I recently had the opportunity to speak on a panel at the 2016 Common Threads event that is hosted by Baby Lock. Common Threads is a private event held at the Tacony/ Baby Lock headquarters near St. Louis, MO. This was my first time attending and I had no idea what to expect. Let me […]
Hey there! Its been a while since I blogged about what’s going on with the farm and family, so here we go! If you haven’t already, make sure you subscribe to my Instagram and “Like” me on Facebook if you want to tune in to more farm & family adventures 🙂 I update daily on […]
Hi everyone, My 1st ever show is in the bag! Last week, my team & I attended AQS QuiltWeek in Daytona Beach at the Ocean Center, stationed at booth 1137. It was my first time setting up a booth & I think we did a pretty good job! Make sure to check out what it […]
Hi all! Yesterday was Day 1 of QuiltCon West 2016 and I was tired when I got to my hotel room last night that I fell asleep at 9pm. I feel well rested and ready to tackle Day 2! But before I do that let’s recap Day 1. My morning started off with the […]
Hey everyone, I have some exciting updates! This month I’ll be attending two different quilting events where you can come meet me! Here’s a short video with details and I’ve also included everything you need to know about both events below. Hope to meet you in person! If you plan to attend one of these events, let […]
Hi all! This recap post is a little overdue… my apologies! I hosted my #epicquiltretreat as soon as I got back from Market so I haven’t had a chance to blog. If you ever want to see or know what I’m up to I recommend following my accounts on Facebook and Instagram. I post regularly […]
Hi all! It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Life is crazy busy! I’m leaving to Missouri tomorrow to film new tutorial for my Crafty Gemini Creates channel so I’ll keep this short. I’m working on something that I think so many of you will benefit from and I need your help and input so […]
If you missed my email newsletter last week then you probably don’t know that I’m hosting a quilt retreat here in Florida in March 2016! I still have some spots left so I thought I’d post another quick reminder for anyone else interested in spending a weekend quilting with me and other quilty friends! […]
I’m still in Hamilton, MO visiting Missouri Star Quilt Company headquarters. It’s been a busy week of meetings and I have had a great time meeting and collaborating with so many employees of the company! For those of you that don’t know about my latest collaboration here is a quick update! I’ve teamed up with […]
I’m writing this post from Hamilton, MO where I am hanging out with these two other crafty characters! You all know, Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co. and Rob Appell from the Man Sewing channel, right?! We are all here at the home of Missouri Star Quilt Company! This picture was taken in front […]
Very exciting news to share today! I have teamed up with Flash Sew & Quilt in Naples, FL and Baby Lock Sewing Machines to bring YOU the first ever Crafty Gemini Quilting Cruise! Ahhhhhhhh! I’m so honored to have been asked to teach at such a fabulous retreat! I even created a short video for you telling […]
Hi all! This week I’m back with something a little different! A podcast interview where instead of me being the guest… I’m the host! This is part of a series called Bee Buddy that I host every month as part of my online Crafty Gemini Quilt Club. Every month I interview a quilter in the […]
CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE! I recently had the opportunity to be a guest on Sandi’s Crafty Planner Podcast. I think she describes it best in her post that this was a “no holds barred” episode. I’ve never met Sandi before. We only corresponded a few times via email while setting up a […]
We did it. I don’t know what will happen next week or next year. But WE DID IT. Today is my husband’s last day at his 9-5 job as an Academic Advisor at a local community college. From now on he works for Crafty Gemini, LLC. He works for me. He works for his family. […]
By now you’ve probably seen the video tutorials I collaborated with Missouri Star Quilt Company on. There was the Improv Tote that basically sold out all In-R-Form Plus everywhere! Then yesterday I posted my Twist 10 Table runner video tutorial. I also interviewed Jenny Doan on camera for you in this post. Now, I’m […]
I had the opportunity to visit Hamilton, MO – the Missouri Star Quilt Co headquarters last month! I had the time of my life! Everyone there is so nice and friendly! The entire Doan family is a trip! They are hilarious, happy and laid-back folk. If you have never had a chance to make it […]
