Hi, I’m Carrie!

Artist, designer, bonnet maker, and lover of all things vintage, whimsical, and colorful.

I’m the artist and maker behind Sweet As April and Bloom by April, two sides of a creative life that has grown and evolved right alongside my family.

What began with sewing baby bonnets for my first daughter has grown into a business that brings together so many of the things I love: painting, textiles, surface pattern design, and teaching other creatives how to bring their ideas to life. I’ve spent more than a decade building this little corner of the internet, and I’m still finding new ways to let my creativity lead the way.

A little art, a little sewing, and a lot of color

Long before baby bonnets, art was at the center of my world. I studied art history, fine art, and graphic design, and spent time working as a freelance designer before motherhood led me down a very different creative path.

When my oldest daughter arrived in 2015, I started making bonnets for her using vintage, upcycled, and donated materials. That little project became Sweet As April, and what started as something I made for my own child eventually grew into a business serving thousands of families.

Along the way, I returned to painting and discovered surface pattern design in 2019. It was the missing link between my love of traditional art and the textile world I had built through my bonnet business. I could paint the flowers I loved, turn them into patterns, and bring those designs to life on fabric for my own collections.

Today, my original designs are available on fabric and wallpaper through my partnership with Little Cocalico, and I continue to explore new ways to share my artwork through original paintings, digital products, and creative education.

My creative style

If I had to describe my work in three words, they would be vintage, whimsy, and color.

Flowers are my forever favorite subject, but I’m equally drawn to nostalgic childhood imagery, playful characters, and unexpected color combinations. My artwork often begins with watercolor, whether on paper or in Procreate, before I layer in colored pencil, Neocolor, fountain pen, or whatever else feels right.

I love the little imperfections and happy accidents that happen when you work by hand. I want my patterns to feel collected rather than manufactured, with a sense of nostalgia and playfulness that carries through everything I create.

Because my designs often begin with the things I imagine my own children wearing or having in their rooms, there’s a thread of childhood woven into much of my work. Even when I’m painting something just for myself, I tend to come back to the same familiar mix of florals, texture, and color.

Learning to follow the creative ebb and flow

Running a creative business has taught me as much about myself as it has about art.

Some weeks, I want to sew bonnets from morning until night. Other weeks, I want nothing more than to sit with my paints and see what happens. Sometimes I’ll create a whole collection of patterns in a burst of inspiration, then spend the next few weeks focused on something entirely different.

For a long time, I thought I needed to be more consistent in the way I created. I've learned that my creativity doesn't work that way, and that's okay.

I'm learning to build a business that makes room for those seasons rather than fighting against them. As a mother of three, a woman with ADHD, and a one-woman creative team, that flexibility matters. I want my work to support the life I'm building, not consume it.

I'm also renovating our walk-up attic into a dedicated studio, with space for painting, sewing, and all the messy, wonderful work that comes with making things by hand. After years of working wherever I could find a little room at home, I can't wait to have a space that feels entirely my own.

Where to find me

Sweet As April is home to my handmade baby bonnets, textile designs, and the small details that make childhood feel a little more magical.

Bloom by April is where I share more of my artwork, original paintings, digital products, and resources for artists who want to explore the possibilities of traditional and digital art.

You'll also find me on YouTube, where I share art supply unboxings, painting and Procreate tutorials, creative experiments, occasional vlogs, and plenty of little videos whenever something inspires me. There isn't a strict schedule or a formula. Just a peek into what I'm making, learning, and loving lately.

I believe creativity should be something we make room for, even when life is busy. It can be a business, a way to connect with others, a form of self-care, or simply a reason to sit down and make something beautiful.

I'm glad you're here, whether you found me through a baby bonnet, a painting, a pattern, or a little video that caught your eye.

There's always something growing around here, and I'm happy to have you along for the journey.

love, bonnets and brushstrokes,

Carrie