Surprise, Surprise!

May 1, 2012 by carina 17 Comments

You’ve been waiting, and I will not disappoint! I have TWO announcements for you today. I’m going to let you in on my family news first—and that is we are expecting baby number 3!

After a five and a half year gap, we have decided to head back into diapers, teething, and night feedings. (It has been long enough that I have forgotten how little sleep I will get and have created a blissful illusion that I will be happily snuggling a baby in my very tidy house 24 hours a day). To top off our joy, we also found out that squirt #3 is a boy! Guess I’ll be making more boy lines, huh?

My pregnancy secret better explains this or even this, don’t you think? You guys are lucky that I skipped posting on bagel week (yes, I ate bagels every day for every meal.)

Baby boy is due at the end of August. This is my first summer baby so if you want to give me some advice for staying cool, I will gladly take it!

To throw a whammy into all this new-found baby fun, today is the announcement of a brand-new company—Carta Bella. Some of you sneaky folks have managed to find out all about this scrapbooking company before we have even had a chance to announce it!

This has been a big undertaking, and I’m so excited for you to be a part of this new venture! Our sister company Echo Park made the transition from “conceptual” to “actual” a wonderful process. Getting to work with the EP team has made the process a pleasure. Second of all, I get to work with the brilliant Lindsay Moore, who is the Director of Sales at Carta Bella (Seriously, have you met Lindsay? He’s fab!). And as if I wasn’t having enough fun, I am the Creative Director over a fabulous team of designers many of who you know already.

So what’s so special about the Carta Bella brand? Other than the amazing crew, the awesome talent, and all the hard work everyone has already put in? All of our papers are TEXTURED! I can’t tell you how beautiful this makes the lines. (I wanted to add 4 exclamation marks there, but restrained myself.) I can’t help but run my fingers over the samples at my house every time I pass them. And you’ll love all the great stuff we are doing with alphabets and elements. Get ready for some serious scrapping!

Our very first collection is Beautiful Moments™, which I designed specifically for the launch (check out that little cutie in the layout! I think I know her…). I know there may be a way to win it through the facebook page although I’m not sure when (details to come!). I also happen to know there is a SERIOUS week of prizes coming up soon to those who are part of the facebook page. Don’t miss out on it!

+ Want to check out more on Carta Bella? Visit the new website here: http://www.cartabellapaper.com.

+ You can check out the first blog post here as Lindsay and I introduce the company.

How’s that for some big news? Lots of paper loving coming your way!

Yours truly,

A happy, fat pregnant lady

PS. If you don’t subscribe to my facebook page, I made the announcement that we are having some troubles with the email feeds. This meant completely starting over with a new feed. Please re-subscribe in the top-right hand corner of the blog by adding your email or you will no longer receive the blog emails. Thanks!

Reversible Blouse and Dress Free Download and Video

April 30, 2012 by carina 7 Comments

Today you can learn how to make my Reversible Blouse and Dress Pattern that I created especially for beginning clothing sewers! This is such a fun and easy pattern! I’ve created instructions and a 8.5″ x 11″ printable pattern! All you need to do is tape the patterns together. How easy is that?

This pattern comes in both the dress and blouse sizes with my typical sizes of XS-XL. I use the same Child Measurements Chart that I use on all my sewing patterns, which is also laid out in the downloadable instructions for this pattern.

Need more of a visual? You’re in luck! My big news today is that I have done a video on Riley Blake’s Cutting Corners with Cindy Cloward showing the steps for creating this outfit. There are examples in the Paris and Company™ and Dainty Blossoms™ fabric. Check out the video by going here! NOTE: This video has been postponed and will go live May 1st.

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Aren’t these girls darling? Gweny and Mae are two of my good friend Aimee’s children who happily agreed to pose for me! I’ll have samples of this outfit in my booth at Quilt Market in my new line Songbird™ (which I will reveal fully soon!).

Big news to announce tomorrow afternoon (yes, don’t get antsy but I won’t be announcing until the afternoon).

Hope you enjoy the pattern!

Carina

A Double Duty Week

April 26, 2012 by carina

We’ve been doing double duty in the studio with the May 1st surprise as well as Quilt Market. I flew my mom into town to help me with all the sewing. We have managed to squeeze into the last 5 days a king size quilt, 2 baby quilts, 9 children’s outfits, 2 slings, and a whole heck of a lot of pillows. It’s been a marathon! I have new-found appreciation for all the hard work folks put into Quilt Market.