I recently had the opportunity to be a guest on Abby’s While She Naps Podcast. I’ve been following Abby for a while now and am always so impressed with everything she does! If you’re a creative small business owner you need to subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast! She is amazing and really […]
I’m finally done with the recap video of the tailoring workshop I attended in Savannah, GA a few months ago with Gentleman Jim! There was so much info to take in that I sure am glad I took a bunch of pictures and video footage to help me remember everything Gentleman Jim taught us over […]
My September/October 2014 teaching schedule is set and if you live anywhere near Lakeland, FL you won’t want to miss out! All my classes will be at the Fabric Warehouse in Lakeland, FL. They have a great classroom space and we had a great time last month in my Mod Mushrooms paper piecing class! To […]
{Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. That means if you set up an account/order with Stitch Fix using any of the links I’ve provided below I will earn a credit for my future Fixes. Thanks for your support!} It’s been a while since I shared a Stitch Fix haul with you but today I’m ready […]
Hi all! This is turning out to be a very busy (and fun!) summer for me! I’m gearing up to take a few more trips and I want to tell you about one coming up at the end of this month. I’m so excited I can hardly wait! {excuse the excessive use of exclamation points!} […]
A look at my Instagram profile. Here you can see some sample pictures I’ve uploaded. Follow me at: instagram.com/craftygemini I’ve been on Instagram for a while now but only started consistently posting pictures this year. It’s so much fun! At first it was a little weird for me because I’m so used to interacting with you […]
Click picture to watch the video update! By the time you read this my kids and I will be on our week long vacation to Dominican Republic! One of my cousins is getting married and our ENTIRE family is headed to my family’s hometown of Jarabacoa to celebrate. In the meantime, I created a short […]
This week in Episode #9 of Weight Loss Wednesdays I’m sharing some of the dinner meals I eat. Hope you get some ideas from it! Enjoy! CLICK TO WATCH EPISODE #9 – DINNER MEALS {Every episode of Weight Loss Wednesday is archived in this playlist. Catch up on ’em!}
This week in Episode #8 of Weight Loss Wednesdays I’m sharing a few quick lunch meals I eat. Hope you get some ideas from it! Enjoy! CLICK TO WATCH EPISODE #8 – LUNCH MEALS {Every episode of Weight Loss Wednesday is archived in this playlist. Catch up on ’em!}
I’m back with another Weight Loss Wednesday episode and in this one I’m sharing three of the more common breakfast meals I like to enjoy in the morning. Click to watch Episode #7- Breakfast Meals. {All Weight Loss Wednesday episodes are archived in this video playlist.} Plain whole milk yogurt with raw honey, strawberries and […]
Phew! I’m back home now after being in Miami for a whole week attending the Hispanicize 2014 conference. I had a blast with old friends, made some new friends, got to dance a little on South Beach and now I’m glad to be home. I have a lot of work to do and I definitely […]
I had a great time at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Lakeland, FL this month. Got to meet some of you in person, catch up with some quilt industry friends, met some new companies for potential collaborations, did a little bit of shopping and found a new hobby to try! I’ll keep my […]
In this week’s episode of Weight Loss Wednesday I’m telling you about what I drink on a daily basis. In future videos I will share some meals, recipes, and more. But let’s start with the drinks. I’m not very good about staying on top of my water intake but in this video I share with […]
{Disclaimer: I DID NOT receive any type of compensation or product for this post. I purchased these containers myself with my own money. This post does, however, contain affiliate links. Which basically means if you click on any of my links to purchase your own Lunch Bots I will receive a small percentage of the sale […]
The kids and I are packing our bags today to get ready for a drive down to my mom’s house in near Orlando, FL. Aside from a family visit we will be spending one day at Epcot and I will also be attending the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Lakeland, FL. This year is the […]
It’s time for the episode many of you have been waiting for… portion control! This was a huge problem for me and I didn’t even know it! I was so accustomed to eating huge meals that it took a loooong time to get used to. Now I’ve come to realize that this was one of […]
