As a self-employed professional quilter, Heidi Parkes spends quite a bit of time traveling with her computer, and you better believe she doesn't have just any old laptop case. In this class, she shares her design for how to create a practical and stylish laptop slipcase using a pre-existing quilt or your own quilted fabric. Discover how to measure your device for a perfect fit, sew it together, and incorporate final touches for both protection and aesthetic appeal. The slipcase features double lining, with quilted material both inside and out for added cushioning. The design is very adaptable, allowing you to create a cozy case for whatever needs protecting. It's worth noting that this project can be completed entirely by hand, without the need for a sewing machine.

Introducing CbMixtape! Mixtapes are playlists of specific bits from different classes, grouped together by a common theme. Heidi Parkes is our resident hand yoga expert, reminding us to care for our most important tools. These simple techniques aid in joint health and promote the healthy function of your hands and wrists.  

If these mini lessons inspire you to dig deeper, check out Heidi's two daily practices, both of which include a weekly hand yoga lesson:

Love Letter Quilt Top: A Daily Practice
Story Quilt Top: A Daily Practice in Hand Stitching

If you have experience crocheting, you know that crocheted fabric stretches more lengthwise than vertically The sideways construction of this ribbed sock takes advantage of that aspect for a stretchy and extra comfortable fit. Instructor Cal Patch is a clothing designer and author, and she demonstrates how her modular sock design can magically turn rectangular panels into a perfectly fitting sock. Begin with crocheting the body of the sock in ribbed rows, then work a heel in short rows, and finish with the toe in the round and a ribbed cuff. Cal teaches you how to properly measure your foot and where to adjust your crochet stitches for a sock that is unique to you. You can use any weight of yarn depending on the thickness of the fabric you prefer. There are so many fun yarn and color combinations to explore that once you crochet one sock, you won't want to stop. 

Illustrator and art/literary agent Lilla Rogers has coached thousands of artists and writers through the process of creating children’s books. In this month-long class, use the Magic Writing card deck and follow writing prompts paired with an “oddity” or found object to inspire your writing. Whether you’re looking to learn new writing techniques for your journal, social media, or as the basis for a book idea, this class will introduce you to a plethora of techniques and genres to jumpstart your writing practice. Lilla also shares some agent tips throughout the month for how to pair your art and writing for opportunities to monetize your work, as well as examples of published books, decks and journals that effectively use writing and art together.  Grab a pen and a journal, cozy up in your favorite chair, and embark on a 30-day writing adventure.

Turn your favorite fabric scraps into a quilted heirloom holiday stocking with author, designer, and modern quilter Blair Stocker of Wise Craft Handmade. The super-tiny half square triangle units (HSTs) that make up the intricate front piece of your stocking will truly sparkle like multi-faceted gems. To achieve this "quilt sparkle," Blair teaches you about color value, how to determine it in your fabrics using a tool she invented called the Ruby Ruler, and how to use it in your quilt designs. You'll move on to straight-line quilting your stocking panels and sewing together the complete stocking with a cuff and a hanging loop. This is such a special project for using bits of your treasured fabrics to create a one-of-a-kind piece that you and your loved ones can cherish holiday after holiday

Being a professional illustrator is a collaborative process: you must consider the needs of your client, know how to communicate your thoughts and ideas, and be prepared for many changes, all while maintaining your own artistic style. Mariko Jesse has been an illustrator and printmaker for over 25 years. In this class, she takes you through a sample project with an imaginary client from sketch to final product so that you can see the process step by step. She shows you what a client brief can look like as well as the ideation process, receiving client feedback, and completing the art. Whether you work with analog mediums or digital, the communication and business aspects remain the same. There’s isn’t one correct way to be an illustrator, but once you understand the basics, you can work out for yourself how to develop your practice.

It's a colored pencil case for your colored pencils! Of course, you can fill it with whatever you like - pens, sewing tools, sunglasses - any way you use it, it's a wonderful project to showcase your time well-spent embroidering. Portland, Oregon artist Rebecca Ringquist has designed this Dropcloth Sampler for you to embroider by hand with this cute and stylish storage solution in mind. To embroider the pencil pattern, she show stitches such as filled back stitch and brick stitch, and once completed, she shows you how to turn it into a lined, flat zippered case that's just the perfect size to throw in a bag and join you on all your adventures.