We still have a number of items to make before our crates ship out next week, but I’m feeling pretty good about how far we’ve gotten. My mom stayed up until 3am trying to get the quilts done in time. My favorite machine quilter Lina, agreed to help me out with this deadline as well (My mom and my assistant have nicknamed me the slave driver). Susan is the sewing-pattern-cutter-extraordinaire now and my mom is the piping pillow master (try saying that five times fast).

PS You are seeing here some of the first peeks at my fabric line Songbird™!

Speaking of that other thing (you know, that May 1st thing?), I am AMAZINGLY impressed by the resourcefulness of some of you out there. I have been sent forum threads and a number of leaks that have come out and all I can say is, “Good detective work!” Can’t keep a secret from some of you!

Back to the sewing!

Carina

Double Ringed Pincushion Tutorial and Free Download

April 20, 2012 by carina 3 Comments

If you head over to Riley Blake’s Cutting Corners today, you will find my brand-new Double Ringed Pincushion Tutorial.

All of my pincushions are made using my Dainty Blossom’s line for Riley Blake. I now have these pincushions scattered all over my studio 1. because they are useful, but also 2. because my kids like to play with the “donuts.” It works for me.

The actual pincushion is relatively fast to make. The stand is made from wood supplies found at my local craft store (spools, doll heads/spheres, and a flat circle for the base).

Head over the Riley Blake here to download the pdf instructions, pattern, and for a quick look at the instructions in the blog post. You can also download the instructions here.

Happy sewing!

Carina

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The Almost News

April 15, 2012 by carina 3 Comments

Heavens knows there is a lot going on these days! Susan has even been forced to come over for some late night work sessions (and we certainly try very hard not to have too much fun). I’m only a couple of weeks away from the big reveal. Be sure and check back for the good/big news on May 1st. But in the meantime, feel free to check out my new tab Design Firm for a sneak peek at the designers who have been working with me on this new venture.

In the meantime, I have a pincushion tutorial and pattern available on Friday of this week both here and at Riley Blake’s Cutting Corners. I’m also heading down to Riley Blake on Wednesday to tape my first Riley Blake How To Video. I’ve been working on a little girl’s pattern that is easy enough for a beginner (with no buttons or zippers!). The results have been amazing. I’m so excited to share the pattern and instructions for this fab new pattern.

To top off the fabric-y week, we are expecting to get my next line Songbird™ on Friday so we can make preparations for Quilt Market. I can hardly believe we are only a few weeks away from it, and I am frantically trying to get together another free pattern (it’s been a month of that!) to give away at SchoolHouse. If you are coming to Market, come see me for my quick little introduction to Songbird™, the most recent free patterns we have giving away, and a look at the sewing patterns. And if you want to see our very not-so-secret booth, I have even have a booth number for you: #1529—right across from my favorite folks, Riley Blake.

Waiting patiently, patiently…

Carina

Quick Trip Down to Christensen Wholesale

April 12, 2012 by carina 1 Comment

I made a quick run down to Christensen Wholesale’s new warehouse last Friday and I had the wits about me to remember my camera! The new warehouse is really great. I love walking in and seeing this (Dainty Blossoms™):

And this (Paris and Company™):

Something about all those bolts of fabric just makes me happy!

I went down to pick up my bolts of Paris and Company™. The line turned out so fun! Thought I would drop by to show you the goodness before I get back to work. Lots of good things happening and only a couple more weeks before the reveal…

Hints and hints,

Carina

Easter Brunch

April 7, 2012 by carina 1 Comment

This morning we got the family together for a little Easter egg hunt and brunch. I was grateful for the beautiful weather and how excited all the cousins were to get together. It definitely makes me feel like spring is officially here despite the snow we had yesterday.

It’s a lovely end to the girls’ spring break.

Happy Easter!

Carina

Weekends and Blueberry Crumb Cake

March 25, 2012 by carina 1 Comment

I always look forward to the weekend—I work a little less, have Josh around, and get around to cooking more. A couple of weekends ago, I started making the Barefoot Contessa’s Blueberry Crumb Cake. It’s totally divine, light, and could be breakfast or dessert (a major plus). A new cake is baking as I type so that when I get done with this post, I’ll be digging into a little bit of sweet.