Janoris (my longarm quilting machine) got an upgrade!! I recently had Steve Dekker of Dekk’t Out Quilting Supply come to my studio and upgrade my machine. Can I just say, WOW! I have a brand new machine! Upgrading a machine you already have is a great way to save money. Instead of trading-in or selling […]
So many of you have asked me how I lost 70 lbs this past year that I decided to start sharing my story and journey with you via these vlogs. I’ll be posting videos on Wednesdays sharing things that I am doing to lose and/or maintain my weight in hopes of inspiring some of you! […]
It’s time for anther Weight Loss Wednesday episode! In episode #2 of Weight Loss Wednesday I share more info on how I was able to lose 70 lbs and the cookbook that changed everything! I also tell you about how I lost the weight without following a hard core exercise regimen. All my Weight Loss […]
The feedback on my weight loss has truly been overwhelming! I never thought I’d post weight loss videos on my YouTube channel but hundreds of you have asked me to tell you how I did it. So here it is! In this first episode of my new series called Weight Loss Wednesday I am sharing […]
I’ve been really busy building my stash of new sewing patterns to try! I had a bunch already but with all my weightloss this past year none of them were the size I needed so my hubby said I should restock! {I love that man!} I’m always looking to save money so I set out […]
I have a big announcement to share with you today! I’m going to be a speaker at Hispanicize 2014 in {my hometown} Miami, FL from April 1-4, 2014! I have never attended before but now that my kids are older and I’m branching out a bit more to network and build my business I’m glad […]
It’s 2014. I’ve lost 65 lbs. I’ve cleared out my closet. I’ve {mostly} de-cluttered my bedroom. NOW…. I’m ready to sew up a storm and make myself a whole new wardrobe! I’m by no means a fashionista and I certainly don’t claim to be. I’m just a 30-yr old mom with a healthier new look […]
That’s crazy, right?! I used to think so. Now, that I’m starting a new wardrobe for my new slimmer body I feel a little lost because the last time I was getting all doll-ed up to go out was years and years ago. You know, pre-baby days. The stuff I wore out back in the […]
Now that I have a new body to dress I am starting off 2014 with an empty closet. This year I plan to make myself a ton of new clothes and treat myself to the occasional trendy pieces. I am no longer pregnant, babywearing or nursing a child and I feel like my body is […]
Brrrrr! It’s a chilly 20-something degrees here in North Central Florida this morning. Way too cold for my Caribbean blood. For those of you with subzero temps… I feel for you. This is what I found this morning when I went to check on animals and water pipes. Icicles?! YIKES! Yesterday I featured my new […]
2013 is just about over and I can’t help but be thankful for everything that has happened this year! I’m thankful for both the good and the bad. Just have to keep our heads up and continue to look ahead because 2014 is sure to be an even better year! I hit a huge milestone […]
It’s been a few weeks since I last blogged and I apologize for that. This really is a crazy time of year for me… and everyone else, I’m sure! I’m just dropping you a quick line to let you know what you can expect from Crafty Gemini in the new year! First of all, if […]
{Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. I was NOT paid to write this. I just love them so I wanted to share this info with you so you know there is a family business you can call on for your all your longarm machine service and repairs.} If you have a shortarm, midarm or […]
THANK YOU! You voted and got me past Rounds 1 & 2 of the Craftsy Blogger Awards contest! I have been crowned the winner of the Quilting: Best Tutorials category! Yay! Now that I’ve won I get to display this awesome winner’s button on my blog AND I can pick one Craftsy class of my choice! […]
It’s been a busy 10 days on the road for me. I was traveling to Houston, TX to attend International Quilt Market and Quilt Festival. Quilt Market (a.k.a- Market) is an industry trade show that is not open to the public. It’s mostly manufacturers, and distributors looking to get more quilt shops to carry their […]
Phew! I got in almost at 1:00am last night from Quilt Market. It was amazing… and exhausting! Today, I’m doing laundry, cooking and enjoying some quality time with my kids. Later tonight I will re-pack my bags and catch another flight right back to Houston, TX for Quilt Festival tomorrow morning. Busy, busy, busy! I […]
