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Review

Online Sewing School Reviews

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Looking for online sewing classes? It can be really confusing which sewing school to sign up for. Lucky for you, I’ve been a member of around 10 different online sewing schools and taken a lot of classes, so I’m going to review them here for you and link to the full reviews.

Short on time? Check out these Key Takeaways

  • Craftsy offers the best online sewing classes for  most people
  • Vintage Sewing School is amazing if you like Evelyn Wood
  • Avoid Sew it Academy completely
  • Creativebug is ok but isn’t as good as Craftsy

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What Makes Good Online Sewing Classes?

I think the things you need for good online sewing classes are a fair price, new classes every week or month, good instructors, and sewing classes related to your current ability.

If you’re a beginner in sewing most of the online classes would be helpful. But, which one would actually be the best? Most of the time this is really up to you.

Best Sewing Classes for Beginners

I have to go with Craftsy as the number one and the Vintage Sewing school as the number two. The reason for this is that Craftsy just has SO many classes for beginners that are easy to follow. The second would be Evelyn Wood’s Vintage Sewing School. She is great for beginners and goes into a lot of depth on the basics. In fact, she probably has over 50 hours dedicated to just the extreme basics of sewing.

Which Online Sewing Classes are the Best?

This is a bit subjective but I can give you my answers below based on your needs. Do you like a specific instructor? Do you want the cheapest course because money is tight? It really depends on what you want out of your sewing classes. Are you a beginner in sewing or are you looking for advanced classes? Anyways, you understand what I mean by it being subjective. Below are my opinions on some of the more popular sewing schools.

Craftsy

I think Craftsy is the best overall online sewing school and offers the best classes for most people. They have so many different classes and options of instructors. The only way I’d suggest signing up for anything else is if you just truly like some other online personalities and want to take their classes instead. You can read the full Craftsy Review here.

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Vintage Sewing School

Evelyn Wood is a great person and her classes are awesome too. She is bubbly and fun and makes learning a breeze. Her online school is priced well but she’s not for everyone. If you like her personality as I do, then you’ll find her classes amazing. You can read the full Vintage Sewing School Review here.

Sew It Academy

I really can’t recommend Sew it Academy to anyone. I think it’s just a thrown-together business that focuses all of its energy on marketing. The owner, Mimi G, seems more caught up in being a famous business person that makes a lot of money instead of having the best sewing classes. You can read the full Sew it Academy Review here.

CreativeBug

Creativebug sewing classes are great overall. The only problem is that I think Craftsy is better and Craftsy has more classes and options. If you just want more content than Craftsy has to offer then I’d definitely sign up with Creativebug too. You can read the full CreativeBug review here.

How Much Are Online Sewing Classes?

The prices for online sewing classes are all similar. Most are between $10 per month and $20 per month. If you really like sewing and it’s a great hobby for you then the price is very cheap. Where else can you get 20 hours of entertainment for so cheap? Craftsy and Creatviebug are probably the cheapest online courses if you buy the monthly membership. Their one-off classes are a little more expensive though.

Final Verdict

All online sewing classes aren’t created equally. Taking a local class may be hit or miss but there’s no reason to limit your options to local if you want to do it online. As you can tell I think Craftsy is probably the best online sewing school for most people out there but you can also go with Evelyn’s school if you like her personality.

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Crane & Canopy Review – My Designer Bedding Makeover

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I recently got Crane & Canopy bedding. I’ve always wanted some designer bedding to go with my fancy pants sleep number bed. Now, let me share with you my Crane & Canopy review.

Bedroom Makeover with Crane & Canopy

Key Takeaways

I think Crane &Canopy makes great bedding but it’s expensive! Below are my key takeaways if you’re short on time.

  • Great Comforter
  • Perfect weight
  • Fluffy
  • Great features
  • BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE!

If $200+ is too expensive for bedding for you, then I have a great alternative for you that I’ve tried since writing this Crane & Canopy review years ago. The bedding is practically the same quality but for about half the cost.

Check out the Crane & Canopy Bedding alternative below:

View it Here

My Crane & Canopy Story & Review

I LOVE my bed. I know most of us do… but I REALLY LOVE my bed! As much as I love to travel, there is nothing like coming home to my own bed. If you have the right bed, (which I do… it’s a Sleep Number bed) it fits you like a glove and gently soothes you into a deep sleep. As a girl, I used to daydream about my bed (yea, I told you I love my bed). To me, the only way to go is a bed not unlike what you would find in a Swiss chalet (at least the Swiss chalet in my imagination, I’ve never really stayed in said chalet.)

