There hasn’t been much sewing going on over the last couple of weeks but there sure has been a lot of fabric added to my Fabric Stash!
Unfortunately I had to go to Perth for work… geez that’s hard for a girl to take when she lives in a remote mining town but someone had to do it and that someone happened to be me along with a few others from work and we suffered the trip in silence…as you do LOL
When a girl’s been locked up in a remote mining town and hits the city there’s one thing that’s sure to happen and that’s SHOPPING!! And shop I did… even in our lunch breaks I was straight down the lift (no lunch for me) and straight into the shops for a little retail therapy.
Besides fabric I needed, yes needed, a pair of shoes for work while I was in Perth (we can’t wear open toe shoes in Perth and I’d look a little silly wearing my purple steel caps in the city) so as soon as the plane landed and we checked into the hotel it was straight into Myers & David Jones to see what I could find. I found these and they were practical, stylish, not too high, comfortable, and they were on sale so that made them even more attractive 🙂
I have to admit I’m still quite partial to points.
Oh and don’t worry there was plenty of other shopping and items purchased along with these shoes… but I won’t go into all of those as this post is meant to be about fabric… so here we go…
Now let’s move on to the fabric I’ve added to my Fabric Stash
In Perth city centre there’s a Salvation Army store and as I was walking past I noticed a stand in the middle of the entrance with fabric on it and of course I had to pop in and take a little peak… well just have a look at what I found!
Two pieces of gorgeous fabric about 2 1/2 meters each for only $3.99 a piece!
Now that’s what I call a bargain and I couldn’t resist. They just had to come home with me to be loved yet once again.
Hard to believe these only cost $3.99 each. The best thing of all is the money supports a worthy cause… the Salvation Army. I’m sure these fabrics have come from a woman who loves to sew as they are in mint condition and are stunning! I’m thinking she was probably going to make a jacket or skirt with lining out of these two. I think I’d love to turn these into a lined jacket 🙂
On my way to the airport in the taxi I planned on going to Spotlight and just have a look what landed in my trolley (along side my suitcase… yes I had my suitcase with me and put it in the shopping trolly so I had both hands free to feel and touch just about every piece of fabric in that store. I was in that store for 2hrs and I was in heaven and if I could have I would have even stayed even longer but I would have missed my flight…. mmm that would have been a shame LOL
Here’s the Fabric haul I got from Spotlight to add to my Fabric Stash:
This is definitely my favorite piece and I’m planning on turning this into a lined pencil skirt and using the pattern that I drafted for myself. I’m also thinking I’d like to use part of the wrong side of the fabric as a feature somehow but not quite sure how yet. If you’ve got any ideas please feel free to share as I’m totally open to ideas. I’m thinking maybe as a side seam feature panel and maybe even a couple of patch pockets on the back… what do you think?
I love the look of this fabric from the right sides as well as the wrong side!
Next up is a piece of stunning suiting fabric in a dark navy/steel grey colour and of course I had to get some matching lining. I’m planning on making a fully lined jacket as I think it will be the perfect weight for our mild winters which are probably more like spring back in my home town on the Gold Coast.
This fabric feels absolutely gorgeous… if they had of had more colours I would have probably bought some of them as well.
I also couldn’t help myself but purchase some gingham fabric… I might only use this when making a muslin but I’m starting to think I wouldn’t mind actually making this into something that’s fun and wearable… maybe a country style summer dress?
Thinking this could actually become a dress and not just a working muslin? It’s got a nice drape and feel to it and it’s so light and airy so it would actually be really cool to wear for summer.
This lace just seemed to be calling me and it had to come home with me as well… I’m thinking this fabric is going to end up being a top for sure… might even be great for the Katherine Tilton Vogue pattern I’m thinking of keeping from the Plus Size Pattern Pyramid I won (by the way I’ll be running a competition here on my site soon so be sure to stay tuned)
I just love the colours in this… for some reason it puts a smile on my face every time I look at it… to me it says “Springtime Fun in the Sun”
Plus while I was in Spotlight I stocked up on quite a few notions and threads as you could imagine and I have to admit I had so much fun in there and could have stayed all day… ah well there’s always next time 🙂
How’s this for a wonderful surprise when I got home!
A parcel had arrived while I was away from my husbands lovely Nanna (Shirley) and Mother (Kerry) and…
The parcel was full of fabric… how lucky & how spoilt am I?