It’s crazy to think how much I’ve traveled this year! My husband reminded me that since May I have gone somewhere at least once each month. YIKES! This month of October takes the cake, though! THREE BUSINESS TRIPS in one month! You all know I was in Colorado a few weeks ago filming an episode […]
I’ve been a little behind keeping you up on what all is going on with my YouTube channel. Sorry!If you are not yet a subscriber be sure to click HERE so you will be subscribed to my channel and won’t miss out on my new video uploads. One new thing I started a few weeks […]
You may remember that in this post I mentioned going to Cleveland, OH to film two segments for It’s Sew Easy, the PBS sewing tv show. Well, the episodes haven’t started airing on tv yet and our local PBS station doesn’t air this show anyway. Boo-hoo. The good news is they did upload parts of […]
THANK YOU! You voted and got me past Round 1 of the Craftsy Blogger Awards contest! I’m one of the TOP 4 bloggers in the Quilting: Best Tutorials category! Yay! Now we move to the final round- Round 2!Voting ends on October 28, 2013 at 1:00pm MT To vote for me as the winner in […]
This past week I flew out to Colorado for a couple of days to be a gues on the PBS sewing show called Sew It All. It was my second time on the show and I can’t wait for this episode to air next year. If you recall from this post, I was featured on […]
Today I received a message from one of my fans letting me know she nominated me for a Craftsy Blogger Award! How cool is that?! I feel so special. {Thanks, Jamie!} It’s a pretty simple contest and the winners who make it to the next round will be selected based on your votes and the […]
It’s been months since I took my trip to Los Angeles, CA for my friend, Mimi’s fashion and sewing conference. I did some serious shopping in the fashion district and wish I would have had an extra week just to shop! There are sooooo many stores that it’s impossible to see them in all in […]
This past week I had the pleasure of hanging out with the amazing crew of It’s Sew Easy– the PBS sewing show! I had an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G time and met some famous sewing personalities! I filmed two segments for the show. My lessons are a part of the Series 600 season will start airing in December […]
This week I’m participating in the Studio Spotlight series at The Sewing Loft and Ellison Lane. They’re spotlighting creative sewing spaces all week so be sure to stop by and check them all out. I know I’ll be checking them out for inspiration and new ideas for organizing my studio. Now I get to share […]
It’s been a few months since I’ve been able to get some fun quilting time on my longarm machine, Janoris (don’t ask… my DH named it). I’m working on a new modern quilt along video series for you and I’m putting the final touches on the quilt. This is my new favorite quilt I’ve ever […]
I’m up against a bunch of {very exciting} deadlines so I’ll keep this quick! As you know I was in Los Angeles last week. I hosted a meetup and we had a nice little turn out. About ten people showed up. It was a small group which worked out great! I was able to sit […]
You may recall that last year I flew to Colorado to tape an episode of Sew It All TV … well, the episode is now airing on PBS! The Sew It All magazine that accompanies the video series is now available at your local fabric store! Check out my quick video announcement for more details […]
My new baby is back from Johnny’s shop and she’s running like a D-R-E-A-M! This man is such a sweetie! Apparently, he got word that I mentioned him in this post so he cleaned and polished all the chrome parts and restored the Godzilla (black crinkle) finish on the machine…. for FREE! She looks like […]
I just have to share this with you because I’m so excited! My mom came up from Orlando today because she’s staying the weekend with us. We usually run out with the kids to see what goodies she’s brought for them. But she opens up her car to tell me what she got ME. She […]
When my husband is on vacation it’s a mad dash to get as much work done as I can! So, this week it’s been pretty crazy over here so I’ll fill you in with a quick recap on what we’ve been doing around here… Had a blast at the Noche Buena party at my mom’s […]
Craftsy is at it again! This time it’s their Christmas sale and they are offering all classes up to 75% off until tomorrow, December 24, 2012. Perfect timing to sign up for my home decor class if you haven’t already done so! I teach a class called Sew Little: Nursery Design and although it’s titled […]
I’m staying busy working on some new projects so I’ll leave you with a quick video of the baby ducklings in their new home and my kids enjoying every second of it! Life on a farm is the best! Enjoy!
