Check out the new duds!

Hey gorgeous!

Today is the big day. I'm ready to show you my new duds (aka the new home for Darnita L Howard brand and blog). OMG!!! I'm really thrilled about this. And yes, it's bittersweet that I'm closing the doors of At the Art of It, but staying positive and looking forward to this new chapter. Are you ready to check out the new space? Click here.

Moving into a New Place

Hey gorgeous!

I have some major news to share, so I want you to get comfortable in your seat. For the past five years, I've made Blogger my home for At the Art of It. It's in this sacred space where I've shared my creative journey, the highs and lows, and all that lies in between. It's been a beautiful place to connect with you and support the most magnificent canvas of all called LIFE. It's been a wild ride and I'm so honored that you have stuck around. My heart is open and full of gratitude.

With that said, I wanted to let you know that this is my second to last post here at At the Art of It. I'm not giving up blogging completely, but I'm ready to be in a space that fits the me that is present today. I've been wanting a new home for my gorgeous visuals and expressions. Yet, I was still holding on to the familiar, and sometimes it's not the best decision. What the creative process has taught me is that evolution and transformation is inevitable. There is always room to add or take away to reconfigure.

To welcome in the new, I must let go of some of the old. And that's what I'm doing. In order to bear new fruit, I've decided to let some things go, including my blog here. With the upcoming change, I'm moving to a space where my blog and portfolio are housed under one roof. Simplicity is the name of the game. You'll get the chance to witness behind the scenes of the Darnita L Howard brand, see new works and be updated on the latest news. And occassionally I'll share inspirational ramblings about life.

My official last post will be Monday, August 3rd. You'll be a witness to the big reveal of the new space. I hope you still feel called to ride along with me as I prepare to move on from here to a new home. I'd love to have you as a guest.

Until next time have a beautifully designed day.

With love and light,

It's here! The Surface Pattern Design Lookbook-Volume 1.

The Surface Pattern Design Lookbook-Volume 1
by Make It in Design Summer School

Hey everyone!

Long time no talk to. But I have some amazeballs news to share. So, first off, remember when I was in summer school last year? In case you forgot, I was part of the Make It in Design Summer School with other talented designers. I signed up for all three levels and couldn't believe I survived.  The experience totally stretched me beyond what I thought I could do and I'm so grateful. Now that you are up to speed, let me get to the goods. Well, Make It in Design has just released the lookbook featuring beautiful collections from our summer school, The Surface Pattern Design Lookbook-Volume 1.

You can see all of the briefs including tropical paradise, feathers, jewels and tribal prints. Two of my designs were featured including one in the animal print category and the other in water rays. I'm so amped up about this that I am having a personal party. Moments like these keep me motivated. What's your motivation?

Orenmanieyo a.k.a. Long time no see

Hey there!

Orenmanieyo!  ("Long time no see" in Korean)

In actuality, I had no idea that it had been months since my last post on here. In my head I have been connected to you wonder folks, but in actuality I have been MIA. Well, I am happy to report that I am still in my creative lab thinking and creating. I have visions of 2015 that involve alot of my creative juices being utilized in a multitude of ways.

Like I got a sewing machine as a gift from my sweety pie for Christmas. Finally, I have a sewing machine. The last time I owned a sewing machine was when I was in elementary school. It was a pastel yellow and absolutely adorable. But this is one is for grown folks and I am loving it. So, yeah, I am making sewing a part of my repertoire. I have made one clutch so far. It isn't perfect but I love it. I look forward to designing more.

I've also been painting. Now, let me confess that I like painting, but I am so freaked out about sharing. Reason is that I criticize, criticize, criticize about my lack of formal training. So when it comes to painting, I used to keep my paintings low-key. Not anymore. I love seeing paint on paper and canvas and whatever surface is available. It doesn't have to be for everyone. I am happy with the way creativity is expressing through me. Can you say DIVINE IMPRINT? I did some mark making at the beginning of January and have painted some earrings as well.

Furthermore, I have been working with a wonderful artist collective and we are preparing for our next Women Arts Festival. Can you say AMAZING? So, if you happen to be a woman-identified artist and would like to showcase your talents, I say go an apply for the 6th Annual Isis Women Arts Festival. Deadline to apply is February 15, 2015.  It is located in Seattle but I still encourage you. You can learn more about it here.

