Daily Pattern: Birthday Candles

A few of my favorite people have birthdays in the summer! A cupcake for all of you. I'll have one too, in your honor.

Daily Pattern: Burn Baby, Burn

Disco Inferno! Not really though - mostly just a super sweet retro inspired match stick pattern.

Daily Pattern: Campfire

Gather 'round, everyone, and enjoy this cute campfire pattern by Minerva! I love it!

Daily Pattern: Allez!

Today I decided draw a circus trick that is associated with fire. When I was a child I went to the circus just to see such spectacular stunts.
-Ira

One more day! July Pattern Contest!

Just a day or two left to submit your patterns! We will be posting all entries with a link to your site/blog! Submit a pattern that you made while thinking of "July"!
Be sure to send your pattern along with a note about what inspired you! (That way we can post a word or two about your work!)

Send your patterns to us by 11:59pm on July 25th!

Take a look at the details HERE.

We're so excited to do a giveaway to the "best of July" pattern/artist. Thanks so much, we can't wait to see what you've made!

Daily Pattern : Houses on the Hills

I love those beautiful rows of colorful houses in San Francisco! They're just about as iconic as the other fun landmarks. I thought I'd do them in the day, and at night!
I'm sure it's tough to ride bikes on those hills!

Daily Pattern : SF from Far Away

Here is a fun San Francisco Pattern by this week's Featured Friend Claire Birkbeck!
Way to go, Claire! It must have been fun to research a city so far away!

Daily Pattern: Golden Gate

Someday I will have the pleasure of visiting this city and I will find a new thing to replace the Golden Gate bridge as it's one and only symbol. Any San Francisco art I have made–this piece included–seems to imply that I think it's comprised of only a bridge.

Daily Pattern: Rainy San Francisco

I realize that this pattern probably doesn't make sense to most people. But for those who have heard my harrowing tale about fighting weather, traffic and fate to make it to a meeting in downtown San Francisco, it is very fitting.

The basic gist of the story: I was stuck in the dark, foggy rain for many hours.



In other news, the trip to Chicago was fun, but, man oh man, doing patterns on the road is hard. I can't wait for our glorious return tomorrow!

Daily Pattern: Cat Pilots

What? It's 2 AM and I'm still sitting in a hotel lobby in Chicago working on my pattern? I'll admit it; I got carried away on the characters. But I had a dang good time.



I don't know what's going on anymore. So here's a second pattern just because.



This has been a LOOOOONG day.

Daily Pattern: Commercial Flying

I was sorely tempted to do another fanart piece for this topic. I refrained. Flying (the actual flying part) is really cool anyway. There were some sweet cloud formations today thanks to the crazy heat + humidity, and we happened to be working under O'Hare airport's traffic, so it wasn't difficult to think about airplanes. Though I did listen to this almost the entire time.

Daily Pattern : Message in the Sky

I always thought that someone I know should rent a little plane and fly a banner around with a cute message on it. I don't know anyone that could do that, or anyone that owns a plane. Ah, romantic things! *sigh* Young love...

Daily Pattern: Paper Airplanes

I got the idea that paper airplanes would be suitable for the "Paper Bicycle" blog. They are graphic and swift, and everyone can make their own.

-Ira

Daily Pattern: Little Paper Planes

Not too much to say on this pattern - it's just a sky filled with paper planes. Perhaps it's some sort of paper plane air show, in which case it will probably end with a flaming wreck, and a video on one of those most extreme accident shows - as per usual. I have never really mastered the art of paper plane origami - so if anyone has any pro tips send them my way!

Daily Pattern: Glitter Planets

I know what you're thinking. WHY hasn't their been glitter before? Why isn't there sparkly things in all of these patterns? I can't answer that question. However, I can answer affirmatively to the question "Does your pattern look like a gradeschool posterboard project?"

Daily Pattern : Team Edward

Vampires sparkle, right? I thought so.

Daily Pattern: Twinkling Lights

Today Francesca, Lindsay and I spent a good 10 hours in the car driving to Chicago. We passed my hometown of Stoughton, Wisconsin (just outside of Madison) as it was getting dark and the Lightning Bugs were out in full effect.

Growing up, I spent countless nights chasing Lighting Bugs but since moving to Minneapolis 11 years ago, I can't even remember the last time I saw one. I forgot they existed! They really are totally mind-blowing and beautiful!

Daily Pattern: Fancy Dancing

Minerva's pattern is all about lighting up the dance floor with some slick moves!

