Title: Handmade Chic: Fashionable Projects That Look High-End, Not Homespun (ARC copy*)
Author: Laura Bennett
Release Date: November 8, 2011
About the Book:
In Handmade Chic, Laura shares simple strategies for creating 40 small luxuries and high-fashion accessories, from a smart leather iPad portfolio to a feather-embellished evening bag. With sections organized in skill-building order and based on type of accessory-small leather goods, agendas and notepads, electronics, bags and wallets, and evening items-Laura offers patterns, easy-to-follow diagrams, and detailed instructions for fabricating each glamorous project, whether it involves sewing from scratch or embellishing a prepurchased garment. While showcasing her own creative designs, she provides readers with the basic techniques and encouragement they need to come up with variations and create their own signature pieces.
Packed with Laura's signature flair and finesse, vibrant four-color photos, step-by-step drawings, and a complete list of suggestions on where to purchase materials, Handmade Chic is an accessible guide to at-home crafting that is elegant enough for the most modern, fashion-savvy of women.
Laura Bennett was a finalist on the TV series Project Runway. She has designed a line of clothing for QVC and appears regularly on CBS's The Early Show presenting craft segments. She lives in New York City.
Book Review:
Project Runway is one of my favorite shows with Season Three in particular because I was enamored by the smart, sassy, and witty redheaded New Yorker and Mom of six boys (one in the oven at the time of the show) who ended up placing second runner-up. She is Laura Bennett and she is simply remarkable. Here is a woman who is oozing with elegance and finesse, whose designs are classy and impeccable, and then quite unexpectedly, she tackles a feat of raising that many kids in the busiest city in the world.
So when an opportunity came to review an ARC copy* of her book, 'Handmade Chic: Fashionable Items that look High-End, Not Homespun', it was insane to pass up! The read was delightful because the book was really well-written, thoughtful, and engaging. The projects she teaches you is a far cry from the average country-style quilt-making or basic pattern dress-making books you typically see displayed in a crafts store. They are absolutely 100% chic, the type of assortment many would think you paid hundreds of dollars for when in truth it only cost you thirty bucks to make!
Now if you think that sounds enticing, here comes the best part - this Do It Yourself publication is EASY! Absolutely simple to follow with no complicated technical skills required apart from basic stitching and sewing. And if you were previously hesitant to use the sewing machine, the pretty items you could create will encourage you to learn!
This book comes out in November, which gives you plenty of time to create urbane holiday gifts for family and friends. I am just glad I was able to get a head start!
*Disclosure: This book review is based on an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) courtesy of the publisher. Please note that ARC copies may not reflect the final edition and changes could be made prior to publication.
Here's a sample video of Laura Bennett creating a chic notebook case. This project is found in her book!:
Here are Chic DYI Projects You Can Learn to Create:
