¡Hola! My name is Vanessa (a.k.a- Crafty Gemini) and this is my home on the web! Welcome!
Here is my little crew! The hubs and I have two crafty characters: Jonathan (Juice) is 12 and Allie is 10. We live on a 5-acre homestead just north of Gainesville, FL.
I was born in NYC and raised in Miami, FL.
I am fluent in English and Spanish.
My entire family is from the Dominican Republic.
My goal in life: To learn as much as I can about as much as I can…. and pass that knowledge to my kiddos.
In August 2011 my husband and I purchased a 5-acre property so we could raise & homeschool/unschool our children and live a more simple and natural way of life. We are city folk learning to live off our land with hopes of one day being able to grow all (or most) of our own food.
I am a two-time graduate of the University of Florida {GO GATORS!} where I earned a B.A. in Anthropology (2004) and a Juris Doctor degree (2008). I was an Adjunct Professor who taught law courses at a local college and now Crafty Gemini is my full-time business. I am thankful to be making a living just living my life.
I welcome you to look around my website for all kinds of crafty inspiration, ideas and project tutorials. Just click the TUTORIALS tab to get you started. My instructional videos are just as scattered as my Gemini brain! I teach you how to do everything from sewing and quilting to simple woodworking projects, soapmaking and even organic gardening. I like to think I have something for everyone. But I’ll let you decide!
I also have an online shop where I sell my original quilting rulers, sewing and quilt PDF patterns, online video classes and other tools & notions. Click HERE to visit my online shop.
You can read through our Disclosure & Privacy Policy here.
You can also find me on the web on these social media platforms:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/TheCraftyGemini
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CraftyGemini
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CraftyGemini
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/craftygemini/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/craftygemini/
kimmie
I lived in Barbados until 16, and now live in California on a 2 1/2 acre homestead. Glad to meet you also. I’m a little like you . I was looking at a lot od utube to learn how to your was the only one I’ve subscribed to. Looking forward to improving my skills with you.
Julie
Hi Vanessa,
I have watched you on You Tube and joined the Bag of the Month Club, which I love. Wow, you are a fantastic teacher. I have been sewing, mostly quilting, for about 15 years now and have learned so much from your videos. I have one question, where or where do you find the time for all the wonderful things you do and take care of a family?
You are a great inspiration for all and I just wanted to let you know how much I love your teaching.
Julie OLeary,
A wife, mother of two grown daughters, and grandmother to one grandson and two granddaughters
Birgit Hinrichsen
Hi Vanessa , I have been following you for about 2yrs now and have always enjoyed your classes and tutorials and have learnt so much.
I am now living in the Dominican Republic for the last 15yrs and am wondering if you will have any of your classes in Spanish so that I can let some of my friends know about your tutorials for those that do not speak or understand English.
tracey
you are very good teacher I like looking at you video. look forward to learning more from you.
Fran
I’ve made my Staci Bag at last! Great tutorials and easy to follow instructions. Thanks,
Linda
I just watched one of your you tube tutorials. Excellent teaching! So easy to understand and follow! Thank you so much!
Elaine
Hi Vanessa, I’ve just discovered your site when searching the web for a fleece hat. I’ve just made your fleece hat with ear flaps and LOVE it! I can’t wait for my daughter to get home from school so I can see it on her. I live in England in the UK and I’ve been playing at sewing since having my daughter almost 4yrs ago (I also have a two year old) and whilst I make lots of fancy dress outfits, this is the first thing I’m really proud of. So proud of, I’m making some as birthday presents for my daughter’s friends. Thank you!!
Carol Hartman
Dear Vanessa,
I am just amazed at your knowledge at such a young age! I am the eldest of six kids born in 1947. We weren’t poor but dad worked row jobs to keep a roof over our heads clothed and fed. As my parents dropped out out of school in the 10th grade, dad to joint WWII and mom to get out of a not so good family life the really did emphasize much in education. I’ve been sewing since I was 12 started because of hand me downs from my cousins wardrobe we were the opposite in size so I had to alter her clothes to fit me then I took sewing classes in school. No one really sewed in my family. Mom had a sewing machine but really didn’t know how to sew. I started sewing making a lot of my own clothes then and clothes for the girls mostly and crafts. I got married at 16 have four wonderful kids and two granddaughters. I finally got a new sewing
machine as my 35 yr old Viking broke. I’ve hadn’t really sewed for about 10’years until my 2yr old grand-daughter was born I 2015. And I took to sewing again and decided I wanted to learn how to machine quilt. I love it! And that’s how I found you searching on the web on how to quilt. But actually I found you first on how to make a sewing cover for my new machine.you explain and show directions so it’s very understandable. I just can’t learn enough right now. I want to learn so many things in regards to sewing and quilting that I just wish I could back up about 20’years. Anyway this is part of my life story. I just want to say that I really admire your knowledge and keep those videos going and maybe one day to meet you you. You have a wonderful family so take care.
