Creative Journey As A Mom In Quebec: Redbubble, Spoonflower

Many newcomer moms I talk to often ask, “How do you find time for yourself while raising kids here?”

Honestly, I felt the exact same way. In our first few years in Quebec, I was fully focused on settling in, getting RAMQ cards, enrolling kids in school and daycare, and just managing the demands of daily life. There wasn’t much mental space left for a personal creative project or my own thing.

But this year felt different. I finally wanted to start something that wasn’t just about household tasks or “one more to-do list item.” I wanted something that was truly mine—something I could build slowly while still being present for my family. This is how my Creative Journey as a Mom truly began.

1. Redbubble Start Guide: Selling Designs & SEO Tips for Beginner Moms

I began with a small, manageable creative challenge: just draw—no plan, no stress—and see what happens. We often use social media to share kid’s events or upload photos and videos of our children. But I realized that if you look for challenges—like the #100DayProject or #Inktober—you can find a surprising number of self-development challenges for your own growth. Instead of endless scrolling, I decided to participate.

Using Procreate, I created simple illustrations just for fun. When the challenge ended, I realized, “These are too personal and nice just to stay in my gallery.” That’s when I looked into Redbubble.

I didn’t expect sales on day one. I simply wanted to turn those drawings into products—stickers, tees, tote bags—things that might brighten someone’s day.

Uploading to Redbubble wasn’t just drag-and-drop. I quickly learned the need for good titles, clear descriptions, and effective keywords. I wrote each description in English first, then used AI tools to help me craft natural translations in French, German, and Spanish. These translations weren’t perfect, but they offered a much more natural starting point than simple free translations.

I discovered that tags and searchable descriptions make a real difference. That alone felt like a tiny SEO lesson built right into a creative platform. While huge sales haven’t happened yet, every time someone adds a design to a wishlist or likes it, I get that small boost of confidence—“Someone out there might love this.”

👉 You can check out some of my designs on Redbubble here: morningej.redbubble.com

2. Pattern Design Challenge: How to Sell Fabric on Spoonflower & My First Sample Review

After starting with Redbubble, I didn’t want to stop there. I found Spoonflower, a platform where you can sell fabric, wallpaper, and home decor printed with your own patterns.

Designing repeating patterns was a whole new skill. I spent weeks learning about seamless repeats, scale, and how designs translate onto physical products. It was nerdy-fun—picking colors, testing drafts, repeating shapes—and a rewarding mental challenge.

To verify my account, Spoonflower required a sample purchase. I’ll admit: I hesitated. Spending money on a physical sample when I hadn’t sold anything yet felt like a risk. But I ordered it anyway. I’m genuinely curious what it will feel like to receive fabric printed with my own design—something that went from a digital file on my screen to a real piece of cloth in my hands.

👉 While I wait for the unboxing, you can check out my current pattern designs on Spoonflower here: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/stilllearningdays

3. Shop Traffic Strategy: Utilizing Pinterest and Instagram Marketing

Funny thing — I used to scroll Pinterest casually, pinning recipes, outfits, travel ideas. Now, Pinterest has become part of my workflow.

I make pins for my product pages, pin them with helpful descriptions, and sometimes use Canva templates to speed up the design. Even without many sales yet, I see consistent link clicks and impressions—both on my blog and my product pages. This has helped me understand real traffic patterns, not just “I hope someone finds it.”

📸 Boosting Visibility with Instagram Marketing

After setting up shops on Redbubble and Spoonflower, Instagram became my visual showcase. Unlike Pinterest, which is a search engine, Instagram is a community-building tool for designers.

Here are a few tips I found helpful for driving traffic to my products:

Utilize the Link in Bio (All-in-One Link): Since external links aren’t allowed in standard posts, it’s essential to direct followers to one central hub. I use a “Link in Bio” tool (like Linktree) to host all my destinations, including my Redbubble store, Spoonflower profile, and the Still Learning Days blog. 👉 You can see my Linktree setup here: linktr.ee/stilllearningdays
Future Goal: Focus on Process, Not Just the Product: I’ve learned that people love behind-the-scenes content. While I haven’t yet mastered creating regular Reels or short videos showing the drawing process in Procreate or how my seamless patterns are made, I recognize this is the next high-value step. I plan to incorporate these “making of” videos to build a stronger connection and show the genuine value of the art.
Strategic Hashtags: I use a mix of specific hashtags #redbubbleshop, and broader, community-focused ones #procreateart, #momswhocreate to reach both potential buyers and fellow artists.

This focus on creating compelling visual content and strategic linking helps convert casual followers into potential customers who visit my product pages.

💡 My Quick Tip on Gear:

I know that starting a new creative hobby often involves investing in new gear. But you don’t need to buy brand new!

Finding Great Deals: Saving Money on Digital Art Gear

When I recommend drawing gear or tools—like iPad stands, stylus pens, or sketch pads—I include linked suggestions using my Amazon Associates links. I genuinely use most of these items, and if you are aiming to keep costs down, Amazon’s Renewed or Warehouse Deals are fantastic options.

These refurbished products, like iPads or Apple Pencils, often come with great warranties and function just like new, letting you save money without compromising on quality.

My Quick Tip on Gear:

When I first started drawing casually, I used my old iPad Gen9 with an Apple Pencil (1st Gen)—and it worked fine for basic sketches and daily doodles. But if you’re looking to commit to digital art, a slightly bigger screen and smoother stylus experience can make a difference.

The iPad 10th Generation pairs nicely with the Apple Pencil (1st generation)—just be sure to get the necessary USB-C adapter so it charges and pairs correctly with the tablet. Alternatively, the newer Apple Pencil (USB-C) is also a practical and budget-friendly option for the base iPad model. If you’re starting out and want to keep costs down, there are also third-party stylus options that work great for daily drawing practice.

👉 Recommended budget-friendly tools & accessories for digital artists :

Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi, 64GB, Renewed) – https://amzn.to/3MDNvuW

Apple Pencil (USB-C) – https://amzn.to/4rX11u6

Budget-friendly Stylus – https://amzn.to/4acnf4G

4. Key Lessons Learned on My Creative Journey and What’s Next for My Shop

Starting small is fine. You don’t need perfect products on day one.
Learning by doing is better than planning forever. I now know more about SEO, descriptions, and international marketplaces than I ever thought I would.
Creativity can grow gradually. Even if sales are slow now, this journey teaches me things I’ll use later in other projects.

Having patience is essential—but action is what starts change.

Right now, I have one more small goal: to properly launch my Etsy shop by the end of January. If Redbubble and Spoonflower were ‘practice,’ Etsy feels like “opening my own storefront.” It requires much more learning and preparation. I’m using AI for help, but filtering and studying the overwhelming amount of information takes time. This time, I’m investing in myself, and it’s not a waste; I believe every step is adding up.

💖 A Note to Every Newcomer Mom

I know firsthand how hard it is to raise children and find yourself in a new country, often navigating a language that isn’t your mother tongue. Like most immigrant families, we have no relatives or parents nearby to help; we have to figure everything out ourselves.

There are days when I just want to sit down and wonder, “Why am I pushing so hard here?”

But I also believe that even these confusing and hectic times will one day be cherished memories, and I’ll look back and think, “Wow, I truly lived and persevered then.”

That’s why I believe it’s crucial to take just one hour a day—to step away from the roles of ‘Mom,’ ‘Manager,’ ‘Driver,’ and ‘Chef’—and do something purely for yourself.

And if you’re reading this, with an idea in your head you’ve been putting off until “someday,” I want to tell you:

Start today. Even just 10 minutes is enough.

Truly, that first step is all you need.