  • Crisp & white.
  • White duvet, filled with a heavenly down comforter.
  • Crisp white sheets & lots and lots of white pillows.

It would be a perfect little white nest. I can just imagine coming home from a day of skiing out in the powdery Swiss snow and jumping into my plush white cloud, snuggling under the covers with my sweetie, and reading a good book… among other things (blush). Really, that was my dream Honeymoon for years… Instead, we went to Vegas. Yea, didn’t really hit the mark on that one.

Not to worry, minus the Swiss Alps and the skiing, I can still have my dream bed!!

For years I have searched for bedding that was just right. I’ve made due for many years because I wanted a certain quality that was just out of my price range. I could have gone to any big box store and purchased the same type of bedding, pretending that I really had the bedding of my dreams. In reality I would have a cheap impostor. The fabric would be rough and the fill would be clumpy and weak. It just wasn’t what I was looking for.

Not too long ago, the folks at Crane & Canopy introduced me to their innovative line of luxury bedding. After a few weeks of taking it for a test drive, I can safely say… From now on, Crane & Canopy is going to be my one-stop shop for affordable designer bedding!

I selected the bedding that was as close to a cloud as I could possibly find… The Valencia White Pintuck Duvet Set.

Crane & Canopy Bedding on WhipperBerry

There are surely some negative reviews about Crane and Canopy online but I really don’t understand them. When you’re sleeping in the clouds like this, what’s not to love?

Now, this bedding has a ton of features that you won’t find at your typical big box store.

Crane & Canopy Bedding

  • 400 thread count
  • 100% cotton sateen
  • The pintucks are sewn to perfection and will not come unpinned even when washing.
  • The duvet cover  has a hidden pocket zipper which makes it so much easier to use. No more clunky button closures.
  • Interior corner ribbons to tie down the insert… this my friends is aaaaamazing!!  For YEARS my husband and I have dealt with our down comforter shifting all over the place and creating all kinds of havoc on our bed. If you have a duvet, you know exactly what I am talking about. These corner ties are genius!

Crane & Canopy Duvet Ties

All you have to do is turn the duvet inside out and tie the top two corners. Then turn it right side out, pull the duvet down, tie the bottom two corners then zip up the bottom… It’s PERFECT!

The alternative bedding I suggested at the beginning of this review also has these features. You can check it out here:

View it Here

I decided that with the new bedding I needed to give our room a little makeover at the same time. I created some custom wall art with some amazing new products from DecoArt. I will be showing off this fun new technique in a few weeks on the DecoArt Blog.  Then, I added a few fun new accessories from my favorite shop… Target!

The bench is part of the fabulous Threshold collection, along with the accent tables. Both lamps are from Target as well. The one on the right I’ve had for awhile and they no longer carry it. The one on the right is a fabulous Architect Desk Lamp that I just love. The books are from Anthropologie. I actually took the color scheme for the makeover from the cover of Anthro’s Pride & Prejudice.

Pride and Prejudice

Just because I want to sleep in a cloud doesn’t mean that the whole room needs to be devoid of color. All in all, I adore my new room. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new bedding from Crane & Canopy. My husband and I just celebrated 13 years together last week, and I can finally say… I have my dream bed!

Crane & Canopy Bedroom Makeover on WhipperBerry

Where is Crane & Canopy Made?

Crane & Canopy is designed in San Francisco, CA.  Then the bedding is manufactured in Oeko-Tex factories. These are the highest standard of factories that exist for bedding products. These certified factories are located all across the world in many different countries and likely help with distribution.

Crane & Canopy Bedding Features

I covered some of the features above in my rambling but I will list out some of the amazing features below.

  • Highest quality cotton
  • High thread counts
  • Zipper enclosure at bottom of the duvet cover.
  • Interior corner ties to keep your comforter in place.

The other alternative has very similar features but for half the cost.

View it Here

Is Crane & Canopy Bedding Worth The Cost?

If you can’t tell by now, I love my Crane & Canopy bedding and Duvet. It’s designer, it’s fluffy, and it’s amazing overall. The main question you probably have is if it’s worth the cost. After all, it is a bit expensive and there are some bad Crane & Canopy reviews out there online. In my humble opinion, it’s 100% worth it but you can also get something similar for half the price. You sleep in your bed every night. If there’s one thing you should spend a bit of extra money on it’s a comfy and fluffy bed. You’ll get a better night’s sleep and wake up thinking you’re in a chalet.

