proud. Taking Immersion is not a small feat. For almost three months, I spent 15+ hours a week working through all of the course content, making artwork, developing patterns, and refining my collection. It was a lot of work, and I had to put a lot of other things on hold to accomplish my goal of creating a cohesive fabric collection by the end of the course. But I did it. I stuck with it, even when I was tired and feeling discouraged. I have a collection that I am really proud of and I cannot wait to make the final refinements and order my very own fabric.
Was taking the course a second time worth it?
110%, even if you don't factor in that the course was completely reimagined for this year. I think there is something to be said for paying money for a high quality experience. I got to take the course as an alumni, which means I only paid 25% of the course's cost, but the course was still $500+. For me that was still an investment. Does the course teach a lot of things that you could, theoretically, learn on your own? Of course, but this is accelerated learning. You get to learn with a very clear direction, goals and lots of support. There is also something about being with a group of like minded people, who not only encourage you, but also show you what is possible. I felt that way the first time I took Immersion, and this time I felt that way again, but at a newer level. I also loved the way the course was reimagined, especially because I already had the basics down. I love that it really emphasized creating your artwork and working in an analog way. I may work in Illustrator, but my artwork always starts in pen or watercolor and I think this version of the course really helped me see how to translate my style into patterns in an entirely more sophisticated way.
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What's next?
This is a hard one. I feel similarly to how I did in 2024, when I was very excited about my accomplishment, but I was also feeling a bit overwhelmed about what to do next. Summer is always a challenging time for me. I work full time, and summer is always my most intense time of the year with all of my summer programs. Last year, I got really burned out, so I am trying to figure out a sustainable way to keep working on my patterns and design portfolio. I'm also eager to return to my regular painting and drawing practice, outside of patterns. I want to take a bit of a break, get my summer programs off the ground, and ease into a consistent but more relaxed daily practice.
Creating color charts help me ease back into a more regular watercolor practice.
I finally pulled out my watercolor paints for the first time in months. Starting back painting after a break is always so incredibly awkward. I know this, so I'm beginning in my sketchbooks. Two things I am focused on for the summer are improving my sketching skills and my use of color. I'm completing exercises such as sketching the same photo multiple times, each with a different composition style, and I'm creating color charts and re-familiarizing myself with my different color palettes. I want to be excited the first time I pulled out my paper to start a new landscape so I'm seeing where these exercises take me.
I have plenty ideas:
New mini paintings
Seeing if I can turn my mini paintings into earrings (because I am obsessed with earrings if you didn't know)
Painting large
Plein air painting or painting outside (which I have never been good at)
More abstract landscapes
More fantastical paintings - perhaps my pika with flowers in her hair like my pattern collection
Large-scale paintings of wildflowers
Believe me the list goes on.
Patterns are definitely still on the agenda, but they are taking on a secondary focus. I'm not sure I'll work on another new collection this summer, but my primary focus is to refine some of my older collections and build out my portfolio on my website.
New on the Blog
The final Immersion posts have dropped. It was a heavy lift to document my experience of Immersion in real time, but I'm really happy with the results. It was fun to reflect on each of the modules and how my work was evolving over time. It also allowed for a bit more accountability as I worked through designing my patterns and compiling my final collection. In Making Patterns: Immersion Module 4, I do a deep dive into how I refined my motifs and worked through the pattern making process. It was a lot of trial and error and I created 200+ patterns trying to create 10 that I was really proud of. The Final(ish) Fabric Collection - Immersion Module 5 was all about refinement and deciding which patterns got to stay and which had to go to create a solid fabric collection. Good news: we got it done. Here is just a peek at my two colorways. You'll have to check out the blog to see the full collection. I'd love to know what you think.
Colorway 1 feels earthy.
Colorway 2 feels a bit more whimsical.
I call this my final(ish) collection because I want to take a step back and give myself and the collection a little breathing room before making my final revisions. I have found that this can really improve my artwork. So stay tuned for when that collection eventually makes it to my portfolio and onto Spoonflower.
Bonus: Mockup Inspiration
Mockups are such a fun way to imagine a collection out in the world. Here are the few of the ways I imagine this new collection can show up on products. Make sure you are on my newsletter list so that you know when this collection is finally available for purchase.
In the Wild
Spring in Colorado is a study in contrasts. Last week we had a spring snowstorm that dropped 6+ inches of snow, downing trees, knocking out power and cancelling school, followed by beautiful 70 degrees days. But a short drive up to higher altitudes and spring is just starting to show her face, with the aspens just beginning to pop depending on your elevation. Now that I can take my head out of the pattern-making weeds and my summer camp season is upon me, I just want to be outside as much as possible.
View of the valley from Bergen Peak.
View of Pikes Peak from Climbing
Monthly Recs...
What we're watching: Two recs this month. Vasya and I watched The Housemaid and I thought it was a fun movie. It definitely could have been shorter, but I enjoyed Vasya trying to figure out the twists and where it was going. This is one of my favorite genre of books to read, so I already knew most of the plot. If you're looking for a bit of a psychological thriller, you might enjoy this. We are also almost done with season 1 of Citadel on Amazon Prime. We passed on it when it first came out because the previews made it seem a bit melodramatic (which it kind of is), but it is proving entertaining after a long day.
What I'm reading: I breezed through a couple romances, Mistakes were Made by Lucy Score and Reckless by Elsie Silver, but now I am on the edge of my seat reading Look Closer by David Ellis. I'm halfway through and I have no idea where we are going. Everybody seems like they are trying to con everybody, but everybody seems to know about it, so I'm curious to see how the plot shakes out.
You Might Also Like
On the Blog: Post one of my series about designing this new collection Gathering Inspiration: Week 1 of Immersion 2026.
On Instagram: This reel showing colorway 1 of my new collection or this reel showing colorway 2.
Check out what is currently available for fabric and wallpaper in my Spoonflower shop.