NOT! I don’t think there’s such a thing as an ugly duckling. At least not based on the 11 cutie pies we have added to our little farm. Look at these babies! Aren’t they adorable? 1 week old baby ducklings As you can probably imagine the kids love having 11 ducks in the middle of […]
We didn’t have plans to do anything for Halloween this year because: 1) we live in the middle of nowhere and you don’t exactly go trick-or-treating out here 2) my kids are still too young to get into the whole Halloween thing 3) I didn’t have any costumes made 4) we don’t give the kids […]
If you follow me on Facebook then you probably already know that I was in Colorado earlier this week for an awesome opportunity. I can finally spill the beans! I was shooting an episode of Sew It All with Ellen March! If you don’t know what that means…. well, I’m gonna be on TV! Yippee! […]
One great thing about living in Florida is that while most of the country begins to brace themselves for a chilly Fall/Winter season we are getting ready to enjoy some of the most beautiful and cool weather of the year. Which for our farming lifestyle also means— veggie garden time! The kids and I transplanting […]
It’s still pretty hot here in North Florida but I’m excited to get a start on my fall garden. I spent this past week starting some seeds indoors. I’ve planted a ton of different veggies and varieties- some we grew last year and others are totally new. Just to give you an idea we are […]
If you follow my blog or YouTube channel you probably noticed that I have yet to post a video this week. I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to edit the next tutorial just yet. It will be coming later this week so stay tuned for that. Right now I wanted to let […]
woo-hoo! The much requested studio video tour is finally here! I still have some final touches to put on the whole room but here it is in all it’s DIY and thrifty glory. I walk you through some of my DIY remixes and other furniture pieces I snatched up thanks to one of my local […]
My poor baby boy had a fever this past week so I put everything on hold to care for him and cuddle with him for a few days. He didn’t have any other symptoms so I was hopeful it would go away quickly.. and it did! He is now back to his usual silly self […]
This morning the kids and I headed out to a local organic blueberry farm with some friends. The place is really a little gem! They don’t have a website or anything so you would only know about it through word-of-mouth or by driving by. We lucked out! Only $2 per pound for organic blueberries! INSANE! […]
I’ve been working hard getting my sewing studio exactly the way I want. Not only aesthetically but functionally as well. You already saw how I took a rusty old rack and turned it into fabric storage. Well, with the new (to me) table I scored this past weekend I was also in need of some […]
Wow! I’m 29 yrs old today, well… yesterday (late blog post). Like my hubby says, I’m “knockin’ on 30.” It feels weird but in a good way. I’m very happy with where I am in my life. Loving husband, awesome kiddos, organic farm, doing something I love … Yea, my life is GREAT! I tried […]
We’ve had so much going on at the farm that instead of writing up several blog posts I decided to put together a short video and show you what’s been going on. In short: – I’m making A LOT of studio progress… still have a lot to sort out. I have waaaaay more fabric than […]
Wow! This year is almost half way gone… crazy! Good thing is my garden is growing nicely with all the warm weather. It’s 91 degrees here today. As busy as we are it’s important to take time out and enjoy the little things in life. Living on a farm in Florida for us means spending […]
I have a few things brewing that I can’t reveal to you just yet…. but look out for more info in the coming weeks. Very exciting stuff! This week I didn’t have time to make and edit a new tutorial because I’ve just been swamped with things to do! My husband works at a local […]
We have been working up a sweat over here! Trying to get my new sewing studio finished and prepping for our spring garden…phew! So much work I want to get done as soon as possible. My DS has been having a blast harvesting the last of our carrots and turnips. He also helped me prep […]
I posted a short little vlog today to announce some new exciting changes in my crafty world! Can you say “no more shooting video tutorials in my dining room?” woo-hoo! Check out my new crafting studio being delivered! I also make a big announcement for my Spanish speaking followers out there! Si hablas (o entiendes) […]
Last week I traveled to Boston to speak at the Massachusetts Conference for Women’s Spark & Hustle Small Business Boot Camp. It was hard to leave my babies at home but I was happy to have my mother here to help my hubby out and I was only gone for 24 hours so that’s not […]
