My Career: My work is close to my heart

My Career: Lina Pavlova, Creator/Designer

Name: Lina Pavlova

Age: 41

Lives: Blarney, Cork

Job title: Creator/Designer at Little Fingerprint Boutique | Seamless Pattern Designer

Salary bracket: €30-50k

Education background: My educational background is anchored in a legacy of three generations of tailoring, instilling in me a profound appreciation for craftsmanship and detail. I refined and expanded my expertise at Cork College of FET, initially studying Art, Craft, and Design at the Tramore Road campus, followed by an intensive specialisation in Graphic Design at the Douglas Street campus. This unique combination of traditional artistry and modern design principles has laid a rich, versatile foundation for my career in innovative, design-led product development.

Hobbies: My hobbies include sketching, experimenting with different fabric designs, and photography. I also love exploring fashion history and trends, which ties back into my passion for tailoring and design.

Describe your job in five words: Creative, meticulous, synergistic, multifaceted, fulfilling.

Describe yourself in five words: Visionary, passionate, committed, adaptable, focused.

Personality needed for this kind of work: This kind of work requires inventiveness and a strong attention to detail. Patience is essential, especially in tailoring, as well as adaptability to changing trends and design demands.

Good communication and problem-solving skills are also crucial for working with clients or collaborating with others on design projects.

How long are you doing this job? I’ve been working in this field since 2018. Over the years, I’ve expanded from my foundational skills in tailoring into broader aspects of design, including graphic and seamless pattern design. It’s been a journey of inventiveness, passion, and continuous learning that has led me to where I am today.

How did you get this job? My journey into this field began in 2016 when I was made redundant from my previous job. At that time, I stayed at home with my young son, who was just three years old. He loved helping out in the kitchen, so we started cooking together for fun. One day, I decided to make him an apron, but I didn’t have any specific fabric on hand, so I used an old bed sheet. After sewing a simple white apron, we spent time together decorating it with markers, drawing handprints and designs. It was a fun and creative bonding experience for both of us.

Inspired by that, I made another apron, this time using 3D gel paint, stencils, and permanent markers to make it even more interactive. When my friends saw these aprons, they loved the idea and asked me to make some for their children. This gave me the idea that they could be a fantastic rainy-day activity for kids - fun, creative, and educational all at the same time. The kids could bond with their parents, learn to recognise colours and shapes, and express themselves through art.

In 2018, I officially established my business, where I created the ‘Colour Me’ aprons and placemats. I even experimented with making summer dresses for girls that they could colour themselves. Later on, I expanded my product line to include baby gift sets. For the ‘Colour Me’ collection, I initially sourced fabric with pre-made prints, but I always dreamed of designing my own seamless patterns.

In pursuit of that goal, I decided to go back to college. From 2021 to 2023, I studied Art, Craft, and Design, with a special focus on graphic design at Cork College of FET. I honed my skills using design programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and Canva. My goal was to learn seamless pattern design, which I pursued passionately.

By 2024, I proudly released my own ‘Colour Me’ collection, a series of seamless patterns designed exclusively for my brand, Little Fingerprint Boutique.

This collection is very close to my heart, as it was inspired by my personal experiences. My son was diagnosed with dyslexia, which made me think of ways to make learning fun and interactive for children facing similar challenges. I realised visually engaging, hands-on tools could help children with learning difficulties. This insight became the driving force behind my seamless patterns, where creativity and education meet to create a joyful learning experience.

The ‘Colour Me’ collection is not just a business; it’s a passion project born from my personal journey, and I’m thrilled to share it with the world.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience? Yes, specific qualifications and experience are important for this kind of work. In my case, a background in both art and design was essential. I studied Art, Craft, and Design at Cork College of FET, providing me with a solid foundation in various creative disciplines.

Additionally, I specialised in graphic design, learning essential software like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and Canva.