All my best ,
Carol
Carol Hartman
Hi Vanessa,
P.S. I’m currently following your quilt along to make my grand-daughter a Minnie Mouse quilt and taking quilting classes from Meissners Sew and Vac where I bought my Bernjna 350 😉
Carol
Cynthia
Hi Vanessa. Any chance of opening up the quilt club to new members? I belong to the bag of the month club and love your tutorials!!!
Janet Corbin
Hello Vanessa my name is Janet and I grew up in Miami Florida also the only difference is I was born in miami I graduated in 1976 but got married 1975 to my One & Only. I went to Miami Carol City It was a great school and that’s all I did.I remember having to get up and walk to school everyday. I never had a boyfriend and never rally was the type that had a lot of friends,but the ones I had were Great to Me. My best friend asked me who I wanted to go out with, so these boys that her and I were serving after their meeting just started coming down the stairs and I pointed to this tall skinny blue eyed hunk. And yes we went out that next night and have been together for the past 42 years.ok enough about me. I was watching one of your viedo and noticed that you were using a Baby Lock and you also use acouple of different machines can you tell which ones you like and why. I have been looking at a Brother “The Dream Machine ” I love to quilt,sew and I would love to learn to Embroidery. I’m wanting a Quilting Machine that can help me to get done with my Quilt sooner. Vanessa I have watch most of your shows that I can find please keep helping us beginners you are a Down to Earth Pearson “You” make learning fun and easy.God Bless You & Your Family.
Fernanda
I absolutely love your tutorials. They are very easy to follow, which is fab for a beginner sewer like me. Thank you so much. I made a skirt for my daughter last week following you and it looks great x
Jenny Pertler
Hi Vanessa
I’m Jenny from Elgin (in Scotland) and since starting to sew again, and venturing into the unknown territory of quilting, I have been following your tutorials with great interest. You certainly have a knack for making things easy to follow and learn. Thank you for that.
One wee question though, in your ‘double oven glove’ tutorial you make the bias binding from such a lovely fabric which unfortunately is not listed in the link. Can you please let me know what it is. I’ve looked/googled everywhere – to no avail.
Keep up the good work. I look forward to following your tutorials in future.
Kindest regards,
Jenny
lori
Vanessa.. you are awesome.. I discovered you looking for something.. Just make your pillow case.. It was so easy to follow along with you.. i am going to sign up for your bags and other things..
Vanessa Vargas Wilson
Yay! Welcome! I’m so glad you find my videos. Hope they keep you busy making some fun and functional projects!
nanab128
Just finished the Stacy bag had to rip and resew a few times.but it came beautiful Your video was great. I had to follow it every step of the way.lot of new products for me.
Debbie
Dear Vanessa, I so enjoy watching your videos. Are we allowed to sell the products we make from your patterns?
Vanessa Vargas Wilson
Hi Debbie. Absolutely! Hope you make some good $$. Happy sewing!
bptrigo
Hi Vanessa!
So glad to meet you! I have been learning from your tutorials since I began making my tote bags and market bags! I especially enjoyed the lunch bag tutorial as I had to sew a new one for my husband. I modified the measurements a bit to fit containers so it’s a little bit larger than the one in the tutorial but thank you so much! That was a great lesson!
I am looking forward to learning how to quilt so I will be watching your quilting tutorials as well! Awesome website by the way! Love your bio!! Beautiful and inspiring!
God bless you and yours always! 🙂
Meredith
this is great. I am really looking forward to making my lava lamp quilt background for a under sea scape, basically an octopus’s garden. Glad I found your video on youtube! 😉
judy padayachee
hi vanessa
i watch your video and i enjoy them. I would like to know what is fat quater.
Donna
Vanessa
I am so sad, because I only JUST found you! I have been watching your videos all night, I need to get to bed, BUT cant tear myself away! I love all your tips and projects. Planning a trip to the fabric store nearest to me very soon. I was actually looking in the pattern books for a sewing machine cover…OH MY GOSH, loving your videos! Also my sewing machine foot is forever sliding around, LOVE what you have shared! Thank YOU so so much. Love watching you and listening to you, such a great teacher!
You and your family are beautiful!
Thank you for all you do. Oh yes and the 10″ slicer, I had no idea I wanted to even do that type of quilting(I am a beginner on that) but now I need to!
Hugs!
Donna
Sharon C
Hi Vanessa, from a fellow Florida homeschool mom. I love your YouTube videos–I’ve learned a lot from you. Looking forward to watching even more of your videos and making more of your projects!