I love wheat. I mean I love it. I used to bake bread from scratch at least once a week. I won four ribbons for my killer pie crust at our neighborhood block party. So when my doctor told me September 12, 2005 that I needed to stop eating gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains, say, for the rest of my life because it was causing major health problems, I was really sad.

But one day I ran across the Sew Dorky Donut website (makers of fine handstitched donuts since 2004),. It brought such a smile to my face. Somehow it helped in the grieving of giving up wheat. Not one to collect stuff, my husband was stunned when I told him how much I wanted one. So I was delighted months later on Christmas morning when I pulled this one out of my stocking. It even has the weight and density of a real donut. It’s so glamorous isn’t it? And I love the packaging. Somehow having it around makes it easier to forgo wheat. Now if they only made pizzas too…

Thank you to all the whipup readers who entered week 4 of the whiplash comp - chic to classic. As I was going through the excellent entries and discovering great new crafty blogs I saw this entry and had to post it because I have been thinking the same thing.

“It just boggles my mind that more people aren’t entering in the Whiplash weekly competitions. I know there are over 700 subscribers in bloglines for people reading Whip Up on a regular basis. So, with all of the crafty people out there, where are the submissions??? Is it the fear of being judged? The fear of losing? (I should have wrote this last week). Don’t think of it that way. Forget all about the prizes and judging. It’s all about sharing right? Most people have a crafty/art blog to SHARE their stuff right? So why not start sharing it with other Whip Up readers? For me, I know it has been a great way to discover other wonderfully talented people out there in the blog world, make new friends AND see other peoples take on the different challenges. It’s no fun if you can’t see all the great inginuity and what better way to share all that inginuity than through Whip Up?” Thanks Regina for your great entry and for having your say.

What did you think of this weeks entries - who would get your vote? - What was your favourite new blog find too while we are at it?

Only 2 more weeks of the whiplash challenge - is everyone holding out for the last week to enter?

Try altering used clothing into functional art without losing the personality and tailoring of the original garment. The Quilts of Gee’s Bend are a popular example of people who use old clothing and material for necessity and create something beautiful. German designer Edson Raupp walks a similar path with his line called “Suitcase”, except that he is using old clothing for the beauty and precision that are inherent in the original design.

The pieces in Edson Raupp’s collection feature hidden buttons and pockets, lapels, stiches, and tailoring with all the brilliant lining and detailing intact, in very hardy and beautiful bags for women and men. Derived from a joint effort to preserve the beauty of suit tailoring and provide recycled materials, Raupp bought beautiful dark suits from charity shops in London and made items like the large suitcase bag, the medium suitcase bag, and the suit sleeve handbag that currently debut in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum Shop and in the touring Craft Council Exhibition, Well Fashioned: Eco Style in the UK.