This line ships in June. Check out the whole line (and the awesome sticker sheet) here.

XOXO,

Carina

I’ve been working day and night to finish this new class. I even just updated the syllabus to give you even more details on what we are doing in this class. It is 20% off for this session (because of the Grand Opening sale), and I hope you take advantage so I can see you in class! I’m going to show you how I print fabric from home, create repeats for production, get sketches and painting vectorized, and a whole lot more. I just finished editing the videos with Creative Director Jina Barney, designer Amanda Herring, designer Shari Butler, and designer Deena Rutter. Believe me, it’s going to be fun!!!

I know in future sessions I plan on interviewing more designers. Those who take this first session will also get any interviews I do forever after since I plan on just adding them into the class as we do new sessions.

The best is that the Fabric Design class comes on the heels of Quilt Market. I’m heading out tomorrow and trying to wrap up my schoolhouse and make and takes. We are also taking all the audio and camera equipment to do a CGTV episode! Yes, I know it has been a long time, but whewww! It’s been busy!

Instagramming for QM begins NOW!

Cheers!

Carina

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day! The first half of my day was spent at Deseret Book signing dishware. A big thank you to everyone who came to visit me at the Fort Union Deseret Book to catch the debut of my dishware collection! It was such a treat to chat with you and give your children cookies.  For those of you who did not make it and avoided the excessive sugar, I managed to snap a few photos so you could see the display.

I knew exactly what to do with the cookies that were not eaten—I had Siri try to pawn them off on the neighbor kids. (She tried to sell them but I told her I would pay her the 10 cents for every kid who walked by and took one.) We still managed to have enough cookies for the family party that evening and the children at church the next day. Umm, I think I over-ordered. (photo below—Siri happily selling cookies.)

The second part of my Saturday was spent with Josh’s family cleaning out his grandmother’s yard. Dinner followed at his mother’s house. (Above-Josh’s brother Nate and Nate’s twins London and Quinn).

It was the most beautiful day for yardwork although, other than hacking at a rose bush, I mostly played with Charlie (photos above and below). At least it looks like there is some yardwork being done behind me!

My niece Lola rakes for a moment (photo below) and Josh stops his pruning for a moment to chat (photo below). I’m guessing the photos I didn’t catch (in particular of my mother-in-law Mary planting all the flowers) was were all the real work was happening.

Having a family chin-dig on Saturday was so nice because it meant our little family relaxed (and I slept in-the perfect mother’s day present) today.

This week Josh and I are off to Portland for Quilt Market. I plan on posting lots of photos. I’m not doing a booth and instead plan on spending some time filming, talking to other designers, teaching schoolhouse, and doing make and takes at the Riley Blake booth. I’m so looking forward to it!

Cheers!

Carina

Alisinwnderlnd says:
Cute! Love! Oh wait, you mean my daughter. She says they are adorable and her “Diamond” and “Kit” would be darling in them. (I wish you could hear her voice saying this–too cute.)

Congrats Alisinwnderlnd! I will be sending you an email tonight to get your address so we can send it right off to you!

Thank you everyone who entered. Susan has been preparing our next giveaway for you and I’m hoping to have it up this week! So check back for more yumminess!

Carina

Dishes
Large Serving Bowl
Three Piece Tray
Tray

I’ll also be heading to the Fort Union Deseret Book tomorrow from 11am-1pm to hand out treats from my new line and sign packaging. Come join me along with authors  Gale Sears and Kathi Petersen who will also be at the event!

MAY 11, 2013, SATURDAY 11am -1pm
Fort Union Deseret Book
1110 Fort Union Blvd.
Midvale, UT 84047

Other than that, this weekend is all about Mother’s Day (which means I will be getting breakfast in bed right, Josh?) and hanging out with family. I know we are headed to Josh’s grandmother’s house for some Mother’s Day gardening and I’m on the spot with presents this year.

Hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day and I hope to see you tomorrow!

Cheers!

Carina

PS The giveaway for the sample of the Little Playdate Outfit ends today! Make sure and enter by leaving a comment HERE.

I’m happy to introduce our very first 18 inch doll sewing patterns! They are so incredibly fun! Our final two patterns are part of my brand new BEGINNER series. All of these sewing patterns are available NOW in the shop. Kits for certain outfits will follow this week!

So without further ado:

 Little Playdate Outfit

The outfit comes with the blouse, dress, capri, and shorts options that are also available in the little girl version. These dolls are dressed in the Dainty Blossoms™ and Remember™ fabrics.

It’s cute as a button and ready for some fun! This 18 inch doll pattern is based on the Playdate Outfit Sewing Pattern (sizes 2T-8 | pattern sold seperately).

A LITTLE PLAYDATE OUTFIT KIT will be available in the shop sometime this week and will include the materials needed to complete an outfit.

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Little Love Nest™ Ruffle Dress

This ruffled confection is a modern take on a sophisticated doll dress. Simply sweet, it is the perfect accessory to your little girl’s Love Nest™ Ruffle Dress (pattern sold separately). Dress fits an 18 inch doll.

This doll is dressed in the Remember™ fabrics.

A LITTLE LOVE NEST RUFFLE DRESS KIT will be available in the shop sometime this week and will include the materials needed to complete an outfit.

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Little Meadowlark Nightgown

My first nightgown pattern! This little nighty is sophisticated and sweet all at once. A little elastic in the elbow and wrist makes the sleeve puffy. The perfect traditional piece made modern by fabulous fabrics.

Give this traditional nightgown a modern twist with fabulous patterned fabrics!

These dolls are dressed in the Remember™ fabrics.

A LITTLE MEADOWLARK NIGHTGOWN KIT will be available in the shop sometime this week and will include the materials needed to complete an outfit.

