Meet Jessica VanDenburgh of Sew Many Creations in her own words…
For as long as I can remember, I have been a crafter and dabbled in any and every craft I could get my hands on. I’m pretty sure I was born with a glue gun in one hand and fabric in the other, but that’s just speculation. My grandma (one of my most favorite people in the whole world) was also a crafter and shared her many years of wisdom with me before she passed away in 2006. She could do it all and make anything – I wanted to do the same.
Fast forward to my early teen years… This is where my obsession with sewing began. I made my own clothing (some good and some not-so-good items), pillows, and other accessories. I loved my sewing machine, and it never bothered me that I was kind of a geek.
In 2005, I started quilting as a way to deal with stress from my job. It was a great release and something I had never done before. By 2007, I started sewing bags for fun and, after much encouragement from friends and family, began selling them. I quickly burned out making bags in mass quantities and decided that pattern writing would be a better avenue.Â
In 2011, I released my first bag pattern, The Leading Lady Wristlet,  and Sew Many Creations was born. Since 2011, I have designed over 70 bag and quilt patterns .
You have a knack for working with the latest trendy materials. What’s new at Sew Many Creations?
I am always bringing in new products, whether it’s a new line of fabric or new bag hardware. I listen to my customers. When I receive multiple requests for items, I typically get them.Â
For 2019, I am working on some new patterns, bringing in even more cork in colors and prints, and of course expanding our hardware selection in new colors and styles .
For the quilters and fabric-obsessed customers, you can always find the latest Tula Pink in my booth!
I’m designing my second line of fabric with Windham, available later this year. My first line, Gypsy,  is available now! Here are a few items made from Gypsy…
What is the latest trend we simply must try?
Cork! Â If you haven’t played with cork fabric yet, then you don’t know what you’re missing! It’s so easy to sew with and makes gorgeous bags. I try to bring as many colors and prints as I can for shows.
Jessica shares her passion for cork and shows off all the ways she features cork in her projects…VIDEO
Come by and see me at my booth at each of these shows:
Updated 3/2/2020
March 25-28 at AQS QuiltWeek Show – Lancaster Downtown, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
April 22-25 at AQS QuiltWeek Show – Paducah in Paducah, Kentucky
August 5-7Â at AQS QuiltWeek Show – Lancaster – The Nook in Manheim, Pennsylvania
August 19-22 at AQS QuiltWeek Show – Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids, Michigan
September 30 – October 2 at AQSÂ QuiltWeek Show – Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina
I have been a vendor with AQS for over 5 years now (wow, time flies!) and I just love QuiltWeek. The attendees are always ready for a good time and the shows are so well-organized. I’ve been lucky enough to teach at several QuiltWeek shows, and I just adore my students. AQS also has a knack for picking some great areas for shows.
When you visit my booth, all the patterns there are my original designs. I strive to have something new at each show. Sometimes this is easier said than done!
Bags have been my passion for so long, and I love that I am part of a community that embraces making them as well. At shows, when a customer stops by to show me what they made since I last saw them, it really makes my heart happy!
Can’t visit me at QuiltWeek? You can visit my website www.sewmanycreationsny.com
