Quilt Market Day 1

May 21, 2010 by carina 4 Comments

As promised, I’m writing reporting back on Quilt Market! It was my first day, and as a wide-eyed newbie, I was completely enthralled with everything! One thing that made me happy, happy, happy, was to be in Minnesota again! Here are the highlights:

The view from my hotel. Totally gorgeous!

Coquette™ in full force!

I hung out at the Northcott™ booth this morning before walking the show floor.

Shari Berry’s new line Child’s Play for Northcott™. So sweet! The ABC fabric is my favorite!

These felt cakes are SOOOOOO adorable! I loved walking the show for this kind of stuff!

Lunch with some new friends! Bloggers John, Kaye, and Jennifer (Jennifer’s friend Doe took the photo).

I picked up Jen Allyson and Deena at the airport after a day at the Convention Center. We went to one of my favorite restaurants Muffuletta in Anthony Park.

Here we are! Happy and full!

Okay, so that’s the wrap for the first day. Sorry there aren’t more descriptions but I need to get myself to bed for another fun-filled day tomorrow!

Print on Fabric with Your InkJet Printer

May 20, 2010 by carina 5 Comments

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Would you believe that that the fabric in that little shirt Siri is wearing was printed on my INK JET printer? Nuts, huh? I needed to make a mock-up of my fabric Love Nest™ which won’t come out until January 2011 so I decided to try this little trick. The shirt turned out beautifully and you would never know that I simply printed on my inkjet. All you have to do is buy fabric (I used white 100% cotton) and iron it onto Freezer Paper (which can be bought at your local grocery store).

The freezer paper makes the fabric stiff enough to go through the printer. You iron the freezer paper’s waxy-shiny side to the fabric. My printer is able to print 13″ x 19″ sheet, which really helped with the construction. I printed off 4 sheets in the pink paisley from Love Nest™ and 1 sheet in the red calico flower from Love Nest™. (BTW, pattern for that flower will be coming soon to this blog!).

I can’t imagine that the fabric is will hold up to several washings (I’ve heard that you can wash it a few times before it starts having trouble), but I love the idea of instant fabric and will have to dream up some more uses for this little trick!

Working Draft of a New Pattern

May 19, 2010 by carina 4 Comments

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We’ve been a busy crew here at the Gardner house the last few weeks! Among other things we had family pictures taken (by the amazing Susan Haglund).Good timing too so that I could get these amazing photos of Siri wearing the first draft of a pattern I’ve been working on. Don’t you worry, I’ll be whipping this ruffly-thing up in Coquette™ too.

IMG_7069_filtered_1 I ran into friend Melissa Esplin tonight (I was trying to sneak into JoAnn’s looking pretty awful and got caught!), who inspired me to try and get all those great projects I’ve been hoarding up on my blog. I have a few months of back log (I know, I know, did I mention I’ve been busy?), and I’m going to do my best to get them rolling out so you can be inspired too. Oh ya, and you certainly will be seeing a post from me this weekend: I’ll be reporting from Quilt Market in Minneapolis. I’m looking forward to seeing old friends there and attending this amazing show for the first time. I’ll be sure to snap a lot of photos of my favs!

Sewing with A Ruffler

May 13, 2010 by carina 7 Comments

I have to take a little minute to chit chat about my new Ruffler. This amazing little device can save you minutes, nay hours of hand-gathering! I got this little baby when I started working on a children’s pattern with an absurd amount of ruffles (I just can’t help it! I adore ruffles!). The ruffles are perfect (you can choose a ruffle at every 1, 6, or 12 stitches thereby also creating the most perfect pleat).

If you are an avid sewer + ruffle-person (please tell me I’m not the only one out there), you would love this device (BTW, Bernina did not put me up to this…it is simply my own little obsession. Josh is tired of me pushing guests into my studio to show them how amazing it is!).

Just as a side note, the MeadowLark™ giveaway ends tomorrow! Be sure and enter by adding a comment in the post below!

