Christmas Morning

Last night, we celebrated Christmas Eve with some of my mom's homemade sweets, Disney's Frozen and our classic Yamada hot chocolate tradition...and then, after the house grew dark and quiet, I stayed up for more hours than I thought I could physically manage.

The truth is, even as an adult, no matter how tired I actually am, I still get those Christmas Eve butterflies and my mind whirls with magical possibilities. Only now, my excitement is not necessarily for the arrival of Santa, but for Christmas morning when my loved ones will find what I've left them under the tree. This year amongst the boxes and bows is a custom-made holiday stocking I created for my mom using fabric I designed! I'm hoping she loves it as much as I loved making it.

Today is bound to be amazing and festive and filled with wonderful, quality family time. I hope you all have a lovely holiday! Happy Christmas!

The Land of Sweets - A Holiday Pattern Collection

I suppose it's because I love to read so much that I've always had a fascination for mystical lands. I've wanted to travel to Neverland, Wonderland, or the Land of Sweets more than any physical place I could ever visit and I love that I can explore these legendary worlds just by opening my favorite bedtime stories.

This month, it felt seasonally appropriate to retrace Clara's steps in the Land of Sweets from the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker! This story combines two of my favorite things: holiday sweets and ballet. Though as a ballet dancer I didn't personally perform in The Nutcracker, I still spun around the living room in my pointe shoes, letting the music take me away. With such an undying love for the performing arts, it's no wonder that a Nutcracker-themed collection was my first choice to design this Christmas!

For this collection, I played with multiple colorways and found that classic red and green was the way to go. By adding a cool grey and light brown to the mix, it gave me a wide scope of hues to work with that tied well with my designs. I looked into various aspects of the Nutcracker ballet (from costume detailing to vintage toys) for early inspiration. But for my final patterns, I was most enthralled with the colorful characters from the story itself and the settings they lived in.

From the the Christmas holiday party to the Snowflakes dance to the Land of Sweets, I revisited each of my most beloved Nutcracker themes. I hope you enjoy perusing my designs and that they bring you as much holiday magic as they did me!

Free Printable - Holiday Hang Tags

Working on Christmas designs is always something I look forward to. It means I get to crank up the air conditioning, bundle up in chunky knit sweaters, and pretend it's cold outside months ahead of schedule.

This year, I've been jamming to Christmas carols since early October when I started conceptualizing my holiday pattern collection. I'm especially fond of these upcoming patterns, as they epitomize a very special part of my childhood.

Stay tuned for the exciting release of this collection, or if you're particularly eager for sneak peeks, check out my Facebook page or follow me on Instagram (@jyamadadesigns)! I'll be posting updates throughout the week.

In the meantime, here is an early Christmas gift from me to you: My first free printable to help you with your holiday wrapping. Be sure to share this post with friends and family so they can benefit too!

The Gentle Art of the "Just Because" Card

(Above) These autumnal greeting cards were inspired by a woodland theme, utilizing jewel tone colors (a necessity this time of year) and vintage floral accents. I integrated some hand lettering and chose to design in a "cute" direction that fostered cozy feelings of hot cocoa, crackling fireplaces and curling up with a good book, or trending tv show, during the holidays!

I'm happy to say that I'm no stranger to the warm, cozy, "I'm so loved" feeling of receiving "just because" cards. Since elementary school, my mom has surprised me with many a letter to see me through life's tough spots, or help me celebrate my successes. In an age when e-mail and texting are our go-to's for daily communication, finding a special card in the mail is a rare treat and one to be cherished!

Perhaps it's the handwritten sentiments that give greeting cards their heartwarming touch. Or maybe it's the fact someone devoted time to choosing that particular illustration, or wording, to express themselves that makes stationery so sentimental.

When selecting cards, my mom and I could spend up to an hour in the card shop, taking the art of letter sending very seriously. It's our chance to really show and tell someone exactly how we're feeling and an opportunity to send a little joy their way.

Designing my own cards and stationery was a natural next step. I have, after all, felt first hand how an unexpected encouraging word can truly make a difference. It shows someone you care about that they are being remembered, not just on holidays and not just because of a Facebook reminder, but because they are special to you.

