Muumuu Heaven is a shop located on the windward side of Oahu, Hawaii. The family-run business got so busy producing eco-conscious and original women’s apparel from recycled Hawaiian garments, they decided to collaborate with another designer for bags to stock.

Kauai is a neighbor island, same state of Hawaii, where Denise Tjarks structures new life also from old muumuu, aloha shirts and fabric remnants. Word is spreading so fast, it’s impossible to share an exclusive not sold. But you get the idea from these two illustrations. Above is Maia, the pretty green plant print. Below that is the reverse side, an orange small floral print. Both reversible option sides are made from vintage mu’umu’us circa 1970.

Now why would a wood bag be considered sustainably made? Well, in the case of Onlyone Products, and their accessory brand HIGGIE, patented wood veneer sheets are developed from bamboo extracts and forestry remnants that would otherwise be discarded. The parent Japanese company holds awards, one for best concept, and have been honored government grants in return. Would you believe water and UV resistant? Each wood has its own unique look and texture; therefore, no two pieces are exactly alike. As a result, every bag, briefcase and wallet is a work of art. Pictured here is a handsome natural wood unisex briefcase that can function well as a handbag.

Relan is in Minnesota where they make the Elsie handbag pictured. It’s a precious small lined purse with a tire rubber handle. The exterior is made from a piece of billboard about the size of a tennis court. The billboard’s graphic pattern and colors are preserved in interesting and attention-arresting ways, then stitched together to create an innovative, functional bag. Relan bags are designed for those who combine individual style with a sense of purpose. Companies are encouraged to reuse exhibition banners, billboards or vinyl signs. The PR program concept is for customers to place orders in advance when they see a banner they love.

The grand finale is Vulcana, who based in New Jersey, lowers landfills with style. Their accessories and bags are made from patented recycled car tires, an earth-friendly substitute for leather. Water-resistant and durable, the Hobo design has an adjustable strap, is fully-lined with inner and outer zipper pockets. This is a different look and feel from the bags made of rubber cycle tubes.

Wow, so many choices to bag it with innovative eco style!

Keep it stashed in your bag during Summer heat to spritz all over as a refreshing, light, easily applied moisture solution that will leave you smelling gorgeous. Pop the top, spray and voila! A great addition to any ‘must have’ list for Summer.

In her new book, Loux applies her whole-foods philosophy to our homes, gardens, and beauty routines, including lots of “5 Step” lists which make it easy to implement changes easily. Without being condescending or preachy, Loux conveys her philosophy about what it really means to live a “green” life, and how each little change we make contributes to a higher quality of life in every aspect. It’s inspiring as well as instructive.

The 416-page book is available at Amazon.com and you can read more from (and about) Renee Loux at her website, reneeloux.com.

The Canadian media mavens at GreenLivingOnline.com have allowed me to share my interview with Heather and Wendy, which was first published on GLO a few weeks ago. Keep reading for all the juicy details about the past, present and future of Passenger Pigeon - and eco-fashion as a whole!

The label was previously named Calledyourbluff and was changed to Passenger Pigeon when the brand began using sustainable textiles. Why did the collection change to eco-fabrics? Do you find working with sustainable fibers to be more limiting when coming up with designs?

Wendy: Do we feel limited? Yes and no. In the past we’ve dyed fabric because it only came in beige, and the very reason we use prints so much is because much of the available fabric is quite basic. Working within these limitations means that we have to get pretty creative sometimes, but I think that’s where the charm of our line comes from.

There’s actually a good range of eco-friendly textiles, especially for more casual fabrics like knits and twill. The one thing that we would like to see more of is affordable organic wool and other heavier fabrics for winter. However, it seems every week we get new, exciting swatches from different suppliers. There seems to be a lot happening in the textile industry to develop beautiful, new, sustainable fabrics.