Designer Get-Together for Design House Digital

May 8, 2010 by carina 5 Comments

I just got back from a lovely weekend retreat with Design House Digital designers in Midway, Utah. We laughed, listened to Glee, worked, and chit chat. Who was there? Jen Allyson, Deena Rutter, Melissa Esplin, Mary Shaw, Gennifer Bursett, and Spencer Nugent (who showed up at Hi Mountain Drug in Camas at the end of the retreat). It was wonderful hanging out and getting to know these awesome girls a little better!

Here’s a run down of what we were up to:

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Thanks ladies for all the fun!!!! I’m excited to get to know you all better and steal your headbands (um, thanks Melissa!), decorate with the new birdie plate (I love you Jen!) and force you to help me pick out shoes (everyone had to at least LISTEN to that).

interNational Scrapbooking Day-Freebie

April 30, 2010 by carina 18 Comments

IMG_1307_sm All the hail and sleet the last couple of days gave me some extra “inside time” to get this freebie together for you in honor of interNational Scrapbooking Day! Otherwise, I’d still be in my yummy lime green gardening boots planting ranunculus in my front yard!

So here’s some of the fun going on at DHD: There is a HUGE site-wide sale happening, chats all day on Saturday, May 1st, and freebies to be had. I’m jumping the gun a little by posting a day early with this freebie, but I say let the fun begin! Be sure to drop by HERE at 9am MST for my chat at DHD (hint, I’ll have a little exclusive freebie:).

So why is this kit called Paisley v2? Because you can download Paisley v1 by signing up to be a fan of Design House Digital on Facebook! When the fan page hits 2000 fans, this freebie will be given out.

Okay! Here’s Paisley v.2. Just click on the kit to download it!

It’s a Project Day

April 15, 2010 by carina 2 Comments

Ahhhhh! I love a good project day! I’m off the computer designing for a day (after finishing up my new collection Daisy Jane™ for DHD last night) and getting paint on my face! I found a steal of a deal at Tai Pan the other day, and it’s been waiting for me to give it a fresh coat of paint. Of course, Felicity helped as only a toddler can (that’s her little hand painting in the photo!). I’m also hoping to get out those new MeadowLark™ papers to work on a little project. That’s this afternoon (with the girls…they love a good art project as much as I do).

elephant front Speaking of projects, I have to show off these amazing projects by one of DHD‘s new Hybrid Decorators: Jane Beljo (click on her name to see more). These cards use the Baby Mine kit (proceeds go to a good cause—see the post below!). You can see her helpful hints for making her cards at Design House Digital (her first post is here).

Oh ya, and I’ve been meaning to give a little shout out to Hi Mountain Drug Store in Kamas, Utah. Our little family stopped by to see DHD’s Digi guru Gennifer Bursett on our way back from a spring break vacation last week. It’s no wonder that the burger joint there has won so many awards! I inhaled that delectable philly burger with the refreshing limeade in a ridiculous amount of time. Yes, my mouth is salivating just thinking of it. Gen, watch out…I may be back sooner than you’d like!

Okay, backing away from the computer now :).

A Super Post- A Free Download, A Giveaway, and A Good Cause

April 6, 2010 by carina 18 Comments

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I’d like to start with the good cause because, well, it’s the most exciting for me! My little sister SuiKim (pronounced “Sweet-Kim” without the “t”) and her husband Steve found out a couple of weeks ago that they have been chosen to adopt a little baby boy! I’m especially happy for SuiKim and Steve, who are just about the nicest, kindest couple of people around. They have spent most of their marriage wanting to have a child, and haven’t been as fortunate as many of us. If you’ve gone through this process, you know how heartbreaking and difficult it is. I’m so grateful that this opportunity has come for them and wanted to share my joy with you.

sisters Without going into my family history, I’ll just tell you that my family as suffered a bit of heartache the last few years (a story for another time). Because of this SuiKim and Steve don’t have many financial resources. I wanted to help the best way I know how. So the digital kit above, BABY MINE, will go on sale on Thursday, April 8th, at Design House Digital with all the proceeds going to help pay for the adoption. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity in helping me get this new little family started. I’ll be sure to post pictures of the little one when he arrives (camera will be waiting in hand!). (BTW, the pic on the side is my sister Yanni (right), SuiKim (center holding Yanni’s son Tad), and me).

If you don’t digital scrapbook, or just want to help, I’ve included a donation box here for you to send money to them.

