I love these little sewing cases.  Perfect for travel or to slip in a project bag so you have what you need when you need it!  Check out the store for the Free Pattern - my gift to YOU!

Relax. Draw, Stitch... Zentangle Inspired Pin Cushion  I found a book by Jan Monk, Tangle Stitches, and loved the simplicity of the style that allows the Zentangle elements to shine.  Jan is a long arm quilter and artist and inspired me to create my own pin cushions.  They are easy to make.  Start with an embellished 4" square like the "D" below which is machine quilted and drawn and serge the outside edge.  Do the same to a matching square. Match the corner of the top square to the middle of the bottom square and hand stitch together.  You can graduate the sizes and have a stack of pin cushions.  

Long story short...I bought my wedding dress the week before I got married.  Since that time I have worked with many wonderful brides to make sure their experience was positive and results to match their dreams.  Lots of bustles (in the French style), ribbon roses for their hair, beads to accentuate beautiful french lace, focus on the back of the dress as well as the front, purses, wedding ribbons and even fans. 

While making t-shirt quilts I found the labels to be very interesting.  Not that I agree with "it's her job", in our house, if you want it clean, you do laundry!

I had to up my machine quilting skills.  I discovered Zentangle around the same time and saw how easily the art overlapped with quilting design.  The best part was I could quilt and then draw over it, which removed all the inconsistencies of my quilting.  I could also add machine embroidery stitches, draw lines, dots and shading.  The more I practiced the more fun it was, I became more relaxed and my quilting improved.  I did several pieces as I explored "when quilting is Zentangle inspired".

I discovered Koigu while in Portand, Oregon. My niece Mara took me to a shop called Knit Purl, she knew I would love it, and did I ever!  There was a whole wall filled with luscious Koigu yarn.  It only took an hour for me to find three skeins I liked that I thought would work well together.  I bought a pattern from Churchmouse  The Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf.  I have made nearly a dozen of these lovely scarves for friends and family.  I love the way the stitch melds and blends the color.  I have often been asked if the scarf is woven.  When I reply,"no it is knit", they are surprised! The good news is you get a wonderful scarf.  Then you have a variety of leftovers... that is when I realized I needed the Leftie pattern....

The start of something good.  I had a wide variety of left over Koigu yarn.  I love Koigu yarn!  Not only did it get me introduced to a lovely group of women who meet to knit on Fridays, it is wonderful to work with and the colors are fantastic.  Many of the Friday knitters were making Lefties (to use up the leftover yarn from other projects) so I did as well.  You can find the pattern on Ravelry here.  It is a great way to use up all those little balls of yarn you really don't want to part with.  You can make the scarf any size you want!  Here mine further along and my friend Allyson's.  My sister Lezlie, loved the scarf when it was done, so much so it went home with her.