Though this week in the US has been designated the time of year to give thanks and show friends and family how much they mean to you, sending someone a quick note to say "Thank you," "You've got this," or "It's going to be okay" is something we can do any time of the year.

Life, of course, often gets in the way of these sentiments, and it's easy to assume that people already know how you feel. But everyone can use some loving confirmation once in a while. So pick up a pen and dust off your stamps. Lets make it a goal to send more "just because" cards out into the world this year and beyond.

A Festive Table Setting

It was so nostalgic to break out my sewing machine after years of being zipped up in its carrying case. When I unearthed it from the dusty corners of my closet, it was like a visitation from an old friend — one who had seen me through some of the best, and hardest, years of my life.

Art school was not for the faint of heart, and my Bernina was a trusty sidekick. She staid up with me during my all nighters, working equally as hard to churn out my senior Fashion projects. The old girl deserves some love, and some much overdue maintenance, but she pulled through for me yet again...this time, by helping me sew some quick projects on fabric I designed!

From my Thrive collection, I selected two of my favorite patterns to be printed digitally onto Kona Cotton. I think I literally leapt for joy when my fabric package arrived in the mail! I was naturally inspired by the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, so created a beautiful place setting featuring my custom fabrics. It's such a wonderful way to add a personal touch to the table decor.

Let me know what your plans are for Thanksgiving this year. Are you hosting family, or perhaps orchestrating a "friendsgiving?" As per Yamada tradition, we're watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and having some family friends over. I'm also trying my hands at a new vegetable dish featuring butternut squash. Wish me luck!

Thrive - Behind the scenes of a collection

There's something wonderfully cozy and heartwarming about folk art. It lends a sense of community, shared history, family and tradition; and with the holiday season right around the corner, it seemed only fitting to embrace the feeling of "togetherness" this theme conveys.

I've always fallen hard for the crafts and beautiful embellishments. Folk art is created in a wide array of mediums, my favorites being embroidery, beading and hand painting. I also love the bright colors associated with folk art, though to challenge convention, I implemented a cool-colored analogous color scheme, benching my favorite pinks and yellows that so often find their way into my work.

Below, you'll find a page from my sketchbook where I played with all kinds of European folk art motifs and patterns. Working initially in pen is perfect for the brainstorming stage of a project because it allows the artist to "think" less and quiet their inner critic. When you can't erase an imperfect design, you move on to the next clean space and just keep drawing, encouraging experimentation.

As I've said before, the design process is sprinkled with false starts and misdirection. But these early ideas help me move on to the next big, potentially winning concept. They push me forward. They prove whether an idea I have will work aesthetically or not. Sometimes traces of these early versions end up in my final six designs, and other times, they are archived and filled with future purpose. If you scroll down, it's interesting to see the minor changes between my works-in-progress (directly below) and my finished collection, all of which began using elements from my early renditions.

This pattern collection is one that became unexpectedly close to my heart as I began to emotionally connect the designs I created. Though "Thrive" is essentially a pattern collection inspired by the stories passed down through culture and ancestry, it also pays special tribute to my grandfather, who loved gardening, sharing stories, and who, after his passing, found his way back to our family in the form of a hummingbird (the reasons behind my floral and hummingbird motifs). To this day, hummingbirds hold a cherished, family meaning for us. They remind us of my grandpa's life philosophy: To work hard, but to also make time to taste the sweetness life has to offer...to not just survive, but to thrive.

Confessions of a Homebody

The first time someone told me I was a homebody, I felt insulted – as though that label was synonymous with being called a dull, boring person. So...I got out there. I tried the party scene in college. I sat at sticky bar tables and waited for a "night out on the town" to become fun. But predictably, I'd always find myself standing in the middle of a club, dressed to the nines, wishing I was actually in my pajamas drawing in my sketchbook.

Confession: I love being at home (and yes, I suppose if you have to call me something, I am a homebody). There's really no place I'd rather be. Sure, I might get cabin fever once in a while. But for the most part, to the chagrin of my peers, I'm perfectly content curled up with a good book.

"Home" is not just about a specific location for me, but also a feeling I create for myself, made of the people and things that make me happy. If home really is where the heart is (as the saying goes), then I have abodes in many places.

