Surface Pattern Design

I have been meaning to share this for a while-- I am taking an ecourse on Surface pattern design called "The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design" by Rachael Taylor. I have always loved pattern and wanted to get into the industry of designing surface patterns, but have never quite known how. I saw this course advertised on one of my favorite blogs, Print and Pattern, about six months ago and started looking into it. The first time it was offered, it was starting right when Olive was born. Um, not really a good idea, I decided. So I emailed and found out that a second session of the class was being offered starting this April. I eagerly waited and got to see what students from the first class were producing... here, here and here (just to show a little bit). The course is divided up into three modules, and I am currently right in the middle of the first one. I am loving it so much. We are just in the beginnings, like going over inspiration and different sketching techniques, and it already has taken me above and beyond where I was before. Here is the first pattern I designed in the course: