I was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, where I live with my Italian husband and our three children—who are a constant source of inspiration for my work. I hold a Master’s degree and a PhD in Applied Arts and Design, which allowed me to dive deeply into the fields of painting, graphic, and textile design.
Growing up in an artistic family, creativity has always been an integral part of my life. My father is a painter, my mother a ceramic pottery artist, and my sister a production designer. Surrounded by such a rich, creative environment, I was encouraged from an early age to make, design, and explore. Over the years, I’ve worked with many mediums—drawing, illustration, calligraphy, graphic design, linoleum printing, photography, and more recently, sewing.
When I became a mother, I found I had limited time to dedicate to art in the traditional sense. Spending more time at home, with a deep desire to keep creating, I discovered the world of fabric. After repairing my mother’s vintage sewing machine, I began sewing and soon upgraded to a serger. The early results were encouraging and pushed me to explore more complex techniques and garments. With practice—and a lot of joy—I started drawing and developing my own patterns, initially inspired by the clothes I made for my daughter. My pattern label, Like Flowers and Butterflies, was born in 2006.
Since I started designing for Art Gallery Fabrics, I’ve become completely obsessed with quilting. Creating quilt patterns that beautifully highlight my fabric collections has become a new passion—an exciting way to blend my love for illustration, color, and storytelling through stitches and shapes. Each collection feels like a new chapter, and designing quilts that bring them to life is one of the most fulfilling parts of my creative journey.
Filled with love, joy, and faith, Adventale by Katarina Roccella is a heartwarming collection celebrating family & togetherness. With cheery pinks, reds, golds, and spruce, it embodies the anticipation and festivity of Advent & Christmas, bringing the season’s spirit to life for your holiday sewing projects.
Step into floral bliss through the lush aisles of florist shops with “Plentiful” by Katarina Roccella. Stroll through watercolor blooms, and indulge in juicy fruits & citrus hues. Handpainted motifs in botanicals infuse your creations with a burst of color & whimsy.
Discover the enchanting world of ‘Eerie’ by Katarina Roccella – a bewitching collection inspired by the magic of Halloween. With witches, ghosts, pumpkins, and moonlit nights as muses, it weaves eerie elegance and playful whimsy for a spooktacular celebration!
Delicate whispers in shades from mauve to deepest gray and steely blue add a dash of style in Seedling. Effortlessly cool in mineral shades, these subtle blenders are truly timeless.
Enter Katarina’s creative realm with AbstrArt, where organic fragments and intuitive motifs intertwine, blending a harmonious tapestry of modern-fluid forms and imperfect geometries. Embracing textured backgrounds and hand-drawn elements, this collection celebrates the slow artisan process and the unique essence of handwork, inviting you to embark on new and inspiring projects.
Embark on a mesmerizing tour of Florence’s Renaissance treasures through Katarina’s artful florals and geometric motifs. Drawing inspiration from masterpieces at Duomo, Uffizi, and Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, her work pays homage to Botticelli’s terracotta tones and heavenly blues, celebrating the divine beauty and richness of the world.
Enter an enchanted winter wonderland inspired by Nordic Holiday traditions and celebrate cherished memories in Wintertale. Winter wishes fall like snowflakes in this nostalgic holiday collection in shades of peppermint, blushing pinks and rich shades of spruce and ruby. Get cozy with timeless prints that celebrate the merriest time of the year.
