Dear, Reader,

I think this might be you, too?

Last year, I had a wee bit of an identity crisis.

We were working with a company on a branding project and they asked a totally innocent question:

“So, what do you call yourself?”

Blank stare? Yep. Panic scrolling through job titles in my head? Definitely.

(Embarrassing much? 😳)

I said, Well... it's complicated. And the conversation began to unfold.

Artist? Yes, but not in a “gallery-hangs-my-oils” kind of way. Designer? Yes, but not interiors. Educator? Of course, but I'm also an artist! Creative Entrepreneur? Always, but I'm so much more than that.

For years, I've introduced myself as a surface pattern designer. Still true. But standing in that room, I realized the title didn’t quiiiiiite capture the full picture.

So there I was. Feeling unidentified. The woman who teaches other women to build creative careers, without a word for her own.

Then my right hand, Tessie, spoke up. She said two words. And I couldn't stop turning them over in my mind.

Fast forward a few weeks. 👀

I'm standing in my garden. I’d flown some of my team in along with a videographer and a photographer to film the biggest project of our entire year life: re-imagining, re-writing, and re-recording the Surface Design Immersion course.

My hands covered in dirt, a flower press by my side, and my phone capturing a flower I'd later turn into a pattern on fabric, I directed how the scene would unfold. And somewhere between the camera angle and the afternoon light, I felt it settle into my bones.

Creative Director.

That's who I am.

I'm the Creative Director of my life.

Not just of the course, or my fabric collections, or my business. I've been creatively directing the moments of my days all along... I just didn't have the words.

It’s why I cook dinner every night. Why I keep fresh flowers by the sink. Why I have a craft room for Ollie that has paint on everything and no rules. Why I keep chickens and grow my garden. Why I've developed a structure for my day that feels energizing. It's why I've built a team and a business that supports creativity at every turn.

I am someone who loves creating beauty in everything.

… And I think you might be too?

Here's what I've realized:

You don't earn the title of creative director. You claim it.

You claim it when you build a ritual into your morning. When you arrange the books on your shelf just so. When you choose the slow way because it's the beautiful way. When you look at your life and ask, How could this feel more like mine?

If you do that, even in the smallest corners of your day, you're already living it.

You were created to create. (A truth I wholly believe in!)

If we're just meeting, Hi! I'm Bonnie. I teach surface pattern design, the skill of creating artwork that’s on products like fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap, stationery... you name it! The prints and patterns you notice on a pillow or a notebook, or a bolt of cloth. Someone designs each one!

I've taught it for over a decade. I've built an entire world around it. And this year, I tore the whole thing down and rebuilt it.

Over the next eight weeks, I want to share that story with you.

I'm calling this series Letters to the Creative: a note written by me to you, once a week. I'll tell you what we discovered, and how it’s changing the way we see our lives as creatives.

We'll start at the beginning: the moment we decided to reimagine everything.

Here's what I haven't told you yet.

After 8 years of teaching something that works, that has changed thousands and thousands of lives, we overhauled everything.

Why?

Why would we take a course that's generated millions of dollars, has a waitlist, and a community of students who rave about their results... and tear it down to the studs?

Something happened. Something we felt and we couldn't unsee.

Cue: a 2-hour team meeting. Pens and paper flying, late nights, a Google doc growing past 500 pages (not a typo!), and knowing:

We had to reimagine Surface Design Immersion.

I'll give you the inside scoop in next week’s letter!

With love,

Bonnie Christine, Creative Director

In other (exciting!) news…

Volume 3 of Pattern Magazine just hit the shelves! It’s called Begin Again (because don’t we all need a fresh start now and then?). You can find it at Barnes & Noble or order it right from our online shop right here!​

This issue is filled with beauty and heart, featuring incredible artists like Nicholas Wilton, Sarah Simon, and Jillian Nichole, plus articles on everything from “Building an Annual Strategy” to “There’s Nothing in Money But Art.”

Ready to create & grow? Here’s how we can make it happen together: Transform your passion into a career Join me in the Surface Design Immersion Course and take the ultimate step toward creating a life and career you love through surface design. Enrollment opens in February. Learn More​ Get real licensing opportunities with Pattern+ A monthly membership to build momentum in your creative career. Inside, you'll find real-world design briefs for licensing with dream brands, time-saving tools, and the support of a flourishing community. Join the Membership​ Soak in the pages of Pattern Magazine - Created for surface designers, this quarterly print publication is filled to the brim with artist interviews, licensing insights, brand strategies, trend forecasts, and heartfelt inspiration. For the artist and designer, the creative at heart, I made this magazine for you. Read the Latest Issue​ Tune in to the Professional Creative Podcast - Looking for creative business inspiration on the go? Each week, I share tips, strategies, and insights to support your journey as a creative entrepreneur (bonus points if you listen while doodling!). Listen: Apple | Spotify | Shownotes​ Dip your toes into my Free Resource Library - Want to test the waters before you dive in? Our free resource library is packed with mini-classes, worksheets, color palettes, and guides to get you started. No cost, just creativity. Take a Looksie 👀 Dive into exclusive resources - Like the Ultimate Licensing Handbook and the Expo Documentary and Tell All. ​