What’s your dream bed? Do you have it yet? If not, I highly recommend you head over to Crane & Canopy and check out their entire line of designer bedding. Tell them WhipperBerry sent ya! However, if that’s too expensive you can get an alternative here:

View it Here

 

Disclaimer // This post has been sponsored by Crane & Canopy. I did receive product to review, but I was not paid for my review. This is why I am also recommending an alternative. All thoughts, ideas & opinions are my very own. Rest assured, I will NEVER post about a product or a company that I don’t wholeheartedly believe in and use in my normal everyday life.

Cricut Joy Review – Is This Cricut Machine Worth it?

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Cricut Joy Machine

Thinking about buying a Cricut Joy but have questions? You’re in the right place. In this Cricut Joy Review, I’m going to lay out exactly what the Cricut is, what it does, and if it’s the right machine for you.

The Cricut Joy is the smallest of the Cricut line of machines. It may be small, but it still can help with a large number of craft projects. It measures just 5.50 x 8.40 x 4.25 inches. There are also carrying cases available for the Cricut Joy, so you can easily pack it up and take it wherever you want to. It’s so simple; you can use it anywhere you have a wifi signal to use the Cricut Design Space app and an outlet to plug in the machine.

Cricut Joy Features

The small size and portability of the Cricut Joy are the most prominent features. Weighing just under 5 pounds, you can take this machine and your supplies with you on vacation or to have fun crafting at a friend’s house if you want. It’s also a great choice for those with limited crafting space in their homes since it can be easily stored on a small shelf or even in a drawer.

Because the Cricut Joy is compact and easy to use, this could be a great gift for any preteens/teens who enjoy crafting.

The Joy is capable of cutting over 50 materials, including Cricut Joy Smart Materials. The Smart Materials are unique in that they can be cut on this machine without a cutting mat. Because you can use the Smart Materials without a mat, the Joy can make cuts up to 20 feet long. In addition to cutting, the Joy can draw any shape and it writes in a wide variety of styles.

The Cricut Joy has one clamp for the blade housing. If you want to use a pen to draw part of your project, you will be prompted to switch out the blade and load your pen. This is different from the larger Cricut machines that have two clamps so you can use a blade and pen without having to switch them out. It’s important to note that regular Cricut pens don’t fit in the Cricut Joy clamp; you’ll need to have Cricut Joy specific pens. Fortunately, Cricut sells a wide variety of pens for the Joy and they’re not terribly expensive.

The Cricut Joy connects to Cricut Design Space (their design software) with Bluetooth wireless technology. You can use Design Space on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or even your smartphone. This makes it simple to use your Cricut Joy just about anywhere you can plug in and get a wireless signal.

 

How Does the Cricut Joy Work?

The Cricut Joy is probably the easiest Cricut machine to set up and operate. Like all the other Cricut machines, it needs to be paired with Cricut Design Space Software. To get started, you literally just plug in the Joy, open Design Space on your computer or mobile device, and click on the link to set up your new machine. It takes less than 5 minutes!

Cricut Design Space is the free software required to operate any Cricut machines. It works on any computer or mobile device. It’s easy to learn, and there are free tutorials available at learn.cricut.com to help familiarize yourself with all of its features. These tutorials will help you learn the basics of Design Space, as well as step-by-step processes for specific projects. There are many free files available on Design Space, but there is also a subscription option, known as Cricut Access. A subscription to Cricut Access gives you thousands of files and projects to upload to your Design Space account. If you don’t want to subscribe to Access, it’s possible to purchase files on Design Space individual

Every function done with the Cricut Joy is done through Design Space. Unlike the larger Cricut machines, the Joy doesn’t have any buttons or dials on it. 

If you’re using any of Cricut’s Smart Materials, you won’t need to use a cutting mat. You can load the materials directly into the Cricut Joy. You’re not limited to using Cricut Smart Materials, though. You can use most regular Cricut brand materials, as well as other brands, and simply cut them to fit on the Cricut Joy cutting mats.  

What Does the Cricut Joy Come With?

When you purchase a Cricut Joy, you’ll get the following:

  • The Cricut Joy machine and power adapter
  •  Cricut Joy blade and housing
  • Cricut Joy fine point pen (black)
  • Standard Grip Joy Mat
  • Welcome card
  • Warranty information
  • Free trial membership (for new subscribers) to Cricut Access 
  • Materials for a practice cut 

There are additional accessories you can purchase for the Joy, such as a Foiling Tool, card mats, and pens in different colors and widths.