Heather: A common theme found in my art work while I studied for my BFA was that of solid waste and responsibility with material use. After graduation, and during the first year of selling clothing and accessories I had made to local stores, this theme kept resurfacing within my mind. So, in order to curb my sense of guilt for manufacturing goods that would inevitably end up in the landfill, I opted to use materials that had a lighter bearing on the environment during their production and manufacturing. In addition, once these materials do decompose, they will leach a lot less back into the environment than their non-organic heavily dyed counterparts. I love making clothes and other items and being green alleviates my guilt for doing so!

In many ways, working with sustainable fibers is more limiting, for there is much less to work with, and fewer colors to choose from. However, in some ways this makes it easier for me and Wendy, since our decision process is that much shorter. I only wish there were more eco-liners (lightweight fabrics to line clothing) as well as more affordable organic wools (and I so miss working with herringbone and hound’s tooth woven wools!!)

Do you find people often asking you about the plight of the passenger pigeon, your brands’ namesake and a now extinct species?

Wendy: A lot of people ask about where the name came from. I’m surprised the story isn’t better known, so we end up telling it often. I love the part about passenger pigeons being so plentiful that when they flew by people held up umbrellas as protection from their droppings. I still think it’s just the perfect name for our company. It works as a great reminder that some of our resources are finite and we have to preserve them.

Heather: I have been surprised to find out that very few people are aware of the Passenger Pigeon. Wendy and I often find ourselves educating people about this extinct species. The plight of the Passenger Pigeon is found on our website as well as in Wikipedia and other websites dedicated to this fine bird. [Editor’s note: The Smithsonian has an excellent web page devoted to the bird.]

You design, screen-print and sew everything in Toronto. Do you find it more expensive to keep your production local or is the cost similar to what you would pay to have the goods made elsewhere and then shipped back to you?

Wendy: We know other designers who have made the move offshore for production, and we can’t believe how cheap it can be done! Despite all the shipping involved, producing garments offshore is undoubtedly cheaper than producing them in Toronto. It means that our garments work out to be more expensive than mass produced clothing that you find in the malls. However, our prices are competitive with other locally made clothing lines. Although it is sometimes tempting to cut production costs so dramatically, supporting local economies is a major priority for us. For us it goes hand in hand that we avoid exploitation, both of the environment and laborers.

Heather: We have never considered sending our clothing off shore. We believe in supporting local industry, and we try to keep shipping to a minimum. However, we have compared notes with other local designers who do produce off shore, and their costs are lower.

Between the two of you, your college careers involved studying sociology, photography, print making, drawing and painting - how did the two of you team up to make an eco-fashion line?

Wendy: Heather and I met through friends a few years ago, as she was transitioning into an exclusively eco-friendly clothing line. I was really inspired by the direction she was taking. She had always talked about wanting a hand with pattern making and garment design and I had graduated from a course in just that. I guess we were both drawn to each other and it worked out that our different skills were so complimentary.

Heather: Wendy and I had a common friend who introduced us at a fashion show. I immediately knew I wanted Wendy to become my business partner, for she possessed strengths, talents and skills that complimented my own. It has been true delight working with Wendy, and the clothing line is so much stronger now that she is onboard!

Is Passenger Pigeon involved in any local or green-based charities, helping to give back to the community?

Heather: We donate to Greenpeace as well as WSPA. In the past, I used to volunteer with FLAP– a group that collects dead and injured song birds that have hit buildings during their bi-annual migration (I hope to help again this spring). We also donate our off-cuts and bolt ends to local schools, where they reuse the fabric to make paper or for other textile projects.

The wind turbine screen print from the Fall/Winter 2007 was really popular with a range of consumers and the Spring/Summer 2008 collection features awesome bicycle and plastic bags prints. Will we be seeing hybrid cars and corn stalks in 2009?

Wendy: Hmm, I don’t know about hybrid cars! Heather and I aren’t really into cars so much. Heather is the one to come up with the print designs, depending on what’s on her mind at the time. Last summer she was on a garbage theme. I was skeptical at first - piles of garbage didn’t seem like a good idea - but the prints turned out to be so lovely!

