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I was kinda surprised late on Sunday Sept 1 to find out that entries for the next Spoonflower “Refined Bohemian Wallpaper” Design Challenge would close Tuesday Sept 3. Usually, the Challenges happen every 2 weeks, and since the last one closed August 27, I expected the next Challenge entries would close Tuesday Sept 10 (ie. I should have had another week to create a new design)! So it was a BIT of a scramble, but I did manage to enter my new “Bohemian Garden” design. If I had had more time, I would have fussed ALOT more over this one, but ya know, it was kinda liberating to not do that! Maybe there’s a lesson learned in that, something about spontaneity perhaps?! Public voting for this Challenge closes Tuesday Sept 24, so you still have lots of time to vote! Link to the Voting Page HERE! Click the IMAGES below to SHOP this design in my Spoonflower Shop (it comes in TWO colourways too!)  Of course, I couldn’t resist adding an alternate colourway of my "Bohemian Garden" design to my Spoonflower Shop too: Neutrals, Lavender and Mauve on Powder Blue (see below)...Maybe this 2nd colourway is more “Refined” after all, hmmm, what do you think?! 
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Playing Catchup #1: My Entry for the Spoonflower "Conversational Wallpaper" Design Challenge!9/15/2024 Whoops! It's been busy here at the studio over the last part of Summer, especially since I was away for most of July, but here's my "first" catchup of my entries for the last two Spoonflower Design Challenges: "Conversational Wallpaper" and "Non-Directional Ditsy Holiday" (see my next Blog Post!)! Apologies that voting for these Challenges are now closed, but I just wanted to share the story behind these new designs. And you can SHOP them in my Spoonflower Shop by clicking the IMAGES below! My "Conversational Wallpaper" Design Challenge Entry: "Pasta Potluck" My “Pasta Potluck” design has a bit of a long history here at UnBlink Studio...I originally created this design quite awhile ago with a set of my Mom’s vintage glass Pyrex casserole dishes in mind (remember those?!) For whatever reason, I moved on and forgot about this design, and so it was relegated to sitting on my hard-drive... But the Spoonflower "Conversational Wallpaper" Design Challenge got me thinking about this design again, and I thought that it just might suit the Challenge theme quite nicely! I did have to really re-work it and OF COURSE, I felt the need to completely revise the COLOURS, but I now love its vintage-y, kitsch-y look all over again! If you’d like to see those original Pyrex dishes that inspired this design, have a look below, my Mom gave them to me! Public Voting for this Challenge closed Tuesday August 13 2024.    And now for something COMPLETELY different... Every once in awhile, I really like to “experiment” a bit with my print designs, and this time I was inspired by the Spoonflower Design Challenge theme: “Party Walls”! For this theme, I immediately thought about BALLOONS...This Challenge was for Wallpaper, but I really think my new “Party Balloons” print design also makes for some REALLY FUN bedding and home decor too! What kid (or adult!) wouldn’t want this pillow or sheet set (see below)?! What do you think?! Sorry for the late post, but public voting for the "Party Walls" Challenge closed May 7, but you can vote in the current Challenge HERE! And you can still shop this design in my Spoonflower Shop HERE. This links to the Large-Scale version, but it is also available in a Small-Scale and Medium-Scale version too! 
