The deadline for our pattern and design competition is extended to 15 July 2007. We've received several worried mails that were concerned about international shipping procedures and the time that takes. Many of you were afraid that because of overseas shipping they would miss the deadline. So, we quickly decided to extend it! Keep in mind to finish your pattern or design before June 15th, that gives you a whole month of shipping time, that should be sufficient!

1. What was the 1st thing you made? How did you start sewing?

The first thing I ever made were drawings, but the very first thing I ever sewed was this astoundingly monstrous jersey knit outfit for a Girl Scout badge. Ohh, I wish I still had that thing. It was amazing. Amazingly terrible. The fabric was unbelievably ugly---I think it has a pineapple print---and about five seconds into the pattern I freaked out from the difficulty of it all and demanded that my mom finish the entire project for me. I was 10 years old and I actually have never used a store-bought pattern since then. Sometimes I try, but I always end up panicking and just drawing my own patterns.

2. What role does sewing play in your life?

I taught myself to sew so I could avoid getting a normal job and instead just sit around all day at home making stuff to sell on Etsy.com. Then after a year of that I accidentally got an abnormal job working for Etsy, and now I teach other people how to cheat at their intimidating sewing projects. I love cheating.

3. What is your least favorite and what is your most favorite thing about sewing?

I hate screwing up and having to undo everything via the seam ripper. This happens alot, as I hardly ever measure, iron, pin or do much planning at all. So actually, my least favorite thing is probably doing most anything you're supposed to do to avoid sewing disasters. I really enjoy connecting things to one another.

4. If you could make something for anyone who would it be and what would you make?

I want to make my fiance dinner. He's been away at school for two months now and I miss him.

5. What are you looking for on our site? What do you think should be improved and what do you really like?

I became immediately addicted to BurdaStyle the moment I started poking around and playing. I really like being able to upload How Tos and link them to related creations. Alot of the stuff I find most exciting I haven't even tried yet, like adding video. I think the site has so much potential and its only going to get better and better as more people use it.

Anda is our office neighbor, we love her energy, never ending creativity and all the diamonds she makes that bring sparkle in our lives! She is working in the EtsyLabs and is still a seller at Etsy, check out her shop stopsandstarts. To find out more about Anda check out her member profile, her website and this Wikipedia link. And guess what: Anda is getting married to Pete and she will sew her own wedding dress and share her endeavor step by step on the site! So stay tuned for Anda's make of the wedding dress!

Welcome to a summer blockbuster season like none other. Hollywood has already pummeled the public with three mega-sequels (Spiderman, Shrek, Pirates), and Ocean’s 13, Hostel II, Fantastic Four and the final installment of Die Hard will soon be upon us. That’s June. There’s more exploding stuff, grand guignol, fart jokes and CGI in store for July and August.

It’s tempting to imagine the summer cineplex as a cool storage facility for our many brains, just stick it in there, boys, won’t be needing my mind for a while. But consider this, as you debate rocking the A.C. at a matinee performance of Transformers: Robot chic is so last year. A more fashion-forward chill-out flick? La Vie En Rose, the story of Edith Piaf. T the gutter girl who sang la France through World War II, Piaf makes for a compelling subject, and actress Marion Cotillard scorches the earth in her portrayal. But never mind all that. The movie is kind of meh, in that tepidly melodramatic way of biopics, but pay attention to the clothes. Fall’s ‘40s-influenced accessories, silhouettes and beauty do’s are all over the screen, and you don’t even have to read the subtitles to get the message. Call it a chick flick if you want, but bear in mind: They called Piaf The Sparrow.

The arthouse is the place for a chick flick fix this summer - notably excepting Knocked Up, which is basically a chick flick for guys. Ageless indie queen Parker Posey reigns over Broken English, the feature debut by Zoe Cassavetes, a great place to pick up tips on how to wear peasant blouses and big sunglasses without looking like a Mischa Barton-wannabe, and another master class in acting from Gena Rowlands. Then comes Evening, based on Susan Minot’s best-selling novel and a master’s master class in acting, with Dame Eileen Atikins, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Dame Vanessa Redgrave’s daughter, Meryl Streep, Meryl Streep’s daughter, Glenn Close (but not her daughter), Toni Collette and, last but not least, Claire Danes, who has the enviable task of love-juggling Hugh Dancy, her current real-life fling, and Mr. Little Children, Patrick Wilson. Kind of a blockbuster, as a matter of fact.