Beyond formal education, practical experience is equally important. My experience started with hands-on work in tailoring and evolved into designing products for children. Running my own business since 2018 has given me valuable skills in both design and entrepreneurship. For seamless pattern design, I took specific courses that equipped me with the technical skills needed to create the patterns used in my ‘Colour Me’ collection.

Overall, a combination of education, experience, and continuous learning has been key to my success in this field.

Describe a day at work: If I had to explain my day to an alien, I’d say: “Each day is different and depends on what phase of my work I’m in. Imagine having many tasks that are all parts of a big, creative project, and I do them all myself.”

Some days, I work on my collections, which means I spend time sketching ideas for new seamless patterns. It starts with drawing on paper or using a computer to create designs. Once I’m happy with the sketches, I turn them into digital patterns using design programs like Photoshop or Illustrator.

Other days, I’m focused on cutting fabric. I take the printed fabric, measure it carefully, and cut it into the right shapes for the products I’m making - like aprons or placemats. Once the fabric is ready, I move to the next step: sewing. I spend hours at the sewing machine, piecing everything together until the final product is complete.

I don’t have a fixed daily routine, so it’s important to have a to-do list to stay organised. I do everything myself, so I need to keep track of every task to make sure I don’t miss anything.

I also like to meet new people and learn new skills, so I often attend courses at the Local Enterprise Office. It’s a great way to stay connected and improve my business skills.

During busy seasons like Christmas, my day is filled with creating extra stock to meet the holiday demand. I work hard to stock up my products, not just for my online shop but also for local stores.

Sometimes, I get custom orders where customers want something special. In that case, I’ll spend extra time designing and making exactly what they need. Every day is a mix of creativity, production, and learning new things!

How many hours do you work a week? As a self-employed person, it’s difficult to track exact working hours. I wish I could say it’s a typical 9-5 job, but in reality, my workday often extends beyond that. Some weeks are lighter, others are much busier, especially during holiday seasons or when I’m working on a new collection.

Since I handle everything myself, from designing to production, my hours can fluctuate depending on deadlines, custom orders, or restocking products for shops.

Realistically, I could be working anywhere from 40 to 60 hours a week.

Is your industry male or female-dominated? The tailoring industry has historically been male-dominated, but today, both men and women play key roles. Similarly, in design, there is a healthy balance of both genders contributing to the industry.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10: I would rate the stress level around a 6. There are deadlines and the pressure of meeting clients’ expectations, which can sometimes be stressful, but it’s manageable. The creative freedom I have in my work helps balance out any stress.

Advice to those who want your job? If you want to follow a similar path, my advice is to be patient and persistent. Building a business, especially in a creative field, takes time. Start by learning the foundational skills - whether it’s tailoring, design, or working with software like Photoshop or Illustrator. Don’t be afraid to invest in education, whether through formal courses like I did, or by constantly teaching yourself new techniques.

You should also be prepared to wear many hats. As a self-employed designer, I handle everything - from product development to marketing and even photography. Learning to manage multiple tasks and stay organised is key.

Finally, be open to evolving. Your career may start in one area, but over time, you might find new passions or opportunities. I started with simple DIY aprons for kids, now I’m designing entire seamless pattern collections. Embrace every step of the journey and stay creative!

Any other comments? This collection is incredibly personal to me, as it was inspired by my son’s journey with dyslexia. Through this experience, I’ve come to understand the importance of making learning both fun and accessible for children. I wanted to create products that don’t just look good but engage kids in a creative and educational way.

It’s more than just a business for me - it’s a way to help children develop their creativity while making learning less intimidating.

I’m passionate about hands-on, interactive design, and that’s reflected in every piece I create. From sketching patterns to selecting the best materials, I take pride in being involved in every step of the process. My goal is to keep innovating and expanding the collection, finding new ways to bring creativity into everyday life.

Ultimately, I hope my work not only sparks joy but also fosters meaningful connections — whether it’s a child learning through play or parents bonding with their little ones over a shared activity.