Heather: As much as I try to veer away from bird imagery, I tend to come back to it season after season. I have dabbled with alternative energy symbols as well as bicycles; however, my heart is with objects, creatures and shapes created in the natural world. I may just consider corn stalks in the future!

Passenger Pigeon’s fashion and accessories are made with organic cotton, hemp, tencel and lyocell. Do you intentionally avoid using bamboo because of the heavily chemical processes used to produce it or do you just find it to be too popular?

Wendy: We do actually use bamboo in our line. There’s this beautiful bamboo knit that we like to use for wrap dresses for our fall/winter collections. We also use soy a lot too. The lighter knits are great for summer. It’s true that bamboo is not a miracle fabric in regards to sustainability. However, we feel that it is better than many fabrics such as rayon or conventional cotton. No fabric is 100% ideal, so we try to make responsible choices given what is currently available.

Heather: We do use bamboo, and have received a very small amount of scrutiny from a couple concerned citizens. We have explained to them that, although processing bamboo does use some chemicals, this chemical use is much smaller than say, with cotton or petroleum products. Bamboo is a sustainable fiber, for it grows rapidly. It is a much better solution to conventional cotton.

What do you say to the folks that still believe global warming is just a myth?

Wendy: Wow, do people still believe that?! I think we don’t run into people like that so often. I feel like there is always a way to connect with people, even cynics, when the topic of the environment comes up. It’s really so much more than global warming. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t agree that reducing waste and conserving resources is a good thing.

Heather: I can not believe some people still believe this to be a myth!!! Just ask the world’s top scientists and they will all say it has been a true trend for the past century!! (Since the industrial revolution).

Do you have any other nifty, secret projects in the works that you could hint at?

Wendy: Personally, I’m interested in doing more custom work for weddings — bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses in sustainable fabrics. I got married last fall, so I did a lot of thinking about how to design a good eco-friendly wedding. For Passenger Pigeon, though, you’ll just have to stay tuned!

Heather: We do in fact have something up our sleeves! We will be sending out a surprise treat with each and every garment this spring. It is up to our consumers whether or not they will want to use this tool attached to their purchase.

This is one reason I opened Pivot, a boutique devoted to organic and sustainable fashion in Chicago, last September. Prior to starting Pivot, I was working as a journalist with a fashion focus.

Through my research and reporting I discovered the developing and intriguing world of eco-fashion. I became fascinated with the fabrics and designers who were choosing to create collections that were not only beautiful, but also conscious of the environment. To me, this was simply smart. If you can have both fashion and regard for the earth, then why wouldn’t you?

So, while usually descriptors such as “green,” “eco-friendly,” or “earth-friendly” are used to refer to fabrics such as organic cotton, lyocell, peace silk or bamboo, I prefer to point out that they are just smarter alternatives.

I wanted to wear these fabrics, I wanted to support the designers and most importantly I wanted to share my excitement with others. I’ve always considered myself to be a “connector” of sorts. I love it when I can introduce someone to another person or resource that can help them.

After recognizing that Chicago was lacking an eco-boutique and a retail environment dedicated to promoting and growing the industry, I realized that opening a store would be the best way for me to share my enthusiasm and passion with the city. And that’s how I came to eat, breathe and sleep eco-fashion.

For the past seven months I have so enjoyed introducing customers to new materials, processes and the designers leading the way. Now I’m delighted to be part of Feelgood Style to continue advancing smarter fashion. I bring a very commercial and consumer-driven point of view to this blog, as every day I’m trying to find new lines that my customers will love, designs that will work for real lifestyles and bodies, and information on products that makes sense. I look forward to connecting you with smart, fashionable finds!

Launched a month and a half ago as part of the new EcoGeek blogging network, Wearing the Future is all about “straight talk as much as style, so you won’t have to worry about fluffy, PR-soaked, greenwashing nonsense.”

