Sweets for your sweets look even more delicious in these beautiful baskets. Yes, I realize our photos do not feature homemade goodies, but I don't want to hear any grief about that... no one says sewing and culinary creativity must go hand-in-hand. Extra wide and just the right depth for cookies and candy (and more!); they are not too thick, not too thin... deep dish, like a good Chicago pizza. Our design ties with a big, pretty bow so there's no need for separate gift wrap.

My personal choice to "Re-imagine & Renovate" was this book bag. Not only was it super fun to make the first time around, I love the slouchy style. Sew4Home calls Portland, Oregon home, where we have a huge number of cool boutiques filled with locally designed and made fashions and accessories. I know this bag would fit right in with the urban cool kids. And for those of you familiar with the hit TV show, Portlandia, you'll enjoy the fact that our Echino cotton/linen fabric choice allowed us to, "Put a bird on it!" We hope you've been enjoying our R&R series, which shows you how we re-made eight original projects. We also hope it inspires you to experiment on your own with new fabric, trims and notions to make something old new again.

Today's "Re-imagine & Renovate" project was originally requested by our S4H fans. You wanted a cool set of fabric baskets and we responded with what has become one of our most popular Storage Solutions projects ever! Our first set was done in the classically striking Black & White collection from Michael Miller Fabrics - perfect for a sewing room, kitchen or office. Now, cue the Tasmanian Devil special effect... whoosh and voila′: when done in two Free Spirit Fabric collections with a bohemian flair, our nesting baskets are a kaleidoscope of rich color and design. Try them out in a bedroom, a bath or fill them with luscious treats for Valentine's Day. One project a thousand ways, that's what R&R is all about.

Welcome to 2012! After the whirlwind of the holidays, we thought it was time for a little R&R. Not the traditional "Rest & Relaxation" but even better: "Re-imagine & Renovate." We reached back into the S4H archives and found eight popular projects, then we re-did each of them with brand new fabrics, trims and notions. It's our way to show you how easy it is to put a new spin on a fave design. We kick off the series with our original Mother's Day Market Tote from 2011, which we turned into a sleek and stylish bag that makes a dramatic fashion statement.

Our elegant gift bags come in three useful sizes and are a great way to use up larger fabric scraps. The fabric we selected for our bag trio is from Joel Dewberry's Heirloom collection for Free Spirit Fabrics, which we originally featured in our recent Thanksgiving Series. The exterior and lining of each bag are both made up of two fabrics, which gives them a beautiful finish inside and out. We added glittery rick rack for a dash of holiday sparkle. You could substitute other trims, such as piping, pom poms or or even wide ribbon to give your bags a different seasonal appeal or to coordinate with the colors of a special event, such as a wedding or graduation. Make one or make them all; they're a trio of terrific totes to carry your treats and treasures!

During the recent Lush & Plush Trends series we did with our friends at Fabric.com, we got hooked on working with faux leather. We had a little bit of one of the sample cuts leftover and put it to use to make this adorable little clutch purse. With its chunky metal zipper, chic tassel and vibrant cotton print lining, once you clutch this clutch, it will be hard to let go. But, if you can pry it from your own fingers, it would make a dandy holiday gift.

Got BIG dreams of BIG projects? Then this is the task basket you've been waiting for. It has a 51" circumferance and is 10" deep. If I'd been paying better attention in physic class, I'd probably also be able to tell you the formula to turn those measurements into total volume or area or something, but let's just say, "That's a pretty big basket!" or maybe, "That's a big, pretty basket!" This is the sixth of eight projects in our new Half Moon Modern Sewing Room Series for Moda Fabrics. When I start a project, I like to gather up all the fabric and notions I need in one place to be certain I have enough of everything, and to keep track of it all as I move through the steps. Usually, I've just put all my stuff in a cardboard box, but that is soooooo yesterday. Our Jumbo Task Basket holds everything and does it with sturdy style. A super-heavy fusible stabilizer on the sidewalls is the secret to keeping the circular shape looking great. With two handles, you can move it around wherever you want. And, how can you look at giant zig zag stripes and not break into a grin?!

Yesterday we created a fun Half Moon Modern sewing machine cover, but many of you also have a special companion machine in your sewing space that we could hardly leave naked: a serger. With their different thread feeding systems and cutting mechanisms, sergers end up more square and taller than a sewing machine and so need differently-sized covers. For our Moda Fabrics Half Moon Modern Sewing Room series, we created a cover for my Janome 1110DX serger. We also did some research online to check out the sizes of the generic vinyl box covers available to make sure our dimensions were compatible. These clear vinyl serger covers were so drab, and... really, if you can see through it, the cover doesn't cover! Ours is done in sunny yellow, using the bold and beautiful zig zag motif of Half Moon Modern with an accent polkadot. There's a handy strap to make it easy to lift on and off and a pocket to hold extra thread cones, tweezers or even the manual.