Home is at the drawing table, tea in my favorite mug and sunlight filtering in. It's nestled into empty corners of the bookstore, or in the window seat at my local cafe. It's in the arms of the people I love, behind my camera, and at my computer, stylus in hand, working on my latest creation.

Despite my initial reaction, being a homebody hasn't turned out to be a bad thing. It's actually the opposite. It's helping me find my tribe – the people who understand me – and what I love and where I work best. So if you would rather choose a quiet night in over a wild night out, don't feel alone...it's okay if others don't quite get it. Stay authentic to yourself and the right people will come flowing into your life.

Do you consider yourself a homebody? What's your favorite indoor pastime? Contact me or leave a comment down below. Lets connect over a mutual love for hot drinks, cozy atmospheres, yarn, books, and pursuits of the creative variety!

Happy (early) Halloween!

We are officially 1 day away from All Hallows Eve! I'm planning a fun night in on Tuesday with some spooky classics like "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "Hocus Pocus!" We don't normally get trick-or-treaters at the apartment, but I still wanted to get into the Halloween spirit so created some cute gift bags and stuffed them with treats for the 31st.

They're made from solid and metallic papers using scissors, an exacto blade, ribbon and a glue gun. I like to start my designs as illustrations on paper and trace them on a light box for the most accurate match to my original drawings. They make the perfect party favors for any Halloween festivities and are going to add a special touch to our not-so-scary flick night!

What are your favorite Halloween movies? I'm not usually one to stomach horror films, but I'm open to suggestions! Who knows...maybe this year I'll be feeling adventurous!

8 Days and Counting...

Halloween has been one of my favorite holidays since I was very little. It began with my mom hand-sewing all of my outrageous costume requests (one year I wanted to be a peacock) and now, as an adult, my seasonal enthusiasm has become personified in pumpkin spice lattes (no matter how cliche) and festive illustrations!

From it's classic color scheme to its cute witchy motif, this design was created to embody my childhood fascination with Halloween! I hope it brings you a comforting sense of nostalgia, or adds some seasonal flair to your upcoming holiday this year!

Do you have Halloween plans next week, or fun traditions to share? I know I'll be waiting up for the Great Pumpkin and crafting up a storm!

*If you haven't seen It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, please add it to your October movie list! It's a must-see!

Spellbinding - Behind the Scenes of a collection

I am so thrilled to finally be in October! Autumn progressing into winter is my favorite time of year. But living in Florida, I miss seeing the leaves turn color along with any practical need for cute winter boots. Since my hot, humid Sunshine state environment won't necessarily tell me it's fall, it's up to me to embrace the upcoming holidays not just with Pumpkin scented candles and seasonal books to read, but of course, with artistic gusto!

I knew I desperately wanted to design a Halloween pattern collection. Though I admittedly love the traditional black and orange colors that accompany the season, I chose to progress in a more earthy direction. My starting inspiration was the idea of wild crafting, which is the act of gathering herbs and plants directly from nature. Then, I looked at potion cabinets and imagined what bottles I'd find therein. What ingredients would be lining the shelves? I also thought about witch familiars or spirit animals that may be crawling, flying or slinked their way around a magical altar room. After all this brainstorming, the inevitable result was my "Spellbinding" collection.

(Below, you will find my thought process and early concepts from my sketchbook.)

(Discarded colorways and patterns before final revisions)

My goal was to create a collection that was stylish, beautiful and haunting. There ended up being a lot of art nouveau influence in these designs, which was a pleasant, unexpected surprise. I felt the swirls and organic shapes of this style complemented the nature aspect of my theme and added to the vintage overtone of this collection. May these designs inspire your autumn season and jumpstart your enthusiasm for the upcoming "witchy" holiday.

I is for Irma

This is a brief post to let you know we're hunkering down here in Orlando, FL preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Irma. So far, it's been scattered showers, booming thunder, afternoon sunshine and clear night skies as far as the eye can see. In all honesty, it felt like a regular Florida day. But judging from the news, we're sure to feel traces of Irma sometime this weekend and into early next week.

