Surface Pattern Design

Today I like to share with you about this like-minded peer group of friends I have been involving right after my course with Stacie Bloomfield’s Leverage Your Art almost 2 years? We are mostly Australian designer / makers / surface designer.

So what is peer group you asked? Peer group is a social group. A group of like-minded people came from a wide variety of background. We come together who share similar interests, background and likes.

My personal experience has been a positive one. I learnt a lot from my peer group of friends. We constantly checking in each other monthly basis. Being a boss lady myself, working from home can be very lonely. So the friendship we build together keeping me sane. They are one of the reasons keeping me on my toes.

Let me introduce 4 of my peer group buddies with you. Have your cursor over the name and you will see their website link accordingly.

Benita Tatters

Tell me 3 things about you we do not know.

1. I was a gym junkie before I moved to Queensland and wanted to compete in body building, but my body said No!
2. My first business after leaving school was a milkrun, I was still on my P plates delivering milk.
3. I love ribbon embroidery, and would love to have a line of ribbon embroidery kits

Any dream clients you like to collaborate with?

I would love to see my patterns on material in spotlight.

How does peer group influence you?

I love my peer group, they give me great feedback and encouragement, and fantastic ideas on how to do things like markets for instance. I learn so much from them and I am so grateful 😁

Tammy de Zilva – Loopla Designs

Tell me 3 things about you we do not know.

I’ve travelled to over 50 countries and travel is a big inspiration for my work; When I was a child I did singing and dancing and performed at some events around Brisbane (I have totally lost this ability as an adult!!); I am vegetarian and hate mushrooms (people can’t get their head around this haha)

Any dream clients you like to collaborate with?

Cloud 9 is my dream client! I really love working with small Australian businesses also

How does peer group influence you?

Having a group of people who get what you are talking about, to bounce ideas off and talk problems through is invaluable, especially as we all work from home on our own.

Jacky Curry

Tell me 3 things about you we do not know.

I am a competitive dancer in Lindyhop, balboa and rock n roll dancing and used to be in a troupe being thrown over peoples head….. One of my designs was used on the set of Rove on the guest seating ……I have worked in knitting industry too- designing all sorts of knitted fabrics from 3d pattered fleece to faux furs for apparel and have had a knitting pattern published,

Any dream clients you like to collaborate with?

Dream licensing clients would be for homeware heals, habitat marimelko.. for apparel Gorman, liberty, need to do more research really as I’ve been away from apparel for years and years-

How does peer group influence you?

The peer group opens my eyes to how it is to work for yourself, I am lucky to be able to shadow everyone else seeing the day to day questions that come up – it’s a a very supportive sanctuary!

Lisa Murray

Tell me 3 things about you we do not know.

Although I love all pattern, I am a stripey T-shirt Addict, I signed up to go back to uni to be a librarian just before lockdown but changed my mind & did Leverage Your Art instead, I’ve met Beyoncé.

Any dream clients you like to collaborate with?

Boden/West Elm/Olga de Polga/Marimekko

How does peer group influence you?

My Peer group have given me more confidence in putting myself out there and giving me tips on organising manufacturing my own products.

 

Feel free to share your personal positive experience if you too involving with your peer groups like 5 of us. Thank you for reading 🙂