teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip
ABOUT ME, CV (RÉSUMÉ) & CONTACT DETAILS

 Hi, I'm Chris Dodsley, the person behind the brand 'made by ChrissieD'. 
I'm so glad you stopped by, and I'd like to tell you a bit about myself. 




I grew up in St. Helens, in the north of England, as a child of the 1960s, and I have always had a passion for crafting. From a young age, I enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and sewing. By the 1980s, I was making clothes (remember padded shoulder blouses?!) for my job as a secretary, and I also created home furnishings. When I moved to Marlborough, Wiltshire, in the early 1990s, I started an interior design business, encouraged by friends whose homes I had decorated and designed.

At first, I concentrated on designing beautiful family living spaces, children's bedrooms, and decorative murals. However, a chance encounter led me to an opportunity to create home cinemas and entertainment suites for two founders of IMDb's movie website. After several years of travelling for work, I decided to spend more time with my three young children and pursue my passion for cooking and baking.

As my children grew older, I returned to education and earned a foundation degree in Art & Design with a specialisation in ceramics. I received the Alan Guyatt Mature Learner Achievement Award for my outstanding accomplishments. My studies then led me to Textile Art, and I purchased my cherished Bernina 440 QE sewing machine, which has since become one of my most valued possessions.

In 2011, I moved to the United States, leaving my studies behind. During this time, I discovered quilting, which inspired me to create my brand, made by ChrissieD, and start blogging in April 2012. The name combines my name and my daughter's nickname, paying tribute to my love for family and crafting.

View From My Roof Garden
Manhattan's backyard along the Hudson Riverfront, at the Hoboken/Jersey City border, was our home for six years. My husband, Simon, and our two dogs—Thatcher, affectionately known as Tatty, a Havapoo, and Watson, our Havanese—shared this space with us while our grown children embarked on their own adventures around the world.


During my first six years in the United States, I worked as a Bernina Sales and Store Assistant at The City Quilter in Chelsea, Manhattan, NYC. While there, I began teaching quilting and sewing classes at both The City Quilter and Gotham Quilts and offering private lessons. You can find all the details about my upcoming and past courses on my website.

During this period, I collaborated with various fabric companies, designing and creating patterns for quilting magazines. Additionally, I served as the Vice President of the NYC Metro MOD Quilters Guild in 2016 and 2017 and was an active member of the Modern Quilt Guild and the Quilt Alliance. 

I am proud to have won the title of Featherweight Champion of the Quilt World at the Quilt Alliance Quilters Take Manhattan event in 2016. In 2018, I collaborated as a designer for the International Association of Quilters. Additionally, I received the Top Blogger award from FaveQuilts.com every year from 2016 to 2021.

In my spare time 😉, I enjoy being a Grandma to my grandsons, Oliver, Noah, Billy and Sully.


Watch Quilt Alliance's time-lapse video of Quilt Match 2016: 


In 2016, I launched my newsletter, mbCD News. Click the buttons below to access the mbCD News archive. You can also subscribe here.



In July 2017, I moved to South Florida to embark on a new life adventure.


In 2021, I trained and became a licensed Cosmic Smash Booking Teacher, 
continuing my education in 2022 to become a Confidence Coach. 

I help individuals who've lost their sense of self by guiding them to take small, successful steps to grow in confidence and empowering them to take control of their lives.

The years 2022 and 2023 have also been a time of personal growth for me, guided by Jolie DeMarco, a renowned metaphysical expert and author of several books, including "High-Vibe Crystal Healing" and "How To Meditate with Crystals". I have become certified as a Reiki I Healer, Reiki II Practitioner, Reiki III/IV Master, and Master Crystal Healer. 

I am furthering my studies with Hay House to become a certified Card Reader.


To learn more about my new ventures as a Confidence Coach, Reiki and Crystal Master, and Card Reader, visit my new website - ChrisDodsley.com or follow me on Instagram or Facebook.



Want to find out more about me? Here are my classes/student feedback, CV/Résumé, and some past posts I've shared about me, my sewing space, my family and where I work:





 I would love to hear from you. Here are all the ways to stay in touch!



And you can always find me on my website.

Want To See More?