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Rating: 
Summary: Very Cool Stuff
Review: I just finished looking through this book, and I really loved it. Some of the things, like the shirts, were a little odd looking, but inspiring in a way. I liked the bags alot, also the scarves were very pretty. I can't wait to go make some stuff.
Rating: 
Summary: sweet book, but not as useful as I had hoped...
Review: Jennifer takes her folk-art-meets-kindergarden-class explosion to your closet in this follow-up to Retro Revamp, her home decorating/ crafts book. The strongest thing about this book is the "no-rules" approach as to choosing materials when approaching a project. PomPom balls from tacky old curtains, ribbons of all kinds, fabric scraps from the church basement rummage sale- any scrap, trim, doodad or doohickey is considered fair game whether sewing, re-vamping, or simply jazzing up some of your clothes. You will NEVER read anything about do's and don'ts, i.e., not mixing polka dots and plaid or mixing neon yellow with green zebra stripes. If anything this is ENCOURAGED by the author, and the result is a very freeing and creative alternative to your schoolmarm sewing books. A woman is encouraged to go as loud or as subdued as she pleases. Also a plus is the simple techniques illustrated and basic materials used. You can find anything you need at a crafts store, or probably even the crafts section of your local discount superstore chain. Don't know how to sew- no problem- the projects will work for crafters of all skill levels. My only complaint was that a number of the clothes were too costumey for everyday wear- for example, an over-the-top "gypsy skirt" and a puffy, cropped blouson top. And some of the clothes were also a little too revealing for my tastes- lots of cropped shirts and itty-bitty tank tops here. But, some of the projects are real gems- I like the purse and accessory projects best. Overall, this is a great book to get if you're looking for inspiration to get funky with your clothes. If you're into unusual, loud get-ups, all the better: you can wear this stuff every day. But for those of us with more reserved tastes, this book makes for some nice projects to wear on a fun evening out.
Rating: 
Summary: Cheap Frills Worth The Purchase
Review: This book is a look at the lighter side of updating, embellishing and creating new wardrobe pieces. There's a good mix of projects (everything from jazzing up an old pair of pumps to crafting a simple dress from scratch)and the instructions are simple and straight forward.
While the majority of ideas in this book aren't suited for "grown-ups" the creative inspiration and basic techniques make this book an entertainging and worthy resource.
I borrowed this book from the library twice and made several dresses before finally shelling out the bucks to buy and it's earned a promenant place on my craft table.
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