I am a 50-something medium-level seamstress and was very intrigued by Brook's creations. I did not consider them amateurish or insulting to the sewing profession--just extremely unique! In my opinion, sewing is an art form at its essence, which allows a lot of room for creativity and expression from the designer. It saddens me that so many of the bloggers were critical of Brook. My personal taste is a more tailored and symmetrical look which suits my body type best. I especially love Threads for the sewing tips but I also appreciate the great variety to be found each issue regarding designers, styles, techniques and trends. I am happy with the balance of content found in Threads.