Get ready for the summer patterns!!! Last week we posted our drawings and asked you which ones of our next patterns you would like to see first. Yesterday we had our big photo shoot and are almost ready to begin with our summer fashion. Now you can win the same fabric, that we chose to make our samples in. Check out the four swatches you see above and let us know which one you think goes with which drawing. Let's say the red one (A) goes with dress (#7), write fabric (A) goes with garment (#7)... Write your answer to answers@burdastyle.com. The one who gets the most correct answers the fastest will win enough of one of the fabric for the corresponding outfit. We will announce the winner on Monday. BEST OF LUCK

I used to tell everyone that I loved everything beginning with the letter B. Bikes, Bears, Bagels, Bananas (oh, bananas. . . ), Boys, etc. . . I realized that while I will always like these things, I'm ready for a new letter to tell my friends about (who, obviously, are always more than excited to hear about my feelings on a variety of mundane things, including but not limited to, the alphabet, shower curtains, coasters, and strawberry milkshakes). I am excited to announce that my new favorite letter is P! P for pineapples, phones, penguins, pillowcases, and purses. It's only natural that I would try to combine my favorite things, but when I tried putting a pineapple inside a pillowcase. . . well, lets just say it was very painful. But a purse made out of a pillowcase! Now that sounds just perfect. I made this one using a solid mint colored pillowcase. I added some leaf and elephant appliques to really wake it up! And of course, there is a Perfectly Pain-free How To so you can make one for yourself, and probably, a few friends! Maybe make some with crafty friends at your next Pajama Party, and be sure to post your creations!

Watch our newest interview on GeekEntertainment TV here. We loved chatting with our new friend Eddie Codel. We talked about the site concept, open source, and the new design and features that will be launched in July!

1. Where are you from and/or where do you live?

I was born in Kronoby and am now living in Vasa, Finland, in a little house with my husband.

2. What was the 1st thing you made? How did you start sewing?

My mother had a good sewing machine and I always wanted to sew something when I was younger. I think I made Barbie clothes as one of the first things I sewed. I made t-shirts for myself and tried to make pants out of my own pattern, but that did not work out. That was the last thing I sewed for years. I'm unfortunately very unpatient and if it doesn't go my way I give up. Nowadays I'm working on my patience when it comes to sewing.

3. What role does sewing play in your life?

Right now it plays a very big role. I am on leave of absence for a year from my work as a youth leader (to be able to be a singer and a songwriter full time) and I have more time to create and sew now than before. I have found new inspiration to make my own clothes, a big reason is my pledge to wardrobe refashion that forbids me to buy anything newly manufactured. I have also been collecting and buying fabrics over the years as I love thrifting and I feel driven to sew something out of them. Planning and sewing is a source of creativity and great handicraft and I live for that creativity, I also knit and crochet even more than sewing.

4. What is your favorite and what is your least favorite thing about sewing?

I am still as stubbarn as before and do not want to follow ready made patterns but make up my own designs. As I am not that skilled in drawing patterns and sewing it takes me a whole lot longer to sew something cause I have to rip up and start over several times. But I love the learning process and figuring out how it has to be done to work, I guess that is the difference from when I was younger. But I am taking more and more help from ready made patterns.

5. If you could make something for anyone who would it be and what would you make?

I made a big bunny in patch work for my best friends newborn baby, so soft animals are a favourite and to make something for children. Right now I am making a top in my own design for a friend of mine. She liked the one I made for myself and wanted one for herself.

6. What are you looking for on our site? What do you think should be improved and what do you really like?

I really like the designs, because that is what I miss the most, trendy and original and different. I have found those designs here. I also love browsing the site for other peoples creations. I get a lot of inspiration here!

If you want to find out more about fialottajansson, check out her member profile and her blog

We are so proud to announce our winner for the Fabric Contest. Her name is Linda and in her blog she writes how she felt: "I hardly ever win anything, so to respond to a pattern/fabric contest and to be told you won, well I am just truly tickled pink."

Linda was so kind to tell us a little bit about herself and how she started sewing:

I am a native of a small city in Virginia called Danville. I have a degree in Social Work and have been a CEO or senior level staff person working with two non-profit, charitable organizations that serve adults and/or children with disabilities or disadvantaging conditions.

I started sewing when I was around five years old using a Singer sewing machine that you turned the crank to sew. (I still have this machine.) I made a small quilt with the help of my grandmother who was a great seamstress/sewist. I inherited the “sewing gene” from her. She later bought me a Singer sewing machine that was rather old and only had a straight stitch. My husband and I were both going to college at the time and to have clothes I sewed them myself.