Let's see. What else? I am finally on Instagram. I am addicted to it just like soft crushed ice. It is just so fascinating to see so much awesome goodness in one spot. Hashtag this and hashtag that. I think this has also been a reason for my disappearing act on the blog. Oops. I apologize. :-(  I realize that though I can be a wordsmith, I really prefer images and brief moment of extraordinary connection. If you have an Instagram account, let's connect there as well. 

When it comes down to the "bizness", I am reworking and refocusing. So, I don't have much to share on that end. I just ask for clarity and direction for this year and that more amazingness comes for me to share with you. So, that's about it for now. What have you been up to lately?

Until next time, take care.

Forever Student

Hi lovelies!

I have missed you dearly and hope your life has been fabulous since my last post. My design endeavors have been kicked up a few notches and I am beginning to feel like a forever student. There will always be something else to learn about designing, building collections, promotion and marketing, etc etc. And while my perfectionist ego would love to know everything at once before doing anything, I know that is not how life is. Therefore, I and my works will forever be a part of the creative and learning process. While this process can be tedious, it can also be a beautiful opportunity to grow and become better at my craft.

One such opportunity that allowed me to leap and learn was participating in a pattern design competition for an upcoming home furnishings company. The project entailed designing a six-piece collection with varying unique designs that fits the personality of the company's customer. There was a grand prize winner as well as other designers selected to join the initial design team. Unfortunately, I was not one of the lucky winners. Yet, I am so totally impressed with myself. 

 

Her Typical Day collection by Darnita L Howard

I am easing into my style and seeing what works and what doesn't. I am enjoying the research process and following all these tutorials and guides about designing and making patterns. It is so much fun. I realize that I can't get enough of patterns and that everywhere I go, I paying more attention to what others are wearing, how walls are covered, and seeing patterns in everything.  And that fuels my desire to design more and learn about shaping these inspirations into pattern form. It is okay to be a forever student. And I don't mind telling others to do the same. So, what are you a student of? Share in the comments section.

Until next time, have a beautifully designed day.

Darnita

Mission Complete! Now What?

Hi Lovelies,

It's chilly over here in Seattle and I need to wear warmer clothing ASAP. How is it going on your end? I hope swell. Anywho, I wrapped up Make It in Design Summer School. Yay for me! After six weeks of work, I can finally say MISSION COMPLETE. I had so much fun and connected with so many other talented designers. I can't wait to do some more learning. As promised, I have the delight of sharing the designs from my last briefs.

Third Brief for the Beginner Level: Jewels Theme

Mockup for Third Brief of Intermediate Level: Feathers Theme

Mockup for Third Brief of Advanced Level: Intricate Chaos Theme

Now that summer school is over, now what?! I mean I know the answer. I must continue forward. There is no turning back now. I told a group a few weeks ago, that I am going to put in my 10,000 hours so that I can master the craft of surface pattern design. Yep. I said that. And I am making that commitment. After using Gimp and Inkscape for years, I have been upgraded. My sweetheart gifted me with a subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud as my birthday present. :-) Can I say, AWESOME! And while I have watched and read plenty of tutorials on Illustrator and Photoshop, it is nothing like actually doing the do. There is still much to learn and skills to acquire. No biggy.

As I venture into my 10,000 hours I shall take further inquiry into finding my style and brand identity. At times, I think I know what it is and at others I question what I'm all about. It's all good regardless. It's all celebrating what this beautiful life is offering in the moment. As my mantra goes: Life's a party. Be sure to celebrate. For each step I take, I am celebrating these milestones. Today, I had to sit back and think of how far I have come along this career journey. I know so much more than I did when a started. I am aware of what it really takes to operate a business. And I have beautiful connections to others doing the same thing. I am grateful. So, here's to taking steps and making the commitment. No more excuses to why I can't follow the course. I leave you with a quote from Molesey Crawford, Founder of the Queen Code, "Queen, it’s time to move beyond your excuses and your fears. Believe in your vision enough to take the first step." And so I shall.

Til next time, have a beautifully designed day.

Creating Beyond Comfort

Hi lovelies,

I have been in a designing frenzy for the last few weeks with Make It in Design Summer School. We received our last briefs and all I can say is Say What?! Each brief regardless of level has been a challenge and taken me way beyond what I thought I was capable of creating. I mean seriously. When I began designing patterns, I was sticking to my handy dandy yet exquisite fractal creations. Yet, I haven't been eager to automatically include fractals into my works for summer school. I am looking at other options first. I guess you can call that growth. Now in the last stretch, I am being pushed even further and it's uncomfortable but it's also pretty darn cool. As I have been crafting ideas for the Beginner Level brief which is focused on jewels, I am starting from nothing but turning out some awesomeness. What it all boils down to is this: You never know what you can do until you do it. From a doubter of all doubters I proved myself wrong. While I am still learning so much and have a lot more to cover about surface design, I am proud of each step I make. I am happy to step and create beyond my comfortable medium or perspective. And just to show you what I'm talking about, here are snapshots of the patterns I've created thus far for MIID.

