I imagine I’m like many of you – I started making things when I was a young girl and just kept on going. It’s in me to create, to stitch, to design, to paint, to decorate. To make.
And to teach too.
I taught school for a bit before my children were born. Staying home with my three girls inspired me to make the most of what I really loved to do. I could draw a little and I could design a little, but an adult-ed class in rug hooking helped me combine those simple skills into a huge passion. You could say I was hooked, designing and making stacks of gorgeous, colorful hooked rugs, originating with my drawings, made from repurposed clothing. Start to finish, I loved making wool felt from clothes for my rugs, thrifting it, dyeing it, cutting it up and giving it new life underfoot. So much fun! (Once I even cut up my father-in-law’s trousers for a rug. Oops, I thought he didn’t want those anymore!)
Country Living did a feature story on my rugs in the 80′s and then my friends, Mary Engelbreit, Barbara Martin and I collaborated on the Mary Engelbreit Home Companion series of books and later the magazine too. We had the best time traveling the country in search of inspired homes and artists to include in our books. There were eight of those including the seasonal craft book series!
My family moved to New York where I had the chance to author my own beautiful books with Simon and Schuster. Mothers and Daughters at Home is pretty much the story of my creative life at home with my three daughters. Must say, it’s a stunningly beautiful book full of timeless projects to share with children. Soon after, I wrote Between Friends: Craft Projects to Share, another lovely collection of projects and design.
Along the way, I also designed projects for many magazines, began licensing my work for the marketplace, started teaching again, both here at home and all across the country (Silver Bella, French General, Tinsel Trading, MEHC Workshops). My classes are popular with crafters who appreciate a down to earth approach to making things. Really- it’s supposed to be fun! All skill levels are welcome in my classes where we laugh and share everything from tools to tips. On every level, I learn so much from my students. What’s better than making something in the company of other makers?
What am I doing now? I’m designing fabric for this year’s Quilt Market and stitch samplers for my Etsy shop. Forever and always, I love to playfully collage bits of things together from the collections in my studio – lots of wool along with vintage fabrics, papers, trinkets and trims. And I still get out the rug hook every now and then. Handwork is my daily yoga.
I’m excited about TCC! I love to teach and I’m looking forward to meeting you, having a chance to share what I know, what I brought with me and then dig into all that creative energy and make beautiful things side by side. These events are the most inspiring ways to refresh the creative spirit. I’ve met some of my dearest friends and greatest inspirations in classrooms like these. Let’s make something! Hope to see you there!
Charlotte is teaching two great classes at
THE CREATIVE CONNECTION EVENT:
{Home is Here}
{The Book Bag}
PLUS!
She’s giving away a signed copy of Between Friends and a stitch sampler: Josie’s Garden. Simply comment to this post and you’re entered!
Additional entries:
*Follow WWC and TCC on Twitter
@WHEREWOMENCREAT @TCCEVENT (1 Entry)
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*Post a Comment on THE CREATIVE CONNECTION BLOG (1 Entry)
Remember to post separately for each additional entry and please only post the amount of entries allowed. Also, make sure we have a way to contact you. This contest ends on Friday, August 12th at Midnight (MST), so make sure to get your comments in by then.
One more thing … Facebook rules are ever changing, so we never involve them in any contest we have. However, we would appreciate a “Like” on our THE CREATIVE CONNECTION EVENT Facebook page.
Creative Karma will be bestowed on you!
And speaking of CREATIVE KARMA, make sure you register today for
THE CREATIVE CONNECTION EVENT, classes are filling fast … You can’t miss out!