My career took me to various locations throughout the United States (Texas, California, Florida, Pennsylvania and back to Virginia). I continued to sew my clothes even though my salary improved with each move and I could easily buy what I wanted (within reason). However I have always enjoyed making my own clothes as I know I will not see someone wearing the same suit, dress, or skirt. Plus it is specifically sewn to fit my measurements.

While living in Florida I made wearable art jackets as well as purses and sold them in a small consignment store just for one of a kind item. As a result of this, I had two ladies commission me to make them wearable art jackets for St. Patrick’s Day. I enjoyed doing this and was pleased that they thought enough of my work to have me make them special jackets. However, I truly like the pleasure and leisure of sewing for myself and family members so did not pursue making garments for sale.

I love to sew and when possible I take online classes or read about new sewing techniques to continue to hone and improve my sewing skills. I love reading other sewing blogs and started one of my own over a 18 months ago. Blogs are a great source for sharing and learning.

Please also check out Linda's blog that she started 18 months ago, and of course her member profile!

Browsing the web i came across a post on CRAFT showing people at the Maker Faire re-making their shirts during the Swap-o-rama-rama. They cut up their shirts, added extra pieces to them, patched them or changed them into something entirely different such as a sarong skirt. This got me thinking, it's not often i use items of clothing to make something new, instead i tend use lengths of fabric found at the thrift store or given to me by other sewers clearing out their stash. So i decided that my project for this week should be Swap-O-Rama-Rama style and made with recycled clothing. Rummaging around in my donated boxes of goodness i came across a bunch of men's shirts that had their collars removed and some of the sleeves, perfect for making Emily! So they were washed, dried and ironed then i cut across the shoulders to lay them out flat. It took a bit of time to fit my pattern pieces to the shirt fabric and decide on the colour combination. Luckily they fit without me having to piece fabrics together although i think this could look cool and may try it next time. I did cheat a little, my Emily blouse is not entirely recycled, yes i know i'm a bad refashioner.I wanted to use a pretty fabric for the collar and cuffs so used a scrap piece from my stash, no money spent, honestly! I think it worked out well. Is there anything i'd change? maybe the length but other than that no. This is a great pattern, i'm really pleased with how the blouse turned out considering this is only the second time i've actually made a blouse with a collar. My first attempt was made when i was first learning to sew, i think i made the collar without interfacing and messed up the top stitching, i was still proud of it though and did wear it. I know i'll be making more from this pattern now that my sewing skills have improved since then!

You can see more details of how i recycled Emily in this How To.

Now onto my next project, after counting your votes it seems dress number 6 is the favourite so check out my next column for details of my adventures finding fabrics and how i make my version of the dress.

Former columns of NikkiShell:Don't Find Wanted Fabric - But Still Sew!,Finding Recycled Fabrics and Franzi Vest Made from Thrift Store Skirts.

True story: When I was in junior high, I washed my hair with Woolite.

Not all the time, but every once in a while, when “things,” as I called my hair back then, got a little “extreme” (my mom’s word.) We’d been in Florida about a year when the Woolite tip came, from a Supercuts stylist with a mass of thick curls just like mine. Things had gotten a little extreme: Humidity, daily sunshine, swim team chlorine, saltwater at the beach, the overabundance of product I put in my hair every day to try to deal with the bleached, frizzy, freaked-out mess on top of my head. This is what happens to hair when your life is endless summer.

I don’t recommend Woolite. I cite my Woolite experience as a cautionary tale about summer hair, only. We all love those insouciant sunny highlights and a few straight-from-the-beach tousles, but take heed: I watched the pilot episode of “John from Cincinatti” the other day, glimpsing endless summer hair again on the heads of surfers, and really, it is only a look that pulls off with a wetsuit and a thousand-yard stare out of bloodshot eyes. Protect thyself. Frederic Fekkai has made it easy, launching three elegant, easy-to-use, effective new products for summer, my favorite of which is Wash & Wear, spray-on shampoo that lifts the oil, toxins, dirt and product out of your hair without exposing it to the strip-search of water. Spray, re-style, and head out into the blazing sunshine safe in that Wash & Wear, like all Fekkai’s Summer Hair products, is charged with the brand’s proprietary suncreen technology, Solarshield, I don’t recommend not showering not showering all summer. That would be a little extreme.