Here’s what was in the parcel…along with a lovely little note from Nanna (Shirley)
First off was this absolutely stunning piece of dusty pink lace from Kerry that she had been in her stash for years along with a co-ordinating lining fabric.
I just love the colour of this lace and the lining fabric is a perfect compliment!
Next up is a gorgeous piece of chiffon! I’m thinking this will make a great blouse to go with the navy/steel grey suiting fabric I just got from Spotlight… perfect compliment I think don’t you?
I just love this piece of Chiffon!
Oh and more lace… you should have seen the smile on my face going through all this beautiful fabric! This is a piece Kerry (my mother in-law) had in her stash for years as well and she thought I’d love it… and yes she’s right… I LOVE it!
This lace just feels divine, it’s so soft and so silky and yet has a great weight to it! This is definitely destined to become a gorgeous little black dress for sure!
Next up is this fun and funky fabric from Nanna (Shirley)
I just love this fabric, I love the print, and I love how it feels! It’s so soft and so silky and feels sooooo good against my skin. I’m even thinking of making a nightie out of this one so as I can get the chance to wear it a lot more than if I made something else out of it. If I made it as a top I wouldn’t get to wear it as much as if I made it into a nightie. I know no one else would get to see it, except for my hubby, but I want to feel it against my skin more and besides I think it would be fun to go to bed feeling like a fun n funky chick LOL
How cool is this fabric… it sure is fun n funky and I love it!
How’s this cute little cotton print… this is so pretty and I love the colour combination. To me it has summer written all over it don’t you think?
How pretty is this… I’m thinking this might just have to become a little summer dress or a skirt.
How fun are Polka Dots? … I love ’em!
I’m thinking a summer dress for this one or even a 1/2 circle skirt?
And a smaller polka dot in a pretty red cotton fabric
What a pretty colour… really loving the polka dots!
Big thank you and hugs go out to my in-laws Shirley (Nanna) and to Kerry (Mother In-Law)
Here they are all together… I thought they deserved to be shown off one more time 🙂
Imagine getting a parcel of fabric like this from you In-Laws… sure does put a huge smile on your face and makes your heart melt too!
All these beautiful fabrics are now being lovely cared for in my fabric stash with all their friends waiting their turn to come to be lovingly sewn (sometimes not so lovingly when they don’t behave like they’re suppose to LOL) to live their life as a living breathing garment just as they were destined and should be!
Love your shoes and all your pieces of fabric! I’m thinking that b/w gingham would go beautifully with the b/w polka dots!
Thanks Alison… and I love the idea of mixing the polka dot and the gingham together! I hadn’t thought about that but will definitely put my thinking cap on for some ideas to mix them together 🙂
Lovely fabric! Some serious sewing ahead, huh? :))
They sure are Lena and there sure is some serious sewing coming up… just wish there was more hours in the day 🙂
You will be building an extra cupboard in your home to store all these beautiful fabrics…great shopping!
Judith we’re renting a tiny two bedroom duplex and I’ve already turned the small second bedroom into a dedicated sewing room and it’s already so full… but if I could fit another cupboard in I would for sure! I’ve got a huge sewing room back at our home on the Gold Coast and have lots of room there but who knows when we’ll get back there so we might just have to look at renting something bigger over here just to accommodate my fabric LOL.
Hi Chris, there’s nothing quite like a satisfying stash attack is there? You will have fun with some of those fabrics – I suspect you are a bit of a glamourous romantic at heart, so I think the pointy toes may be more your style than the steel capped safety boots.
So true Sarah Liz… it’s probably a good thing that I don’t have a fabric store here where I live. I just love fabric and love surrounding myself with it as well. I really don’t think we can ever have too much as we can never have too much of the good things in life LOL. You are so right as pointy shoes are definitely more my kind of style than my steel cap boots and I love a little bit of glamour and a little bit of romance. You have summed me up so well 🙂
Ooooh! Lucky you 😀
Some gorgeous fabrics there – my favourite is the pink lace, it’s a colour I love, but unfortunately it doesn’t suit me. I also love the little floral summery print.
The gingham is way to nice to use on a muslin, it should surely be a dress with a big skirt.
Did you buy anything for the Pavlova sewalong?
