From Inspiration to Creation: The Journey of a Surface Designer's First Collection

By Kathleen Atkinson

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We packed up the truck, and drove 2.5 hours North to Perth, Ontario. This is where we strapped on the snowshoes, loaded up a sled and walked 2 kms through the snow to a tiny cabin in the woods. This is where we spent the next 3 days enjoying comfort food, playing games, sitting around a fire, snowshoeing, and just enjoyed all that came with winter that February weekend.

Snowshoeing into the woods. Making memories and gathering inspiration.

This was also a weekend where everything was going to change moving forward. Before we left, I heard about a course called Immersion. A course that teaches you surface design and so much more!

I was soaking up the workshop at the time and I started to notice that I was taking in so much more around me than usual. I was capturing photos of the snowshoe tracks that we were leaving behind and the impressions from the sled we hauled our belongings in. I have so many photos of dried foliage peeking through snow it would probably make people wonder about my eye for a photo opportunity… but the possibilities seemed to be endless!

Cabin in the woods, North of Perth Ontario. Our home for 3 days.

I remember my daughter and husband were even getting in on making marks in the snow to see what sort of fun shapes and textures we could create. I went home with so much excitement and inspiration that I was ready to create.

That weekend held many firsts.

Our first escape to a cabin in the woods.

Our first time snowshoeing.

My first pattern collection.

That collection turned into my first product—pillow covers. It was the start of exploring how my artwork could live on the everyday items I love most. I have these around my home, and over time, I even added my favourite pattern from that collection—a ditsy floral stripe—as wallpaper! You can actually see it here.

Knowing that others have brought these pieces into their spaces too means so much. There’s something really special about that, having a small part of my story woven into someone else’s.

The Cabinscape Collection - my first Surface Pattern Design Collection during Immersion 2022.

Never think twice if something jumps out at you as inspiration. It can turn into something wonderful and hold a story that you will cherish forever.

What was your first moment creating something from an experience?

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