add factory method to jQuery UI's widget.

jQueryUiWidget-factoryMethod.js

/* === jQuery UI widget way === */

$.widget('ui.dashboard', {
    _create: function(){
        alert('hey widget was created!');
        console.log(this.element); // this is what you attached.
    }
});

$('#div1').dashboard(options);

/* ------------------------------------------------------------

    problem: can't do like
    var $dashboard = new $.ui.dashboard();

    It's possible to do templating things in _create,
    but you'll lost many widget functions if you did it.

    then, do like following...

------------------------------------------------------------ */

/* === add static factory method === */

$.widget('ui.dashboard', {
    _create: function(){
        alert('hey widget was created!');
        console.log(this.element); // this is what you attached.
    }
});
$.ui.dashboard.create = function(options){
    var src = '<div>or some html as string here</div>';
    var $el = $(src); // or use templating library you like.
    return $el.dashboard(options); // returns jQuery wrapped element
};

var $dashboard = $.ui.dashboard.create(options);

/* ------------------------------------------------------------

    You'll get dashboard widgetified element. yey.

------------------------------------------------------------ */