I sure am lucky Fiona and so grateful too 🙂 I’m really starting to build up a gorgeous fabric stash… now just need to build up some more sewing time LOL. That pink lace is one of my fav’s too…it really is a pretty colour and I think I’ll be able to wear it quite well. I think you are right about the gingham and I might just have to make it into a dress… I bought 4mtrs so should have plenty for a dress with a full skirt. I looked for some fabric for the Pavlova but didn’t see anything that really caught my eye. But I do have a few options for fabrics in my stash and I just have to decide on which fabrics I’ll use. Oh by the way are you making the Pavlova too? And if so what house are you in? I had a look in my house “Mango” but didn’t see you there. Woud love to hook up on Flickr with you too 🙂
Yes, I’m in the Strawberry house. My fabrics are in the flickr gallery. There are some truly stunning fabrics in there already. Can’t wait to see the pictures of the finished items.
Hi Chris,
I have been laid up in bed for a few days with an ugly cold…sniffle, sniffle. I know it’s bad when I don’t make it into my sewing studio for a few days!
I am starting to rally and decided I could read a few sewing blogs while using my iPad in bed…(no matter what visual of that you may imagine the reality is much worse) ….sniffle…
Anyway seeing your wonderful new shoes AND your generous stash has improved my health greatly! You sure bought and were gifted with some lovely yardage! You are blessed to have generous family that share their stashes with you!! You can create a whole wardrobe with those pieces!
When my daughters and I buy fabric we take it home and feel it and dream…..we call this “misering”! Happy misering, Chris. 🙂
Sorry you haven’t been well and I know you must be feeling terrible as it’s not like you to miss being in your sewing room for sooooo long! Good to hear that you’re starting to feel well enough to put your tissues down for long enough to be able to use your iPad. I’m having a visualisation of you struggling to lift that little baby up and swiping and tapping on the screen. If I was there I’d make you a lovely pot of tea and come and wait on you for sure….oh and I’d be sneaking into your sewing room while you were napping heehee. I hope you feel better real soon (saying with a little sympathy face). Reading a few sewing blogs will at least help pass the time away and might even lift your spirits a little like mine did for you 🙂
I sure am blessed to have such a wonderful thoughtful family who appreciate fabric and sewing and are happy to share and support my addiction LOL. Once I get through all the wonderful fabric I sure will have a great wardrobe.
Gotta go now as my fabric is calling me and I need a little “Misering” fix before I head off to work 🙂
Hope you feel better and well enough to enjoy your sewing room real soon xx
Oh Chris, I love the fabric you bought…the prints and colors are exactly what I like. I even have 3 1/4 yards of black and white gingham on my cutting board. Mine is reversble…one side is plain gingham and the other side has tiny flowers randomly painted on it. I don’t know how long the painted flowers will last, but they are pretty. I bought that fabric at Mill Ends…it is slightly crinkled, looks like cotton, but has a sheen and feels rather silky soft. I’m going to make a skirt out of the plain checked side and a top out of the side with the tiny flowers. I hope you do make a dress…it’s too cute for a muslin.
We obviously both have similar tastes in fabric… Love the sound of your gingham and I’m sure it’s going to look and feel great wearing it too! I’m definitely thinking I’ll make a dress with mine as it feels really soft and too good for a muslin as well 🙂
Oh wow!! Glad you had a great time in Perth and what a score!!! I love those first fabrics in periwinkle blue, it’s my favourite colour. And all the florals are gorgeous. Can’t wait to see what you make with them.
I’ve also not been sewing the last little while but have been setting up and organizing my space. Now, have a dedicated sewing room, ironing/serging room (although I don’t know how to use the serger yet, lol) and a pattern making room!
I sure did have a good time and definitely have some great fabrics to play with in my stash now. Plus this week 2 more pieces arrived in the mail from Nancy’s Notions, a gorgeous piece of chocolate silk and a piece of denim. I think I’ve satisfied my fabric addiction for a little while anyway 🙂
Even though you haven’t been sewing you sure will be set now that you have a dedicated sewing room…. Congratulations! The best thing about having a dedicated sewing room is you can leave everything set up and ready to go for when you get the urge. And I love being able to work on a project and leave everything exactly where you finish with it and then just pick up where you left off when you’re ready to work on it again. Probably the best part is if the room gets messy you can just shut the door and no one has to see it… what goes on behind closed doors stays behind closed doors LOL.
My current project which was unplanned is testing a pattern for a skirt called Lilly which is exciting as I’ve never been a pattern tester before. I’m hoping to have it finished this weekend and when I finish it I’ll share it on my blog and do a little review on it as well.