Hi, I'm Jocelyn

a surface pattern designer and maker.

I started this website back in 2009 with a passion for creating beautiful, custom items to personalize your nest. This has looked different over the years with one-of-a-kind sock and glove animals, personalized ornaments, art prints, custom invitations, baby rattles, and sewing patterns. It has been a joy to make items that become part of a family's traditions.

I have recently fallen in love with surface pattern design. It has taken over my thoughts and my days and I love that it's something I can pursue from anywhere in the world.

Six years ago I left Texas to begin an adventure in Pitlochry, Scotland with my husband and 3 children. This summer we made an unexpected move up to gorgeous Shetland where the warm hearts of the people here and the rugged landscape are a constant inspiration for my art.

I love making artwork for companies and products. If you are a company that would be interested in licensing my work please get in touch.

thenestingspot

Having a little fun playing with my ornaments befo

Having a little fun playing with my ornaments before they started their long journeys across the pond.

It’s finally time to share 2 new ornament design

It’s finally time to share 2 new ornament designs this year! 🐈 🐕 I had hoped to get them out a bit earlier but at least I got them done. I have avoided these 2 animals in the past because there are endless variations in each but thought I’d keep it simple and go for it anyway. I am still waiting on orange fleece for the cat and a tan color for the dog. Those options will be added in a couple days when it gets here but I didn’t want to wait any longer to share them. You can get to my shop via the link in my bio. #thenestingspot #dogornament #catornament #puppyornament #kittenornament #petornament #customornaments

Here are three more wildflowers found on Shetland.

Here are three more wildflowers found on Shetland. Happy Friday!

#shetland #movingtoshetland #surfacedesign #artlicensing #surfacedesigner #shetlandartist #shetlandwildflowers #stationerydesign #playfuldesign #childrensdesign #floral #flowers #wildflowers

To go along with animals that live on and around S

To go along with animals that live on and around Shetland I wanted to make some of the wildflowers you might find on a walk. Here are the first three. 🌼🌸🌺

#shetland #movingtoshetland #surfacedesign #artlicensing #surfacedesigner #shetlandartist #shetlandwildflowers #stationerydesign #playfuldesign #childrensdesign #floral #flowers #wildflowers

Our neighbours have not one, not two, not three, n

Our neighbours have not one, not two, not three, nor four, but five Shelties! They are delightful and fluffy and happy and small. I love how so many of the animals here are miniature. If you haven’t seen a Sheltie it is a Shetland Sheepdog which is cousin of the Collie and you need to Google them so you can help relieve some stress from your day.

#shetland #movingtoshetland #surfacedesign #artlicensing #surfacedesigner #shetlandartist #shetlandsheltie #stationerydesign #playfuldesign #childrensdesign #sheltie #shetlandsheepdog #dogsofinstagram #doglovers

Today’s animal is the Shetland sheep. This is

Today’s animal is the Shetland sheep. This is one animal we see and hear every day. One of the new words we’ve learned here is “scattald” which is the common pasture ground allocated to crofters in Shetland for use as grazing. The sheep roam around our fence wishing to come into our garden to get some yummy plants. If we didn’t have a cattle guard at the end of our drive they would definitely make themselves at home. I wasn’t sure what type of sheep to draw at first because there are different breeds raised here but decided to go with the Shetland breed itself. Within the breed there are many different colour combos and patterns but the ones that we see out our window every day are all white so I went with that even though it might not be as exciting. I took some video of some of the sheep being rounded up one day so I’ll post that in stories and there is also one of the most adorable sheep I’ve ever seen just a minute walk from our house which is called a Valais Blacknose. It originates from Switzerland and looks like a big stuffed animal. I love its black knees. This particular sheep is also the only sheep I’ve met that isn’t afraid of people and runs up to the fence when you walk by. So, while sheep may not be as exotic as orcas and otters, I never tire of watching them and love that they get to roam around and do whatever they want.