To follow along on social media, please post your progress using the tag #LoveLetterQAL

Learn more about Heidi's inspirations behind the Love Letter Quilt pattern and her history of incorporating love into quilts in this live presentation, originally aired August 9, 2023.

See a beautiful compilation of quilts made in this class on our blog.

Accordion books have been around for centuries but are often overlooked. This class explores how something as simple and unassuming as an accordion book can transform into three dramatic, sculptural artists books. The accordion form is deceptively simple, but is the foundation for all kinds of innovative, modern structures. Learn a simple accordion as the foundation, then explore how to evolve the form in three different ways: as a flag book, a tunnel book, and a carousel book. Break through the practical purpose of basic accordion form and create something unique and beautiful that elevates simplicity into art.

Get ready to crochet on the edge. Clothing designer, teacher, and author Cal Patch shows you how adding crochet edgings to your garments can add so much color, texture and interest. Cal covers a few ways to work crochet edgings into existing garments like the necklines of shirts and dresses. You'll warm up with a few simple edgings in single crochet and double crochet stitches and then move on to a few fancier edgings with multiple tiers. You'll also learn how to prepare a neckline before adding crocheted embellishments. These are all fabulous techniques for items you find in the thrift shop, clothing you've made, or something old in your closet that needs a fresh beginning. 

Keep your favorite tiny toes toasty by making these soft and cute baby slippers. Author, illustrator, and maker Sanae Ishida designed these to fit 3-6 month old babies, and they make an excellent gift. Sanae  shows you how to make fox slippers as well as raccoon slippers, beginning with laying the pattern out on fabric, then sewing your project together on a machine. Learn how to add elastic to the heel for a perfect fit, applique with zig-zag stitch, and hand embroider some simple details that will make those adorable animal faces pop. 

Make meal times more fun for your little ones with these animal-themed placemats. Their clean, minimal style is easy to achieve with basic sewing machine skills. Author, illustrator, and maker Sanae Ishida not only shows you how to cut and sew your placemats and use fusible interfacing, but she also teaches you some basic pattern-drafting skills to create your own template. You can make a pointy-eared version and a round-eared version and play a guessing game as to what kind of animals they could be. You'll also learn how to sew a small pocket that is a handy place for utensils, napkins, small toys, or a sweet note. Finished dimensions are 15 1/2" wide x 14" high including ears.

If you caught a spark of inspiration from Mercedez Rex’s Creativity Through Marbling, this class will fan the fire with more creative exploration and play. In Advanced Marbling Techniques, you’ll learn new skills and replicate specific patterns. Mercedez demonstrates a range of techniques that incorporate a variety of combs that, when used in a particular order, produce wonderful contemporary classic patterns. Many of these designs are compound patterns requiring a layering of techniques to achieve designs such as Double Cable Gel-git, French Curl and Peacock.

This class is fast paced and viewing Mercedez’s introductory Creativity Through Marbling class is recommended.
 

Introducing CbMixtape! Mixtapes are playlists of specific bits from different classes, grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape.

Summer fruit is vibrant and can be playful in patterns and art. Begin with drawing easy tropical fruits using brush markers alongside Courtney Cerruti. Move onto painting fruit from your imagination with Carolyn Gavin using acryla gouache. Paint a juicy ripe strawberry with artist and gardener Lorene Edwards Forkner. Use gouache to make both a stylized and realistic paintings of a pineapple with Jen Orkin Lewis. Finally watch as illustrator Carolyn Gavin paints bundle of fruits in summer bags and baskets that will make you run to the farmer's market this weekend!

Want to watch more? Check out the full Daily Practice series with each of the artists below:
Courtney Cerruti- Daily Drawing Challenge: 31 Pattern Motifs
Carolyn Gavin - Daily Painting Challenge: Flowers, Fruits and the Natural World
Lorene Edwards Forkner - Color in and out of the Garden 
Jen Orkin Lewis- Daily Painting Challenge: 30 Things to Paint with August Wren 

 

After you complete this charming whale-shaped teether and rattle, you might be making excited high-pitched whale sounds, too. This twofer toy is soft, squishy, soothing, and just plain cute. Sanae Ishida - author, illustrator, and maker of many things - will expertly guide you through seaming small, curved fabric pieces into a three-dimensional object. If you add short strips of ribbon and use fabrics with various textures, it can be a tactile toy as well. Sanae also shares her helpful technique for adding stuffing so that your toy stays fluffy, and you'll learn how to add a wooden teething ring and jingle bells. You won't need much fabric, and you'll be able to turn your fabric scraps into a cherished play friend. 

