Amy Butler retro-style fabrics

This morning while I was exploring the internet for new ideas, I came across a fabric designer that I really like on Fabric.com. Amy Butler has a wide assortment of mod and retro style cotton fabrics and some great patterns for purses, skirts and more that look great with her fabrics. I am thinking about getting some to make my own customized Converse chuck taylor shoes. Wouldn't they be just the greatest?

Craftzine handmade shoes

If you love shoes and crafts, the latest issue of craftzine is for you! They have some great instructions for making several kinds of shoes, including hand-knitted Converse chuck taylors. Some of the shoes require special tools, but others look fairly easy. I am thinking about trying to make a knitted pair like the ones in the picture. I am considering using a different kind of yarn though. They recommend using a cheap acrylic yarn, but that yarn often does not look very good after a couple of wears. I am not sure if cotton yarn is a good alternative because it stretches out too easily. Wool has natural elasticity, but is too warm for this time of year. I'm not sure what kind of fiber I'm going to use.

Hand Knitted Converse Chuck Taylors

I can't believe how popular Chuck Taylors have become. I can remember wearing them as a child in the sixties, with my Levis Jeans. Back then, we didn't have so many choices. Converse and Keds were about the only choices, and they didn't have nearly as many color choices back then. As I remember, you could be a bit daring if you were a girl wearing chucks, because back then they were mostly considered a boy's shoe. I bought a copy of the latest Craftzine magazine the other day, partly because they had some great ideas for how to make your own, customized Chuck Taylors. One was a hand-knitted version that I am thinking about trying this weekend. I found a picture of some shoes on a Japanese street fashion site that look like they could have been had-knitted. Maybe I'll try to make something like these!

Really cute crocheted hat

I found this picture on the internet of a really cute hat at http://hellejorgensen.typepad.com/. Aren't there some amazingly talented people on the internet? I wonder if she would mind if I tried to make a similar one for myself?

1940s Pinup girl style

Thanks to Gwen Stephani and Dita Von Teese, there are some great 1940s, pinup girl styles out there. I found this picture today at the Hel-looks website. I wish I could get motivated to dress this fancy every day!

More of my (Liz Blair) fashion illustrations

For a more recent example of my fashion illustrations, go to: http://lizblair.blogspot.com/2009/10/Alabama-Chanin-design-and-my-drawing-of-it.html

Fashion illustration, my (Liz Blair) latest drawings

For a more recent example of my fashion illustrations, click on the following link: http://lizblair.blogspot.com/2009/10/alabama-chanin-design-and-my-drawing-of.html