In The Spotlight!
At Create Whimsy, we share the stories of makers. Learn about their creative journeys, inspirations and more! Browse all of our Spotlight Stories.
Spotlight: Colleen McCubbin Stepanic, Contemporary Artist
Colleen McCubbin Stepanic has known she was an artist since childhood, and her work carries that lifelong curiosity straight into the studio. In this interview, she talks about cutting up…
Spotlight: Qristy Kurtz, Fashion Facilitator
From thrifted fabrics to runway dreams, Qristy Kurtz has always used fashion as a way to belong, speak up, and build confidence. In this interview, she shares how sewing became…
Spotlight: Dominie Nash, Textile and Mixed Media Artist
Dominie Nash has spent decades letting fabric, dye, and stitch lead the way. In this thoughtful conversation, she shares how quilting became her creative language, how her process has evolved,…
Spotlight: Donna Deaver, Artist
Donna Deaver’s creative life has always been stitched together with curiosity, from her early days of sewing and embroidery to her rich practice spanning textiles, sketching, and mixed media. In…
Spotlight: Irmgard Geul, Mixed Media Artist
Growing up in a family where creativity was as natural as breathing, Irmgard Geul learned early that making was simply part of daily life. From couture sewing scraps in her…
Spotlight: Yulia Brodskaya, Artist and Illustrator
What's in a name? In illustrator Yulia Brodskaya's case, her name was instrumental in discovering her unique process of creating paper art. Reaching for a way to illustrate "Yulia" in…
Spotlight: Kathy Knapp, Wearable and Textile Art
Kathy Knapp’s textile work is a maximalist feast, layered with hand beading, vintage jewelry, and stories stitched straight from the heart. Self-taught and fiercely intuitive, she lets fabric and embellishment…
Spotlight: Brenda Bunten Schloesser, Fiber Artist
Brenda Bunten Schloesser’s work pulls you in with depth and movement, then surprises you when you realize it’s all fabric. Drawing from a deep family history of sewing and years…
Spotlight: Kimberly Bennefield, Shoemaker and Modern Quilter
Kimberly Bennefield brings a designer’s curiosity to every stitch, shaping garments, quilts, and even custom sneakers with the same thoughtful approach. Her background in UX fuels the way she solves…
Spotlight: Holly Wong, Feminist Woman Artist
Holly Wong builds immersive worlds from tulle, thread, fire, and myth. Her work invites you to move through light, memory, and repair, where fragile materials reveal surprising strength. She shares…
Spotlight: Lauren Weber, Artist, Quilter and Garden Girl
Lauren Weber’s work feels like a walk through a well-loved garden, full of soft color, thoughtful design, and gentle growth. In this interview, she shares how learning to quilt as…Trending Now
How to Make the Snowball Quilt Block: Free Tutorial
The snowball quilt block is super easy - you can make them any size! You start with a square of any size and add small squares of any size to…
How to Make A Ruana
A ruana is a heritage garment that is similar to ponchos worn in South American countries. It's easy to make and comfortable - no pattern needed!
