I am grateful for my mother..

My mom has been quilting for over 20 years. She taught me to knit and to sew. I love reminding her that she is an artist. Her quilts are all children, cherished and protected.

Ceramic Therapy

My "break up pitcher" with a poem by A. Rich hand painted on it. I highly recommend this form of emotional release, so that years later (this piece was made in 2002) you are reminded of how far you've come.

My Small "Acorn" style Zakka Pouch

I make the most pouches in this small style. They are great for carrying a cellphone, car keys, and sunglasses. I will carry a small pouch like this on a plane with a equally small knitting project inside.

Camping and Knitting

My "project bag" (right, next to my red Holga) holds my current knitting. This pouch has a 100% cotton bottom and the top fabric is a Japanese import with dancing woodland animals. The web ribbon around the middle is also a Japanese import and has adorable animals printed on it.

Combining Knitting, Sewing, and Embroidery

I love Artist Andrea Zuill's drawings. I copy her embroidery patterns, place them on a photography light board, trace the image on fabric, then embroider with floss.

One of the many great things about my job is that I can do all my knitting and embroidery at work.


These two pouches are for Sue's girls...although they are having trouble getting in a box and making it to the post office.


This is my first backpack (my friend Laura's great idea).

My Take on the Zakka Pouch

So Taylor and I go to Chicago for Spring Break this year. We can call this adventure "The Trip that Wendy Discovers IKEA (TM)." There, I find these cool woven baskets that look like they are crocheted. As happens whenever I discover any savvy creation, I always think to myself "I can make this," opening an entirely new adventure of searching and purchasing materials to hand make "that we do not speak of."

From there I stumble on to the entire Zakka movement online. I love the simplicity of Japanese design and their take on American crafting.

Which takes me to The Fancy Tiger in Denver. There, I purchase this great bird fabric by Joel Dewberry. While there, I asked the owner about the very dense crochet stitch of the IKEA (TM) baskets and she introduced me to the linen knitting stitch. I admit it, her written instruction went right over my head and I took the instruction sheet home and studied it for a very long time; attempting it on needles...calling my mom for help...eventually the knitting gods granted me complete understanding of the linen stitch. I then begin knitting pouch bottoms at the rate of 3 or 4 a week.

Next...I become obsessed with Japanese repo fabric....


This first pouch, I gave my mother.


Mixing my travel memories and fabric. The fabric on the left was purchased during one of my many trips to Denver to see my sister and the lining for the bag on the right was purchased from a small shop while visiting the French Quarter, New Orleans with Taylor and my parents.

In the beginning....

My hand-knitted chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs. 2008

My mother taught me to knit and for the last thirty plus years, I've picked up my needles and yarn, only to abandon the project a few weeks later. I've done this over and over. Until very early this year. I came up with my own egg pattern and have been knitting everyday since.