My name is Stephanie Fiona Holdsworth and I have been designing in some way since I was very young, with my earliest memories being drawing and cataloguing clothing for my grade 6 formal in the library with markers and pencils!

 

When I got a little older I started experimenting with my own clothing, ripping and cutting it up to modify and make new creations - some of these clothes had been made for me by my mother and so she was not impressed. I follow in a family of creatives with my grandmother being an exceptional quilter, knitter, crocheter and cross-stitcher, and my mother loving to sew. My parents are also both scientists and this has very much shaped my passion for an approach to design as a science - there is process, theory, research, experimentation and materials.

 

My interest in fashion grew strong in my final years at high school and when faced with a decision between physiotherapy and design I followed my heart. I studied design specifically in textiles and spatial through university, as well as gained a teaching degree. For the last 9 years I have worked as a design technology teacher where I have continued to learn and expand my understanding of design, teach process over and over, and collaborate with students on some awesome and innovative projects as well as strengthening my cooking, sewing, woodwork, metalwork, coding and interior design skills and understanding. I have learnt skills in jewellery making, ceramics, gouache painting, crochet, knitting, pattern making - I also made my own wedding dress recently!

 

Whilst I have always had part of myself designing individually, it has more so been as a hobby only when time allowed. With recent study in small business and leaving full time teaching it is now my time to shine through and establish myself in the wonderful surface pattern design community! I love the illustrative process to create motifs, the beauty of bringing specific colours together to create a mood and the overall feeling a final repeat print can have for a multitude of purposes! 

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Whilst the world of surface pattern design is huge and allows for many different directions, this can be overwhelming and so after reflection on what I want my contribution to be, my mission is to be inspired by the existing patterns of nature and cultures, abstract them in my style of clean, minimalistic and organic forms and colour with neutrals and soft pastels create end products that are soft, serene, comforting and spirit lifting at the same time!

 

I imagine my designs on nursery walls, surf and ski shop walls, flowing summer dresses, yoga mats, little girls skirts and gratitude journals - to name a few! 

 

Please reach out if you want to connect, work with me or have questions about my story!