Meet The Artist: Marina Ellen Simillide, Studio Sunshine
Say hello to Marina Ellen Simillide, the artist behind Studio Sunshine—a joyful new brand on The Textile District, inspired by life on the sunny Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Artist Marina Ellen Simillide translates everyday moments, nature, and travel into bold, playful coastal prints that feel like instant vacation: candy-bright starfish, seashells, coral gardens, and seaweed stripes—made to mix, match, and make you smile.
Underwater Treasures is Marina's debut collection on The Textile District, and is a ready-made capsule for seaside sewing and beach-house décor. Perfect for Spring/Summer with upbeat color, easy coordinates, and pattern variety that works across quilts, apparel, accessories, and home projects—from standout heroes to blenders and stripes. And because you’re shopping on The Textile District, your yardage is printed to order in the USA using fiber-reactive dyes for vibrant color and excellent wash/wear performance.
Marina discovered her love of pattern during her Art & Design foundation studies in Canterbury before specializing in printed textiles while studying Fashion & Textile Design at UWE Bristol. Since then, she’s collaborated with fashion and lifestyle brands to create seamless repeat patterns for apparel, accessories, and homeware—always combining trend awareness with a recognizable signature: bright palettes, fun motifs, and uplifting compositions designed to bring a little sunshine to everyday products.
Shop the Underwater Treasures Collection by Studio Sunshine, now available at The Textile District, and let bold, playful coastal prints bring your next sewing project to life—one yard (or more) at a time!
Flowing Seaweed Stripe - Fabric by the Yard
The Flowing Seaweed Stripe fabric print features wavy vertical ribbons filled with delicate seaweed fronds—an airy coastal stripe that feels playful, graphic, and easy to coordinate. The gentle movement of the lines adds height and rhythm to curtains, bedding, and apparel, while the fine botanical detail keeps it from reading too bold. Use it as a standout stripe for beachwear, pajama sets, and kids’ accessories, or pair it with the collection’s shells, starfish, and coral motifs for a layered seaside mix.
Colorways:
- Blue — Cool ocean blues and soft lavender for a breezy seaside palette—perfect for coastal quilts, shower curtains, pajama sets, and summer dresses.
- Multicolor — Bright, beachy rainbow tones for a whimsical statement stripe—ideal for kids’ apparel, tote bags, beach blankets, and playful patchwork.
- Pink — Warm pink-forward tones with fresh coastal energy—great for nursery décor, swim cover-ups, throw pillows, and cheerful gift sewing.
Layered Scallop Shell Fan - Fabric by the Yard
The Layered Scallop Shell Fan fabric print features overlapping scallop shells arranged like a classic fan pattern—bold, tidy, and wonderfully graphic. The repeating shell layers create a structured, scale-friendly design that reads beautifully in quilting blocks, statement skirts, and beachy home accents. It’s a perfect coordinate for the collection’s toss prints: use it as a hero pattern for quilts and curtains, or cut it up for standout pockets, bindings, and bucket hats.
Colorways:
- Blue — Cool blue shell layers with a calm coastal feel—perfect for quilt backs, bedding, curtains, and matching family pajamas.
- Multicolor — Sunshine brights and candy tones for a joyful, beach-day palette—ideal for kids’ apparel, tote bags, beach blankets, and bold patchwork.
- Pink — Coral and pink shell layers for a warm, playful look—great for swim cover-ups, pillows, nursery décor, and statement dresses.
Shop Layered Scallop Shell Fan
Mini Seashell Confetti - Fabric by the Yard
The Mini Seashell Confetti fabric print features tiny tossed seashell icons scattered across a dotted background—a light, versatile blender that adds seaside charm without overpowering a project. The small scale makes it especially useful for patchwork, linings, facings, and kids’ garments, while the crisp icon shapes keep the look modern and clean. Pair it with the bigger motifs in Studio Sunshine for balance, or use it on its own for sweet, subtle beach-themed sewing.
Colorways:
- Blue — Soft coastal blues on a cool ground for an airy, calm coordinate—perfect for quilts, pajamas, nursery bedding, and light home décor.
- Multicolor — Rainbow shell confetti for maximum whimsy—ideal for kids’ accessories, tote linings, patchwork, and beach-weekend makes.
- Pink — Pink-forward shells on a warm ground for a sweet, sunny look—great for girls’ apparel, pillows, gift sewing, and playful quilts.
