Sometimes people are surprised to find out I create all of the design, patterning, and illustration work here at Mare. And since it’s truly the thing that lights me up the most, I thought I’d share a little about my process with you.

Let’s get into it!

My designs almost always begin with a story. Someone in the equestrian community will share a story (more on this next month so stay tuned!) and my mind immediately starts looking for details or elements of the story that lend themselves to visual interpretation. This whole process of creating is a lot like life: it can get a little messy but it’s also a lot of fun.

Once I have the concept in mind, I start drawing. I still love working with a pen and pencil. Sometimes going directly to the computer slows down the process because the hand-brain connection gets interrupted. Also, I like to doodle and that’s just harder on a computer or tablet.

Sometimes I trace over certain images if I want them to be more accurate. But I tend toward looser, less literal illustrations. Some designs come to life in a very literal way and others are more abstract. Sometimes I have an idea of what I want the final piece to look like but it’s rare that the end result looks anything like what I imagined.

That’s the thing about creativity: if you try to control it too much, it disappears (sound familiar?)

That’s because the creative process is also like horsemanship. It’s a good idea to start with a plan. But you should also leave your mind open to alternatives. When you stay open to other routes, the process often guides you somewhere wonderful and unexpected.

Once I’ve got a clearer idea of where the design is going, I scan my drawings and/or digitize the artwork. The difference between how something looks in the sketchpad versus how it looks on the computer is kinda mind-blowing. And sometimes the thing I’m sure is going to be awesome ends up such a bust that I panic a little! Over time, I’ve learned that panicky “uh oh” moment – that moment that feels like you’re in a maze and you have no idea how you’re going to find your way through – is where I have to fight the urge to give up.

Sometimes the best choice is walking away for a bit to get a new perspective. (I know this is where my maze metaphor falls apart but stay with me!) Other times, I need to persist and keep going. I just have to be willing to continue calmly looking for ways to get to the end. The nice thing about undertaking this process over and over is that now I have a much better sense of when to bear down and when to walk away.

Again, it’s like horses. With experience, you learn to trust your instincts. You think less and sense more. It requires curiosity. And it requires a certain amount of courage and a willingness to take a chance. You may not know how it will turn out but you have to trust the process.

Once the design is laid out, it’s time for my favorite part: color. I love working with color and few things make me happier than opening up my Pantone books and piecing together a color story. My launches are seasonal so I try to keep my spring and summer colors a bit lighter. Inspired by the things we love about the season, I choose colors that remind me of sunshine, oceans, clover patches, fresh fruit, blue skies – you get the idea.

For fall and winter, my colors tend to be more rich, more saturated. I love to look at fashion trends and make sure I know what the runways are showing. Believe it or not, those things do trickle down to our industry.

Once I’ve settled on color palettes, I work the color elements into the designs so that each collection has its own look but also works well with the other collections. That consistency is an essential element to the brand’s look and feel.

I’ve been creating all my life. You’d think with this much experience I’ve figured out how to not get nervous when I share the designs with my collaborative partners. Nope. I really want my partners to love the designs. I want them to feel seen. I want them to feel that the design communicates something that is uniquely them. It’s hard to take that lightly!

Because my designs are not just cute or decorative. I love that each tells a story about a horse and rider, their special bond, how the horse changed their life, and other meaningful stories. This allows my brand to be a platform for a range of different people and their horses. It also connects me to the breath of a community I’m part of. I love hearing people’s stories and learning about their lives and how horses have been a part of their story. Every season when I launch a new collection, I fall in love with what I do all over again. This business is truly a labor of love.

Thanks, as always, for reading this and drop me a line if you’d like to know more about how the creative process! I always love talking shop!

Spring is one of my favorite seasons. The weather is warmer, flowers are blooming, days are getting longer. Everything seems just a bit more hopeful. And I don’t know about you but with everything going on in the world, I’ll take feeling hopeful every chance I get!

Spring is also when I launch new collections. People have asked how I choose partners for these seasonal collaborations and how the process comes together. So with springtime newness all around, this feels like the right time to tell you all about my first pattern, the Channing Collection .

When I got back into riding about 7 years ago, I was still working at a full-time job. It happened that my colleague Sarah had just purchased a horse. She was eventing with him and I asked if I could come see her ride sometime.

Well, that was the kiss of death. (Or was it life?) Because shortly thereafter, I started taking riding lessons, leasing different horses. I soon fell hook, line, and sinker for these animals in a way that far eclipsed my love for them as a child – which is saying something because I really loved them then, too!

But back to the Channing Collection. Channing’s owner, my coworker Sarah, is who I truly credit for leading me back to horses. She was so generous with Channing—she even let me take lessons on him! I was a total stranger she just worked with! (I mean, who does that?)

During the course of our working together, Sarah’s father died unexpectedly. He had been her rock. Her dad was also the person who introduced her to horses and nurtured her love of them. In the months after his death, Channing was the one thing that gave Sarah a sense of purpose and hope. As she so eloquently put it:

Sitting next to Sarah at the office, bearing witness to her pain, her strength and her faith during this time really stayed with me. When I started Mare, I knew her story was an important part of mine and had to be woven into the story of my brand.

And so it goes. Partnering on these seasonal collaborations is a very organic process. If I had to lay out step-by-step directions, I don’t think I could. And even though I don’t typically go looking for stories, they sure seem to find me! I think that’s why I love going to shows so much; I always meet someone who shares something about their experience with horses that moves, inspires, or surprises me. Every time, it reinforces the significance of these creatures in our lives.

If you have a story to share, I’d love to hear it. You never know what’s going to inspire the next season’s design. Just email me – I’m all ears!