 The current Spoonflower Design Challenge is “Textured and Tonal Wallpaper”. When I saw “textured” I immediately started thinking about ikat weavings (maybe because I have several beautiful Indonesian ikat textiles hanging in my house, not to mention stacks of batik fabrics, woven silks, Indian block prints, call me obsessed...ANYWAY...). So I created my “Diamond Ikat” to enter in the Challenge. And then it got me motivated to re-fresh my “Spice Islands” Collection in these new Exotic Colours (Hot Pink, Purple, Red, Blue, Dark Teal, Blush Sand)! Now the whole "Spice Islands" Collection is available in my Spoonflower Shop on Fabrics, Wallpaper and Home Decor, and in my Sweden-based Happywall Shop on Wallpaper. Selected designs from this Collection are also available in my Society6 Shop on Bed & Bath, Tech Accessories, Apparel and much more! . Although I entered the first “Diamond Ikat” colourway in the Spoonflower Challenge, I ended up falling down the colour rabbit hole AGAIN, so you can see it now comes in a BUNCH of different colourways! Public voting for this Challenge closes Tuesday April 23. Sorry for the late notice, but if you're in time you can link to the Voting Page HERE!     The current Spoonflower Design Challenge is “Warm Minimalism”, but does anyone really know what “Warm Minimalism” is? I certainly didn’t, and whenever I searched the term I would get lots of prints with archways and abstract arch shapes. So I thought, hmm, I like archways! Which got me thinking about arched “vomitoria” (plural for “vomitorium”)... FUN FACT: Vomitoria were passages used in ancient Roman buildings, such as in the famed Coliseum, designed to provide rapid exit for lots of people in a very short amount of time, ie. so they could spew forth, thus comes our word for “vomit”. ...So here is my design for the current Spoonflower “Warm Minimalism” Design Challenge which features a series of arches looking out at a sunny sky with clouds. I was considering calling it “Vomitorium”, but thought maybe that created a bit of a distasteful image (at least for those of you who already knew the etymology), so I decided to call it “Ruins” instead! And it comes in two colourways (see below)! Click the images to see the Large-Scale versions in my Spoonflower Shop (they're also available in a Small- and Medium-Scale version too)! . Public voting for the “Warm Minimalism” Spoonflower Design Challenge closes Tuesday March 12. You can link to the Voting Page HERE.    Oh My Goodness! LOOK at the Amazing Project from Grace & Folk Using My "Sunrise" Wallpaper!1/24/2024 OH MY GOODNESS…LOOK! 😍😍 Here is a fantastic use of my "Sunrise" Wallpaper purchased from my Spoonflower Shop. So much thanks to the folks at Grace & Folk for choosing my design for this amazing drinks cabinet re-do project. Cocktails, anyone? . For all the details, please read on for all the info as posted by Grace & Folk in their Instagram Post about their project... . "A BEAUTIFUL BUREAU FOR A BEACHSIDE PROPERTY! 💗🌊🏝️🍦🍬💛 Oh my goodness gracious, we are OBSESSED with this babe!!!!! Its giving us 1920s Ice cream parlour vibes and we are HERE for it!!! 💗🌊🏝️🍦🍬💛 Our customer brought us her tired old bureau in need of a facelift and requested Colour, Art Deco and Seaside-y to become her holiday home drinks cabinet and we think we delivered!!!! 🤤👌🏼💗 Initially a challenge, since we’ve always associated Art Deco with Black and Gold…We then found this FABULOUS paper by @unblinkstudio and paired it with customs mix colours using @frenchicpaint‘s “Apple of My Eye” & “Raspberry” as bases! 🍏💗 Et Voila! It’s fresh! Its vibrant! And just what we need in this grim grey weather!!! 💗🌊🏝️🍦🍬💛"
All photos are courtesy of Grace & Folk.
Because Summer is almost here, right?...NOT! I’ve entered my brand new “Tennis Rackets” design in this week’s Spoonflower “Court Sports” Design Challenge in Summery Purple and Pink (first pic below). Public voting closes on Tuesday January 30 and you can link to the Voting Page HERE! And of course, I couldn't resist trying it out in a gorgeous Coral Orange colourway too, see below! Click the images below to link directly to these designs in my Spoonflower Shop! . BTW: starting 2024, Spoonflower Challenges will run every TWO weeks, rather than weekly.   Let's Think About Summer Gardens for This Week's Spoonflower "Welcoming Walls" Design Challenge!1/4/2024 I've just entered my new "Sunshine-y" floral pattern design in this week's Spoonflower "Welcoming Walls" Design Challenge because what could be more welcoming than a garden full of brightly-coloured flowers basking in warm sunshine...especially in Winter?! Public voting for this Challenge closes next Tuesday January 9 2024 (YES, 2024!) You can link to the Voting Page HERE (and I'd love your vote for this one!) AND you can check out all the colourways now available in my Spoonflower Shop HERE!
