Surface Pattern Design Cindy Backstrom Surface Pattern Design Cindy Backstrom

Restarting...Again

Patio cushions featuring the Spring Unfolded fabric collection

Wow…how many times does it take to get going you ask?

Well, I guess until I get it right.

At the start of 2025 I finally gained traction with all things related to this small business. Right now I am operating it as a side gig as I still have full time employment five days a week. Instead of making all the excuses or even recounting, yet again, the proclamations and declarations of restarting, I am simply picking up where I currently find myself.

It is June and I have made more progress than ever before (patting myself on the back over here). I have designed two complete pattern collections, started a Spoonflower shop, rebranded my existing Etsy shop for home decor items (previously paper items - journals, notebooks, cards, etc.), began creating Reels for my Instagram account, updated my pattern collections to my Portfolio on my website, and started a Pinterest business account.

The learning curve has been steep. My goals are small and spread apart so that I cannot fail or will not abandon ship. I have kept it all manageable & in bite-sized pieces. I do not want to restart for the fourth (or is it the fifth) time.

So here we are in June and I am smiling…

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Surface Pattern Design Cindy Backstrom Surface Pattern Design Cindy Backstrom

Next Steps

A mini course I recently took

Last week I took this mini course offered through Indy Bloom on IG and it was the motivation that I needed.

After the happenings in my life over the past 2 years I have had a few false starts at getting back into surface pattern design. My heart is there. But my creativity isn’t. I’ve tried creating again and it just falls flat. So I have been giving myself some grace to get myself going creatively again.

Mindy, from Indy Bloom is a superstar at selling her patterns on Spoonflower. She has figured it out! And she is making a nice profit from her designs. She offered this mini course as a hook for her more in-depth course on designing and selling on Spoonflower and it began to stir something in me again. As I thought about it I realized that even though I may not be ready to jump right in with creating a new pattern collection, I can upload my previous designs to Spoonflower and offer them for sale!

I started repaperedshop already on Spoonflower, before my life spiraled, by uploading two different pattern collections and making them available for sale. But I didn’t really know what I was doing. Now, having taken this little inspirational course, I have new thoughts and a renewed fervour for moving forward.

So, with a little motivation in my pocket, I will take the next step…

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