
Cameron Diaz's Oscar de la Renta dress, which she wore at the
Women in Film Awards, reminded me of another beautiful lady who's fond of appliqué and reverse appliqué. In fact, this designer marks them as signature techniques in her fashion and home décor lines. I've featured her work a few times in the past, along with her inspiring book.

Seamstress, designer, and author
Natalie Chanin is something of a virago — and I mean that in the most positive sense of the word. Indeed, she is a woman to be reckoned with. With her newest venture, the
Alabama Stitch Book ($35) she takes you further into her world, sharing stories of cotton production, growing up in rural Alabama, and the family tradition of embroidery.

In its September issue,
Domino has a very cool interview with Natalie Chanin, the designer behind
Alabama Chanin. I first became smitten with Chanin when I discovered her now-defunct clothing brand
Project Alabama, so I was excited to read that the designer has expanded her repertoire to include jewelry and home wares. (Thanks to
Poppytalk for the tip.)
Like Project Alabama, the Alabama Chanin brand is all about creating handmade, limited-edition pieces from new, old, recycled, and vintage materials — such as this reclaimed chair and necktie creation (left).