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with the blog’s chief editor and head writer, Kyeann Sayer (pronounced like “cayenne” pepper). As a long-time writer for Treehugger.com, Kyeann has an impressive media resume - she has been featured on CNN, MSN, I.D. Magazine, Domino, Spin, Outside, and Women’s Wear Daily … just to name a few.

In our lively conversation, Kyeann and I talk about the beginning of Wearing the Future, her favorite eco-fashion brands, personal style’s place in the world of green living and more - read on for all the juicy details!

Victoria Everman: How did you get connected with Hank Green of EcoGeek? Did the two of you come up with the idea for Wearing the Future together or was he on the look-out for an editor and writer already? 

Kyeann Sayer: Hank and I were both writers at TreeHugger and have both lived in Missoula, MT. We had been discussing the idea of working together for a while, and when he decided to expand the EcoGeek network it was a perfect opportunity for me to do an eco-fashion blog without having to worry about all of the tech and other stuff that isn’t my forte.

VE: How would you describe your relationship with fashion?

KS: Conflicted! I love shopping and always having new clothes but also recognize the very un-sexy truth: we are completely overconsuming the earth’s resources and even my small wardrobe is likely larger than most people’s around the globe. So, it’s an ongoing back and forth of justification, compromise, satisfaction and guilt. I need to learn to sew so I can start re-fashioning my own garments.

VE: What do you think some of the major roadblocks are for making all clothing sustainable?

KS: There are so many. One aspect is that the production chain is so decentralized that it’s very difficult for even the most well-meaning of designers to know that their fabrics meet their own social/eco standards. That same decentralization also adds a lot to our garments’ footprints since they’re likely to be grown on one continent, constructed on another, and sold on yet another. Without universally agreed upon standards, we have these vague notions of “sustainability” at the levels of sourcing, manufacturing and consuming. The marketplace is challenging for shoppers. How do they know they’re really getting “green” or “socially responsible” products when we don’t have a universal understanding of those terms?

VE: Do you have any favorite sustainable style brands? Which ones and why?

KS: I love Nau because on a day to day basis I rely on basics and theirs are so smart and versatile. Also, they’ve clearly made such an effort to integrate smart, earth-friendlier design practices into all aspects of their operations. Every year I buy a pair of Tierra Del Forte’s jeans and wear them out. The fit is always amazing and I have a lot of respect for Tierra’s organic and domestic manufacturing efforts. My favorite top is from London’s Junky Styling — I have a huge soft spot for re-use designers. Stewart+Brown is a company with a ton of integrity and I know I’ll be wearing my favorite sweater for years. There are so many more!

VE: What makes Wearing the Future different from other eco-fashion blogs?

KS: We offer a little something for everyone, from shoppers to design students to designers to the tech-obsessed. First, we strive to be a trusted source of information on what out there is actually “green” and “ethical.” Since there are so many problems with recommending “green” products, we’re less product focused and not afraid to point out false claims (greenwashing). Second, we address our readership as citizens first and consumers second. Since we’ve already succeeded in making green sexy, maybe it’s time to make politics of fashion sexy? We all want to make a difference, and often writing a quick email or signing a petition can do more than buying bamboo socks! Finally, we are really interested in people and technology. What are nanotech fabrics? Do we want radio frequency identification in our underwear? What can we do about forced child labor in the cotton fields of Uzbekistan?

VE: Do you see personal style as an integral part of the green living movement or simply frivolous?

KS: I see it as both! I love clothes and adore creativity and innovation in design. But on my death bed I’ll care more about having done my part to help create a safe, secure and healthy world than how I looked doing it. I feel great supporting truly ethical designers and retailers and think green design is a fabulous gateway to creating substantive change. The impact of the textile/apparel industries is significant and so trying to make a difference in those arenas is definitely not frivolous.

VE: What do you say to the folks that still believe global warming is just a myth?