Today is December 1st and that means REGISTRATION TIME for STITCHED 2012! I am so excited to be a part of this fabulous group of fabric artists. Let me break down what STITCHED 2012 is for you: -20 fabulous fabric artists -20 different online video workshops -only $89 $40 (USD) gets you access to all […]
If you are in the U.S. and celebrate Thanksgiving I hope you had a great time eating some delicious food with your loved ones! I cooked our first Thanksgiving dinner at the new farmhouse and I’ll just say it was a hit with the little family! My butter and rosemary turkey was nice and juicy […]
Just dropping in to let you all know that all my e-patterns are 50% off! If there is one that you don’t already have go ahead and get it today! CLICK HERE TO SAVE NOW! Only $1.50 for my very popular Pillowcase Dress e-pattern. Remember they are emailed to the email account connected to the […]
We spent the weekend getting the new chicken coop ready for a few egg laying hens and a very handsome rooster! Aren’t they just the cutest? We got one Ameracauna (white) who lays green and blue eggs. Cool, huh? The black & white one is a Barred Rock hen and we got two of those […]
We have been super busy moving into the new farmhouse… well, maybe not “we.” It’s been more like my DH moving everything by himself little by little. Poor guy! He gets to spend his four weeks of paternity leave moving his little family into our new place. I have been bonding with our new little […]
She finally made her debut!… only 12 days overdue! Guess she wanted to be fashionably late. Baby Allie Reina Born: 9/24/11 at 1:06am Weight: 8lbs 15 oz Length: 21.5″ We are spending some quality time with hubby and big brother but I wanted to thank you all for your comments, emails, thoughts, prayers and gifts! […]
My husband doesn’t let me do too much these days because I am still pregnant!…. but I wanted to leave you all with a quick video where I make 2 BIG announcements… 1) I am going to be on ABC News’ 20/20 television show this Friday, September 23rd at 10:00pm EST! The show has already […]
Hope everyone had a great weekend! I know I did. We celebrated my DS’s 2nd birthday and my DH’s 32nd birthday! We spent the weekend grilling and swimming at our new farmhouse…enjoying nature and our little family. It was great! My son loves his new salt water pool! This was something new for us but […]
AH! I have so much going on right now… so exciting! I wanted to do a quickie blog post to let you all know that the link to my first LIVE television interview is now online and ready for all to view. The segment is called: Cashing in on YouTube: Turning your passion into a […]
Remember in January of this year when I blogged about the plans we had for 2011? One of the things on our list was getting a little farm house so we could move out to the country. Well, yesterday afternoon we closed on the little farm house of my dreams! A chunky 5.02 acres of […]
We are back from my 10-year high school reunion weekend in Miami, FL and I can honestly say I had a fabulous time! The 5+ hour drive was pretty uncomfortable for my pregnant self but at least my DS behaved the whole way there. We sat him forward facing in his car seat for the […]
I’m back from Miami with some great news for all the Crafty Gemini fans out there! My mobile app is now LIVE and ready to be downloaded for FREE! It is currently available for both Android and iPhones. It is super cute and very interactive! You can view a full iTunes preview HERE. Learn all […]
This soapmaking thing is really quite addictive! I’ve recently come across a hot process method of soapmaking that I just love! You don’t have to wait the 4-6 weeks for it to cure before you can use it. It’s actually ready as soon as it’s made but most people let them sit out for a […]
Last week I had the opportunity to speak at Tory Johnson’s Spark & Hustle finale conference in Atlanta, GA. It was an amazing experience and I just wish I could have stayed for the entire weekend event. Unfortunately, my husband had to work the next morning and I’m 33 weeks pregnant so we left my […]
This has been one busy (and hot) summer! My son and I often find ourselves cooling off in the pool and boy has that helped! It allows him to burn off all that toddler boy energy and it works wonders on my aching back and swollen ankles. See my growing belly bump? I’m now 30 […]
Today is another big day for me… I am being featured on FaveCrafts Radio today at 3:00pm EST! If you’re around feel free to catch it because four other fabulous designers and crafters will be interviewed on air as well. If you miss the live recording… no worries. It will be podcasted HERE. If you […]
Guess who’s gonna be a guest on APQ’s Radio Show hosted by the fabulous Pat Sloan?! ME! The live show airs this Monday, July 4th at 4:00pm EST. Click HERE to listen to the show LIVE on Monday! If you can’t catch it LIVE because it’s a holiday in the U.S., no worries! You […]
