Welcome to my portfolio. I’m Kelly Maloney, a surface pattern designer, illustrator, and storyteller inspired by the beauty of nature and the quiet moments of everyday life. My work blends hand-drawn detail with heartfelt narrative, creating designs that feel timeless, familiar, and full of connection. Each collection and artwork is rooted in observation and emotion, whether it’s the rhythm of orchard trees, the curiosity of crows, or the charm of a countryside cottage. I hope these designs invite you to pause, smile, and see the stories woven into every pattern and piece.
Milkweed Meadow
Milkweed Meadow is a gentle celebration of growth, connection, and the quiet magic found in nature’s smallest moments. Inspired by the tender bond between butterflies and the milkweed that sustains them, this collection blends soft botanicals, airy textures, and whimsical wings into a world that feels peaceful and full of quiet wonder.
Each pattern carries a sense of movement and transformation—fluttering silhouettes, drifting blossoms, lace-like botanicals, and subtle textural blenders that echo wild meadows in bloom. The palette leans into dusty purples, rosy pinks, milkweed mauves, and serene blues, creating a calm and cohesive story perfect for nurseries, quilts, apparel, and home décor.
Designed to feel both nostalgic and dreamy, Milkweed Meadow invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and notice the beauty in the small things—just like the butterflies who call the meadows home.
Gathered in the Valley
In Wenatchee, a farmstead of any size usually means fruit trees, from a few backyard trees to entire orchards stretching across the valley. That rhythm of orchard life inspired Gathered in the Valley, a collection meant to capture the resilience, support, and quiet strength of community.
The hero pattern reflects life among the orchards, while the coordinates highlight the fruits and textures that define the region. Wood Pile was drawn from photos of a local log stack, Grain Line nods to the weathered boards of old barns, and Ashfall comes from an image I took of real ash that fell on my walkway during this year’s wildfires, a reminder of both loss and renewal. Together, these patterns tell a story of home, connection, and the enduring beauty found in everyday life in the valley.
Created for a Pattern + design brief in collaboration with Figo Fabrics, this collection features 7 patterns in two distinct colorways.
Forest Cottage
Nestled between nostalgia and nature, Forest Cottage celebrates the quiet beauty of rural life and the warmth of home. Inspired by heirloom florals, time-worn textiles, and the stillness of morning light, this collection blends romantic motifs and gentle texture into two soothing color stories: Misty Morning and Golden Heritage.
Created for a Pattern + design brief in collaboration with Little Cocalico, this collection reimagines heritage charm for the modern home, weaving stories of comfort and connection into every pattern. It features 6 patterns with 2 colorways in a limited color palette.
Small Wonders
Small Wonders is a nostalgic holiday collection inspired by quiet moments, vintage decorations, and the gentle magic of the season. Hand-drawn motifs like stylized evergreens, ornaments, wreaths, snowflakes, and playful blenders come together in a warm, cohesive palette of soft pinks, sage greens, cream, and classic holiday red.
The collection balances whimsy with simplicity, blending folk-inspired illustration and subtle texture to create designs that feel timeless, cozy, and heartfelt. Small Wonders is designed for seasonal stationery, gift wrap, and home décor—celebrating the beauty found in the smallest holiday details.
Curious & Clever Collection
In February 2025, I joined the global social media campaign The 100 Day Project, where people commit to creating something every day for 100 days. I applied this challenge to my drawing practice, and along the way, I was inspired to create an entire pattern collection.
The Curious and Clever Collection is inspired by my neighborhood crows. I enjoy feeding the birds in my yard, and last year, I noticed a pair of crows becoming regular visitors. Before long, they were bringing their fledgling along too. I loved watching their family grow.
Crows are curious, brave, and fiercely protective of their territory. I often saw them guarding the area, giving smaller birds a chance to relax, even when a Cooper’s hawk was nearby. The time I spent observing them and trying to build trust made me want to capture their personalities through drawing. That connection became the heart of this collection.
Art Work
A curated collection of my stand-alone artwork, capturing moments of story, emotion, and nature through color and line. Each piece reflects the quiet beauty found in everyday life, from the curve of a leaf to the way light falls across familiar places. These illustrations stand apart from my pattern collections and offer a closer look at the heart of my creative process, where observation, storytelling, and imagination meet.
