About Me

Oh hi, I’m Jennie!

My favourite subject at high school was art. It was the one place where I could get ‘in the flow’, be in my zone of energy and totally immersed in the art project I was working on. I would be totally focused and not notice the passing of time.

When it came time to choose a career path, I naturally wanted to follow my artistic passion. However, in those days, there wasn’t a lot of choice, or many different art mediums.

I tried my hand at fashion design for a few years, but it was not my calling. I soon discovered I didn’t like sewing – at all!   

Fast forward the next 30 odd years, I resolved to work in more ‘sensible’ jobs. Largely employed in the corporate world, I worked in the Airforce (no, I was not a pilot!) and for Government in information management, project work and policy, collecting two degrees along the way.   

But deep down I always knew art was what I really wanted to do. Time had not dimmed my passion.

Discovering mosaics

To satisfy my creative streak, I tried various art hobbies such as folk art painting, ceramics, quilting and cross stitching (different types of sewing so that made it more acceptable!). However, I never maintained these hobbies for longer than a year, if that.

I then remembered my interest in mosaics (creating my own jigsaw?), but life got in the way. I did enroll in a short mosaic course, which I thoroughly enjoyed and had every intention to continue creating mosaics at home. However, once classes finished, so did my mosaic journey.

As happens in life, mosaics again crossed my path. I attended craft markets with a good friend also interested in mosaics. A purchase from a mosaic producing stall holder led to a conversation about mosaics, which led to the discovery she taught mosaics. We started her classes, and my mosaic journey was reawakened!

Creating designs

Once I began creating mosaics, I became curious about what designs I could use to create mosaics. I started collecting cards, calendars and getting inspiration from online sources, however I was acutely aware these were not my designs and I did not want to infringe any copyright!

I searched online for simple designs I could buy, but quickly became frustrated by lack of choice.

Mmm…there must be a way I could create designs myself. There must be a computer program to create my own design ideas.

I discovered that if I learnt Adobe Illustrator, I would have the means to create my own designs. But where to learn?

Enter the Bonnie Christine ‘Immersion’ course. Not only did I learn how to turn my drawings and photos into designs for mosaics, but I also learnt how to how to create surface pattern designs.    

Bingo! I now knew how to turn one piece of artwork into a mosaic design template and a surface pattern design for items such as fabric and wallpaper.

In addition, I learnt that I could take a photo of a finished mosaic, upload this to Adobe Illustrator and turn this into not only a surface pattern design, but gift-wrapping paper and gift tags.

If only all these design options were available when I left school all those years ago…..