KS: Well, I don’t have a scientific brain, but I believe the scientific consensus. If people aren’t convinced that they need to advocate for the energy policy changes we need, I would recommend they focus on our eroding civil liberties and government censorship of scientific information. Without an informed populace who can exercise free speech and the right of assembly, we’re all in bad shape no matter what. But an ongoing struggle for a safe future against an energy lobby that is supported wholeheartedly by the executive branch and most of congress will be impossible without those rights.

VE: Do you have any other nifty, secret projects in the works that you could hint at?

KS: I wish I did! We’ll keep you posted…

This is a Brand New Blog on Feelgood Style, and I’m one of your Editors, so let me introduce myself. I’m an outsider here on the Feelgood Style blog: male, non-American, style activist rather than fashionist. There’s fashionistas going green and there’s greenies going stylish. I’m from the last category, and there’s less difference than one would think.

Born in The Netherlands, I moved to Berlin, Germany three years ago. I was attracted by the vibrant creative atmosphere, the melting pot of styles and cultures, and the meanwhile legendary party scene. Berlin is a city of design and individual styles. There’s no uniform dress code, generally you can wear anything and feel independent. I don’t have to shave before I buy my croissant. A good beard is even better. In the area I live there’s yuppies, Arabs, gays, punks, hippies, freaks, students and creatives all living side by side. I see more fake than real brands on the streets. I see beggars and hummers. I see Swedish fashionist(a)s Nu-Rave the city. I see young kids spraying their pieces. Just outside my door there’s a park full of parties when the sun allows it. It’s hybrid, rough, edgy, and real. That’s my style.

Living a Conscious Lifestyle

Lifestyle is strictly personal, and in the end it’s you who creates the world you live in. Since I decided to consume my food, cosmetics and clothing more conscious, I feel a lot more energetic. I consume things that have value, quality, things I can relate with. The biggest change was in the wardrobe. Clothes create who you are and how you feel. With soft, organic cotton on my body, I just feel more relaxed and meanwhile stylish. It’s an invisible expression of style, but with a great difference and strong expression of my personal lifestyle and values.

I’ve been on organic cotton farms in Uganda and Turkey, and I’ve seen several fair trade and social aid projects. I’ve been collecting information on hundreds of sweatshop free, fair trade and sustainable fashion labels and designers. Green fashion is hot, natural cosmetics are a must, social entrepreneurship is the future standard, meanwhile in fashion it still is a small market. You really need to find your way to get the best, most stylish stuff to wear. I hope we will be a great stylist for you and help you to make your style choices feel good.

We’re about caring for the earth while caring for yourself. We’ll share the best in beauty, fashion, and style that is on the path to making a more sustainable and elegant world.

Every season, new trends, patterns, colors, and styles, arrive, but nowadays even “new” has a new meaning. Because new inventions like solar textiles, smart wearables, and design printing, promise to make our future both stylish *and* smart, while new materials like organic fibers and new practices for their creation strive for ever greater harmony with our environment and society.

Beyond these exciting developments in what we create, there are even more important developments in the way we think. Nature teaches us she has luxurious abundance and balance, and ever more people are striving to achieve this in their lives. Whether it is mind-body-spirit health treatments sourced from nature, sanctuary retreats, or ancient spa rituals, the future of luxury now means finding solace and inner peace as well as glitz and glamor. On this site, we’ll take you into the freshest new styles of our creatively designed world and share tips on healthy new choices and experiences with a deep appreciation for designers that are devoted to earth-honoring lifestyles.

New online knitting mag MetaPostModernKnitting arrived on the internet last week with the fashion forward in mind. Complete with great patterns, blog and articles, MPMK is a welcome edition to the online world.

In their first issue, The Knitting Bully contemplates recycling as a fashion trend. The article questions the use of new clothing repurposed right out of the box, and marketed as “recycled,” and rightly so (take a look at that sweater/skirt.) Other outlays in the article are also easy to get behind; ensuring proper use of reclaimed materials and creating an end product that will be worn. But the larger question that isn’t as easy to get behind, is the premise that recycling is detrimental to style.

