Studio Renovation Continued

October 29, 2011 by carina 6 Comments

The shelves are up, and I finally have my second Low-Boy Farmhouse Dresser. Josh had to drive to St. George to pick it up (a very nice guy, isn’t he?). I still have a mile to go with support shelving and, well, the other 3 walls of the room.

So here’s a question—I have an outlet behind one of the dressers and I use it as my main plug. Because of this, it pushes the entire dresser out an inch or so. I only have one other outle,t and I would prefer not to use it (because it means running a cord along 3/4th of the room). Anybody know of a three-pronged plug that doesn’t make a piece of furniture push out too much? Right now I’m using the Ikea plug set (that I bought so long ago that I’m not seeing it on the site).

Studio Update

October 25, 2011 by carina 4 Comments

I’ve been slowly adding things to my studio, moving things around, and generally dealing with the space. I contemplated moving Josh and me into the studio space and moving the studio into the master bedroom (Josh nixed this idea. I can’t imagine why.). We’ve considered finishing the basement and making the family room my work space (I nixed this idea because I don’t have great access to the kids and light).

So that has led me to try to think creatively about how I can get better use out of what I already have (and it saves me the trouble of having to call a electrician to move my red chandelier, which I can’t live without). Which has led me to this. Messy. Studio. That I am currently sitting in the middle of. Writing this blog post.

Updates on the progress soon. Lucky for me, my bright turquoise desk makes the mess not feel so bad.

Issue No. 5 of the Newsletter—Spraguefest and Tutorials

October 23, 2011 by carina 3 Comments

Wheww! Here it is! Our fifth issue of the newsletter. This thing just gets bigger and bigger! This one is 39 pages long with a huge section on Spraguefest, an introduction to Susan, a quilt pattern, a coupon code for Designer Workshop, and tutorials galore!

Be sure and check out the calendar at the end…it’s a sneak peek into the “big stuff” coming up the next few months here in the studio.

Here’s you link to Newsletter Issue No. 5:

https://carinagardner.com/newsletter/carina-gardner-newsletter-issue-no-5/

Enjoy!

Carina

I am reading…

September 5, 2011 by carina 2 Comments

Just My Type by Simon Garfield. It’s laugh out loud funny for those with a type-sense-of-humor!

Exciting New Upcoming Events!

August 31, 2011 by carina 2 Comments

There are two spectacular events that I plan on attending in the coming months. The first is Spraguefest!
This is an annual event hosted by Jessica Sprague to further build (the already awesome) community. I know there are going to be a lot of awesome people at this event, and I’m pretty excited to attend! I’m teaching a class on color (it’s going to be messy!).

Spraguefest is October 7-10, 2011 and there is a registration fee of $80 for classes and materials. I know there are going to be goodie bags (yum) and some fantastic teachers! This year we are in Las Vegas and I’m sure that whatever happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas. That means a lot of late night craziness. Oh alright, maybe some daytime craziness as well (I might have done a little dance in the street last year).

The second event is my brand new Paper and Digital Designer Workshop! Think elegant girls-trip-meets-intense-design-school. Yep, it’s going to be that kind of weekend!

We’ll be in Salt Lake City working on your paper and digital designer skills (and possibly your shopping skills, manicure skills, nunchuck skills…). It’s going to be a super intense experience that will help you explore your creativity! We are staying at the Little America Hotel , who will also be catering nearly the entire event. The Little America is well known for being a luxurious Four Diamond Hotel and their menus and decor are impressive! Get ready for a glammed-up girls weekend that will also define your design career!

Registration for this event is capped at 20 people and is first-come, first serve.

Check out our workshops page to learn more and register!

I hope to be able to hang out with you at one or both of these events!

Carina Gardner Quarterly Newsletter (Issue No. 4)

August 18, 2011 by carina 2 Comments

FINALLY! We’ve finished our fourth issue of our newsletter! Better late than never, right?

I think this is our best issue so far. First of all, there are a LOT of photos. And tutorials. And photos. And an announcement (which links to ANOTHER digital magazine). And did I mention photos?

It’s seriously delicious!

Susan has already posted a bit on getting ready for this crazy photoshoot (see it here). I can tell you right now that we had so many amazing photos that I’m not going to be able to resist posting them.

But first, click on the newsletter to the left here and take a peek at all the fun we were up to in the studio.

https://carinagardner.com/newsletter/carina-gardner-newsletter-issue-no-4/

More photos to come!

Playhouse to Clubhouse

August 3, 2011 by carina 5 Comments

We got a Costco playset in April, which has kept my kids outside most of the summer. I had this idea that I was going to make it more of a “clubhouse” by making curtains for it.

Fast forward to yesterday (aka 4 months later). I picked up Amanda’s red polka dot laminate at Riley Blake’s warehouse. I was so excited that I stayed up late into the night to pound grommets into the curtains (much harder than I anticipated). I’m hoping the laminate holds up okay outside. I’ll probably pull the curtains down before winter and bring them inside for a good washing.

I might have given in and decided it was time to just buy a drill (instead of borrowing the neighbor’s) to install the curtain rods. Maybe I was tired of digging in someone else’s garage. Or maybe I decided that a girl just needs a drill of her own. The three of us headed to Home Depot this afternoon to get some hardware for installing the Tacksam Curtain rod sets from Ikea ($3.99 a rod).

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Now Siri can sell in her “shop” better than ever. Although she has informed me that they will still be making potions down there (but now they can close the curtains so that the non-witches will not steal the recipes).

Typography

July 18, 2011 by carina 5 Comments

I’ve been knee-deep in writing Art of Digital Design II. That means wading through my library of typography books. Trying to pick out the essentials for a single lesson (when I usually teach an entire semester) is certainly a challenge.