Playful Starfish Scatter - Fabric by the Yard
The Playful Starfish Scatter fabric print features an allover toss of starfish in varied sizes and textures—polka-dot speckles, stitched details, and graphic linework create a lively, hand-drawn ocean feel. This is the perfect character print for kids’ beachwear, bucket hats, and swim cover-ups, while still working beautifully in quilts, bedding, and coastal décor. Mix it with the shell fans, seaweed stripes, and coral patchwork for a coordinated collection that feels bright, beachy, and fun.
Colorways:
- Blue — Classic ocean blues on a light ground for a crisp nautical vibe—perfect for quilts, shower curtains, pajamas, and coastal nursery décor.
- Multicolor — Sunshine brights on a bold blue ground for a high-energy beach palette—ideal for kids’ apparel, totes, beach blankets, and statement patchwork.
- Pink — Coral and pink starfish on a light ground for a warm seaside look—great for swimwear accents, summer dresses, pillows, and cheerful gift sewing.
Ocean Life Coastal Toss
The Ocean Life Coastal Toss fabric print features a playful mix of sea-life icons—starfish, shells, coral, and ocean-inspired motifs—scattered in an easy allover layout that feels bright, fun, and highly versatile. This design reads as a cheerful hero print for kids’ makes and beach accessories, while still working beautifully for quilts, bedding, and sunny home decor. Pair it with coordinating stripes and shell blenders for a cohesive Studio Sunshine mix-and-match look.
Colorways:
- Blue — Cool ocean blues for a crisp coastal palette—perfect for quilts, pajamas, shower curtains, and breezy resort-style apparel.
- Multicolor — Vibrant sea-life pops for maximum sunshine energy—ideal for kids’ apparel, totes, beach blankets, playful patchwork, and statement accents.
- Pink — Warm coral-pink tones for a sweet seaside vibe—great for summer dresses, pillows, nursery decor, and cheerful gift sewing.
Tropical Coral Leaf Toss - Fabric by the Yard
The Tropical Coral Leaf Toss fabric print features vertical sprigs of leafy coral fronds—a modern, botanical ocean coordinate with plenty of movement and texture. The upward growth of the fronds adds a flattering line to apparel and a fresh, breezy feel to home projects, while the dotted accents keep the design playful and light. Use it as a go-to mixer with the collection’s shells and starfish, or let it stand alone for coastal curtains, bedding, and everyday accessories.
Colorways:
- Blue — Cool blue fronds on a soft ground for a calm, coastal palette—perfect for quilts, bedding, curtains, and resort-ready pajamas.
- Multicolor — Bright fronds in sunny rainbow tones for a lively, tropical look—ideal for kids’ apparel, tote bags, beach blankets, and playful patchwork.
- Pink — Warm pink and coral tones for a cheerful seaside vibe—great for nursery décor, summer tops, pillows, and gift sewing.
Underwater Coral Garden Patchwork - Fabric by the Yard
The Underwater Coral Garden Patchwork fabric print features layered coral reef shapes—textured sea plants, dotted anemones, and sea-fan silhouettes arranged in a patchwork-style landscape. This design reads like a whimsical underwater garden and brings instant story and depth to quilts, statement skirts, beach blankets, and kids’ room décor. Because the pattern has built-in sections and textures, it’s especially fun for fussy cutting, large quilt blocks, and bold home accents.
Colorways:
- Blue — Tonal ocean blues and soft lavenders for a serene reef palette—perfect for coastal quilts, bedding, curtains, and calming nursery décor.
- Multicolor — Bright reef hues for a joyful, high-energy underwater scene—ideal for kids’ quilts, beach accessories, playroom curtains, and standout patchwork.
- Pink — Warm coral and pink tones for a sunny, whimsical reef look—great for summer apparel, pillows, quilt backs, and cheerful home décor.
Shop Underwater Coral Garden Patchwork
Wavy Shell Border Stripe - Fabric by the Yard
The Wavy Shell Border Stripe fabric print features undulating vertical waves that alternate between delicate seaweed sprigs and tiny shell accents—a refined coastal stripe that feels decorative without being fussy. The repeated columns create a natural border-stripe effect for curtains, duvet covers, and apparel panels, while still reading as an allover coordinate for quilting and accessories. It’s especially charming for beachy dresses, matching sets, and table linens where you want movement, structure, and an unmistakable seaside motif.
Colorways:
- Blue — Cool blues and soft lavender for a calm, classic coastal stripe—perfect for curtains, bedding, quilts, and breezy summer apparel.
- Multicolor — Sunny pastels with beachy contrast for a whimsical stripe—ideal for kids’ apparel, beach blankets, tote bags, and playful home accents.
- Pink — Warm coral-forward tones for a cheerful seaside look—great for nursery décor, throw pillows, pajama sets, and gift sewing.