The Knitting Bully asks “…have we thought about what [recycling] is doing to our style?”

The answer is a million times, yes!

Crafters and DIYers have always repurposed clothing and used unlikely cast off materials in order to create one’s own look and style. It is one of the basic tenets of crafting and DIY. Fed up with mass produced, cookie cutter looks, hyped by big box stores, crafters have cut up, painted, sewed, knitted and printed our way into our own unique fabulous styles. And it has always been at the root of doing so.

Recycling and repurposing has pushed style in a good way. People are always amazed by that unique bag made of fused plastic or cute skirt from old t-shirts. These items are special and distinct and are not found at the mall. If this “trend” helps get the message out about the environment and the three R’s, then good.

Fashion does come and go and regardless of whether or not green will go out of style. I have no doubt that us crafters and DIYers will continue to recycle and repurpose our own look year after year. As the Knitting Bully points out, “Be true to yourself, your beliefs, and your style.”

Your might remember Rodale’s Organic Style Magazine, which ran from 2001 to 2005, acting as a vital source of information for consumers during the early stages of the second coming of the environmental movement. Bought by sustainable flower innovator Organic Bouquet in May of this year, I interviewed Organic Bouquet’s CEO Gerald Prolman not long after the deal was made public. Launched just a few days ago, Organic Style is primed to become a top eco-shopping destination.

“All the products sold on the site will be either certified organic, transition to organic, bio-dynamic, sustainable, Fair Trade or a new category we call ‘not certified but worthy.’ To help get the word out, we plan re-launch the Organic Style magazine in the second quarter of 2008. We plan to initially publish the Organic Style magazine quarterly and offer it as a free OrganicStyle.com customer benefit. We want to give our customers information that will be valuable in their lives, that will help them make informed decisions about a balanced and responsible way to live and celebrate life,” said Gerald Prolman in our August interview.

As expected, Organic Style offers a breathtaking variety of flowers, wreathes, and plants - my personal favorites are the charitable bouquets, which give a percentage of each purchase price to each bouquet’s non-profit organization. The holiday section offers seasonal gift baskets, wreathes, and gifts for your favorite canine (hopefully they’ll had some feline offerings too). As a bit of a sweets fiend, I was instantly drawn to the organic holiday sugar cookies and organic gingerbread cookies gift baskets. If gift baskets are your favorite way to give gifts, make sure to check out the gourmet section of Organic Style, which has nearly 30 different eco-combinations.

Even after the holidays have passed, Organic Style is a bookmark-able shopping destination for green wardrobe, gardening, and bed & bath goods (I’ve already got my eyes on their beautifully colored organic blankets). With my eco-fashion business focus, I couldn’t help but be impressed by their apparel category that offers non-nonsense, well-designed garments and accessories.

Though most of us don’t need an extra incentive to shop, Organic Style has a built-in eco-points program. Every time you make a purchase on the Organic Style site, your earn eco-points (1 point for each dollar spent). For every 10 points your earn, you can use them for $1 off a future purchase. Upon reaching a few hundreds points, you can also redeem your eco-points for free flower bouquets to help brighten your (or someone else’s) day.

Do you have a favorite online green store? Share your choice shopping destinations in the comments section and they will be considered for the next installment of Green Shopping Spotlight.

At Little Marmara, we believe in simple things. That we should treat the environment as we would treat ourselves. That nothing should go next to our children’s beautiful skin that we would not place next to our own. That clothing for little people can and should be as artful and well made as clothing for big people. And that at no point from the cotton fields to our customers should the earth or any of its inhabitants suffer in the slightest for our cause.

