Goodbye + a gift :)

It's the end of 2014, and I bet we are all busy thinking about what we achieved or didn't this year - to then move on to 2015's resolutions. 

Well... there are MAAAAANY things I wished I had accomplished this year, but I didn't. The truth is, I don't want to cry over spilt milk or kill my braincells thinking about the should'ves, could'ves or would'ves. What's done is done, and what isn't well... isn't, right?

I've decided to make peace with the fact this was the way this year had to go: I needed it to heal and reorganize my life and priorities. My Dad's been gone for 14 months now... it is still very hard, and it might never stop being so, but from January 1st 2015 onwards, I'll do my best to take my life back on track ;) 

The first thing I need to do is focus on fewer things. That way, I hope to be able to mentally wander less (a.k.a. procrastinate less) and better manage my time. 

Great blogging needs to be done constantly, it requires a lot of time, and real bloggers not only follow a tight schedule but also create amazing new content. I haven't been doing any of those things for the last 365 days, and I just don't like being mediocre at anything. 

Therefore, as much as I love blogging, I think I need to formally take a break from it. In order for me to be able to really get something done this year, I must hierarchize my activities. Blogging can't be a thing I sporadically do: either I commit to it or I don't. 

And since I don't feel I can commit to it right now, I've decided that I'll put my blog on pause for an entire year, in the hope that by the end of it, I'll find myself more satisfied with what I've done, and with more energy, time and ideas to start blogging again. 

As a goodbye present, I've decided to giveaway a Skillshare Scholarship. What's that? It's a free annual Premium Membership for you to take unlimited classes and learn a bunch of cool things this New Year. Just enter the raffle below, and share the news with your friends and family so they can participate too. It'll close on January 6th. I'll announce the winner that same day (afternoon probably) on my social media (yup! I'm pausing blogging, but I'll keep using all the other juicy social media channels we all sooooo much love and enjoy, hihihi!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


PS. Don't forget to follow my social media channels so we can keep in touch during 2015 :D (and also, to find out if you are the happy winner in 6 days!)

Facebook · Twitter · Instagram · Pinterest · g+

giveaway // CONGRATULATIONS!!!

1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Congratulations girls! Can't wait to see you all in class :D 

Thank you to all of you who participated in the giveaway! As a token of my appreciation, you'll be receiving a little present from me! Check your inbox tomorrow ^_^

Remember, if you want to enroll to my Skillshare class to learn how to create perfect repeat patterns in Illustrator, enroll here! The class is packed with lots of information, interesting interviews from great designers and prizes donated by Spoonflower!!!  The FUN starts June 7th :)

ps. I'm so sorry I skipped today's Mani Sunday and will also be skipping the #52collections update. I've been really busy preparing the course, and have had no time to do the other things I'm supposed to. As soon as I get things done... I'll be back to the regular posts!

giveaway // Reign Repeats: create perfect repeat patterns in Adobe Illustrator

enroll here

Good morning everyone! I have great news :)

I've partnered with the awesome team of Skillshare to teach Reign Repeats: create perfect repeat patterns in Adobe Illustrator. The class is for surface pattern designers, graphic designer, illustrators, artists, crafters and anyone else who is interested in pattern design using Adobe Illustrator. 

You'll submerge in the wonderful world of patterns, and learn how to use the basic Illustrator tools to bring to life your ideas. You'll learn how to create a repeat, both the old-school way and using Illustrator CS6 new Pattern Tool. At the end of the class you'll be able to create your own designs for you to use however you want; for example, to sell your own fabric on Spoonflower. To help you get started with this, you'll create a repeat for a Spoonflower contest as part of the final project.

The Tourist Guides [tea towels] designed by 2013 © Maria José Bautista V

I'll explain you how to get your hand-drawn sketches vectorised (even if you don't have a scanner), how to apply colour and then easily re-colour your design to create new colour ways, the different types of repeats and how to make them, and how to solve most of the common problems that arise when using Illustrator. I'll also teach you how to prepare perfect files for you to get your best results on Spoonflower.

The Tourist Guides [sketches] designed by 2013 © Maria José Bautista V

The Tourist Guides designed by 2013 © Maria José Bautista V

At the end of the class, I'll choose the top 15 designs and will showcase them here on the blog and on my Facebook page. For a week I'll ask my readers to vote for their favourite designs and the top 3 voted will receive some fab prizes donated by Spoonflower. I would like to thank them for such amazing gifts and for being happy to be part of the class. 

This course will be packed with lots of useful info, helpful resources, and inspirational interviews from great designers that have come to reign repeats. If you can't wait to get your ideas on to fabric or any other printed surface, don't miss the class… enroll now!

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To celebrate my first Skillshare class, I'll award two of you with full scholarships and other two with half scholarships. Complete all the steps below to gain multiple entries and increase your winning chances. I'll announce the four lucky winners on Monday May 20th (if you decide to enroll before this date and end up being one of the winners, I'll refund the paid fee).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Copy and paste the code below on your blog/website and spread the word about the course, and get 2 extra entries on the giveaway raffle :)

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