It's easier than ever to find retro-style fabric. These are fabrics reminiscent of the styles popular in the 1950s through the 1970s. The nostalgia for the time has created a wonderful resurgence of period-style apparel, furniture, appliances and home décor. In fact, you will have no trouble recreating an authentic looking period room just as if you stepped into Mister Peabody's WABAC machine and set the dial back 50 years (credit: The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show of the 1960s). Like many people, I've been loving the prop and set decoration in the AMC series Mad Men where the early 1960s are recreated so faithfully. If you lived through the era, you know the style instinctively; but retro style is popular with all ages for its uninhibited bright, zany color and fearless bold designs. This week, S4H kicks of a new series we call "Retro Fun" starting with a trip back to a 1950's kitchen, and a toddler's project apron. We'll move forward in retro years from there with additional projects to come.

One of the places I spent a bit of time during the CHA Craft Super Show was Hancock Fabrics' big booth. They always seemed have a fun tutorial in-progress, and there were lots of new products on display. While there, I met and talked with M'Liss Rae Hawley, one of quilting's most popular designers and writers. She's recently begun a partnership with Hancock Fabrics and is coming out with some beautiful fabric collections ... that you just might see here at Sew4Home in the future. M'Liss introduced me to a couple new products I thought were interesting: Fusi-Boo and Shape-Flex.