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Our two other patterns are the debut of a new pattern series for beginners. We tested these on beginners and perfected them for easy construction! We have two levels: Beginner and Beginner Plus. We put a chart (below) on patterns that are included in the series.

Bella Stash Bag-Beginner Pattern

This little beauty is the perfect on-the-go carry case. From ballet shoes, books, or electronics, this stash bag is a sweet treat for mom, tween, or little one. The bag pattern and instructions are easy to put together for beginning sewers. With help from a grown-up, this bag is the perfect project for tweens and teens too!

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Tulip Park Pinafore-Beginner Plus Pattern

It’s time to tromp through the flower garden, paint, or bake in this pretty little pinafore! This perfect apron dresses up an outfit and works hard at the same time. This pinafore fits sizes 4-10 and is one size fits all. This is a beginner plus pattern meaning that it is a fast project for intermediates and an easy-to-sew project for beginners.

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To top it off, we are giving away one of the samples we have of the Little Playdate Outfit with the pink top and gray bottom. That’s right! This little outfit could be yours! All you have to do is tell me what sewing pattern you like the best in the comments of this blog post, and you will be entered. The giveaway ends on May 10th at 5pm MST. Winner will be announced on May 12th here on the blog!

I’ve also linked this giveaway at the Sew Mama Sew site where there are A LOT of amazing giveaways going on right now. Make sure and go check it out!

I’m so excited to announce my partnership with Pickle Pie Designs! They have come up with embroidery designs using my fabric lines. The first is this darling flower from my Dainty Blossoms™ Line. It’s perfectly paired with my newest line Remember™ for Riley Blake. The most fabulous thing is that the entire bag is made from start to finish in the hoop of your embroidery machine!

I’ll be seeing Lisa of Pickle Pie Designs at Quilt Market in just another week and plan on giving you the inside scoop on this little gem.

Quilt Market is in Portland, Oregon this year and I’m so excited. Josh is coming with me with camera in hand so we can get footage of the Riley Blake booth, meet with designers, and more! I am teaching a Schoolhouse (if you are coming, please come see me at 1:55pm, Rm A109 !)

I’ll also be announcing my new sewing patterns….da, da, da…TOMORROW!

Jumping with excitement,

Carina

MAY 11, 2013, SATURDAY 11am -1pm
Fort Union Deseret Book
1110 Fort Union Blvd.
Midvale, UT 84047

Come see me at the Fort Union Desert Book where I will be serving treats on my new dishware line! I’ll also have make and takes with my new fabric line Remember, which will be upstairs in Mormon Handicraft. I’ll even be signing my Carina Gardner™ packaging if you are purchasing any of the dishware.

MAY 16, 2013, THURSDAY 1:55pm-2:55pm
Quilt Market Schoolhouse Room A109
Portland, Oregon
How to Use Sewing Patterns to Attract Beginner Sewers
Not for available to the general public.

MAY 17, 2013 FRIDAY 4:00-4:45pm
Make and Takes at the Riley Blake Booth with Carina Gardner
Quilt Market
Portland, Oregon
Not available to the general public.

We will be making the flower pattern from my new 18 inch doll patterns. Fabric and embellishments provided. Come join me!

JUNE 12, 2013 WEDNESDAY 11am-1pm
Desert Book/Mormon Handicraft Shop Hop
Make and Takes with Carina Gardner
Fort Union Desert Book
1110 Fort Union Blvd.
Midvale, UT 84047

We will be making the flower pattern from my new 18 inch doll patterns. Fabric and embellishments provided. Come join me!

JULY 22-25, 2013
Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show
Create-n-Connect
Las Vegas, NV
I will be at the Carta Bella Booth with our mid-year releases!

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 TUESDAY EVENING
Find Your Lula
Park City, Utah
Visit this event’s site
I will be talking about being Carta Bella’s Creative Director and the in’s and out’s of scrapbooking.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 TUESDAY EVENING
Find Your Lula
Park City, Utah
Visit this event’s site
I will be talking about being Carta Bella’s Creative Director and the in’s and out’s of scrapbooking.

The sewing patterns you will see in the shop around May 15th. We should have information for retailers and distributors on the site this coming week. Thank you to those that have already emailed and called in for these new patterns! If you are a retailer and need access to the wholesaler site, please email Susan at susan@carinagardner.com. I am so excited by the response and hyped to show them at Quilt Market! We will have five new patterns—3 doll patterns and 2 beginner sewer patterns. I plan on incorporating the beginner sewing patterns in the Mom and Me Crafting Co. Class that Siri (my nine-year old) and I are teaching this summer. It’s going to be so fun!

Speaking of classes, it’s the last week to register for Template Design! I’m thrilled to be teaching a class like this since it incorporates a number of different techniques that I have never taught online before. I’m especially excited to be showing you how I create interesting shapes like banners and brackets. It’s so useful whether you are just making invited for your kids or making a logo. (FYI, image to the right from my instagram feed this last weekend.)

Will pop in soon with some sneaky peekys!

Carina

I myself have been working in Illustrator pretty intensively the last month. I am finishing up our five sewing patterns in the hopes of getting them to print by Wednesday so we get them for Quilt Market. If you follow the instagram feed, you’ve had a sneak peek into what I have been up to. Full reveal to come in a couple of weeks.

I’m also trying to finalize our June line for Carta Bella as well as finish our August and Christmas lines. A lot going on around here.

I also just preordered Evening Blooms for our shop. I was thrilled to design Riley Blake’s black and white line. I’m more thrilled to sew with it.

For now I’m enjoying all the sewing projects I have with Remember.

See you in class!

Carina