Meet Shelby Cornwell

Before I ever discovered surface pattern design, I was creating in every spare corner of my life — sewing, painting, drawing, making things by hand — but without a clear direction for any of it. I knew I was meant to make art, but I didn’t know how to turn that lifelong pull into something real. I actually didn’t even know what surface pattern design was until I took Bonnie’s free Pattern Week. The moment she explained what this industry was, something inside me lit up. It felt like discovering the name for a language I had been speaking my whole life.

When Immersion opened, I knew I wanted to join, but I was scared. I worried I wasn’t “good enough,” that I was too behind, that maybe I didn’t belong in something so big and beautiful. But something in me kept tugging, and I couldn’t ignore it. So I took the leap, even though I was nervous. Everything changed after that.

Immersion gave me structure, clarity, and a path forward. I learned how to build a real workflow, how to organize my motifs, how to create seamless repeats, and how to actually build a collection — skills that once felt impossible to figure out on my own. But the most transformative part wasn’t the technical mastery. It was the emotional shift. Immersion helped me trust my voice, believe in my creativity, and show up as an artist with confidence for the first time in my life.

And then something incredible happened: five days before graduation, I received my very first licensing offer for the collection I created inside Immersion. It felt surreal, magical, and like the clearest confirmation that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Since completing Immersion in May, my world has opened even further. I’ve refined my artistic style, built a cohesive portfolio, and submitted to multiple art calls. And that first licensing offer wasn’t the last — I am now licensing my work with Loomwell and will have three full collections signed with them by the end of this year or early January. That is something I never imagined would happen so quickly.

The best part of Immersion, though, was the community. I found friends, mentors, and a creative family that continues to cheer me on and make this journey feel warm, supportive, and joy-filled.

If I had to choose a skill I cherish most from Immersion, it would be the ability to create and refine a full collection with intention. It’s a skill that has changed the trajectory of my entire creative life.

Moving forward, I’m excited to keep building my licensing portfolio, growing my brand The Feral Flower, and continuing to design collections that feel deeply nostalgic, gentle, and meaningful. I have so many dreams on the horizon, and Immersion is the reason I can see them clearly now.

This course didn’t just teach me how to design patterns, it helped me step into who I was always meant to be.