Of course, you’ll also need to purchase materials to get started crafting with your Joy. Fortunately, Cricut also sells this machine bundled with different materials and supplies on their website.

How Much Does a Cricut Joy Cost?

The Cricut Joy is Cricut’s most affordable machine, with a regular price of $179.00. It is also sold in several different “bundled” options on the Cricut website.  The bundles include materials and accessories along with the Joy machine so you can get started on projects right away. These bundles have a regular price of around $250, but they frequently go on sale through the Cricut website. The Cricut Joy machine + materials bundles are a great value and would cost considerably more if all included items were to be purchased separately.

Another optional cost is a subscription to Cricut Access. A 30-day free trial to Cricut Access is available to new subscribers when you purchase any Cricut machine. Otherwise, the subscription costs $9.99 per month. For that price, you have access to over 200,000 images, 700 fonts, and thousands of ready-to-make projects. Additionally, Cricut Access members get a 10% discount on purchases made on cricut.com.

How Long Does the Cricut Joy Blade Last?


All of the Cricut blades are durable and last a decent amount of time. How long your Cricut Joy blade lasts depends entirely on how often you use your machine, and what materials you are cutting. On average, Cricut says their blades should last an average of six months, although it’s not unusual for the blades to last longer.

Replacement blades for the Cricut Joy are affordable at a price of just $12.99. You can tell if it’s time to replace your blade when it seems to tear your materials more than making nice clean cuts. 

Limitations of the Cricut Joy

While the Joy is a great little machine that is capable of many craft projects, it does have some minor limitations.

Because the Cricut Joy is a smaller machine, it is limited to smaller-sized projects than what can be accomplished on the larger Cricut machines. The largest cutting mat for the Joy is 4.5” by 12”. However, if you use Smart Materials which don’t require a cutting mat, the Joy can cut designs measuring 4.5 inches by 20 feet! 

While the Joy does cut 50 different materials, that is still not as much as can be cut with the large machines. It is capable of cutting quite a large variety of materials, including card stock of various sizes, poster board, assorted types of iron-on and vinyl, acetate, and even faux leather.

The only accessories available for the Cricut Joy are the blade, Joy pens of various colors and styles, and a foil transfer tool. This really isn’t a huge limitation, though. These three tools can be used for hundreds of different creative endeavors.

Is The Cricut Joy Right For You?

The Cricut Joy is a great machine for someone who enjoys crafts such as making greeting cards and invitations, vinyl decals for household goods & vehicles, labels to organize your home, and smaller iron-on projects. Instead of wrapping gifts to your loved ones on paper, you can create personalized gift bags and boxes with the Cricut Joy. You can even make customized party and holiday decorations for any occasion. Even though this smaller machine is limited in the size of what it can produce, it is capable of a surprising amount of creative tasks. 

If you’ve been curious about what you can make with a cutting machine but were hesitant about the cost, the Cricut Joy is a great choice! It is easily the most affordable cutting machine on the market, and the ease of use is unparalleled. The more you play with it, the more you’ll realize just how much you can create with it.

The Joy is also useful for small business owners or entrepreneurs who can use it to make custom labels, signs, and packaging for their products. 

Because of its compact size, the Cricut Joy is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a large crafting space in their home, such as those who live in a small apartment or dorm room. Because it’s portable, you can take it along while you travel.

The Cricut Joy is a remarkable little machine with large crafting capabilities. It’s a great choice for anyone curious about what a cutting machine can do, or even as an additional Cricut machine for when you need to complete smaller projects. 

Craftsy Review – Is it Worth It?

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What Is Craftsy?

If you’re reading this you probably already know what it is. But just in case you’re a long-time follower that hasn’t heard of it, then let me share my Craftsy review with you. I think you’ll like it.

Craftsy.com is a creative resource website offering classes and resources for a wide variety of artistic interests. If there’s any creative endeavor you’ve always wanted to try, there’s a good chance Craftsy has a class covering that subject! The topics include (but are not limited to) popular crafts such as knitting, sewing, and baking, along with unique subjects such as woodworking, paper crafting, and various art techniques.

A Craftsy membership grants a subscriber access to over 1500 classes in 20 different categories, downloadable patterns, and recipes, along with the opportunity to participate in various Livestream events.  If you are unsure about becoming a member, Craftsy also offers a number of free classes. You can also purchase classes one at a time, without committing to an annual membership.

If you’re short on time I’ll just say this. Craftsy is definitely worth the cost. There are some good things and bad things but overall it’s great.

