Author: KC

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Though the colors in Colorado are very different from the ones I grew up with in New England, there is just nothing like the color of the aspen trees when they turn. This summer my one big sewing project was my first attempt at making bags from a recycled sail. It was challenging and fun to create one of a kind sail bags. If I am lucky enough to find more sails in the future, I will definitely enjoy creating more recycled bags! My collection of sail bags are pictured above. All of my sail bags sold at craft fairs this summer except the one I am holding in the picture. As I sew through the fall I find that I am enjoying working with a variety of neutral colors. My mother-in-law Claudia and I had a blast shopping for fabric while our family was visiting her in Arlington Heights, IL. A few years ago we found a great little fabric store called Quilter’s Destination that is now a must go to when I am visiting. I created the beautiful wristlet pictured above with one of the fabric’s Claudia and I picked out. The beautiful neutral paired with waxed canvas is a dynamite combination. I am also loving sewing with Kauffman’s Durango flannel for an extra cozy fall feel! I have created totes, cross body bags and boxy zipper pouches featuring this yummy fabric. I love it so much I made myself a crossbody and tote! One of my Durango flannel totes is pictured above. This year I will be back at the Cheyenne Mountain High School Craft Fair on December 4th. After a year of no holiday craft shows, I am looking forward to being part of this fun and festive fair. Here is the link to the craft fair, if you are local it is a great place to find handmade holiday gifts www.cmhscraftfair.com I hope that you are staying healthy and enjoying all of the fall feels.

I am not sure about you but in some ways this school year feels like it lasted forever and in other ways I can’t believe that summer is just around the corner. I am looking forward to a more “normal” summer this year with trips planned to Chicago and New York to visit family. Sewing has been such a great escape for me during this crazy school year of teaching, in and out of quarantines, school shut down and back to in-person learning. I am starting my summer off by sewing totes with bright fun colors that scream summertime!! I also will be creating some bags with vintage fabric from my great-grandmother. Totes and cross body bags will be my focus as I narrow down the number of accessories that I make. I hope the start to your summer is filled with fun!

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One of the accessories that I never imagined I would be sewing…Face Masks. I finally found a cute comfortable face mask pattern that even my teenage boy will wear, I consider that a WIN! As my family awaits to hear our school districts plan for reopening this fall I am making masks in a variety of colors and sizes, if we have to wear a mask they may as well be cute and comfortable! I have been exploring with new fabric textures, colors and even created a new original purse pattern. I have fallen in love with this little FabSac, a combination of a basket and drawstring pouch. I can’t wait to tote my lunch to work in it! Sewing during this pandemic has given me a way to keep my creativity flowing, brought me joy during an uncertain time and allowed me some very needed time to myself in my own home (if that makes any sense). I am thankful everyday for the health of my family and for living in a place that I can get outside and exercise. I hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe and that you have something that you love to do and brings you joy during this time.

2020 has turned out to be a year like no other. In our house that meant my husband and I teaching through distance learning while our two boys attended virtual classes, celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary at home in Colorado instead of at Sandals Negril, Jamaica and for the first time that I can remember spending the entire summer in Colorado instead of our usual trips to visit family in Chicago and New York. All of this being said I am so grateful for the health of our families, a teaching job to go back to in the fall and the bonus time with my teenage boys. I have enjoyed creating a few new bag patterns and adding a few new items to my portfolio. My single strap shoulder bag is perfect for running around town or an evening out. My new fanny pack is a bit bigger than my original and can be worn around the waist or as a cross body bag. I added a toiletry bag made out of waxed canvas that my husband loves. The bucket bag is such a fun addition with a drawstring closure and slide in pockets that go all around the inside of the bag. I continue to explore with new fabric combinations, textures and colors and can’t wait to add some fun neutral colors to my portfolio for the fall and winter.

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I always so feel so lucky to ring in the new year up in the mountains with my mother and step-father from New York and my brother and his family from California. We spend a week together at the cabin in Dillon, Co skiing, sharing meals, watching the cousins make memories and reminiscing about years past. So as I say goodbye to 2019 and welcome 2020 I am focused on remembering and making memories with family. One of the ways I chose to celebrate family was to sew personal totes for 3 generations of ladies in my family with my grandmothers artwork. I also sewed my mother table dressings for the cabin with my grandmother’s artwork. This year my little sewing business grew more that I expected it too and with that being said my first priority is my family and finding the balance between mom, wife, teacher and my sewing. In 2020 I will be streamlining my products and growing my Gini Line to include a variety of personal totes and table dressings. I will be posting my new sewing creations here on my website and also on my Instagram. I am looking forward to doing a couple of craft fairs this summer and again two in December of 2020. Happy New Year from me to you!

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The Holiday Season is here! This is honestly one of my favorite times of the year. I love putting up our holiday decorations, how the house sparkles. I love the lights and sitting in the living room with only the Christmas tree lights on and drinking my coffee, I loved watching Michael decorate the tree and Matthew bake the first of the Christmas cookies. I have been fiercely sewing in preparation for a holiday craft fair… this being my first holiday season doing craft fairs I was not sure what to expect. It turns out that my experience was incredible. I am hoping that you feel the magic and joy of the holidays how ever it finds you this year.

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Back to school is a crazy time of year in our house with two teachers and two middle school boys! As I head back to work I am always so thankful that I not only love my job teaching preschool children with Autism but I also love the team of ladies that I work with. I really do have the best job in the world! We are now back in full swing of juggling work, school, sports and of course fantasy football and I am learning how to fit my love of sewing into the mix. Inspired by my sister Nikki in Chicago I came up with a new tote bag design featuring natural cork accent and quilted cotton interior. I look forward to making more of these great totes for the fall and winter. Some of the other projects I am sewing this season are large makeup bags, fall and winter colored purses and of course those cute little backpack purses!

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As summer fiercely races by and I get ready to head to the East Coast for our final summer adventure before heading back to the classroom, I am reminded to slow down and enjoy the little things. Sunsets, mountain views, watching my boys play outside, s’mores and family time are some of my favorites. I have had a busy summer of sewing new and fun accessories to add to my collection, attending local farmers markets and making custom orders for people from New York to California. Sewing with cork has become a favorite for me, I love the texture and look it brings to a bag. I have expanded my accessories to include fun belts, travel jewelry pouches and backpacks. When I return from the East Coast I will be bringing my accessories to the Colorado Farm and Art Market at the Margarita at Pine Creek in Colorado Springs. For the fall and holiday season I will be sewing fun pencil cases, Id holders with lanyards, and a variety of placemats and totes with my grandmother’s ski inspired designs. Until then I will take a short break from the sewing machine, enjoy more little things with my family & friends and of course go fabric hunting in NYC.

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Now that my school year is over I have been busy making summer accessories. I am in love with these cute hats, wristlets and scrunchies! Our family just arrived in Chicago to visit family for the start of our summer break. While I spend a week away from the sewing machine I have been exploring some local fabric stores for unique patterns and colors to bring back to Colorado. I am looking forward to creating lots of fabulous summer accessories for my first farmer’s market in Woodland Park, CO on June 28th.

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Skiing up in the Colorado mountains this week for our annual spring break trip has me so excited about creating with some new colorful fabric combinations! I am really enjoying sewing cross body bags with my custom hand made zipper pulls and fanny packs with flare. I have just booked my first official farmers market date for this summer and could not be more excited. I am now taking small custom orders. If you would like to place an order email me at fabulousfobs628@gmail.com for prices.