#shetland #movingtoshetland #surfacedesign #artlicensing #surfacedesigner #shetlandartist #shetlandsheep #stationerydesign #playfuldesign #childrensdesign #sheep #ewe #crofter #artwork

Next is the elusive otter! We’ve always heard

Next is the elusive otter! We’ve always heard that it is very hard to see otters in the wild but it would be amazing to get to see some one day. When reading up on them I discovered that the otters in Shetland aren’t sea otters like I had expected but European river otters and were brought over by humans a long time ago probably for their pelts. I also learned that there are no native mammals, reptiles, or amphibians here and all were brought over by people at some point which is so interesting to me. Since they are river otters they have to wash their coats off in fresh water after swimming in the sea to catch their food so that they can maintain their insulating properties. Because the summer daylight is so long here in Shetland they have adapted to moving around during the day where as other places they are nocturnal. That gives me hope that at some point we’ll get the chance to see some. They’ve always been one of my favourite animals since they have such fun personalities.

#shetland #movingtoshetland #surfacedesign #artlicensing #surfacedesigner #shetlandartist #shetlandotter #stationerydesign #playfuldesign #childrensdesign #sealife #otter #otters #riverotter

Puffins! One of the most adorable, cartoonish look

Puffins! One of the most adorable, cartoonish looking birds around. We’ve seen them before in Northern Ireland and Orkney but will have to wait until next year to see them here in Shetland. We had planned to make the drive to Sumburgh Head to watch them and had seen them the night before on the puffin cam but the next morning they were gone. They are finished for the year with their nesting and now will spend all their time out at sea until next April when it’s time to come on shore again. They are a fun one to create and I always love seeing the little fish hanging out of their mouths.

#shetland #movingtoshetland #surfacedesign #artlicensing #surfacedesigner #shetlandartist #shetlandpuffin #stationerydesign #playfuldesign #childrensdesign #marinebird #sealife #puffin #puffins

Here’s an animal that is much easier to see arou

Here’s an animal that is much easier to see around Shetland. It is common to see seals (generally harbour and grey) pop their head out and curiously watch from just off shore. I always wonder what they’re thinking about as we both just watch each other. Even though they aren’t rare I will never get tired of seeing them. And who knows, maybe it’s actually a selkie looking back at me…

#shetland #movingtoshetland #surfacedesign #artlicensing #surfacedesigner #shetlandartist #shetlandseal #harborseal #harbourseal #commonseal #stationerydesign #playfuldesign #childrensdesign #marinelife #sealife #selkie

Well, it’s been a minute. How about a little mov

Well, it’s been a minute. How about a little moving update?! We’ve been busy the last month making the big move up to Shetland and taking our time to settle in. We’re really happy to be here, surrounded by beautiful views and warm, friendly people who have been so welcoming. Our house has felt like home from day one which is a real gift as that doesn’t always happen. The kids had been missing their friends but thankfully school has now started and we’ve already had a whole gaggle of kids from the area showing up at the house to play at random times. I love that they have a bit more freedom here to wander about and explore like when I was a kid. They are riding buses to school for the first time and working out all their new school routines. I hope this is a really happy place for them. I haven’t been working on art at all lately as I have had so much decision fatigue from choosing everything for the house but now that the kids are back in school and I have quiet time in the day to think, I am starting to feel the creative ideas come back. I am still unsure about what all I want to put in my shop with all the complications that come with being a bit more rural but may experiment with some new items soon to see how they go.

Before we moved I made an illustration of a little Shetland pony, which I can happily report that they are dotted around the islands and it is always so cute to see them. I thought it would be fun to continue making illustrations of animals that live around here. Today’s is the orca and one that I hope we can see at some point. About a week ago there were 2 pods of them that were actually very near our house but we didn’t know until they had moved on. I am looking forward to the day when we get lucky and get to watch them. I love that we live in a place where that is a possibility!

#thenestingspot #smallbusiness #shetland #movingtoshetland #orca #killerwhale #surfacedesign #artlicensing #surfacedesigner #shetlandartist

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