First Brief for the Beginner Level: Tropical Paradise Theme

First Brief for the Intermediate Level: Retro Geometrics Theme

First Brief for Advanced Level: Water Rays Theme

And yes my very first swimwear mockup. 

Second Brief for Beginner Level: Tribal Shapes Theme

Second Brief for the Intermediate Level: Animal Print Theme.
(I am not one that really knows about animal print. It's called Growth I tell you.)

Here is the animal print on a tote bag. Now available for purchase at my Society6 shop.

Second Brief for Advanced Level: Tribal Collage Theme. I did that! :-)

First ever mockup on boxes. Whoa!

That's it for now folks. I will post again with the last brief designs soon so stay tuned. Oh and I think you should also see the other great designs from MIID students. Go here for more goodness. Thanks for checking and seeing what I'm up to. I'm always looking to here how you are creating in the world. Feel free to share in the comments section. Take care and until next time, have a beautifully designed day.

Textures: Inspirations from the Yard

Today I am an unofficial dog sitter. And as such I must fulfill the duties to engage in playtime in the yard. While out I couldn't help but snap some shots of the amazing florals and textures. Nature is so inspiring.

Make It in Design Summer School and a Whole Heap of More

Hey Lovelies, 

It’s been a minute since I connected with you, so I wanted to touch bases and play a little catchup. Have You Loved Yourself Today wrapped up nicely and I am mightily blessed and grateful to have been given that opportunity to share love and receive it in the process. An entire month of loving on yourself goes by fast. You can’t beat that. Well, yes you can if you do it every day. It was synchronous again as I was pouring forth messages about self-love, I was receiving daily messages as well that advised me to nourish myself and pay attention to my wants. Universe, I am listening. I hear you loud and clear. I took an amazing trip to Leavenworth and Soap Lake in Washington but that gorgeous amazing experience will be saved for a different post. You gotta see the pics. But I digressed. 

Last week I did work that simply wasn't my cup of tea. That meant I had to kick the self-love and care into high gear in the form of sleep. And it was definitely needed. (Little confession here: I don’t like standing in place for eight hours without real social interaction. It is exhausting. Lesson learned.) Can I say I am grateful for a bed and blanket even in this summer heat? Have you been taking naps lately? If not, I highly recommend you schedule one ASAP. 

Anywho, after a week of doing non-creative work and almost going insane from the monotony, I am happy to be back in the studio creating. Designs are in full swing as the Make It in Design Summer School kicked off last week. I happened to mention the Make It in Design Summer School some time ago. If you happened to miss that post, you can learn more about the e-course over here. My wanna be over achiever self had the audacity to register for all levels of the course. What in the world was I thinking? After the initial shock of all that was required for each brief, I got my bearings in order and am now having fun like no one’s business. Party over here! Yay! Design is in my bones and I am happy to be learning from the course. I look forward to the process and the outcome. Stay tuned as I share my insights as I partake in the course. 

So for now, I bid you “Ahnyong” (Informal version of “Goodbye” in Korean). Until next time, have a beautifully designed day. 

 Take care,

Courage Warriors on the Road

Hi lovelies,

It is hot and sunny over here in the Pacific NW. I can't complain though. I need this sunshine in my life. I'm writing because I have an awesome project taking place over at Trevolta.com and I think the great people over here at At the Art of It deserves to know about it. My spouse and I have started a crowdfunding campaign called the Courage Warriors Project. We (mainly being scaredy cats) are stepping outside of our comfort zones and tackling long held fears. We have been on a courageous journey since we located this way from North Carolina. How did I get here without a place to call home, a job, family, and almost empty pockets? I think it took some courage. Wouldn't you agree? Now, we are ready to go abroad to South Korea. We are stepping into a world so different from our norm and hope to experience many adventures along the way. Our project needs backers and backers get to be a part of the journey as well. Though there are plenty of my perks, my fave is the choosing of our adventure. Yes, you get to decide what we do. I just say check out the project yourself and see how cool it is. Until next time, have a beautifully designed day.

Best,

Darnita