Daily Inspiration: Meet Nicole Shorthouse

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Shorthouse

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been an art educator for over 20 years, teaching in amazing places like Hawaii, London, New York, and now Los Angeles. Art has always been a huge part of my life, and I’ve loved exploring patterns and fabrics for as long as I can remember. While I’ve always found ways to be creative, I spent many years balancing my passion for art with teaching and raising two boys, who are now teenagers. Life was full—teaching by day, mom life by night—but I always made space for creativity, even if it was just small projects here and there.

A few years ago, I decided to dedicate more time to my own art, and that’s when things really started to take shape. I fell in love with surface pattern design, which let me combine my love of drawing and printmaking with my obsession for patterns and fabrics. Over the past four years, I’ve been creating fabric collections, totes, and prints, and I’ve learned so much along the way. Balancing family, art, and life isn’t always easy, but there’s something so fulfilling about creating something I love and seeing it come to life. Whether it’s through teaching or designing, I’ve found that art has always been my anchor—a way to stay grounded, inspired, and connected to myself and others.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road. Coming into art during my college years was definitely bumpy – I actually stumbled into becoming an art major while I was a student at NYU. I was working at the Craft Museum (across from the MoMA), and just fell in love with art. I then decided to combine my love of teaching and art together and became an art teacher. I taught in New York City, London, Japan, Hawaii (where I am from) and Los Angeles. In hindsight, art education has taken me in a lot of places in the world, and has been a fun ride. I have always tried to stay creative, but working and then having kids, I didn’t always have a lot of free time. A few years ago, during the pandemic, I immersed myself in learning a new trade – surface pattern design – learning Illustrator, learning how to draw digitally, and then turning into patterns for fabric and wallpaper. Learning something new has been fun, but also a challenge. I’ve been used to doing art through drawing or painting or printmaking, so the digital was definitely new, very challenging, but eye opening!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in patterns and printmaking, and I love combining the two to create unique designs that feel both handmade and versatile. My work is rooted in my passion for patterns and my background in printmaking, which gives my designs a tactile, organic quality. Right now, I’m focusing on creating patterns for fabric, wallpaper, and products, bringing together bold shapes, intricate details, and inspiration from flowers and nature.

What sets me apart is the way I blend traditional printmaking techniques with modern pattern design. Each of my designs starts as a hands-on process—carving, printing, and experimenting with textures—before it evolves into a finished pattern. This approach brings a unique depth and character to my work that’s hard to replicate digitally. I’m most proud of the way my designs reflect my love for nature, especially flowers, and how they resonate with people. Whether it’s seeing my fabric used in a sewing project or my patterns turned into wallpaper or tote bags, it’s incredibly fulfilling to know my art is part of someone’s creative journey or home.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Apps – I use Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, CapCut (to create art videos)
Podcasts – I love Cathy Heller, Amy Porterfield, Allison J Prince, Hidden Brain, Invisibilia, Story Corps

Music always helps my work flow too! 🙂

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.finchleydesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finchleydesigns/