Sewing on buttons by hand is one of my least favorite tasks. But, I LOVE using buttons on my projects. I had a dilemma. That's why I was so excited when I learned how easy it is to sew buttons using my sewing machine – and you don't need a fancy one to do it. As long as your sewing machine can do a zigzag stitch, and the feed dogs can be lowered, you can sew on buttons galore by machine!

When I started sewing, zippers scared the bejeezus out of me. I went to great lengths to avoid them. Even tried to bribe a friend of mine to put in my zippers (she refused). I finally faced my fears, and just like tall bridges and spotted dogs (don't ask), they turned out not to be scary at all. My next therapy session: concealed or invisible zippers. Sure enough .... they're actually even easier than a regular zipper. I wonder if there's hope for conquering spiders, snakes and giant zucchinis?

We have several projects coming up that require cutting large panels of fabrics for curtains. When you're short on space, this can be a bit of a challenge. So here's a little folding-and-cutting trick to make it easier, faster, more compact ... and actually, more precise. Remember making paper snowflakes as a kid? You fold, fold, fold, and then cut, cut, cut. Same basic concept, but without the swiss cheese effect. Grab your rotary cutter and mat and let's slice!

Sewing is an inherently creative activity. You take thread and fabric and create something new from it. There are times, though, when perfectly hidden seams and sharp corners seem limiting and you have the urge to just throw some color or a cute drawing on top and call it good. Enter Appliqué ! Appliqué is sort of like the construction-paper-craft-zone of the sewing world. This technique allows you to cut out any shape and stitch it on top of another fabric. You want a bumblebee on your pillow? No problem! Can't find a good fabric with a spaceship for that duvet cover (and don't you hate how hard it is to find a good spaceship)? Appliqué one! With appliqué, you're free to incorporate any kind of graphic into your project. There are a variety of different ways to execute this technique; read on to find the one that's right for you.