random musings on the fabric sale

Oh, thanks for all your sweet studio love yesterday! It's fun to share it, and definitely fun to be in right now. I added a few notes to the Flickr photoset with some details if you were looking for that.

Moving backwards, I'm a little late to blogging about last Friday's fabric sale - Meg already shared her beautious fabric porn - good stuff. This would be the annual Salvation Army fabric sale that I'm talking about (held in many cities, I hear - check your local SA) - past years' motherloads here and here. This year did not disappoint - with plenty of long lines, crazy crowds, and vintage goodness around for all - even with all the fellow crafty Portland gals I spied around the room (hi!). With a newly purged and cleaned studio, I was so very mindful when picking up fabric this year - knowing that each and every piece I brought home would need to find a home in my hoping-to-stay-clean studio. Yeah, so with that in mind, let me show you my problem:

Exhibit A. My sweet little bundles of newly purchased vintage fabric and goods.

Exhibit B. My sweet rack of neatly stacked FULL fabric shelves. You see? The new stuff has nowhere to go. A conundrum, I tell you. A conundrum I'm happy to live with. But a conundrum nonetheless.

Anyway...my favorite bits from the sale were these quilt pieces. I can't stop picking up these unfinished pieces - I love them so. Some of the fabrics here make me slightly out-of-breath. That brown with the dots? yeah, that one. Oh my.

This would be the 'what the hell was I thinking?" purchase. There's always one. Yards of this polyester craziness. I think this was snagged at the end of the sale, far beyond when I should have Gone Home, but didn't....bad choices are made at that point, I'm convinced. What will I make with it? I have no idea. Moving on...

One more random observation from waiting in line at the fabric sale, watching the women around me and remembering my own grandfather's presence there before he passed away: I've decided that the ultimate sign of a good partner would be one that, at the age of 75, will drive the other one to such a sale as this, set up the lawnchair with coffee for the long waiting line, wait patiently for said shopper (crossword and coffee in the car, perhaps?...or sweetie, the Big Jab, a latte and sudoku?), and then drive right up to the entrance to pick her and all of her fabric goodness up to go home. I was feeling all nervous that this never made it into our wedding vows, so as soon as I spoke to Steve after the sale, I asked if he'd do this. Thankfully, he said, 'okay, sounds fun'. I ignored all sarcasm, and felt much relief.

Comments

[Jenna]

Ah, what a great post! It was nice to see you at the sale. As always, it was interesting and overwhelming, mixed with thrilling and I can't believe I bought so much. Great finds!

[Judi]

What a lucky girl! This would be a moment to lay your new/old fabric out in the middle of your new studio floor and roll around in it! Maybe some "fabric angels"? but for only a few seconds..... it's sorta like the 10 second rule. If it's on the floor after that, it's a mess! I can't wait to see the goodness you make with this stash!

[eireann]

:)

when you write it feels so close, amanda, as though i could just reach over and give you a squeeze on your arm.

[Kristin La Flamme]

The Renoir fabric? It's a big pocket on a tote or apron, or lining, of course.

[Ashley]

Oh my, those quilt pieces...how yummy! I have many hand-me-down unfinished quilt pieces and squares from my mother and grandmothers. Still waiting on the perfect piece to use them in. I imagine that one day I'll have many unfinished quilt pieces to pass along, too.

Oh, and the fabric...I think it all was begging to go home to your new, beautiful studio. That'd be my excuse anyway!!

Enjoy!

[nicole]

never saw that kind of sale here in france! I would really love it!

[Sarah]

That kind of husband is my husband! He never blinks twice about some of my crazier ideas.

[tiffany]

Okay. I am so sad. I just googled the fabric fair and called a few numbers and found out that there was a sale two hours from me the LAST TWO WEEKENDS. It's all over until next year. I live in northern maryland but could only find the closest one in PA. Do you know of an official website that has fabric fair locations?

I am dying right now.

[Heather]

oh my goodness, how did I NOT hear of this sale???
I love your writing Amanda. I can not wait for your book to come out!
You inspire me! I sometimes think..."I wonder if I have seen her somewhere before and not realized it! walking in the old port perhaps?"
hmmmm i dont mean for this to sound creepy! haha. Its just a small world, you know?

Have a fabulous Tuesday!
Heather
(another maine mama)

[Heather]

oh my goodness, how did I NOT hear of this sale???
I love your writing Amanda. I can not wait for your book to come out!
You inspire me! I sometimes think..."I wonder if I have seen her somewhere before and not realized it! walking in the old port perhaps?"
hmmmm i dont mean for this to sound creepy! haha. Its just a small world, you know?

Have a fabulous Tuesday!
Heather
(another maine mama)

[Carrie]

Oh! I want to make a bag out of the "what the hell was I thinking?" fabric.

