The Festive Surface Design Pattern 'Robins & Baubles' Takes Flight!

Robins & Baubles Pattern by Nicola Baroni, Nicola B Studio

I have some incredibly exciting news to share! My new pattern, "Robins and Baubles," just placed 23rd out of 1,262 entries in the Spoonflower Festive Animals Design Challenge. I'm absolutely delighted—and still a little shocked! The competition was full of so many talented designers, and I'm so grateful and excited to have my work recognised this way.

The Spark: A Festive Celebration of Nature & Ornaments

"Robins & Baubles" was born from my love for the beautiful little red breasted birds. I wanted to create a pattern that had a joyful sense of the bobbing Robins alongside the fir tree. The key elements of the design were inspired by the simple joys of the holiday season. The robins, a symbol of winter and hope, are a favourite of mine and bring a touch of natural charm. The baubles and delicate fir tree were added to bring in that festive sparkle. The colour palette - orangey reds, cheery pinks paired with deep greens on a cream background—was chosen to evoke joy with a dash of retro.

The Surface Pattern Design Challenge: A Sea of Festive Animals

For those who don't know, I've been entering the Spoonflower design challenges to hone my surface pattern skills and continue to build my portfolio. The "Festive Animals" theme immediately captured my imagination. It felt like the perfect opportunity to blend my love for nature with holiday cheer. With over 1,200 designs submitted, the competition was fierce, making this top 23 placement feel even more special.

From Sketch to Fabric: The Surface Pattern Design Process

The journey of "Robins & Baubles" started with a few simple sketches using Procreate on my Ipad. I began with the robins, focusing on their expressive eyes and cheerful little chests. I carefully arranged the robins, baubles, and foliage into a seamless repeating pattern. To finalise the repeat pattern and test it out, I used Adobe Photoshop on my MacBook Pro to get as technical as possible. The biggest challenge was balancing the elements to ensure the design felt both full and clean, without becoming too cluttered. I made several adjustments to the scale and spacing until every little detail felt just right.

It's official, festive Robins & Baubles: A Top 25 Pattern Design!

Waiting for the results was a mix of nerves and excitement. When I saw the final rankings and discovered that "Robins & Baubles" was in the top 25, I was shocked. To place so highly among more than a thousand incredible designs is huge. This achievement is a wonderful validation of my work and a huge motivation to keep creating.

A Heartfelt Thank You & What's Next

I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who voted for my design. Your support means the world to me and is what makes these challenges so much fun. Now it’s time to expand this into a full collection! 😃

You can now find the Festive "Robins & Baubles" Surface Design Pattern on my Spoonflower shop! It's available on fabric, wallpaper, and home decor, just in time for your holiday projects.

I'm already hard at work on new designs and can't wait to share what I have planned next. In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you. What's your favourite festive animal, and what kind of pattern would you love to see next?