Please Donate To SuiKim and Steve’s Adoption

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Thanks again for all your help in this effort! I’m excited to see this little family get their first baby!

Okay, on to the next thing! A giveway. Yes, I know you like giveaways and I do too! Due to hit Design House Digital on Thursday is a new Color Kit. I’ve been getting emails about this, and FINALLY I got to it! Want to win it? All you have to do is leave me a little message in this post about your favorite hobby—Are you scrapbooker? Quilter? Avid crafter? Obsessive organizer? I love hearing about others’ obsessive need to create! I’m right there with you.

Here’s little peek at Color Kit 3. I’ll post the winner Thursday morning, bright and early so leave me some love sometime on Wednesday.

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And finally, a little freebie for you! It’s a little party card download made from the Baby Mine kit. Use it for a birthday, baby shower, baby housewarming party, or (in my case) “Baby’s Here!” party. If you aren’t a “digital person,” no worries! This card is already positioned on an 8.5″ x 11″ paper so all you have to do is download and print. You may get a download window, or the image may appear in a new screen (if this happens just right click on it and SAVE IMAGE). It’s a high quality jpg that will print beautifully for you! Enjoy!

New Collaborative Collection with Crystal Wilkerson

March 11, 2010 by carina

Just a quick drop in before I leave for a leprechaun hunt. Just wanted to let you know that I have a new collaborative collection on sale at Design House Digital and Jessica Sprague. OH BOY! was created with designer Crystal Wilkerson. I know you don’t see many boy kits out of me, so you’ll have to take advantage of it! As always, Thursday release days are 30% off (making getting the ENTIRE collection super cheap).

Hope you all like it! I have to run to my leprechaun lunch (hence the little man pb&j sandwiches). We don’t want them to get away!

Spring Cleaning

March 10, 2010 by carina

If you read this blog regularly, many of you know I bought my first house just last October. And while it was in wonderful condition and the previous owners did a lot to my darling 1944 brick bungalow, I find myself completely overwhelmed by everything I need to do to get it looking the way I want it.

I’m sure you can relate.

I’ve had a chandelier in a box just sitting in the living room for a month now. Everyday I tell myself I AM going to paint the hallway ceiling and that I’m going to get organized with my displays. And the list goes on and on.

Why the rush to finish up the inside (or at least part of it?). Because spring is on it’s way of course! And I plan on spending every moment ordering up lots of bulbs, plants, a playset, and recovering a couch in outdoor fabric to get my backyard in top notch condition (I’ll take lots of pictures)!

Does anyone else feel overwhelmed when spring hits? If you have tips and tricks for how you get organized, I’d love to hear them! For the most part, I just try to relax and it enjoy the process (because it really is so wonderful to finish a little project and see how beautiful it turned out). But then again, I wouldn’t be the least bit sad if I had a Samantha nose twitch to get it all done at once!

Julia Child

March 7, 2010 by carina 1 Comment

julia-child This may be a rather odd post after I leave you a download for canister labels, but it is late and after watching a movie about blogging, I find myself wanting to share. Sorry to bore you and sorry for no free download.

Josh is working late tonight which meant I got to watch Julie and Julia all by myself. When it comes to anything sentimental, I really like watching by myself anyway. Maybe it’s because I like to cry loud. And maybe it’s because I like to cry.

So anyway, here’s a post for all the other foodies out there! If you haven’t seen it, the photography of Paris in the 1940s-1950s is absolutely gorgeous! The food looks lovely, and I loved the story of a woman turning 30 and finding herself through cooking.

So much for an early bedtime. Good night!

Bear With Me…

January 29, 2010 by carina 7 Comments

Bear with me as I take a moment to get a little personal. Today something wonderful happened to me. Something I have been waiting to happen for a long time. Today, I went into my day job as an Communications and Event Director and walked out as a freelance designer. I have been transitioning for the last several months in the job so I could design full-time from home.

And now, I can concentrate on other work: being a mommy, being a wife, and being a designer. I have managed to stretch myself too far these last few months, and now I have a chance to concentrate on the people and work I love the most.

