Tiny hands “helping” stir. Cracked eggs (with a side of shell). Flour dustings that end up on the floor. There's something special about cooking and baking with little ones that turns ordinary meals into core memories. It's no wonder our foodie prints have become some of our most requested over the years!
We’ve been busy in the LS kitchen cooking up collections that celebrate the joy of food — and with our newest creation, Little Chef, we're adding another tasty design to the menu! We recently sat down with our designer, Maddie, to get the inside scoop on her creative process, what makes illustrating food so much fun, and more. Let’s dig in!
Let's start at the beginning — what was the first foodie print you ever cooked up for Little Sleepies?
It was Pumpkin Spice! I crafted a really fun autumnal print featuring cute pumpkins, slices of pie, and lots of cozy beverages. I had a lot of fun experimenting with a faux cut paper style on my iPad — with tasty pencil-textured linework on top. I’m excited to have something cozy and autumn-inspired ready to serve up later this year!
Featured Print: Pumpkin Spice (Sold Out)
Thinking back through all your delicious designs, which print elements are your personal faves?
I love the elements where a small detail has its own adorable moment. Whether it's a cute expression on a dumpling with his tongue sticking out (Bao Buddies), a little pasta shell cutie (Pasta Party), or a mischievous PB&J sandwich scooping jelly (Lunch Buddies) — these tiny character moments become delightful details that make me smile every time.
When you're working on a new foodie print, what's your creative process like?
A lot of the time, I'm trying to create a style that differentiates from what we might have done in the past on a similar subject. Other times, I'm assessing what kind of tone or personality the food characters will have and thinking about the best way to communicate that stylistically.
I usually start with a word list where I brainstorm everything I want to include in the print. Sometimes it's stronger with one or two single repeating icons (like avocados or pizza), and other times a variety of ingredients makes it really whimsical and fun.
What makes designing foodie prints different from other prints?
One funny thing I tend to keep in mind with food prints is actually how many of the elements are personified! Sometimes it can be overkill to have every single element with little eyeballs or arms, but when they do have their own personalities or character moments, it's really special. There's something about a personified inanimate object that has its own type of humor — kids especially love it.
Featured Print: Little Chef
Where did your design inspiration for Little Chef come from?
Part of the inspiration actually came from a Christmas illustration I made a long time ago that had personified baking materials and cookies! We adapted that theme for a more everyday take on baking and wanted it to feel classic and gender neutral — perfect for any little one who loves helping out in the kitchen.
Are there any "secret ingredients" in Little Chef that you're especially proud of?
Probably the butter pal! Butter is a trending icon right now, and it's so fun to see it pop up in unexpected places. I was in NYC in the fall and saw a butter-themed scarf — loved it! I also love the little bread loaf and croissant wearing chef hats. Details like that add so much personality to the design.
Each of Little Sleepies' foodie prints has its own flavor. What makes Little Chef unique?
I would say it's the color palette! We really wanted something that felt classic and universal so the theme of cooking and baking could appeal to all kids. It's cozy without being overly seasonal, which makes it perfect for year-round wear.
This print is inspired by making memories together in the kitchen. Any sweet memories of cooking with loved ones?
One time as a kid, my mom, grandmother, and I made homemade vanilla ice cream from scratch! We used an old-fashioned ice cream maker that churned the ice to freeze the ingredients. It was such a special day spent together. If your little ones love ice cream or have a sweet tooth, definitely check out Frosted Fun!
Featured Print: Bao Buddies
Are there any foodie prints you've been dreaming about but haven't had a chance to whip up yet?
Well, I just achieved my biggest dream of illustrating a dumpling print — Bao Buddies! That's been a passion of mine for a while. I remember drawing dumplings from photo reference at 9 a.m. and constantly craving them afterward.
I would also love to do another fruit and vegetable farmers market-themed print someday. The Farmers Market print I worked on in the past wasn’t my original drawing, so creating one of my own from scratch would be amazing.
What's your favorite food to cook, bake, or snack on these days?
One of my favorite recipes lately was a very random one a friend sent me — a Moroccan carrot salad. It's more of a slaw with shredded carrots, roasted pistachios, feta, chopped dates, and a lot of other tasty ingredients. Highly recommend!
Whether your little one is a future pastry chef or just really into snacks (same), our new print Little Chef was designed to celebrate those sweet, messy, memorable moments spent together.
What’s your favorite Little Sleepies foodie print? Drop it in the comments below for a chance to win a $50 LS gift card — we give one away each month!
