Just in time for fall...Introducing "Dorset"

 Elegant and sophisticated with a palette of fall colors.  This collection evolved from a single flower.  The big bloom top and center came from a sketch I did in an old book and from there "Dorset" emerged. Below are the sketches that inspired this collection.

Catch of the Day

This modern and funky collection has been a work in progress for over a month.  My summer has been jam packed with wonderful outdoor family adventures and travels, but I finally found some time to sit down at my computer and compile this fun group of patterns into a collection. My love of EVERYTHING Mid-Century Modern really inspired the palette and playful shapes and motifs in my newest collection "Catch of the Day".  Being a Minnesota girl that loves LAKE TIME and FISHING also played BIG TIME into this collection.  Hope you enjoy my BIG "Catch of the Day".

Printed Village Scarf Floral Design Challenge

I really love scarves!  They are so playful and add that splash of fun to any outfit. I recently heard about the Printed Village Scarf Floral Design Challenge and decided to give it a go.  I entered several of my designs into the competition.  These are just of few of the designs I entered.  If you would like to see all of my designs just click this link and it will take you to my profile page with the rest of my designs.  There will be a vote at the end of the month.  I would really love your support!  I will follow up with another link when the voting is live.  If you love my designs I WOULD LOVE YOUR VOTE!  Thank you again for your support! 

Spoonflower Bucketfeet Oceans Design Challenge

This week, Spoonflower has partnered with Bucketfeet for a fun ocean-themed challenge.  The purpose of this challenge is to raise awareness about environmental issues and the impact of rising sea levels on ocean health for World Ocean Day on June 8.  The lucky winner will have their design featured on a Bucketfeet shoe in this summer's collection release.

I decided to take a chance and throw my design into the ring.  I haven't had much time to take part in many Spoonflower challenges lately, but this one really sparked my interest.  I really love Bucketfeet shoes, and I feel very strongly that we need to do everything we can to protect our beautiful oceans.

Voting on will open on May 19th and go through May 25th.  I will post a link to the voting page as soon as it is live.  I would really appreciate your vote for my design.  Thank you for your support! xx

The sweet smell of rain

Spring is in the air!  I absolutely LOVE this time of year when new life is abounding. Gentle rains give way to rolling thunderstorms.  The brown landscape is once again flourishing with lush greens and delicate flowers.  The sweet smell of rain and earth fills the air.  YES...I LOVE THE SPRING!  My newest collection "Showers of Flowers" was inspired by the beautiful spring.  I hope this collection brings a smile to your face!

Playtime

I have been away from designing for a little over 2 weeks now due to some computer difficulties.  Thankfully my troubles have been resolved and I am back in business.  But, I am actually feeling a bit tired tonight and decided to ease into things with some mock-up play.  I find it very gratifying playing with my patterns in mock-ups.  It opens up endless possibilities.  My hope is that my designs will truly bring other people joy by beautifying everyday items.

The Giving Tree

I recently re-read the Shel Silverstein book, "The Giving Tree". It is such a beautiful, bittersweet story...one that I have always loved.  It reminds me how fast my children are growing up and how important it is to slow down and find joy in each day...even on the most difficult days.  This story is truly a love story of the purest kind.  It shows us what caring, unselfish love looks like.  I adore this story and my children do too.  Every day is truly a gift from God, and I am so Thankful for each day I am given.  This beautiful story inspired my newest collection, "The Giving Tree".

In case you have never read "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein, here is a beautiful narration of the story.  Check it out.

Modify Spring Preview 2016

I am super excited to share with everyone that my design, Crazy Daisy, was selected for the 2016 Modify Spring Preview!  This design is colorful, cheery and playful...perfect for Spring!  If you would like to check it out and order a watch or iphone case with my Crazy Daisy design, please visit Modify watches by clicking HERE.  Thanks so much for all of your support!!

Playing with more mock-ups

 These patterns are from my Wildflower Collection.  They are so much fun!  I am really loving these skateboards!  Don't they look great?!

Credit for the cool skateboard template mock-up to Sam Minton via Behance. 

And how much fun are these pins?!  What a fun little gift to give to a sweet friend! 

Credit for cool button pin template mock-up to Pixeden.

And this room....LOVE!  I could totally cuddle up on this couch with my sketchbook!  Such a happy room with my cheery floral pattern! 

Credit for lovely wall art mock-up template to ZippyPixels.

More Anneline mock-ups

I am really loving this collection, so I was inspired to make a few more mock-ups.  I would really love your feedback!   What other products could you see this collection of patterns used on?  Thanks for taking the time to look and comment!  I really appreciate your support!  xx

Credit to Graphicburger for the cool Photoshop mock-up templates!

Anneline

I went for a long walk today and took in all the fresh air.  Even though everything is still covered in muted tones of gray, the warm breeze gave me hope that spring is just around the corner.  I decided to use some of those tones in the color palette for my newest collection, Anneline. They are delicate and lovely, and I feel they add to the old world feel of the patterns.  I mocked up a couple of bed sets to show you how the patterns and palette compliment each other.  I hope you love it!