Many sewing machines come with a cover; some are hard plastic, some are soft vinyl... none are particularly pretty. Since I believe all my sewing machines have their own personalities, I think they deserve their own personalized covers to keep them protected from dust and sun exposure when not in use. Besides, these hard-working machines make so much stuff for us, the least we can do is make a little outfit for them! For our Moda Fabrics Half Moon Modern Sewing Room series, we created a cover for my Janome Memory Craft 5200, a very standard-sized machine. This Janome is my mid-range model and is a real sweetie-pie. She deserved a cover with a kicky bottom ruffle, ribbon and bow accent, and the cheery red and white brights of Half Moon Modern .

During any given project, I figure I log at least five miles running back and forth between my sewing machine and my ironing board. Crap... need another pin. Dang... where are my scissors? Shoot... forgot to grab the seam gauge again. Sound familiar? We decided our taken-for-granted ironing board was in desparate need of its very own notions caddy. The very cute scissors motif in Moda's Half Moon Modern collection was the perfect fabric choice for the pockets and pouch. One end holds your most-used tools; the other end is a handy thread catcher with a cute button-on pincushion. Of course all this fabulous organization means I now have to make up that five miles with extra laps on the treadmill.

Red Leather. Read that out loud three times fast. (Go ahead... I'll wait) Hard to do isn't it? Now try Red Faux Leather. Much easier, isn't it? Not only is it easier to say, faux leather is much easier to sew with than the real thing. We really enjoyed designing and creating this elegant handbag project out of the faux leather provided by our friends at Fabric.com. It's part of our Lush & Plush Series sponsored by Fabric.com, which ran all last week and is continuing this week, giving you tips, projects and product reviews surrounding the lush-est, plushest, trendiest fabrics or Fall and Winter. Our Red Calf Faux Leather bag is a perfect crossover tote. It's clean and casual enough for the office, but still posh and pretty, and in a manageable size, so it works perfectly for a night on the town.

Eat breakfast on it this morning, turn it into a handbag this afternoon. Well... maybe skip the eating breakfast part to avoid orange juice stains. This terrific tote started its life as a pretty placemat! Construction is fast, easy... and inexpensive. All you need are a placemat with an eye-catching design, four plastic grommets, and a little bit of fabric for the handle. You might even have a few placemats in your linen cabinet that would fit the bill. Definitely a candidate for the 'this-would-make-a-great-gift' list. 

Sure... you can get fabric shopping bags from the store, but they aren't super strong or roomy and are less-than-lovely. Plus, some recent research shows they can become a breeding ground for bacteria if not washed regularly. I tried washing the ones I got at my market and they fell apart. Great. Then, another news story pops up that shows many of these store-provided bags are coming from overseas and contain potentially unsafe levels of lead. Great x2. Time to make your own: prettier, safer, sturdier. 

Once fall weather arrives, it's easy to pull on sweats, followed by holiday splurging, avoidance of full-length mirrors and the same old New Year's resolution to fix the damage. Instead, this year vow to keep your summer activity going by inspiring yourself with an always ready-to-go tote to hold everything you need for your workout.

Read me a story! Read it AGAIN!! Keep all your favorite bedtime books handy with our cute caddy tutorial. You'll notice our sample includes some well-worn classics from our own libraries... the ones read over and over, bringing delighted smiles each time. The caddy slips between mattress and box spring, held in place by the mattresses themselves as well as some gripper fabric. Two generous pockets are wide and deep enough to hold plenty of lil' literature. This is just one of the eight projects in our new Storybook Lil' Boy's Room Series sponsored by Moda Fabrics and featuring the nostalgic Lil' Rascals collection by  Chloe's Closet.

Packing your kids' school lunches is the loving way to go, right? You can make sure they're full of delicious, nutritious food. According to a recent study, they might also be full of bacteria if that food cannot be kept at the proper temperature once it gets to school. Use our easy tutorial to create your own insulated lunch bag then, as the study suggests, pop in two ice packs instead of one. We used a stylish cotton laminate for the outside fabric, which is available these days in an amazing array of wonderful colors and patterns from a variety of manufacturers.

