Who can resist the charm of a crocheted granny square? It was the catalyst that ignited my crochet journey nearly two years ago. The abundance of patterns available provides a perfect starting point, and platforms like Instagram and Pinterest  offer endless opportunities. The granny square with it's timeless appeal, is a straightforward pattern typically composed of double crochet clusters, and corners made up of clusters and 2 chain spaces. Once the pattern becomes second nature, you'll be amazed at how quickly a stack of squares accumulates.  Check out this fun  video  I posted to Instagram.  In my crochet journey, I've curated a list of my favorite creations, complete with links to the patterns, where available. Some patterns are free, while others can be purchased — I encourage you to support these small businesses whenever possible. The beauty of granny squares lies in their versatility. With countless color combinations, the creative possibilities are boun......

My crochet journey began on a roadtrip to Philadelphia. A year ago in March 2022, my husband and I headed to Columbus to pick up our son and continue on to Philadelphia where he had just been accepted to Drexel Medical School. My plan on any kind of trip is to bring some kind of fiber art project to work on. In the past I've brought a small weaving loom and an embroidery hoop for punch needle work, but this time my bag was filled with a couple of crochet hooks and a few balls of yarn. I had also jotted down notes on on how to crochet different stitches. I was determined to teach myself to crochet. I had watched a ton of Youtube videos on how to hold the hook and yarn and how to do the basic stitches, I was ready... or so I thought.  The flat lands of the Midwest My main goal for this crochet journey was to make the beloved granny square.  I have always loved granny squares and all the different things you can make with them. But honestly, I had no idea how to even start the pr......

Ah, the Flossie Willy studio, it's where all the magic happens. Of course it's not always a magical place filled with unicorns and rainbows. There is a lot of staring at my work up on the wall while drinking copious amounts of coffee and contemplating my next step. But for the most part it is my little oasis where I create fiber art, sew and work on design projects for my freelance clients.  The studio is located at the back of my 100 year old house, about nine miles west of downtown Chicago. I have filled this 12' x 12' room to the brim. Is it usually messy? Yes! Is there yarn or fabric scraps all over the floor? You betcha! Am I embarrassed by it, no way! I tend to work on several projects at the same time and don't always clean up before switching focus.  I have rearranged the studio so many times, I've even pulled in creative friends, thanks Sharon and Asia, to help with the layout. I tend to switch things up when I'm about to start a big job. This is ......

My current reads are all about fiber art. I bought a couple magazines and picked up some books at the library recently. I've spent the last few days pouring over all the new techniques I want to learn and freshening up on the ones I'm currently using. When I was in Columbus a few weeks ago, visiting my youngest at The Ohio State University, I purchased a couple issues of Koel magazine at  Yarn It & Haberdashery , a cute little yarn shop. What I love about Koel magazine , first it's a beautifully designed magazine, and second it's filled with artist profiles and techniques. The magazine and website have patterns for macrame, weaving, punch needle and so much more. You can also buy hand spun yarn on their site. As you can see on my Instagram account , I started doing punch needle embroidery a couple of months ago and I am so hooked. It's an easy craft to learn, travel with and perfect while binging your favorite show on Netflix. I picked up Pun......

I picked up my first Enid Collins handbag outside New Orleans many years ago at a huge antique warehouse on Jefferson Highway. I don't think I knew what I had found at the time or that I would collect a few more over the years. My collection of Enid Collins purses Enid Collins was from Medina, Texas and began designing her bags in 1959. She primarily made bucket bags out of canvas or wood box purses. Her bags are signed with an "EC" or "c". She also named many of her bags, which usually appear on the outside of the purse. Enid Collins made hundreds of purses in the 60s but sold her business to Tandy Leather Corporation in 1970. Name detail of Enid Collins purses Her purses were adorned with paint, rhinestones, sequins and other jewels and embellishments. Because they are vintage, you may find a couple of missing jewels or possibly the ric rac trim has come loose, nothing that a little glue will fix. Detail of interior of Enid Collin......