This weekend, we finished setting up the tradeshow booth for Quilt Market. Sure, it’s a month and a half away, but this is my first time and I wanted to be sure to get it write. You can check out a couple of the instagram pictures on my sidebar or on my facebook page. Yes, I know that doesn’t give you the full picture of what we are up to, but I’m taking lots of pictures now and we’ll show off closer to the show.

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With the tradeshow coming up, you can bet I’ll be in full swing sewing soon with my new line Songbird due out in June. Of course in the meantime, I’m still sewing up some lovely stuff for Paris and Company (out this April!). The lines are totally different, which makes deciding how I want to use them that much more fun!

And there’s the oven timer going off! Hope you are having a lovely weekend too! —Carina

Paris and Company and the Sling Sewing Pattern

March 15, 2012 by carina 1 Comment

I was able to get my hands on the first samples of Paris and Company last week, but didn’t have a chance to let the sewing machine whirl until yesterday. I knew the line was going to be awesome for the Sling Pattern, but I was elated with how it turned out!

There are enough simple patterns (like the dots and the damask shown here in the flowers) to help the more complicated patterns (the flowers and written fabrics) pop. I have more material for a Chic Mademoiselle outfit (in the ice cream fabric!) but we’ll see how soon I can get to making that. Paris and Company shops to retail shops in April. Be sure and check it out if you get a chance!

Happy sewing! Carina

Dainty Blossoms Camera Strap Tutorial—Free Download

March 8, 2012 by carina 2 Comments

Want to bring life to your camera strap? Here’s a quick and easy tutorial of how to make one. There are step-by-step photos and then I suggest embellishing it with something fun! This strap is made with Dainty Blossoms™ to infuse a little spring into this long drawn out winter.

What else do I like about this project? It’s a short, quick-and-easy project. I sometimes like a tiny project like this because I feel inspired and fulfilled when I finish it, but it only took me an hour.

Download the pdf here.

Hope you get in a little stitchin’ time too!

XOXO-Carina

Dress Up Quilt—Free Quilt Pattern

March 7, 2012 by carina 2 Comments

As promised, the Dress Up™ Quilt Pattern in a more “bite-sized” pdf. You can also see it shown in our 6th Newsletter Issue.

I wish I had more fun things to show you, but other than a fun stop down at Riley Blake earlier this week (to grab some Paris and Company for a photoshoot & talk about a new line) and the quick recover of my kitchen table in Dainty Blossoms™ laminate (shown through instagram on my facebook page), I’ve been doing the thing I dread most…my taxes.

There’s something about having to sit over my computer crunching numbers for my tax consultant that makes me feel like Bean (boring, boring, BORING!)—that’s the second grader in me speaking.

Thankfully, we are making the transition in software this year, and I’m hoping that it limits the time I spend hunched over my computer in March.

Wait, did I say March? My how time flies when you are having fun!

Enjoy the quilt pattern!

XOXO—Carina

Obsessions

March 1, 2012 by carina 2 Comments

I can almost hear Julie Roberts saying, “Benedict!” in Runaway Bride. I’ve been making these nearly everyday for a couple of weeks. I think you can safely call that an obsession.

I always order the traditional eggs benedict at our family’s favorite neighborhood diner The Blue Plate. Instead of hitting it up everyday for a week, I ran to the grocery store and picked up all the ingredients. I know that I personally have been scared of poaching eggs in the past. The real trick is PLENTY of vinegar in boiling water. I’ve sometimes underdone the amount of vinegar and the egg goes everywhere. Stack the toasted English muffin, a slice of Canadian bacon, a slice of tomato, and the poached egg. Finally, I drizzle some not so homemade hollandaise sauce on top (I am lazy and just buy the premade packet. Add butter and milk, and it’s finished in a couple of minutes!).

I have plenty of other obsessions but this one is at the top of the list right now.

It’s been a delicious couple of weeks! Happy eating to you too! —Carina

Newsletter Issue No. 6—Free Quilt Pattern, Tutorials and All That Jazz

February 29, 2012 by carina

You’ve waited patiently for it and now it’s done! Our sixth issue of the newsletter has really become a digital magazine with all the stuff we try to pack into it!

This issue includes a new quilt pattern using Dress Up™, the inside scoop on Designer Workshop, tutorials from the Creative Team, a fabric tutorial on making a camera strap and so much more!

Visit the Carina Gardner Newsletter Issue No. 6 here.