How to Make a Quilt Coat: Sew a Patchwork Jacket
We've seen beautiful fashions made from thrift finds, including quilt coats and patchwork jackets. In this article, I'll explain the basics of how to make a quilted coat, including tips…
How to Make a Bowl Cozy: Free Pattern Tutorial
Bowls come in a variety of sizes. Many of the bowl cozy patterns and tutorials only give you directions for one or two sizes. In this article, I'm going to…
How to Make a Jelly Roll Rug
I had seen and admired the beautiful and colorful pictures of jelly roll rugs and wanted to try to make one for myself! Spoiler alert - it is a lot…
How to Sew a Potholder: Easy and Quick DIY Tutorial
Make your own cute potholders with our easy and quick tutorial. First, we'll show you how to sew a simple quilted potholder from leftover and orphan quilt blocks. Then, we'll…Latest Stories on Create Whimsy
Spotlight: Lena Pugachova, Textile Artist
Lena Pugachova’s quilts are where precision meets playful storytelling, stitched together with curves, color, and clever visual surprises. From her roots in Ukraine to her creative life in Ireland, Lena…
Spotlight: Miesje Chafer, Bead and Fiber Artist
Miesje Chafer’s creative story begins on her grandmother’s sofa with a knitting Nancy and unfolds into a life rich with color, pattern, and hand stitching. In this interview, she talks… Spotlight: Qristy Kurtz, Fashion Facilitator
From thrifted fabrics to runway dreams, Qristy Kurtz has always used fashion as a way to belong, speak up, and build confidence. In this interview, she shares how sewing became… Spotlight: Colleen McCubbin Stepanic, Contemporary Artist
Colleen McCubbin Stepanic has known she was an artist since childhood, and her work carries that lifelong curiosity straight into the studio. In this interview, she talks about cutting up…
Spotlight: Charles Spitzack, Visual Artist
Charles Spitzack has been carving his way toward art for as long as he can remember, with woodcut becoming both his language and his compass. In this interview, he talks… Spotlight: Dominie Nash, Textile and Mixed Media Artist
Dominie Nash has spent decades letting fabric, dye, and stitch lead the way. In this thoughtful conversation, she shares how quilting became her creative language, how her process has evolved,… Spotlight: Donna Deaver, Artist
Donna Deaver’s creative life has always been stitched together with curiosity, from her early days of sewing and embroidery to her rich practice spanning textiles, sketching, and mixed media. In… Spotlight: Irmgard Geul, Mixed Media Artist
Growing up in a family where creativity was as natural as breathing, Irmgard Geul learned early that making was simply part of daily life. From couture sewing scraps in her… Spotlight: Kathy Knapp, Wearable and Textile Art
Kathy Knapp’s textile work is a maximalist feast, layered with hand beading, vintage jewelry, and stories stitched straight from the heart. Self-taught and fiercely intuitive, she lets fabric and embellishment…
How to Crochet a Balaclava with Granny Squares
Granny squares aren’t just for blankets anymore. In this project, they come together to create a cozy crochet granny square balaclava that’s practical, playful, and endlessly customizable. Whether you love… Spotlight: Brenda Bunten Schloesser, Fiber Artist
Brenda Bunten Schloesser’s work pulls you in with depth and movement, then surprises you when you realize it’s all fabric. Drawing from a deep family history of sewing and years… Spotlight: Holly Wong, Feminist Woman Artist
Holly Wong builds immersive worlds from tulle, thread, fire, and myth. Her work invites you to move through light, memory, and repair, where fragile materials reveal surprising strength. She shares… Spotlight: Kimberly Bennefield, Shoemaker and Modern Quilter
Kimberly Bennefield brings a designer’s curiosity to every stitch, shaping garments, quilts, and even custom sneakers with the same thoughtful approach. Her background in UX fuels the way she solves… Spotlight: Lauren Weber, Artist, Quilter and Garden Girl
Lauren Weber’s work feels like a walk through a well-loved garden, full of soft color, thoughtful design, and gentle growth. In this interview, she shares how learning to quilt as…
Spotlight: Mita Giacomini, Fiber Artist
Fiber artist Mita Giacomini creates powerful, intimate bird portraits using a technique she calls surface weaving. In this interview, she talks about discovering fiber later in life, breaking all the…
Spotlight: Birgitta Jadenfelt, Modern Quilter
Birgitta Jadenfelt brings a sense of curiosity and play to everything she makes, from her earliest experiments with curved blocks to her bold, modern quilt designs. Her story shows what…
Spotlight: Ruth Tabancay, Fiber Artist
Ruth Tabancay’s creative journey is anything but ordinary—what began with sewing clothes in childhood eventually led her from a career in medicine to a life immersed in art. In this…
Spotlight: Eva Saunders, Modern Quilter, Designer and Educator
Eva Saunders of Gingerly Quilt Co brings her whole creative life full circle — from early days stitching beside her German grandmother to shaping bold, modern quilts that blend art,…
Spotlight: Evette Allerdings, Silk Painter & Fiber Artist
Silk painter and textile artist Evette Allerdings shares the stories, memories, and bold creative leaps that shape her vibrant work. From childhood kimonos to cross-country fabric hunts to finding her…