Make and Design with Carina Gardner

Today Carina is talking with fellow Riley Blake designer Jill Finley! Jill hosts wonderful quilting retreats for women. Jill talks about these events, sewing, and the details of her wonderful retreats.   You can find Jill at www.jillilystudio.com and on Instagram at @jillilystudio. Pre-order her book at https://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/Jillily-Studio-Quilted-Hugs-Book .    __________ Download Car...

In a world where there are so many designers and everything seems so saturated, you may wonder if the world needs your designs or even your style. Carina talks about how the niches and markets DO need what you have to offer.   Part of your power as a designer is continuing to niche down and find markets and styles that are undiscovered and unexploited. Learn more in today’s podcast.   __________ D...

The Holidays can be a busy time and sometimes it helps to put some thought into how we’ll show up for them to make sure that we’re there for the important things. In today’s episode, Carina shares her thoughts on “showing up” for the Holidays.    __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surface Pattern Designer here: http://eepurl.com/dN2RcY   _____...

Today’s episode of Make + Design features guest star Christopher Thompson, an amazing fabric designer who works as the Director of Product Marketing at Riley Blake Designs. Christopher and Carina share stories about growing up working on tie quilts with their families. Join us for Christopher’s wonderful stories and insights into his new fabric line at Riley Blake, Saturday in Paris.    __________...

Ever wondered how new designers typically get a contract with a fabric manufacturer? On today’s episode of Make + Design, Carina tells the hilarious story of how she did everything wrong in getting her first fabric contract. What she tells us provides a lot of insight into how you can do it the right way to win your first fabric contract. __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody...

Do you ever wonder if your niche–the stuff that you like–is too narrow to be commercially viable for design? Carina is joined by seamstress and expert designer April Cobb on today’s episode of Make + Design. April and Carina answer the question of whether a niche is too “nichey” as they discuss their love of the TV show Gilmore Girls and April’s amazing Gilmore-Girls-inspired fabric line. Find out...

By now you’ve probably heard of Carina’s Design Boot Camp and Design Suite programs. On today’s episode of Make + Design, Carina peels back a few layers of the onion to give us some insight into why she created these programs and how these programs can help you level up as a designer.    __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surface Pattern Desig...

What’s more effective? Planning daily or planning weekly? Time Management expert Megan Summrell joins Carina on today’s episode to give you some surprising answers to those questions. Megan walks through the basics of her Top Planner system to show you how to become more efficient. Thanks, Megan! __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surface Patt...

Have you ever wondered whether you’re a “creative”? Carina gets right to the question she always asks to find out if someone is a creative. Find out what Carina’s magical question is and how the answer to it will help you determine if you have what it takes to learn the skills you need to learn to become a designer! __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Bec...

Design Suite Member Diane Rooney has had an amazing transformation in the Design Suite program. She has opened multiple shops and is working towards creating a full time income as a designer. Learn more in this episode about how Design Suite can change the trajectory of your life in more than just design!   __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a S...

On today’s episode of Make + Design, Carina talks about the one thing you need to get started as a designer. Those missing this one ingredient will never get started, will never level up as a designer, and will never have the success they could have if they do it. Tune in to find out what it is! __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surface Patte...

Carina talks with fellow RIley Blake designer Melanie Collette about her new fabric line Primrose Hill. Watch Carina’s youtube channel to see the fabric samples they discuss during their conversation at www.youtube.com/carinagardner . During their talk, Melanie dives into her inspiration for her new line and reasons she chose certain colors. If you like fabric, you will love this conversation!   F...

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed with all of the things on your to do list? Carina gets vulnerable in today’s episode to tell us about a recent experience she had that *really* stressed her out. Tune in to find out the three questions that Carina asks herself to help her sit with her feelings and discover what she needs to do to overcome the onset of panic.    __________ Download Carina’s...

Carina talks again with her friend Emily Taylor about her upcoming books, projects, and her 70-2-0-10 rule. Listen in to find out what 70-20-10 means and why Emily has become known for her beautiful collage quilts and quilting techniques.   __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surface Pattern Designer here: http://eepurl.com/dN2RcY   __________...

Bonnie and Audrey talk with Carina about finding Creative Time as moms. Between the two of them, these women have 19 children so finding time is an impressive feat! Learn some tactical ways to find that time from these two brilliant women.   __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surface Pattern Designer here: http://eepurl.com/dN2RcY   __________...

Do you like to give your friends and loved ones crafty creations for birthdays and holidays? On today’s episode of Make + Design, originally published in October 2021, Carina talks about how to map out and plan your projects so that you get them done before the holiday you need them for! Carina loves the holidays and loves getting ready for them with lots of pretty creations! Tune in to see how sh...

Fellow Riley Blake designer Bev McCullough joins Carina for some insights on her recent fabric collection. To see some of the samples Carina and Bev talk about in this episode, please visit Carina’s youtube channel at www.youtube.com/carinagarder .    Learn more about Bev and her new book at instagram at @flamingotoes. __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About...

Do you love the idea of becoming a designer but worry that you don’t draw well enough to make it work? Listen in as Carina debunks some misconceptions about how good you have to be at illustrating in order to make it as a designer. There’s a *lot* more to being a surface pattern designer than being able to draw with pencil and paper. Listen in to find out why you don’t need to know how to draw to...

Have you ever wondered how a fabric designer approaches creating a new fabric collection? Today Carina talks with fellow Riley Blake designer Amanda Niederhauser about her process for designing a new line. Her daughter Ella is involved in the process and they make a great team! Amanda also talks about her love of cats and cat fabric. Settle in for this fun and insightful conversation about fabric...

When was the last time someone told you how valuable you are? Carina gets real today about how important it is to feel valued. You probably don’t hear it often enough from the people in your life. Carina hints at tough things she experienced in her childhood and tells a very vulnerable story about the first time that her intrinsic value as a human being was described to her in a way that made her...

Every Halloween, Carina takes her kids trick or treating and then settles in to watch one movie as she hands out candy. Find out what Halloween movies Carina loves to watch! Traditions can be comfortable, memorable moments and Carina shares some of her favorites for Halloween!   __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surface Pattern Designer here:...

Carina talks with fellow sewer April Cobb today! April has owned her own product based businesses including handmade goods and a digital fabric printing company. April shares the first steps you should take when building a creative business.   __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surface Pattern Designer here: http://eepurl.com/dN2RcY   ________...

What does it take to become a great designer or to do something great in anything you do? Find out as Carina talks us through the kinds of sacrifices in time and money it takes to level up or do something great. Have you ever thought about whether time or money is more important? Carina shares her thoughts on which is more important and why.   __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips No...

Today Carina talks with fellow fabric designer and Design Suite Member Diane Rooney. Diane talks about all her experiences in the crafting and sewing world. Carina and Diane talk about life lessons and making your passion a career. As you’ll hear, it’s never too late to start following  your passion!   __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surfac...

What are your favorite things to make with your Silhouette machine?  On today’s Make + Design, Carina walks us through her favorite things to cut on the machine. And what could be more fun than doing it countdown style? Check it out to hear what Carina’s #1 thing is!   __________ Download Carina’s free guide: The 7 Tips Nobody Will Tell You About Becoming a Surface Pattern Designer here: http://ee...