As nice as this all sounds, I will probably need to pass on being an "insider". I just renewed my paper subscription and my husbands fine homebuilding subscription. And the reality is there is only so much discretionary income to go around. While I like the ideas of the videos, I can probably do without them.

I've got the other "in detail" books and they are all fabulous. This book is particularly interesting in that there are very few books on the market that cover so many facets of underwear. I have a smallish book on the history of underwear that is absolutely fascinating. What is fun is to show young sewists/costumers a garment -- whether it is underwear or something of bleeding edge fashion -- and show them something from the past that is almost identical. I love working with beautiful fabrics and have the pleasure of managing a large costume collection for a theatre company. Some of the corsets we have are spectacular. This is a book I will need to get to add to my collection.

Although I've had little time to try any embroidery lately, I've been admiring a small rug I recently purchased in India. It is literally embroidered with wired threads (bullion) and semi-precious stones. Unfortunately I can't take the backing off to see how the stitches are finished on the back side. I've done machine embroidery -- got one of the very first home machines to do embroidery many, many years ago. I have a few antique pieces that were done by my grandmother when she was younger. I'm trying to figure out the best way to display these pieces without damaging them. I've taught hand sewing in the past and while I find hand stitching relaxing, I keep getting drawn to the sections of the book I use for decorative stitching. One day. . . there will be enough time for all the things I would love to be able to do.

Kenneth -- beautiful embellishment -- do you stay awake all night dreaming up these techniques??

I have to admit I am VERY fortunate to not only have a dedicated sewing room (11 x 13) bedroom PLUS the adjoining twin bedroom for MY dedicated home office (hubby has his own office in another bedroom). We are empty nesters with a 5 bedroom home and no grandkids. So we are currently luxuriating in space.

I have multiple machines, a gravity feed iron in my sewing room and a steam generator iron that lives in the laundry room downstairs). Machines line the walls of the room. Fabric stash is in the closet -- we built a shelving system in both the twin bedrooms for my stash -- garment fabric in one room, quilting fabric in the other. Large cutting table in the center of the room with3 different work surfaces: 2 different types of cutting mats (one for most fabrics and a different type for lycra -- until recently I did competitive ice skating costumes) and a cork surface for pattern work.

Under the cutting table and next to each machine are plastic drawer units that house various notions. Each machine has its own set of scissors, hanging on a wooden rod with cup hooks. My rotary cutters are hung right below my cutting table surface. I tend to buy certain things in bulk -- like elastic, interfacing, zippers and certain types of ribbon, so those things have dedicated storage in a niche under one of the windows. Each room has lots of natural light. There is also a flat panel tv mounted on the wall of the sewing room (liberated from my husbands office when he upgraded!) and my computer and monitor are in my office. There is a second big work table as well as my pattern and sample files in the office bedroom.

My painting supplies also live in the office space, but I have room in the sewing studio to drag stuff in there when I have a bigger painting project going on.

Probably the only drawback to my set up is that it is at the far end of the house. It is quite private and I get a lot done there, but it does get lonely on occasion. I could also use nicer lighting -- I have 3 double tube fluorescent shop light fixtures in the main sewing studio. I would prefer something a little nicer but it's okay.

Skymom -- that's exactly what I thought when I saw this -- summer camp and the vinyl straps that we used to make the camp lanyards. And you are right -- so much prettier in ribbon.

The iPhone does, not sure about the other devices. Although I suspect that it will take a while to actually catalog my stash, I think this app will help me out -- luckily I got rid of quite a bit of my costume fabric stash recently by donating it to a youth theatre company. But I still have a LOT! I have 4 unique types of stash to "maintain": my fashion fabrics, costume fabrics -- mostly lycras and sparkly stuff for skating costumes, quilting fabric and home dec fabrics. So many fabrics, so little time!

based on the artwork -- mid 1940's I think.