How a Big Mistake Led Me to My Dream Job (and Why I Love Teaching on Skillshare)
A single mistake in my Spoonflower shop led me down a path I never expected—one that reignited my love of teaching, built a thriving creative community, and transformed my career. Here’s why teaching on Skillshare has become one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.
Hello friends and stellar students! October 2025 marks my 3 year anniversary teaching on Skillshare. In honor of this, I thought I might share a very personal story about why I love teaching on Skillshare.
It all started with a horrible mistake on Spoonflower that cost me hundreds of hours.
Before I ever thought about becoming a Skillshare teacher, I had what I can only describe as a creative nightmare. I’d uploaded hundreds of repeat patterns to my Spoonflower shop when a customer reached out about strange lines showing up in one of my wallpaper designs. At first, I couldn’t see anything wrong—but after some troubleshooting (and a lot of frantic Googling and back-and-forth messages with the kind, patient Spoonflower support team), I discovered the issue: tiny “hairlines” in my pattern tiles that only appeared when tested properly in Photoshop.
That discovery hit me hard. I realized the same issue probably existed in hundreds of my other designs—and I was right. I spent two solid weeks re-testing and fixing nearly 200 patterns, one by one. It was painstaking, exhausting, and humbling. But it taught me two invaluable lessons: always test properly, and never underestimate the power of learning something new.
That whole ordeal became the seed of something bigger. I learned how to create half-drop patterns—a concept that had once intimidated me because it sounded so “math-y”—and I found ways to streamline and automate the process using Adobe Illustrator. I didn’t want other designers to go through what I had. So, in 2022, I did something that scared me even more than fixing 200 patterns: I turned on my camera, hit “record,” and taught my very first class on Skillshare.
Finding My Way Back to Teaching
That wasn’t actually my first time teaching.
Back in the late 1990s, armed with my English degree, I taught grammar and creative writing at a local community college. I was in my twenties, teaching students who were often twice my age—it was intimidating, but I loved the connection. My dream back then was to teach literary theory, but without a PhD, that path wasn’t open to me. So life took me in a different direction: I became a writer, then a graphic and web designer for BellSouth, and eventually, after many creative detours, a film and TV graphic designer—a career I happily held for sixteen years.
But after retiring from that fast-paced industry, I found myself craving something more personal and purpose-driven. When that Spoonflower experience happened, and I realized how many other artists might be making the same mistake I had, something in me reignited. The teacher in me woke up again.
Only this time, I wasn’t standing in front of a classroom—I was sitting in front of a camera.
Three Years, Eleven Classes, and Thousands of Students Later…
When I first signed up to teach on Skillshare, I was nervous but excited. I’d already learned so much from other Skillshare teachers, and the idea of becoming one myself felt like coming full circle.
I had no idea my first class would be such a game changer. That first “half-drop pattern” class turned into something that transformed my career and, to my surprise, impacted thousands of other designers. I still get messages from students thanking me for saving them hours of frustration and helping them finally understand how to make patterns that look professional and seamless.
Now, as I celebrate three years of teaching on Skillshare, I’m launching my 11th class, Put a Bow on It: Draw Cute, Trending Ribbons in Procreate. And honestly? I’ve never felt more fulfilled as an artist and educator.
Why I Love Teaching on Skillshare
It’s approachable because it’s affordable.
You don’t need to pay thousands for one course. Students can join with a free trial, pay a low monthly fee, and access thousands of inspiring, high-quality classes. It’s a creative goldmine.
It’s fun.
I get to dream up my own class ideas, film them however I want, and make them truly mine. Every class is a mini creative adventure.
It’s easier than you’d think. Once I understood basic lighting and sound, all I needed was my phone’s camera and iMovie (which comes free on a Mac). With a little editing and creativity, I’ve got a class ready to share.
It’s meaningful.
Teaching allows me to give back. Knowing that I’m helping others overcome the same struggles I once had fills me with pride and gratitude.
It markets itself. Skillshare provides exposure I could never replicate alone. Thousands of students have found me organically through their platform—no paid ads, no marketing team.
It opens doors.
Art directors and clients have discovered my work through my Skillshare profile. It’s like having an interactive portfolio that markets itself 24/7.
It’s passive income. Once a class launches, it keeps earning. Skillshare has become my most consistent passive income stream—more than any licensing client or print-on-demand platform (except Etsy).
It builds community.
My students have inspired me in countless ways. They’re the reason I co-host Two Cranky Creatives with Toni Federico, and why we started The Graphics Gang—our Patreon community for artists who want to connect, learn, and grow together.
It keeps me learning.
Every time I prepare a new class, I challenge myself to grow. I learn new tools, new techniques, and new ways to explain concepts—teaching keeps me creatively sharp.
It’s empowering.
Teaching has given me confidence I never expected. Turning something that once terrified me (like being on camera) into something that helps others is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.
A Heartfelt Thank You ❤️
As I look back on three amazing years of teaching on Skillshare, I feel nothing but gratitude—for my students, my supporters, and this incredible creative community that has given me so much purpose. Every message, review, and shared project means the world to me.
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a Skillshare teacher yourself, I can’t encourage you enough to give it a try. It’s a lot of hard work, yes—but the emotional and professional rewards are priceless.
Here’s to many more years of creating, teaching, and inspiring together! Thanks for reading 💛