  When you think of a "serene" wallpaper design, what comes to mind? For me, it made me think of curving shapes, organic forms from nature, soft colours and neutrals, simplicity, rhythmic layouts. So with all these in mind, I designed my new "Stones" pattern design to enter in this week's Spoonflower "Serene Wallscapes" Design Challenge! Do you think this design would make your space more serene?! You can vote at the Voting Page HERE and voting closes next Tuesday December 5. . This new abstract design is now available in my Spoonflower Shop on Fabrics, Wallpaper and Home Decor and it comes in several sizes too! Click the images below to see the Walllpaper (Medium-Scale) in my Spoonflower Shop! OR if you'd prefer (especially if you're located in Europe), you can also shop this design on Wallpaper in my new HappyWall Shop too (which is based in Sweden)! 
 I'm playing catchup here since I've been away in Taiwan (it was an amazing trip, btw, and I'll try to write a post about it very soon!) BUT, getting back to catching up...While I was away, one of the Spoonflower Design Challenges was "Surrealist Wallpaper", and I did manage to enter my new "Disembodied" design (in the Retro Colours, below left) before I left for Taiwan. When I looked at surrealist art, I just seemed to notice the weird eyes, mouths and hands the most! Voting for this Challenge closed November 14, but this new design is now available in my Spoonflower, Redbubble, Society6 and TeePublic Shops in both Retro Colours and Rainbow Brights! Click the product images below to see these products in my Shops!
This week's Spoonflower Design Challenge is "Whimsigothic Wallpaper". So what is "whimsigothic" anyway, you might ask? I had the same question! Doing a bit of research, I discovered it is a mash-up of dark, ornate, mysterious Victorian Gothic design with bright unexpected colours and boho modern touches. So here is my take: I pictured an old stone castle with Gothic stained-glass windows, ornate velvet furniture in dark moody colours, fading tapestries and dusty chandeliers...Thus the name of this floral: "Castle Rose". BUT I also made sure to create the flowers and leaves in a semi-abstract way (look closely) in, what else? Fuchsia Pink! Public voting for this Challenge opens Thursday Sept 7 and closes next Tuesday Sept 12. You can link to the Voting Page HERE! And if you'd like to SHOP this design, click HERE to see the LARGE-Scale version. It also comes in a SMALL-Scale and MEDIUM-Scale version too!   So I must admit, I'm kinda in LOVE with Barbie colours right now! Pink, Blue, Purple...I guess that's no surprise! So, I named my new floral pattern design "Dream House" (get it?!) and entered it in this week's Spoonflower "Tween Spirit Bedding" Design Challenge! What tween (or teen or full-grown adult or elder) wouldn't like this (um, don't answer that)?! This gorgeous floral is now available in my Spoonflower Shop on Fabrics, Wallpaper and Home Decor in 3 sizes and a bunch of colourways. Click the IMAGES below to link directly to the Large-Scale versions in my Spoonflower Shop (but don't forget, they also come in a Small- and Medium-Scale version too if you prefer that!) . If you'd like to vote in this Challenge, public voting for is open until Tuesday August 22 and you can link to the Voting Page HERE!     AND OF COURSE, I had to try it out in several other colourways. Scroll down to see them! They're all now available in my Spoonflower Shop on Fabrics, Wallpaper and Home Decor in 3 sizes! Click the IMAGES to link directly to the Large-Scale versions in my Shop!    Another Catch-Up Post: My Entry for Spoonflower's "French Country Table Linens" Design Challenge!7/20/2023 I found it quite difficult to figure out what exactly "French Country" meant when it comes to pattern design (other than toile). I researched quite a bit and what struck me were the use of soft colours, especially blue and white. I hoped my "Thicket" design is French Country, at least in "feel", because I entered the Blue and White on Periwinkle version below in Spoonflower's "French Country Table Linens" Design Challenge (it also comes in the Blue White and Deep Cream version too)! And then I created my "Fanciful" Collection around this theme in Blue & White too! Have a look at the full "Fanciful" Collection on Fabrics, Wallpaper and Home Decor in my Spoonflower Shop! Each print comes in 3 sizes and there are co-ordinating solids too! BTW: Public voting for this Challenge is now closed, but you can check out the current Challenge at the Voting Page!  "Thicket" in Blue White Deep Cream (top) and in Blue and White on Periwinkle Purple (bottom)  "Country Cottage"  "Daydreamy"  "Leafy" When you need to get your RETRO fix! Here is my abstract geometric "Circuits" pattern design in Coral Orange (on wallpaper) and Neutral Sand Brown (on cupboard and floor). I've entered the Coral Orange version in this week's Spoonflower "Non-Directional Wallpapers" Design Challenge, but you KNOW it comes in a bunch of other colourways too (see below)! Public voting for this Challenge is on now until next Tuesday July 4 (July!?) and you can link to the Voting Page HERE! I'd love your vote for this one! If you want to see all the colourways of this design now available in my Spoonflower Shop, it's easiest to see them all in one place in my "Abstract and Geometric Themes" Collection. Each one comes in 3 scales on Fabrics, Wallpaper and Home Decor! 