Daily Pattern: My Little Pony

Something you may, or may not know about me is that I was super obsessed with horses when I was a little girl, and I especially loved My Little Pony. So in honor of today's 'sparkle' theme I pulled inspiration from my childhood for this ultra girly magical horse pattern!



Here's a better view of the repeat too!

Daily Pattern - Hot Dog

It's still hot and muggy here in Minneapolis and it's now almost 3am. It's cooled down a little, but not enough to relieve us of the stickiness. I was thinking about summer. It's a season I long for when it's snowing, and a season I hate when it's upon us. When I was thinking of our topic today- I thought about hot dogs. I haven't had a hotdog in what feels like forever, but it's one of the things I think of often on hot, sticky days. Every summer we have a grill-out in the backyard and hotdogs are always invited. These days I'm even welcoming fake hotdogs. (Not like a regular hot-dog could get much more fake than it already is...)

Daily Pattern: Summer Shades

It's H-O-T in Minneapolis right now. Right now, at 9:15 pm, the heat index is 109 degrees. I know it was 115 at one point. The sad part is that's pretty standard most of the country right now...

This pattern is dedicated to the unbearable frustration of being stuck out in the sun during heat like this. Remember to pack those shades!



Maybe when it cools off, I'll make a pattern about my real seasonal fav: the Summer Jam!

Daily Pattern: Tiny Summer Treats

Summer in the Twin Cities has been rather brutal lately. I thought long and hard about making some kind of hateful, spiteful pattern to pour my weather frustration in. I'm glad I didn't, and instead went with an earlier idea I had for summer–sweet treats.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALYSSA!

Happy Birthday, Alyssa! May you have all the birthday fun and even more birthday cake! We made you a genuine, home-made card for this occasion! Happy Birthday! Hope today is awesome!



See those two dollars? Yeah, that is totally birthday money right there!

Daily Pattern: Pool Party

Today is my Birthday and you're invited to a pool party! Being born in July means a lifetime of birthday cook outs, splashing around in the pool, and general fun in the sun! Summer isn't my favorite month, because it's usually too hot and sticky, but the one thing that makes it bearable is taking a dip in your local watering hole. If you're interested in viewing this pattern a little larger you can visit it at my flickr here.

Daily Pattern : Strawberry Fields

Claire Birkbeck sent us her very first post for this week!

"For me, summer time is about picnics and pimms, strawberries and sunshine!..
...Not to mention fruit replacing my usual chocolate cravings for that bikini diet!"
-Claire Birkbeck

Featured Friend: Claire Birkbeck

I'm excited to introduce you to this week's Featured Friend, Claire Birkbeck, and her artwork! Claire is participating all the way from England and has just graduated from Cardiff School of Art & Design where she studied Contemporary Textile Practice. We love the airy nature of her patterns and are very excited to have her join us this week!



Here are a couple of words from Claire about her practice!
"I am textile designer primarily working in surface pattern, ranging from flat printed design, to textured embelishment. I am absorbed by the journey from idea to product, I like to create design for purpose. Having a vision in mind keeps me motivated, although the vision often reinvents itself! I love to work with natural imagery that has personality yet elegance. I have currently been designing for the interior accessory market but am just as enthusiastic in working in the gift and stationary market."



"These designs were inspired by the season of Spring. They are just a few of many that contributed my graduate collection, 'The Spring Kitchen Collection'. With these designs and others that coordinate, I created 3 product ranges that are suitable for the kitchen/dining environment. Items include; a dining chair, tea cosies, placemats + coasters, tea towels and more. This project was continually fed by observational imagery which changed and evolved dramatically throughout the season - keeping me constantly inspired! From bare to blossom, from buds to bloom, from nothing came new life..."



Thanks Claire! We're looking forward to making Daily Patterns with you!

Daily Pattern: Tire Swings

I will obviously take any excuse to draw a bunch of trees.A topic like 'tires' is no exception, obviously. Tire swings!

Daily Pattern: Burning Rubber

All right all right all right, TOMORROW'S pattern won't be fanart. I couldn't pass up an opportunity to do a Back to the Future piece. It's about time travel!

Daily Pattern: Joy Ride

Minerva's sweet bikes (with nice, colorful tires) make us want to skip work and take a joy ride! We love bikes! How did you know??

Daily Pattern - Hot Wheels

There are so many sweet bikes around Uptown, Minneapolis. Sometimes I see a row of them and wonder how it's even possible that everyone has an awesome looking bike? I especially love how people deck out their bikes with sweet looking wheels. There is someone that always parks his/her bike across the street at one of the restaurants and I am constantly jealous. That bike is light teal with bright orange tire-wall. Jealousy.