Fall is upon us, and with it comes the classic sights and smells of the season: golden falling leaves, cool foggy mornings, and freshly sharpened yellow pencils. This clever pencil case tutorial is based on our original wristlet project, but we increased the size and added a cute front-buttoned pocket and a bright key ring. Try it in a soft, tiny wale corduroy like we did or experiment with washed denim or crushed velvet. Your pencils are looking forward to it.

Backpacks are safe and stable... all well and good for the color-inside-the-lines crowd. But if you want something comfortably soft and slouchy, go with the book bag: the wild child of school totes. Our back-to-school book bag tutorial uses a beautiful tiny-wale corduroy, and while we did use a lining – we didn't stiffen it with interfacing. I love the little gold rivets that attach the straps and the cord and button closure. Don't let its laid-back exterior fool you, this bag is roomy and tough enough to carry plenty of books and supplies.

No nursery series would be complete without some type of storage solution tutorial. I remember back when I had my first baby; it was a shock to realize how much stuff this one tiny person needed. A nursery is often filled to the brim with little things that have to be organized: creams, diapers, diaper wraps, wash cloths, toys, pacifiers, and more! Our Storage Shelf Basket tutorial is fast, easy and fun to make. So much so, you can make lots. Line the shelves with color-coordinated sets so there's a place for everything (we cannot guarantee 'everything in its place'!). With the side handle facing out, it's easy to grab a basket and find exactly what you want. This terrifically-tidy project is just one of eight pieces in our new nursery series sponsored by our good friends at Michael Miller Fabrics. We created the entire Series using their Color Story concept. Our choice: the Citron-Gray Color Story with its cool colors and bold designs.

Packing shoes is always a bit of a challenge for me. If they are at all dirty, I feel I need to take the extra time (who has extra time?!) to wash them before packing. If they have heels, I'm always worried the heels will snag other items and so have to take extra time (see above) to plan what to put on top of the shoes in my suitcase. Instead, why not whip up a few of these quick and easy shoe bags. The bag is sized to fit a standard pair of women's shoes with a generous heel. The inside is soft fleece, which is gentle on leather and helps protect a shiny or embellished finish, such as beading or sequins. From the outside, there's no worry about what to pack on top. A little extra time today to make these cute bags saves a lot of extra time packing down the line.

I love travel size toiletries. I think this may date back to my days of playing with Barbie® dolls and trolls. Everything was so little and cute. In fact, most things are more adorable in a mini size: people, puppies, muffins... and little bottles of shampoo, deodorant and lotion. Our Travel Tidy Cosmetics and Toiletries bag is the perfect size to fit all those tiny bottles and jars and more. We used one of the four lovely laminates from Anna Maria's Loulouthi collection as our inside fabric choice so if anything leaks, it can be quickly wiped clean and won't bleed through to the pretty exterior fabric.

This handy case is not only great for travel, it's also dandy for everyday storage of your make up brushes. We used one of the four pretty laminates from Anna Maria's Loulouthi collection as our inside fabric choice so if any traces of make up rub off your brushes and onto the case, it can be quickly wiped clean.

Fifth in our Travel Accessories series, and weighing in at a mere 1½ ounces, this whisper light voile laundry bag is ideal for travel, taking up virtually no space in your suitcase. If you've never sewn with voile before, you're in for a treat. It's exquisitely silky soft to the touch and easy to sew. For added strength, the drawstring casing is made from a coordinated quilting cotton, also from Anna Maria Horner's Loulouthi collection. I love how the vintage elegance of these prints adds a hint of luxury to the act of packing a bag.

Your favorite shiny beads and baubles deserve to come along on vacation too. But figuring out how to pack them, without opening your suitcase upon arrival to find a tangle mess, is always a challenge. Our Travel Tidy jewelry pouch is up to the task. It has eight, wedge-shaped pockets to hold necklaces, earrings, rings and watches. The pouch gathers up with a drawstring, safely enclosing the pockets in an upright position. The gathered circle reminds me of those classic round baby bonnets. Tie the bundle closed and toss it into your bag.

Don't know about you, but when I travel, not matter how organized I try to be, I'm always hurrying to finish packing my toiletries and make-up. I'm also usually trying to fix my hair at the last minute, which means there sits my flat iron... too hot to pack! This gave us the idea for today's Travel Tidy accessory: the hot tool case. It contains two hidden layers of metalized thermal batting. It looks pretty from the outside and is protective from the inside, so you can pack your flat or curling iron while warm... and still catch your plane on time!