At least we've done everything we can to hold down the fort, including braving the crowds on 5am supply runs and rearranging the apartment for the safest weather impact. My coastal Floridian family have trekked inland to stay with me till the storm passes. I've even packed my own tentative evacuation bag...you know, just in case.

Hoping to make it through the storm with zero flooding and fully functioning electricity. Keep your fingers crossed for me! And worst case scenario, it'll be a grand forced opportunity to step away from the computer and plunge my nose into the pile of TBR (to be read) books sitting on my desk! What better way to read than by romantic, hurricane-induced candlelight, am I right? (hehe)

On a closing note to my fellow Sunshine state natives: Please, please, please stay safe this weekend! Provided I have power, I'll hopefully be back designing again soon!

UPDATE: (09/13/2017) Orlando is now in the midst of recovery after Hurricane Irma blew through our city this past weekend! I'm relieved and happy to say we were lucky! Zero flooding, running water and full electric power (just as hoped for), though wifi blipped out temporarily, hence a delay in any blog updates.

Monday morning, we emerged from our refuges to a soggy Floridian landscape. Huge oak trees lay strewn about, completely uprooted from the ground. Debris littered the streets. Fences were diminished to planks and rubble, and roofing had stripped off in large metallic sheets.

We are feeling extremely fortunate there was no damage to my apartment, let alone working amenities. Family on the coast and most local friends, however, have spent days since the storm with no power or running water, including my dad, whom we couldn't convince to evacuate. Back in Merritt Island, he's been making the most of a humid situation by embracing that #surferlife, cooling off in the ocean and taking advantage of the enhanced swells beachside. In short, we're all doing okay and Florida is on the mend.

Again, thank you for your well wishes! Looks like all that positive energy really worked wonders for us! Love ya lots!

(Below: Hurricane Irma damage at my apartment complex.)

Life is a Circus - Behind the Scenes of a collection

For all my repeat patterns, I begin by browsing Pinterest when I should be sleeping, and creating mood boards in my sketchbook for inspiration. I love to be completely immersed in the subject I am going to illustrate, so finding videos, books, music – basically anything that will help me dive into my pattern theme – is extremely important!

While I gathered references for my "Life is a Circus" collection, I became keenly aware of a darker side of circus life (scary clowns, the treatment of animals, creepy curiosities, etc.), but wanted to keep my designs lighthearted and whimsical, playing off the sense of childlike wonder the circus creates.

Below is a concept page from my sketchbook. This is the first step in my process. Here, I'll doodle and brainstorm every possible idea I can think of that pertains to my theme. It's a great chance to be completely free and let my imagination run wild.

Of course, eventually these sketches are whittled down to my final six patterns. But along the way, there are plenty of art redirections, color alterations, and designs that did not make the cut. Here are a few samples of raw, unedited options that were discarded for various reasons.

And, finally...(drumroll please)... I present the finalized art for my circus-themed collection! It was truly a pleasure to be whisked away in a fantastical dream of feathers, sequins, show lights and applause. The creation of these designs reminded me not to take life too seriously and to remember "Life is a Circus" – at times chaotic with the occasional risk, but always adventurous and wonderfully unexpected.

Blossoming into Purpose

I'll be honest, I used to feel vastly intimidated by the thought of "finding purpose." It always led to serious questions like "What am I meant to do with my life?" or "Who am I supposed to be?" It made life heavy, and the fear of choosing a wrong path became a real, almost paralyzing, thing.

But after some confused wrong turns, what I eventually found was that purpose was never meant to be some Boss-level end goal, or a singular, all-encompassing life mission. Instead, purpose is ever changing, growing with us as we fall into who we are. It creates the stepping stones of life, or lights the fire under our butts to launch us further despite whatever holds us back.

For me, purpose is in the small things that drive me forward every day. Sometimes, it's as simple as checking off a daunting task on my daily To-Do list, or the thrill of marking a lunch date into my planner. Other days, it's the reward of learning something new, or feeling accomplished that I've helped someone meet their design goals!

It doesn't have to weigh heavily on our minds, or be the same motivation it was yesterday. It only needs to propel us to the next day, hour by hour, project by project so that we are able to embrace all that life has to offer. So today...what is your purpose?