Handmade Chic

Packed with Laura Bennett's signature flair, vibrant color photos, step-by-step drawings, and suggestions on materials, here is an accessible guide to at-home crafting that is elegant enough for the most modern, fashion-savvy of women.

Laura Bennett 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, including:

• Small leather goods
• Agendas and notepads
• Electronics
• Bags and wallets
• Evening items
• And more!

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.

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.