[joy]

tee hee, the good thing about buying thrifty is that its not a big deal to give it BACK to the thrift store:) I do that ALL the time. If you know anyone in the market for a big ass haul of polyester (like those 70's quilts are made from) let me know. I have a TON that I got from a "buy this whole cart of fabric for $10" from goodwill....I'm talking 5-10 yards of each color. They packed the cart with this stuff, and put the good prints up on the top so you'd buy the whole thing hoping to get lucky!

[Mama Urchin]

My goodness, you could have a fabric sale of your own. Not that you would, of course.

[meg]

oh you found some good ones! i'm sure you'll cram them in there somewhere...

[loribird]

I can see why the polyester fabric came home with you - it's pretty cool. Perhaps floor cushions?

[Frank]

I can't believe you find such great fabrics at a SA sale! I wonder what kind of fabric my SA has (likely crap)...

[Tiffany DuBois]

I can only imagine what bliss this was! We don't even have a S.A. so I guess it would be hard to find this sale...:-). Isn't it funny when you don't have a plan and you come upon fabric the thoughts that run thru your mind as to what use you will put it to. Usually makes me chuckle....

tiffany

[Laura]

I love the "what the hell was I thinking fabric." very kitschy. but still oddly interesting. But I am an art historian :).

[strikkelise]

I could sell my mother to be able to go to that sale. I'm still staring at your great finds.
The Renoir fabric would make a fab full length 'bohème' skirt for a silly summer party. With a red top, and preferably some absinthe.

[Lil]

Delurking to say what a great TIDY studio!! Good on you sister!! And the Renoir fabric...I love it, it's something I would have on my fabric shelf, in my office/studio if I had such a space *sigh*, so I stare at yours enviously!!

Explaining why I lurk - I am in awe of your talent, with the sewing machine, with the camera and with your words...it's inspiring, and well, I guess I don't know what to offer because I don't do any of those things. But you inspire me enough to buy the skirt pattern you posted a couple of weeks ago and snatch 3 different fabrics from my mom's fabric supply. I'll definitely be posting a pic once I sew it, 'cause I'm going to be damn proud of my first sewing project sans sewing course! Thank you!!

Lil

[Amber]

I'd like to dive into that shelf of fabric!! What a wonderful conundrum you're in!

Unfortunately, I don't think my partner would be up for that sort of fabric enabling... who knows, maybe I'm wrong about him... I'll have to ask!;-)

[Lindsey Clare]

haha. oh man. any husband willing to do that is a keeper for sure. what a dude your grandfather was!
i'm going to test my husbandito on this one... but now i'm nervous about his response! what if he pooh-poohs the idea?! the horror!

[corrie]

wow what finds! I'm still in love with your studio and wishing my dedicated sewing room was as gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!! it inspires me to clean up my own messy room!

[Adriana]

That last paragraph in your post just made my day. I'll go ask the husband to see if he passes "the test" ;-)

[Melissa]

Hi! I love, love, love your studio - the color is fantastic, would be an inspiration in itself. I don't think I'd ever want to leave the room with a color like that! Also, your house is gorgous - what does the outside look like? Just curious! And----I am 100% sure you will find the perfect use for that "what was I thinking fabric!"

[robin]

drip..drip...That would be the sound of my drool hitting the floor when I look with jealousy at your new (old) fabric stash!! Loverly and a good conundrum to be faced with. Your studio is BEAUTIFUL!! You can't go wrong with robin's egg blue!! Such an inviting space. <3

[robin]

drip..drip...That would be the sound of my drool hitting the floor when I look with jealousy at your new (old) fabric stash!! Loverly and a good conundrum to be faced with. Your studio is BEAUTIFUL!! You can't go wrong with robin's egg blue!! Such an inviting space. <3

[Helena]

Yum..fabric! The best part is finding and hauling it home. Do you have another empty suit case for the new stash? Your Soule-honey is the best. That kind of shopping is tiring. Can not wait to see what you make of it all.

[Elizabeth]

Wow - great fabric. Am green with envy, as we have absolutely nothing like those Salvation Army fabric sales in the UK. Have also got serious envy for your studio, what a wonderful room.

[julie g-c]

Hey Amanda, If you want to unload the "what the hell was I thinking" fabric, I know a very messy costume room out on Todd Brook Road that would be worthy of receipt. It was nice to spy you at the sale! Phoebe enjoyed it too!

[Cottage Magpie]

Mmmm....fabric. What a great haul! And my heart nearly skipped a beat when I saw the vintage unfinished star blocks. I collect those too and have been posting pictures of them on my blog lately. I just can't get enough! Thanks for sharing yours, they're awesome!

[Nissa]

Regarding the "What the heck was I thinking" piece. I might make a pinny to go over a dress made from that rather delish orange-y fabric in the third stack from the left on the middle shelf.

Crazy, cooky fabric. What fun.

I was in your neck of the woods a while back taking a week-long training course and spied the most beautious pig made from a gas can and other assorted rusty junk. I wonder if he still lives in that shop... I pine for him some days.