How many people have what it takes to transition their hobby into a successful business? We’ve been covering entrepreneurs as of late, so its only appropriate to mention April Tosch, owner of Ann Meredith in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Tosh creates one of a kind prints for clients ranging from Royalty to corporate. Tosch’s digital library now holds over 80,000 images, all of which cater to the region. The themes are a hodgepodge of landscape and portraiture to romance and caligraphy. Each piece is usually embroidered or beaded before it’s presented to the client.

Since launching her business, the demand for customizable fabrics has sky rocketed in Jeddah, spurring Tosch to expand her services. She now offers photoshop classes for women and teaches them how to print personal patterns on silk for abaya sleeves. Creating a business model that is both profitable [...]

The baton’s been passed, or so it seems, with the premiere issue of Lonny Magazine. Many readers of this site are probably aware that Domino Magazine closed it’s doors at the beginning of the year. While decorating aficionados immediately mourned the death of this inspirational gem, Michelle Adams and Patrick Cline, along with a talented team of creatives, banded together to create a new editorial vision for budget savvy decorators. Not only is the online publication a stunning compilation of work, all of the imagery is linkable- an extremely useful tool for readers and advertisers alike. We see a bright future for this magazine and are thrilled there’s a new player in town.

Pattern Pulp recently gave a microtrending presentation for the design team at Revman International.  Revman is a bedding manufacturer who licenses brands ranging from Marimekko and Steve Madden to Michael Kors and Tommy Bahama.  While we’re no stranger to the Home Department, it was a true pleasure to get out from behind the desk and share some of our latest findings.  It’s affirming to know that we can help designers and firms connect the dots from inspiration to commercial application.

Interested in a practical approach to dot-connecting? Contact us to have Pattern Pulp work with your team.

So you’re talented and terrified of not staying relevant in the ever-evolving digital marketplace.  For the patternmakers out there working strictly by hand, you’re in luck if willing to expand upon your skill set. Orli Sharaby, the fashion editor for PSFK, recently forwarded us some uplifting news which she spotted on the blog, Fashion Biz Inc.  FBI just announced the launch of a brand new free program for unemployed patternmakers set to start at the end of April.  Courtesy of a grant provided by Microsoft Corporation, this special program offers free training to unemployed patternmakers who need to improve or enhance their computer skills in order to obtain full time employment.  Alternatively, if you’re a graphic designer looking to hop the fence onto the crafty side, the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn offer periodic patternmaking [...]

I was recently alerted to Stripe Generator while perusing facebook updates this morning.  Noah Brier, a friend and fellow blogger, posted this stripe-making website to his list of running favorites.  Though I immediately laughed at the idea of designers needing assistance in pairing lines together, my dismissal was quickly silenced by the seemless usability of the toolset.  Spacing, color, background and direction can all be manipulated, similar to iPhoto’s editing capabilities.  Once I played around a bit and made a few patterns, I clicked through to Tartan Maker, an equally impressive site for designers not privy to Pointcarré.

It’s quite liberating to know you can print customized textiles at your own leisure.  Oftentimes, good ideas die before seeing the light of day on account of complexities in production.  With the creation of Spoonflower, the design world’s latest solution to customizable DIY fabric, the final step has become as easy as hitting the send button.  As noted by Orli Sharaby, of PSFK, “Seems like a no brainer for the crafting community, and provides an exciting new option for anyone who simply wants a new set of curtains and can’t find exactly the right pattern to match their home’s decor.”