In the midst of writing last night, I popped over to my friend Melissa Esplin’s blog and noticed that she had an awesome post on type. It’s very fun! She also references this post on type from Goodlookcookbook. Type-nerdiness! It warms my heart!

Here’s my addition to their lists—my personal favorites that I wish I saw more of!

Pinterest-My New Favorite Site

July 3, 2011 by carina 1 Comment

I am new to Pinterest, but I’m already a big fan. Why do I love it? It’s like a virtual board for lots of great inspiration. Instead of spending all my time tearing out pages from my magazines, I can simply “pin” up my favorite inspirational pictures. The best part? It keeps track of the link so I can go back and remember where I got the idea.

It’s also the most gorgeous, visually-fun experience. I find myself meandering on friend’s boards and checking out all the goodies that others have found.

Why hasn’t anyone thought of this before (either that or I am sorely behind the times). Feel free to “pin” with me by following me here.

Hugs!Carina

A Little More Conversation

June 3, 2011 by carina

I never get to post on my blog as much as I’d like to. That’s sad, because there are always so many fun things humming along in the studio! Sooooo, my amazing assistant Susan and I decided it might be fun for you to check out some of our projects in process. We’ll both be posting, but when I’m all tied up, she’ll be able to give you some of 411.

Check out her blog at http://onesquirrelonawire.blogspot.com/. She’s a photographer, which makes her site all the more fun! (This one is of my pushing Siri on our neighbor’s tree swing).

Enjoy!

Carina

Spring Quilt Market 2011

May 16, 2011 by carina 2 Comments

I was a happy girl at Quilt Market this weekend. Susan and Emily walked the show with me and we have a fabulous time! It was nice to have market in town (here in SLC). Here’s a sampling of my Friday (prepare yourself for a long and picture-heavy post!):

This was fun! My little bio at Northcott and a few of my patterns on display at The Pattern Peddler’s booth.

The absolutely delicious Riley Blake booth! And I feel silly because I completely forgot to take pictures of the Little Miss Suntop and Skirt model & the High Tea Soiree Dress model while I was hanging out. I’ll get photos of them when I pick them up.

(You know that Riley Blake is giving away this Beach Cruiser, right?)

Susan was cracking us all up with her enthusiasm! Here she is getting a Moda tattoo. Classic Susan!

And me forcing her to pose in a window frame.

Those gorgeous hats (above) are a new pattern by Amanda of the Quilted Fish. Seriously, adorable!

Here’s one of my new favorite people-Rebeckah Merkle. Here booth was fab and she was sweet too! She has a new line with Timeless Treasures.

This fabulous footwear belongs to Anna Marie Horner’s daughter. Anna Marie passed on some serious style to her daughter.

If you attended market, you might have joined in the All Dolled Up contest that was going on. This fabulous quilt was at one of those booths. And that flower…well, how could I NOT take a photograph of it? Of course, I have no idea what booth it was in.

Me with the extremely nice Joel Dewberry. The amazing frame and mini quilt are by Gigi’s Thimble.

Emily in total bliss as she picks up EQ7!

These lovely ladies (Megan of the Brassy Apple and Daria of the Boutique Cafe) are giving away one of my Ruffle Dress Patterns! Check out their podcast interview with me in a couple of weeks at the Boutique Cafe!

Finally, I had to show you a little goodness from the Seven Islands booth. I think Susan was drooling…literally.

That’s a pretty decent sampling of my two days at market. Hopefully, I’ll get some pics up soon of Josh and me in our 80’s gear for the Riley Blake party. If I haven’t scared you away yet, that post might do it.

Happy sewing!

Carina

Pinwheel Coquette Quilt by Emily Harris

April 25, 2011 by carina 5 Comments

This quilt was made by my good friend Emily Harris (the same that made that amazing chocolate bunny cake!). These gorgeous little pinwheels were made with a fat quarter bundle of Coquette™. Isn’t it wonderful? It makes me want to pull out the sewing machine right now and start working on a quilt!

Kathy Petersen’s Art Exhibit

April 17, 2011 by carina

Friday night, Josh and I attended Kathy Petersen’s art exhibit at the Phillips Gallery in downtown Salt Lake. I was a little hesitant to get out of the house after a neighborhood kid accidentally ran into me on his bike, which resulted in a black eye (the kid walked away without a bruise). Thankfully, it didn’t turn purple until Saturday so it just looked like I was squinting at the show (lol, pathetic, I know).

It was totally worth looking like a “squinter” because the show was beautiful. I am so in love with these two paintings. Josh, I’d recommend bookmarking this post for future birthdays, anniversaries…(you get the point).

When you are done drooling, head over to the Phillips Gallery display of all the paintings. Delicious!

And send me good karma so this eye will get back to normal (I still have the black stage, green and yellow stage, and…are there any other stages?).

Hugs! Carina

The Biggest Bubbles

April 2, 2011 by carina 3 Comments

One of our neighbors, Joe, brought over a monster bubble maker yesterday. Joe made it for a Science Olympiad at Weber State (where Joe works). It is completely shocking to see a bubble that big!

I’m not completely sure how Joe made these bubbles, but the “bubble maker” is made from two golf clubs (that Joe got from the thrift store) and string. Joe says the string needs to be sturdy but absorbent enough for the bubble mix.

All of the kids were delighted and I couldn’t blame them! I would have loved to have popped a bubble that big as a kid (who am I kidding, I would like to pop a bubble that big NOW!).

The kids lined up and tried to pop the bubbles a myriad of ways….jumping, karate chopping, squirting with water…well, you get the idea.

For me the whole activity was a sign that spring was finally here…although I don’t doubt that we have one more snow storm this spring. Either way, I’m excited that spring is on it’s way!

XOXO-Carina