Are you heading to the beach this summer?  Not, and wish you were? 

Trade your normal commute to work for Rush Hour Traffic, Beach Style.  Dig into your stash to make these fish that don’t seem to mind the crowd.  All the gentle curves add wavy motion, and the button embellishments add dimension and whimsey.

                                                                                           Here’s another stash project.  Over a dozen flip flops surround the beach blanket that holds everything a beachgoer might need. Linda Zokan of Thistledown used batiks in Beach Walk and they look great!

How about a giant Fancy Flip Flop Pillow?  The kids will love these!  Take it to the beach (the straps make it easy to throw it over your arm or shoulder leaving your hands free to carry all your other stuff) or use it inside on the rainy days.  There are endless design possibilities!

 If you are going to the beach, you’ll need a way to carry all your stuff. My Beach Bag is a simple drawstring bag that you can whip up in no time at all.  The extra layers at the bottom add a little personality, and the rest of the pizzazz will come from the fabrics you choose. Go bold!

Want to try a different kind of piecing?   The whole family can spend time piecing Seaside Summer Jigsaw Puzzle.   Stay at home and still enjoy the beach.

Whether you are beach bound, wishing you were, or remembering past trips, I hope you are enjoying your summer.

Do you like to dress up your rooms by adding pillows?  Do you change them with the seasons?  Do you change them with your mood?   If you are growing tired of the ones you already have, here are a few pillow patterns you might want to try.

Sometimes the simplest designs are the most pleasing.  More Splash Than Cash’s Peaceful Accent Pillows pattern offers two pillow sizes, 12″ x 15″ and 16″ x 16″, that are easy to sew and perfect for adding lots of accent color. 

If you know any little girls, they would probably love a couple of these Flutterby Butterfly Pillows.  These would made a great project for you to do with your granddaugther.  Have fun embellishing them…. let your imagination run wild…. or let your grandchild design the finishing touches!

Quick Finish Pillows from Seams and Dreams has instructions for four different pillows.  Each one is easy to sew.

Itza Quillow has instructions for a quilt that will fit inside an attached pocket, transforming a quilt into a pillow.  These are great for college students and you have just a few months to make one or two before school begins again.

Any pillow makes a good gift, but this one would make a special gift.   Bright patchwork, handstitched saying and button flowers combine to make the Friends Are Flowers pillow.  The pattern instructions for this 12″ x 16″ pillow are easy to follow. 

Check out the rest of the pillow patterns.  There are seasonal patterns, practical patterns, and pieced pillowcase patterns.  You’ll also find sporty pillow patterns, fanciful flirty pillow patterns, different shapes (like stars, hearts and flip-flops!) and floral patterns.  If you are really feeling ambitious there is even a pillow pattern that is covered in prairie points.  Now that would be something to have!