Many of you have requested that we make the newsletter downloadable (which makes sense for those of you needing to print the patterns!). I made sure that this issue and all the previous issues now include the download button for your convenience. I also plan on getting smaller bite-sized downloads of the Dress Up™ Quilt, the Pinfeathers™ Quilt, and the new Dainty Blossoms™ Camera Strap Tutorials available soon.

Some of you saw my early picture of the Dress Up™ Quilt on Instagram (check my sidebar). I usually piece together all my quilts, but my mom helped me on this one. Things have been a bit busy and it’s such a blessing to have a quilting mama! She’s also planning on flying out a couple of weeks before Quilt Market to help me out with the tremendous amount of sewing we will be doing for my booth. The pattern instructions for this quilt are included in the 6th issue, and I hope you get a chance to make it! It’s simple and so sweet!

I’ll be back soon with my favorite way to cut bias strips and all those easy downloads!

Enjoy!

Carina

Instagram and Other Such Things

February 23, 2012 by carina

I took the plunge last week and put the Instagram App on my iPhone. I’ll admit that I was a little terrified of using it so it took me a few days to pull it out and really try it. But after taking a couple of pictures, linking it up to my Facebook page (and I love that you can choose which photos get posted), messing around with all the cool filters, and checking out everyone else’s photos—well, I think I’m addicted.

If you want to check out my Instagram feed, you can subscribe to my user handle carinagardner. I also found that SnapWidget is the most user-friendly blog widget (see on my sidebar).

in.to.it.

I think I am digging Instagram because it’s like a mini blog post. I get to see what everyone is up to in a single image. I (personally) prefer a picture to a tweet. It says so much more about what you are up to, how you live, and what your life is all about.

To narrator the photo above—That is a picture of the Spring 2012 Issue of Where Women Create Magazine. The photo has me looking pretty tan/sunburned in the middle of winter. I can ASSURE you, that I’m amazingly pasty white. Not in a good way. In my dreams I would look even a smidgeon that tan. If you get a chance to snag this fabulous magazine, you can find this pic in the Riley Blake Studio section.

And the photo to the left is of my Siri-girl sewing together a quilt. I have a new appreciation and love for 5 1/2 inch pre cut blocks. They are the best for little rugrats to create with. Both the girls sewed mini quilts while I cut bias for my new quilt. Yesterday was the first day I really saw the value of having two sewing machines in the studio. It was nice to not have to volley for my Bernina since Siri was all ready to go on her Singer.

Happy photo taking to you too!—Carina

Utah Business Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40

February 15, 2012 by carina 3 Comments

I’m still a little in shock that I made this year’s Top 40 Under 40—that is Utah Business Magazine’s top 40 executives under the age of 40. It’s an absolute honor, and I’m excited to meet everyone on the list at the end of the month.

If you want to read the short bit about me, you can read it here.

And while I am feeling very happy for what we have accomplished in the short four years I have been in the crafting/fabric industries, I’m just as excited for all the things to come. We have so many exciting things coming up during the next 6 months and I’m on the edge of my seat to share (soon!).

The crazy thing is looking back at how I started out (with a little digital scrapbooking shop in January 2008 while still teaching at the University of Minnesota) and my transition into scrapbooking papers, fabric, online teaching, workshops, licensing, and (the biggest leap of faith) manufacturing and designing sewing patterns. It has been an amazing four years for my family and myself.

When I talk about hard work in the article, I really mean it. It makes me grateful that the attitude of hard work instilled in my home. My father grew up on a farm and was the 8th child in a family of 9 children. He was the first to go to college. And my mother is an immigrant from Malaysia who took a scholarship to England to go to college.

I remember the stories they told me of how they started out…the first five years of my life that I don’t remember. From that to where I am now seems like such a fairytale that I will admit that I believe (as cheesy as it sounds) in American dream. I feel like I am living it.

I couldn’t feel more humble or lucky than I do right now.

Well, I got a lot more personal there than I was intending, which is always a little difficult for me because that comes with a feeling of vulnerability. But I wouldn’t be who am today without all the back story. Nor would I want to try to be a better parent, creative, business owner, or wife if it wasn’t for these kinds of reflections.

Thanks for following my work and being involved with everything I and my team have tried to do. I hope that we can continue to bring happiness to your lives through crafting, sewing, and creativity.

XOXO-Carina