Wear your “Shabby Chic Shrug” to dress up a simple camisole or throw over a fun little dress. This shrug is fast to make using a Baby Lock serger for the seam finishes. Wow, no lining to slow you down! Now finish the shrug off with a variety of clever buttons!

Download Project

Update your wardrobe with a “hip” new belt. One buckle can do it all, with a variety of great fabrics.

Download Project

I write a lot about getting creative with fabric, but what about some of our favorite embellishments, enclosures and notions? As you can see above, sometimes you don’t need fabric to sew something beautiful.

Artist Lisa Kokin creates astonishing works of art using buttons and other small objects. The buttons are woven together with patterns that are just as beautiful close up:

Kokin also creates amazing sculptures, installations, sewn photos (trust me, it’s awesome) and sculptures and collages made from books. If you’re lucky enough to live in the San Francisco area, you can even attend one of her classes.

Really, I don’t know what else to say - it’s just so incredible! Check out the rest of her portfolio at her site. It’s making me see everything on my desk in a whole new light. I wonder what other cool effects could be created by sewing unconventional objects together. Any ideas?

Who on earth would want to make a Squid Hat? Well, I know a few folks:

That’s the famous St. Louis softball team, The Squids. They love showing their Squid Spirit, so when I saw this DIY Squid Hat on Instructables.com today, I couldn’t help but pass it along. Who knew squids could be so cuddly?

The Squids are lucky to have their own Stitchin’ Woman on the roster - our favorite quilter, Courtney Kennedy! (I hope she isn’t surrounded with kelly green fleece next week because of me.)

Like most fun DIY projects, I’m sure you guys can change the shapes to make a hat featuring your own favorite animal. (Although I’m sure there’s a website for this somewhere.)

(LOL, I found it.)

At a recent Halloween party, my friend Niki showed up in this amazing Snow White dress. The best part? She made it!!

Niki hasn’t sewn since 6th grade, but she really wanted to be Snow White this year and couldn’t find a costume at the local shops. So, she asked her Grandmother to help her create this amazing dress:

Look how pretty! Niki and her Grandma used a pattern, and she said that it took about 30 hours to sew the dress, over the course of 2 ½ weeks. That’s pretty amazing, considering some people spend a longer time making a costume out of cardboard that doesn’t look nearly as great.

By making this costume, Niki learned three of my favorite things about the magic of sewing:

1. If you can’t find it, you can always sew it.

2. It’s a great way to spend time with a family member or friend (and sewers LOVE to share the fun!).

3. NOTHING is more fun than being able to say, “I made it!”

I think next year she is going to add some little bluebirds to the cape, which I find hilarious and awesome.

Anyway, Niki was Queen of the Halloween Party - definitely the fairest of them all. We were all impressed and very proud of her (though I’m guessing her Grandma was the proudest.)

Meeting Jay McCarroll at Quilt Market 10/08

His line is irreverent and reminds me of how Saturday morning cartoons would look on acid. (I have not tried this and have no intention of doing this, mom.)  His line is with Free Spirit so take a peek. I was glad to have met him. I was coincidentally wearing a dress I purchased at Chloe Dao’s (Project Runway Season 2 winner) Lot 8 boutique during last year’s Quilt Market. And just as a bonus, here I am with Chloe at a Passion for Fashion event in 2007.  It all comes together….

Chloe Dao and me at Passion for Fashion 2007

With Dia de Los Muertos fastly approching make sure to get your sugar skulls now. How about these bad dogs? Soft plushy skulls for year round enjoyment. No melting or ants to worry about, just soft skull enjoyment.