Founded in 2005, Little Marmara just recently launched its website and online store in July of this year. Unable to find anything she liked (and her two kids felt comfortable wearing), Ackerman started Little Marmara to solver her own clothing conundrums as well as those of other parents and their kids. Made from 100% organic Turkish cotton under fair labor practices, all of Little Marmara's creations are printed with low impact dyes, featuring gender-neutral Turkish designs from the Ottoman Empire era. The designs, and the brand itself, is a nod to Ackerman's children's Turkish heritage, with the line taking its name from the Marmara Sea and the ancient Middle Eastern trade routes that used to follow its shores.

Years back (at least seven or eight by my count), Levi's used to offer a custom jeans program wherein you would visit one of their stores, get measured by a trained associate, try on some sample pairs, and order jeans that are fit just right for you. Unfortunately, I only got one pair made before they closed the program, which to this day is still quite a disappointment for me.

Imagine my delight when I stated hearing about Ontario-based UJeans, which offers a tellingly custom, 11-point fit that you measure yourself. On top of that, all their goods are made from sustainable cotton (not organic, but close) from a unique farming program in Pakistan. The cotton is dyed with natural minerals and enzymes, lowering the company's (and your wardrobe's) impact on the environment. All manufacturing steps are done under Fair Trade conditions, and a portion of all the company's profits are distributed through Kiva, offering micro-loans to small businesses in developing countries. Want more eco-involvement? Each pair of jeans is mailed in a denim envelop, made from remnant fabric from the manufacturing process. "The denim bag has been used for a make-up bag, pencil case and even a sleeping bag for stuffed animals," said Daniel Feuer, President of UJeans. An outline of the businesses' complete sustainable actions can be seen on their website.

Each quarterly issue features 10-15 new patterns tailor to each season, as well as columns, articles, interviews, product recommendations and more. One of the consistent columns, titled "Frankenknits," is written by Kristi Porter, in which she chops up clothing, and transforms them into updated items of wonder (perfect for us reuse-loving crafters). Knitty's Fall 2007 issue recently went live, and the Frankenknits column features two handy dress incarnations: one for women and another for baby.

We like to think of this website as a virtual sewing circle, an open-source hub of ideas, expertise, and amazing patterns you can download and sew at home. We want you to learn something new every time you visit BurdaStyle. We want this website to inspire you. And most importantly, we want you to get involved: We're offering our ideas, expertise and download-able patterns to the BurdaStyle community, and we hope that you'll contribute, too.

Though the website has online been online since late January 2007, it has gained popularity in the crafty community quickly.

With users uploading images of their creations, and sharing tips and tricks via the wiki-style Sewpedia and How-To sections, inspiration is only a mouse click away. Though the images in this entry feature skinny, youthful models, nearly all patterns feature a wide range of sizes. As of late, the website's official blog has featured a number of user's pattern customizations for pregnancy.

Currently, there are 35 patterns available, with new ones being uploaded at least once a week. Everything from pants and dresses to accessories and lingerie are online in PDF format, easily printable from any home printer. As with any good pattern, difficulty ratings and details on amount of fabric needed are provided for each project, as well as direct feedback from other users who have completed them.

Starting with an army surplus blanket (which are often quite easy to find), the Surplus Blanket Coat simply adds two well-placed sleeves, making this "coat" perfect for relaxing afternoons at home, long car rides, or pleasant mornings on the porch with a cup of tea.

Out of all 7 projects, my personal favorite it the design from U-handblog, a TypePad-featured blog all about (you guessed it) making handbags. This bag (featured in the accompanying image) has a curved seam and reinforced straps, so no matter how much to put into this sucker, it will still feel comfortable on your shoulders. Don't let the curved seam scare you off: Lisa does a fantastic job of providing step-by-step instruction and pictures on how to get the job done easily. She also provides directions on how to make a cute little storage pocket, so you can carry your new bag with you all the time (you know, in case that urge to buy some tasty organic peaches comes along). Curious just how much this little bag can carry? A whole heck of a lot: Lisa graciously posted a few images on her blog of the haul she fit into this homemade gem.