I've been super busy the last few weeks, so missed posting about the last four Spoonflower Challenges! I wanted to catch up with them, so I hope you enjoy this recap! Wedding Table Linens Challenge (June 8 2023): "Seahells" For this Challenge, I knew I wanted something not-so-traditional. So I decided to enter my "Seashells" design in the first Pink, Yellow and Green colourway! Maybe perfect for a "destination" wedding in some warm tropical beach locale? You can see all the various colourways in my "Age Of Aquariums" Collection in my Spoonflower Shop!
Tropical Fruits Challenge (June 15 2023): "Tropical Fruits With Lotsa Dots" Although I entered my "Tropical Fruits With Lotsa Dots" in the first Juicy Brights colourway (it's pretty fun on a Food Truck, right?) in the Spoonflower "Tropical Fruit" Design Challenge, I couldn't help trying this design out in a bunch of other colourways too: Earthy Brights, Mid-Century Vintage, Pop Art Brights and Postmodern. Should I keep going? Call me obsessed! They're all now available in my Spoonflower Shop in 3 scales on Fabrics, Wallpaper and Home Decor in my "Fruits and Vegetable Themes" Collection (with lots of other fresh designs too!) Click the images to go directly to that colourway in my Shop!  
Birds of Prey Wallpaper Challenge (June 22 2023): "Woo Hoo" Would these guys be what you think of when you think of "Birds Of Prey"? No?! Well, owls are birds of prey, even if they're funny and cute! I should know, one grabbed my head when I was running one dark morning, probably thought my ponytail was an animal tail (what would that have made my head?!) You can find my "Woo Hoo" design in my Spoonflower Shop in 3 scales; my TeePublic Shop for Graphic Tees and more; and in my Redbubble Shop on lotsa fun products! 
Buttercups Home Decor Challenge (June 29 2023): "Charmed With Buttercups" And FINALLY (for this post anyway)...After some last-minute mind-changing I decided to enter my "Charmed With Buttercups" design in the first moody Coral, Olive and Beige on Dark Purple colourway in the "Buttercups Home Decor" Design Challenge! I did create several other colourways for this design (see below), thus all the last-minute mind-changing, but thought the first colourway would be perfect for Home Decor! You can link to each colourway in my Spoonflower Shop by clicking on the images below! The links will connect you with the Medium-Scale versions (except the Duvet cover which is shown in Large-Scale), but these also come in both a Small- and Large-Scale too! 
PHEW! NOTE TO SELF: Don't miss posting about the Spoonflower Challenges each week! I'll try to keep up from now on. I hope you enjoyed this though!
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AuthorJackie Tahara of UnBlink Studio Archives
March 2026
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All images on this website are Copyright © Jackie Tahara. All rights reserved.
If sharing, pinning or blogging my images, please always credit me and link back to my website. Supporting artists is a good thing to do! Thank you!
If sharing, pinning or blogging my images, please always credit me and link back to my website. Supporting artists is a good thing to do! Thank you!