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Classes Offered by Craftsy


Craftsy offers well over 1500 classes on a wide variety of creative topics.  That sounds a little overwhelming, doesn’t it? Thankfully, the Craftsy website is very user-friendly, and they have organized the class listings to make it easy to find hobbies that interest you!

The classes are arranged under the headings of Fabric Crafts, Yarn Crafts, Food, Art, and Living. There are numerous subcategories under each of these headings. For example, under the heading “Fabric Crafts”, you’ll find subcategories of Quilting, Sewing, and Embroidery.  

It can be overwhelming to find the “right” class for your interests.  For example: in the category of “Knitting”, there are 171 different classes! They range from a variety of techniques to specific projects.

Craftsy makes it easy to narrow your choices if you are looking for a particular instruction, though. Still using the “Knitting” category as an example, you can refine your search by choosing topics such as “Scarves and Shawls” or “Lace & Brioche Knitting”. 

Many of these classes include bonus materials, such as PDF documents with patterns or step-by-step instructions, and once you buy or upload a class you can go on the Craftsy website any time and watch it again and again.

The Craftsy instructors are all qualified experts on the topics they’re teaching. Links to each class often include introductory bios for the instructor. You’ll find many professional authors, teachers, artists, and craft business owners who are ready to share the wealth of their knowledge.

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Craftsy’s Classes and Video Quality

There is no shortage of online DIY videos available for just about any skill you’d want to learn. It can be frustrating because not all instructional videos are made the same!  The videos on Craftsy are clearly produced by professional videographers and lighting teams. They’re bright and easy to see all the details.  Perhaps most importantly, the sound quality of their video classes is excellent! There are few things more frustrating about watching instructional videos than not being able to hear everything or understand what the instructor is saying.

 

Craftsy Cost – Their Pricing Plans

Basic membership to craftsy.com is $8.99 per month or a slightly discounted rate of $89.99 per year. This gives you access to all of the online video classes, printable bonus materials, a weekly email newsletter with ideas and helpful tips, and access to occasional live online instructional events. Additionally, you can share your Craftsy membership with up to three friends or family at no additional cost to you or the “guest members” you invite. That’s like getting four memberships for one price! This is a great value, especially for families with creative youngsters.

The annual price for a Craftsy members ship of $89.99 seems a little steep at first, but consider how many classes you or your family might be interested in purchasing. Prices for premium classes on craftsy.com range from $4.99 to $69.99, with the average seeming to be around $30. Three or four classes will probably cost you the same amount as an annual membership (which gives you access to over 1,000 classes).  While craft supply stores and local yarn stores routinely offer in-person classes, they typically cost $50 to $100, and you won’t have access to video to “retake” the class as often as you’d like.

 

Is Craftsy Right For You?

A Craftsy membership is a great resource for anyone who enjoys creating and learning. If you are always wanting to learn new skills, or improve on your current hobbies, this is a fantastic website.

The classes are best suited to people who are comfortable learning online and don’t feel the need for the social aspects of being in an “in-person” class.

The convenience of being able to watch the classes anytime is perfect for people who have busy work schedules, or who work shifts that don’t coincide with most in-person class times.

One special area of note is a category called “Fun For Kids”. These classes aren’t necessarily geared towards being specifically for children, but they are simple and enjoyable for any creative kids. These suggested classes could be a great resource for home-schooled children, or to keep creative minds engaged over holiday breaks.

If you’re ready to join you can use my special link below to sign up.

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Small Things That Could Be Improved

The range of topics and quality of instruction on Craftsy is outstanding. However, there are a few minor things I feel could improve the website:

Some of the classes have a tab for “class discussion”. It’s an area where students can ask questions and offer tips among themselves. It doesn’t seem to be available for every class, though. It would be nice if that was a standard feature for all classes.

Another helpful feature would be if classes shared links to purchase suggested materials. It would be a timesaver to be able to purchase a class and the materials all on one page. At the very least, a page with links to suggested suppliers could be helpful.

Finally, there isn’t much of an online social aspect to being a Craftsy member. It would be fun if there was a way to share photos of completed projects from classes, and to connect with other members.

Conclusion: Is Craftsy Worth It?

Given the wide variety and professional quality of the classes offered, I think Craftsy is a good value, especially with the option to share a premium membership with up to three friends or family members.

Get Craftsy Now

Being able to try free classes, or just buy one or two of interest is a great way to give Craftsy a try if you’re unsure about paying for an entire year. If you’re a person who is comfortable with online classes and is always curious to try new skills or hobbies, you will love Craftsy.