One very happy sunny day I journeyed into the local craft store. Now I wasn’t sure exactly what I was there for. Maybe some scrapbook paper, maybe some paint, maybe just a little wandering around my favorite place.

Suddenly, from nowhere I heard a little voice calling me – “Cricut, Cricut” the little voice said. What could this be??? What is this amazing contraption that will make all of my paper crafting come together? I stood there in the aisle awed by bright green boxes and fun little cartridges that beckoned to me to buy them. I felt weak in the knees but oh, so very excited about what I was imagining this amazing Cricut could do. I stood for a minute deciding … Personal or Expression – which would be the way to go?? I boldly decided on the Expression and proudly walked to the counter with my new treasure in hand. OH THE FUN WE WERE GOING TO HAVE!!!!!

I waited patiently for evening to come when I could be alone with my new toy and create all the things that I had envisioned. I opened the box, quickly read the instructions and I was set to go!!! I plugged the “Plantin School Book” cartridge in and … and … and … and just sat there. Really??? This was it??? This one silly cartridge was limiting me from all that I wanted to do??? WHAT??? OH the disappointment!!!!

Next day …. Feeling rejuvenated, still sunny outside … went back to my favorite craft store. Armed with my creativity and my Credit Card - I was going to buy some Super Duper cartridges so I could conquer my … ok really my kids scrapbooks … but a feat none the less that I was bound to take on. So I went back to the happy little section of bright green boxes and dozens of cartridges ready for that euphoric feeling I had just experienced the day before but what??? Really??? You want me to spend how much on a cartridge – that only does a few things?? Are you kidding me???? OH, the Sadness again.

There was no way in this world that I could explain to my husband the Cricut let alone the cost of the cartridges and justify to him why I needed them. So sad. There my happy little Cricut sat collecting dust.

Anybody else have this same experience? Never fear – there is a happy ending ….

Just then … a knock at my door. Who could it be??? OH, my it’s Sure Cuts A Lot and he has come to save me from my Cricut despair. He promises to not make me use any of those silly cartridges (other than the one that it came with) and lets me cut whatever I want. Whatever I want?? Really?? Yes it is true!! I can cut whatever Truetype font or Vector Image that I want. I really can be as creative as I imagined. OH, Thank you Sure Cuts A Lot for saving me from the sadness of Cartridge land.

OK, so it is true, you really can use your Cricut to cut any Trutype font that is on your computer as well as any Vector image that is out there. Your Cricut really is an amazing little instrument. So how to get started?

First you have to get Sure Cuts A Lot …. here and then be ready to GET YOUR CRAFT ON!!!!

Looking back Chantilly's Place probably should've been the name that I use for my awesome business but having spent my whole life spelling my name out for people I decided that The Pattern Bag would be much easier for everyone to remember.

So why the Pattern Bag??? Let's call it a little INSPIRATION by Grandma. I had been mulling over names in my head for... FOREVER!!! and one night lying in bed (by the way you'll learn that I have all of my best ideas at 3:00 in the morning) I was thinking that it just needed to be something simple that I could remember. I like names like "The Shop Around the Corner"... easy and simple. I kept thinking about my HIP and SWANKY little Grandma and things that she used to do.

Most people when they think of their Grandma remember a little hunched-over lady who wore her pants to high and whose clothes usually didn't match. And they always remember that Grandma's house had that "funny" old lady smell. My Grandma Nellie was not that typical little old lady. First of all she didn't sit at home waiting for life to pass her by. She definitely was a go out and have fun type of gal.

Her first passion was dancing. Every Tuesday night she would have my Grandpa drive her down to the Terrace Dance Hall and drop her off so that she could go dancing. I'm not really sure where they came up with that arrangement, or why my Grandpa didn't go with her but they both seemed to be fine with it. She would go and dance the night away doing everything from the Waltz to the Jitterbug. Now mind you this is when she was in her 60's. Can you imagine?? Just think... what will you be doing when you are 60?? She would always laugh and be excited about all of the young men who would come and ask her to dance … because she was just amazing! What can I say my Grandma had S.W.A.G.G.E.R.!

Her next passion was shopping. Every Monday she would catch the bus and go downtown. Remember when going downtown was a special thing? She would always dress up and look extraordinary to go to Auerbach's or Z.C.M.I. I remember going shopping with her and the sales ladies seemed to know who she was and she would chat with them about the latest styles or happenings around town. She had a magnetic personality and people were always drawn to her.

OK, so here we go with the Pattern Bag. A few years ago my Aunt Colleen (my Grandma's only living sibling) came down to Salt Lake for a visit. While chatting she asked us if we had ever seen my Grandma's pattern bag. Nope - hadn't even heard of it. So my mom (not real excited) went digging in the top back shelf of her closet and pulled out an old material sack. We opened it up and spent the rest of the afternoon laughing and looking through it's belongings. Hundreds of letters to my Grandma from gentlemen that had been so smitten with her just upon meeting her.

So I thought about her little secret that she had kept for all of those years and even though it was tucked away in the back of her closet it still meant something to her. I thought about this and came to terms with the fact that we all have our little secrets that are stuffed away in the back of our closet... but aren't those really the things that have come to shape our lives? Whether those things are good or bad they end up being a little piece of the Pattern that turns us into who we are… Hence - The Pattern Bag.