The Motif Sketches
The theme and title of my pattern collection is Vintage Spring Valentine.
I wanted to create something for this coming Spring season (combined with Valentine’s Day) that was versatile, fun, and rich with that classic, vintage feel. I wanted delicate lines and a good flow within each pattern design.
When I started my creative thinking process, I started by asking myself questions such as, “What is Valentine’s Day about?” and “What does Spring mean to you?” I answered these questions with a word association list.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/fef19123bd7aad37c77bdc97_rw_600.jpg?h=b1b64a2309ece0d5697172c7c515d7ca)
After getting my worded ideas down, along with some quick, small thumbnails, I began to sketch out whatever came to my mind that expressed my feelings for the vintage style, the Spring season, and Valentine’s Day.
I drew lots of hearts and vines and other little self-created elements that had a floral and whimsy essence to them.
Something that was very interesting to me, and that seemed to capture my theme very well, was this leaf-heart that I drew. I wanted that element to be a main piece in my collection.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/cdf795dd89358bd195295bc0_rw_600.png?h=d706ade9e004977f824b462bde0d49b5)
The Vector Process
Creating the repeat design was tough at first, and I think it’s because I wanted to control everything. I had a vague idea about how I wanted my vintage pattern to look: connecting vines, flowers, hearts, and brass/gold vintage elements. So after drew my motifs in Ai, I began to organize them to create a seamless pattern that had some symmetrical structure to it.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/fdb7d22d82ad3c365b75fdf9_rw_600.jpg?h=06ce811998d58cc5d09de92ba5859f3c)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/7c3adb91cf081daf6cdd6e19_rw_600.jpg?h=1cfc1b09ec36e59a61e04a4a3dbb2133)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/1bde1acfc9c0f80dc7d34da6_rw_600.jpg?h=500d577613cfbfbbb4ff4806447ee515)
The Coloring Process
I started with a grayscale palette to begin with, just so that I wouldn’t be distracted by color, but also so that I could keep an eye on the tone of the motifs.
Then I just played...
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/b192f7f6adf3733cd04a27fe_rw_600.jpg?h=c28e5173fa1faf2d2d429b667829211f)
The Final Collection of Designs
My collection includes a primary pattern, a secondary, a tertiary, and three blenders.
Here are my final pattern swatches, shown as single blocks, then as repeat blocks.
I am very happy with the results. :)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/a85e167761b497dc8a2df38b_rw_1200.png?h=d7c51cb46851e9a418467138215498f8)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/a3ea4ddfa423da7f3b8df398_rw_1200.png?h=51aa90b5170101259bfea1d2bdfb5e7a)
Vintage Spring Valentine Collection used in a setting
I felt that the best place for this collection was on the walls as wallpaper and on vintage furniture. Here are a couple of mock-ups.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/05db20982e55b39adb03b8a7_rw_600.png?h=a600fd361599e8ef8c619bed0114412d)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/fcbf17fc8c51c1154fbd8f0a_rw_1200.png?h=0fc0ed7a476bc1699e82eec121a20766)
I hope my patterns made your eyes happy.
Thanks for viewing! =)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/07916d4540335618c40128f28d4e81b8/80da444986405e0e014e9907_rw_600.png?h=cd9253fd4c08d8bee634a53893941235)