Do you love looking at tiny things and making tiny things? Illustrator, toy maker, and storyteller Suzy Ultman welcomes you to her tiny world and shows you how to transform an ordinary cardboard box into an extraordinarily cute dollhouse cafe. Find out how to trim down your box, cut out little doors and windows, and paint on colorful details to give your cafe character. You can add a second floor inside as well as whimsical wall paper. Your dollhouse cafe will be ready for business when you complete your set by making cardboard cafe tables, miniature menus, paper rugs, trees, and animal friends. Suzy designed this project to be easy-to-create for all ages. Younger crafters will need help from an adult to cut corrugated cardboard, but everyone can have fun designing, painting, and making their cafe unique.

This is the class that started it all: our years-long fascination with Daily Practice classes. Featuring updated material and additional content, this is the perfect class to discover the transformative power of undertaking a big creative challenge. Every single day for a month, we challenge you to draw along with Lisa Congdon. Lisa has hand-picked 31 objects to draw, and demonstrates several ways to render each object using just your imagination. This creative exercise is designed to help you embrace wonkiness and imperfections, all while learning to see everything around you—be it bird or bikini—as artistic fodder.
 

As a professional artist, art therapist and mother of three, Abby Houston knows how important it is to promote imaginative play. Join Abby and her nine-year-old Violet as they work on four projects exploring the basic art elements of line, shape, form, and color. Abby offers suggestions for an art box of materials that your kids can have regular access to, how to be flexible and receptive to your child's unique process, and how to make cleanup fun. Whether they work collaboratively or independently, this is the first step in building a nurturing creative practice for your kids. This class is recommended for all adults and caregivers who want to foster creativity with the little artists in their lives. 

Artists of all ages: gather your empty cereal and cracker boxes and get ready for a joyful month of sketching, painting, and play with illustrator, toy maker, and storyteller Suzy Ultman. In this daily practice, you'll turn cardboard from food packaging into a cute and colorful set of painted alphabet letters. Each day, you'll create a new letter, starting with cutting out your shapes using Suzy's PDF templates. If you prefer not to cut cardboard, you can also use the templates as coloring pages. Suzy will guide you through painting specific designs for each letter, but she'll also talk about different ways to imagine your own letters and make them unique. The most important tool here is your imagination, and you can also work with craft paint, paint pens, markers, colored pencils, pom poms, googly eyes, and all your favorite materials. Use your finished letters as flash cards, personalized tags for gifts, banners that spell words or names, and so much more.

Play silks are inspiring, open-ended toys that children can transform into almost anything with their creativity and imaginations, like a red and orange silks for lava and blue silks for water, or wearing them as magical capes or carriers for dolls. Melissa Lang Lytle of Hex House Crowns is a fiber artist and handwork teacher, and she will guide you through the very accessible process of dyeing play silks using RIT dye. Start with a dreamy ombre rainbow pattern and then try a whimsical, heart-shaped tie dye. With Melisssa's tips, you can also dye wool felt in the same dye bath as your silks in order to maximize your dye as well as color-match your materials. Children can heop with certain parts of the dyeing, and everyone will enjoy the exciting reveal of the finished silks.

Crafting with nature is a lovely way to spend time looking at and appreciating the flowers and plants around you. In this class, artist and educator Courtney Cerruti shows you how to make vibrant botanical prints by hammering or "pounding" flowers onto paper. You'll also learn how to shift the color of plant pigments by toning them with acidic or alkaline solutions, as well as fun ways to enhance your prints with watercolor. Using simple materials and a simple technique, you can create beautiful floral art with a hammer and blooms.

The flying geese pattern is a perennial quilt design favorite and that never goes out of style. Learn how to paper piece circular flying geese with award-winning quilter Sarah Bond. You'll get a lot of practice sewing large and small curves while completing a complex mini-quilt. It's composed of four identically sewn quadrants and measures up to 24 inches square. You can also use these components to design a larger quilt by combining them with other elements or negative space. Sarah loves traditional quilt forms and giving them a more modern spin. These geese may look small - but they are big fun!