What does this mean? More designs and projects from me, of course! I’ve been loving my new digital home with Jen Allyson at Design House Digital. Things are rocking along for my two new fabric lines, Coquette and Love Nest. I’ve got a lot of fun sewing projects waiting for me to get going on. We’ll also be opening a Carina Gardner™ Shop sometime this summer with limited supplies of the new fabric lines. I’m also planning some new classes for Jessica Sprague’s site. It’s a new year, and an exciting new time! I hope you join me as things get swinging around here! Check back for more giveaways, more releases, and well, just a whole lot more!

(BTW, the photos are from a modge podge project I did at a church activity with my Love Nest Glitter papers. I picked up the hearts from the Wood Connection in Salt Lake City. )

I’m going to spend my weekend getting my studio cleaned up, hanging that chandelier (I hope…this one’s on you, Josh), and painting. A perfect way to get things underway for my new life.

“How To” Blog

January 19, 2010 by carina

1-all-done The “How to” Blog I’m speaking of it Design House Digital’s Blog and Classroom. Everytime I click on one of those links I’m amazed by all the inspiration and cool ideas (like this cool art cut out by Deena Rutter). Articles get uploaded to this blog everyday and there’s no shortage of video tutorials, hybrid projects, and digital tricks for all you crafty folks. I like it because all of the Digital Designers, DH Decorators, and the “Experts” Panel are involved in this blog to make it this very spectacular treat!

Peek over there when you have a second! I’m working tirelessly on my new Valentine Collection, which will hit DHD on Thursday (30% off that day!). I’ll be sure and post it when I have them ready.

I’ve also just (finally) have final proofs for the Love Nest line that will hit fabric this coming year, which means more sewing for me!

Happy Crafting!

Craft Project-How to Make an Easy Octopus Costume

January 14, 2010 by carina 1 Comment

carinagardner_blog1 Yes, my daughter wanted me to make her an octopus costume for her birthday. So how could I refuse? I kept it simple by buying a t-shirt (with the gems already on it) and women’s long socks. Add some filling, a t-shirt transfer kit and my sewing machine and I was set. The only problem? Once I made one for my oldest daughter, I had to make a second one for my youngest daughter. Thankfully, it’s project that can be done in a couple of hours.

Here’s the basic idea. Take a t-shirt and iron-on one of my adorable octopus stickers. Or skip this step entirely. Then stuff 6 women’s socks with filling and sew them to the ends of the t-shirt. Grab a beanie hat (add a flower for fun) and put on a pair of shorts and a final pair of socks (so there are 8 legs in all). Instant octopus!

Want the full instructions and photos? Just download this pdf with my instructions for creating this easy craft project!

Easy T-shirt Project-How to go from Digital Product to Iron-On

January 14, 2010 by carina 1 Comment

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Creating great projects from digital products is easy! For example, my daughter’s birthday party was last week and we did an underwater theme. So my gifts to all the little guests were mermaid shirts with matching hair color for each girl. My daughter wanted to be an octopus, so I simply ironed-on an octopus illustration I made onto the simple costume I created for her (to see how to make the octopus costume, please visit the octopus costume post).

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So here’s how I created this cute little gift idea.

blog2 1. I bought a package of Dark T-shirt transfers and a few t-shirts in blue and dark pink. I picked them all up at Target but many places would have these goods.

2. Choose an illustration from your favorite digital kit…stickers work best because they are png (no background). I used my Tiny Mermaid line for this project.

3. Print your illustration onto your Transfer Sheet (follow the instructions from the back of tha package.). I just used my inkjet printer at home and bought inkjet transfers. If you want to maximize space, create a 8.5″ x 11″ document in Photoshop and place several stickers to cut out.

4. Cut out your printed transfer VERY CAREFULLY. Because it is on a dark T-shirt, you will want to cut out all the white and get as close to the edge of your design. For example, on the octopus sticker, I had to cut out a couple of the legs seperately because they were seperate from the body and I didn’t want white to show up between the legs.

4. Follow you transfer paper instructions to iron on the design to the t-shirt. For mine, I laid down a pillow case on a hard surface and laid a sheet of paper (provided by the iron-on packet I bought) down over the t-shirt and ironed for 1-2 minutes.

And that’s it! I great project that my children adore and made Siri’s party special.