Making Cartonnage fabric boxes have transformed my life! In all ways! And today I want to THANK all of you that have been in this journey with me! You helped me to see the JOY of this technique, the amazing (sometimes hidden) benefits that will show up in a long time to come, not only in our lives but also very important, in the lives of those who we love and whom we make the gifts for!
It is incredible how putting my hands on glue and allowing myself to just relax and have tons of fun have changed my energy in some days that I wasn't feeling well, in times I wasn't sure what to do next, and in so many other days in between.
We don't need to be a talented artist to make fabric boxes.... we don't even need to sew straight and neat (and that was a big one for me!!), we don't need to be the most creative person to have a professional looking piece that when given to a loved one will be used in a daily basis and will leave in them the mark of.... you are loved, someone cares for you.... even if it's in the unconscious now.... it is doing the job. At the end of the day, we all need to feel that we are loved, that we belong, and at the day I realized that I wasn't teaching just a craft technique, but I was sharing the JOY instead, that profoundly changed the way I started looking at my work and how I can put my message out there!
So again, thank you, if you are reading this, somehow you started following me, and I want to say that I'm very grateful for that... as I said, you have inspired me to keep creating and sharing and I can't wait to continue sharing more and more wonderful projects with you.
But, as everything in life, once we see and understand our path, sometimes we need some re-routes, start new beginnings, and that's what this post is about. I want to honor the path that made me who I am, and to welcome a new beginning in my life and hopefully offer a wonderful continuation of your cartonnage journey with me or maybe a great starting.
Then, first, a little bit of a story.... I started sharing the cartonnage technique 10 years ago - my first local class was in January 2014. Since then, a lot has happened, with local and online classes, DIY kits, and a lot of events. In 2020 I felt the need to create a "community" where we could see each other, inspire and be inspired and connect. That was the beginning of our Cartonnage Club! Since then we are having a great time with the Club. Many craft lovers have joined us, many stay just for a bit, many stay for a long time....that's the place to stay for as long as make sense in the person's heart.
And, in order to spread the word about this technique that I love SO much, and wasn't known here in US, I started making some annual workshops.... oh, how fun! During the past 5 years we had 9 (nine) of those big events.... really big ones, all of them with FREE option to join. I had tons and tons of fun with them, many cartonnage lovers today started in one of those events, and I am forever thankful for all of you that have participated making them better and better every time.
And here are the pictures of the invitation to join every one of them, so you can maybe remember if you were part of any of them.
In 2020, the year that we created the Club, in our first workshop we made the "Fabric caddy organizer" and the "Fabric notepad cover":
Then, in the following year, 2021 we started having two events per year, one around March and another one in celebration of the National Cartonnage Day around September. A lot of fun making all those projects, LIVE events, giveaways, it was really a wonderful way of getting connected and be inspired! First, we had the "pretty hinged lid box with magnet closure":
And for the first National Day, we had more than one project, it was the single box and mini composition book cover and the wonderful Organizer:
For 2022 we got one of the most wanted projects until that point.... the "Fabric Cigar box" and one day I will tell you how I got to that project definition...it was a great time in my life! But it's a conversation for another long story in another day for sure.
For the National Day at the same year, we then have more projects, focusing in gift making we made the Gift Basket and the Lidded boxes:
In 2023 we made some different projects... "magic" things in the projects, puzzle, it was the year to really step "out of the box" and see different opportunities for the technique while keeping our brain active and our soul happy! We had the "Box on a box" and the "multi function boxes" with option for a magic closure and a magic wallet:
For the National Day in 2023, we made the Fabric Tangram! How fun!
And then, 2024 came and we just ended our last event, another two spectacular time gluing and connecting with fellow crafters around the World. First, we had the "Fabric Sliding lid box":
And the last one we just finished it was the "Fabric Tissue box cover with magnet closure":
Oh Wow! Looking at all of those pictures together I'm so thankful and honored by the opportunity to create all of those projects, and for leading all of those events, and of course, incredible thankful for all of you that were there with me, in every single one of them!
What you saw above were actually just part of the events, as for all of them, more than the project in the FREE option, we also had BONUS projects for members of the Club, and usually they were bigger projects or even more than one bonuses... how unique and fun!
And I'm sharing this, because we are having some changes now in my programs, and before starting a "new beginning" I really feel the need to honor all of us for this amazing journey so far! We had an incredible time together, and from now on, even though it will be a little different format for my events one thing won't change....they will continue to be focusing in having fun, spreading the JOY and creating amazing memorable gifts!
So, again, thank you for being part of all of those events and like in 2020 I had the need to create the Club, now I feel deep inside my heart that I need more time to focused more in some projects and events I want to have with our Community, and for that, I won't have those free events anymore.
But yes, we will keep having workshops, retreats, and other special events and projects, but they will be concentrated for members of our Club, or eventually in some celebrations I may be able to open registration for those that purchase my kits, let's see how my heart will guide me from now on.
Those big events required a lot of my time and energy as you can imagine, and I do have tons of other ideas that I also want to complete, even going back to my original list of ideas for the Club.
With that said, I will love to see you around, stay tuned, our Club closes door for new members today (Friday October 18), and will open again at sometime next year. So you can join us now, if you want to keep gluing and making special gifts for this Holiday Season...or if it's not your time to join us, we do have a lot of content online plus DIY kits in our shop. And whenever in the future you feel ready to join us - put your name in the waitlist and you will be the first to know when we open enrollment for new members again.
Important to say that you can stay with us in the Club for as long as you want - for a month or years to come. You chose your plan with benefits from the shop or not. When you join us you unlock over 90 different tutorials, with dimensions, templates, complete tutorials - including all workshops you saw above with the bonuses. Please take a look at the link below for more information about our Club and if you feel so, we will love to welcome you in our Community!
Click here to learn more about the Cartonnage Club
And I want to hear from you.... were you part of any of those workshops above? Please let me know in the comments below, I want to personally thank you!! You made the difference in my life and I hope you are enjoying gluing with us!
Have a phenomenal day my friend, and for anytime you want, check our shop for more inspiration, DIY kits, beautiful fabrics and more!
Stay gluing and stay healthy!
Much love,
Claudia