Lindley Lupines....Lovely

I absolutely love the lupines!  The smooth round petal like leaves and the towing pillars of striking flowers can completely take over a countryside.  They are so majestic!  The tall stalks appear to be standing at attention, reaching up to touch the sky. Lupines are definitely one of my favorite flowers.  I had lots of fun searching for inspiration and sketching these flowers tonight.  Lupines come in many colors, most often deep purples, reds and pinks.  However, I chose to color them with a more muted palette of greens.  I felt the shapes and textures were already so bold and could stand alone, without a ton of bright colors.  Hope you like them.

Leilani

With the temperature today reaching the balmy 30's, I was feeling a bit tropical.  Here in Minnesota, temperature in the 30's is shorts weather!  We are a hardy people!  So, I sketched up some tropical flowers and palms and put them into a cheery pattern.  I think this would be a lovely pattern on a maxi dress.  What do you think?  Happy Sunday! 

Feeling joyful

Autumn's Joy is a collection I started over a year ago.  I loved the motifs, but struggled with the colors.  I decided to put it on the back burner and return to it with fresh eyes at a later date.  This week I returned to the collection and added some additional patterns.  I played around with a lighter color palette and fell in love with the results.  I hope you like how it turned out as much as I do!

Dizzy with Excitement...

over my newest collection. I had so much fun sketching and playing around with these patterns.  I really love how they all came together.  Hope you love them too! 

Super Cool Modify Watches

I am super excited to share my new collection of watches with Modify Watches!!  Please check them out @ModifyWatches at modifywatches.com/hollyhelgesondesigns!

 Get yours now using 25% off code NEWWATCH, good through 2/1. Thanks so much for your support!

Refreshed and Refocused

Inspiration leads to design for me.  So, I have been taking this summer to refresh and refocus.  Many hours have been spent walking through gardens, forests, sandy beaches, and my own backyard just observing the flowers, leaves, bugs, and critters around me.  I have really enjoyed watching my children discover new things in old places.  Nature always inspires me.  I naturally look for patterns and designs in everything I see. Organic shapes and patterns seem to jump out of the woodwork...literally at times.  I have been sketching like crazy, and tonight I sat down at my computer for the first time in over 2 months.  It felt so good to create again.  I felt inspired...and this is what I designed.

Butterflies for Lupus Showcase 2015

For the third year now, a fellow designer friend, Dawn Clarkson, has organized a "Butterflies for Lupus Showcase" to help increase awareness about the chronic autoimmune disease Lupus. Lupus can attack your tissues and organs causing a multitude of symptoms.  A rash on the cheeks in the form of a butterfly is a common symptom of Lupus, which is the reason Dawn chose the butterfly to showcase.  She will feature the butterflies on World Lupus Day, Sunday, May 10th on her blog NiceandFancy.  

This year Ruby and I collaborated on our butterfly designs. We both created our own butterflies and then colored them with the same color palette.  It was great to do this together and explain to Ruby the reason behind the showcase.  Here are our entries for Dawn's "Butterflies for Lupus Showcase".

Sunday, May 10th is World Lupus Day.  Please check out Dawn's blog, Nice & Fancy to learn more about Lupus, and to view the incredible "Butterfly Showcase" that she has assembled. 

My First LOOK BOOK!!

Here it is...FINALLY!!!  My very first LOOK BOOK on ISSUU!!  I am super EXCITED and doing a little HAPPY DANCE right now!!  My LOOK BOOK has 8 different collections of patterns that I have designed and am thrilled to share with everyone.  Just click on the photo to view my LOOK BOOK.  I hope you enjoy looking.  :) xo

"MY" Secret Garden

I just can't wait to dig in my garden.  I love to start flowers and vegetables from seed and watch them sprout.  Gardening is really a true passion of mine, and I tell my husband that it is my "therapy" after a long days work.  Tending to and nurturing all of my little plants truly brings me joy.  This collection of prints was inspired by many of the flowers I enjoy caring for.  My hope is that they will bring you joy.  Happy Gardening!

My "seedling" sketch

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue...

My beautiful city of St. Cloud is home to six absolutely gorgeous gardens.  Nestled along the banks of the Mississippi, the Munsinger Gardens explode with color all throughout the spring, summer, and fall.  I eagerly await the opening of the gardens as Spring is now here.  Soon, the very talented gardeners and caretakers will begin to prepare the planting beds for new annuals.  The perennial gardens will fill with exquisite colors from every part of the spectrum.  And, the Virginia Clemens Rose Garden will bloom with over a thousand delicately fragrant roses.  I could literally spend the entire day walking through all the lovely pathways around the gardens...it is ever changing.

My newest collection of patterns was inspired by the stunning roses found in the Virginia Clemens Rose Garden.  If you ever find yourself in St. Cloud, you must stop at the gardens.  You don't want to miss them!

NEW Summer Designs Added to my Society6 Store

I am FEELING THE HEAT ALREADY!!!  I am looking forward to the hot summer days when I can kick back, put my feet up and have a nice, cold, refreshing glass of lemonade while the sun beats down on my face.  Aren't we all?!?!

BUT....in the meantime...while we all wait PATIENTLY for summer to arrive...we can grab one...or two...of my new summer inspired designs in my Society6 store to help us keep focused.  It can be our daily reminder of the many wonderful things coming...very soon!!  Hope you like them!