pve design

Patricia van Essche hardly needs an introduction in the world of design blogs, but I'm thrilled to welcome her as the latest LGN sponsor!


It has been a joy getting to know Patricia a little better as we've emailed each other over the past few weeks. She seems like such a lovely person, inside and out!


Here's a little about pve, her work and what inspires her, in Patricia's own words...

Some favorite images of mine are actually from when I first began to draw...which my Mom has. I never stopped drawing, painting, illustrating - I have always been passionate about art and other creative types. One thing I wished I had learned early on is that style is not in copying, it is finding what works, what is unique and what comes easy. If things are forced and they do not come naturally, then it usually leads to disaster.

That said, it all takes tremendous courage to be different, to stand out, to be unique. I was always drawn to "lifestyle" - be it a farmer, or a prince, deep down we are all people with hearts. I love those that live a life full of passion, making a house a home....on and on.


Having worked for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and other top designers really helped me to see how they took their vision and made it a brand.


I see lifestyles in my "pictures" - I love fine lines, a bit of wit, color and to laugh at life.

My three kids and husband keep me motivated and are great critics when I am knee deep in artwork. I am juggling my work and my family and some days are wonderful and then there are the occasional blips which keep me firmly grounded. I think "faith" and "hope" always guides me to stay the course with my work. I work from home and there always seems to be something to handle, a broken dishwasher today, a pile of laundry the next and a pile of artwork too! I feel totally blessed with a full life and the gift to do my art every day.

(To those of you who are waiting for work, please know how I value each of you.)

I can just see me like Lucille Ball, eating the chocolates on the conveyor belt....well I cannot eat my artwork, but I can draw pretty fast. :)

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Patricia's beautiful work has a very loyal following, and rightly so! Wouldn't you love to own an original pve design? I think a custom illustration of a home or interior with special meaning would be an amazing gift for a loved one!


Please contact Patricia here for rates. And don't forget to check out her blog, if it's not already a daily read.

Thank you, Patricia!!

Plum Cushion

I'm thrilled to announce that my newest sponsor is the very popular etsy seller, Plum Cushion!!


The owner of the Plum Cushion shop, Melanie, is as kind and as talented as they come! I cyber-met Melanie when contacting her about making some KWID Imperial Trellis pillows in the charcoal colorway for a client. Even though she didn't have a listing for that specific colorway in her etsy shop, she was more than happy to make it happen.


I asked Melanie about her background for this post. Don't you just love learning the story behind the genius?

"I formally learned to sew in college, I was a Family and Consumer Sciences major, but I remember sewing Barbie clothes out of silky nightgowns when I was 5 or 6. After college I taught for four years then decided to go back to school for interior design. I've been in the industry for almost five years now. I have a major obsession with high-end textiles. Because of my appreciation for their quality and beauty I'm incredibly persnickety about the construction of my products."

I think it's awesome that she would sew her own Barbie clothes as a child! Not surprisingly, I was obsessed with arranging and rearranging my Barbie's furniture...

Check out some of the fabulousness at Plum Cushion:





Prices start out around $75, which is amazing considering she uses only the best designer fabrics available and includes down inserts with your purchase! With the holidays just around the corner, now would be a good time to order a pair of gorgeous cushions for your best friend, sister, mother (or yourself!!).


And speaking of the holidays, I'm completely loving her Christmas stockings! Such a creative idea!!



Please show Plum Cushion a little love and pop on over to the shop...

If you have a design-related business and would like to advertise on Little Green Notebook, please contact me for readership statistics and rates.