Monday Morning Inspiration/When The Flood Gates Break!

Some of you may remember from earlier this summer that I put myself on a very restrictive fabric buying diet...no new fabric until after August 1st. Well, I did okay. But, I did buy the tea towels that I designed from my painting, and I also purchased the mirrored yardage. I am also cleaning up my studio. Those posts will resume soon. The doctor had asked that with this second eye surgery that I be particularly careful about not picking things up, and bending over. Tomorrow is freedom day, no more drops, and back to life as usual :)

Over the weekend, with my no fabric moratorium being over, I took a trip up to Gayfeather Fabrics in Madison, WI along with 5 other friends. We had a blast!!! 

I actually showed some restraint and picked out pieces that I knew I would make up quickly. I'll share more later, but this piece was especially fun...

Virginia had these wool panels that I thought were especially interesting. I decided to purchase 2. At just $5.00 per panel, a steal!

I wanted something fun to go with the panels. Found the piece above, went back and forth about it.

Then I flipped the fabric over to the so called "wrong side," and I loved it! I will be making the jacket below. The panels will be a skirt, just not exactly sure of how it will be executed.

If by chance you noticed the top I am wearing in the first picture, it was a gift, and what an amazing gift!!! Totally unexpected. I came home last Thursday and found a box waiting for me. Becky of Trial Balloons had sent an amazing treasure chest of fabrics. Included in the box was the top.

I had sent her the small piece that you see, on the bottom left of the top in the top left picture. It was a piece that a friend of mine had given me. It came from an antique kimono. Becky had the Kung Fu Bunny. What a hoot! Take note of the hand stitching she did around the edges. 

  

Love how the back was pieced, and if you look closely, on the back of the top, there are 3 small red stitches. Such a sweet touch.

Just a few of the other special pieces that were in the box...

The piece below did not photograph all that well, so much prettier in person. It's double sided. The pieces aren't large, but what a special accent they will be!

This piece is about 12" wide, but rather long, so another beautiful accent piece.

Her son had brought this back to her from China. She said that the colors were just not quite her, but thought I would enjoy it. I do! What I think I am going to do with the piece is actually use the back side for an unlined jacket. That way, when I take the jacket off, you'll see the amazing inside! 

I also want to share this sweet gift that my friend Sue gave me,

She didn't make the bag, but did the embroidery. It was the perfect accessory for our Gayfeather shopping trip. What I especially like about the bag is that it has snaps so the top can be closed up a bit. 

So yes, the flood gates broke ;) I can now buy fabric once again. But, my break gave me some space, a chance to really look at what I have, cherish what I have, and think first before I buy.  

Before I go, I want to share my shawl. This is the Honeycomb  Wrap from Purl Soho. I was seeing honeycombs in my sleep before it was over :/ But, it's done, I'm happy, and I can't wait to wear it! Now all I need is some cold weather ;) 

Just had to make a note about this picture...

Conehead Berkley is in the chair ;) He has been with us now for 3 weeks. As we were getting ready to go to bed last night, my husband said, "I can't believe it, you've created yet another monster." He was referring to the fact that Berkley is already so very attached to me, and wants to be with me all-the-time. Oh well :) 

Have a fabulous week!

Rhonda

Once a Junker, Always a Junker

The winds in Chicago were so strong last night. At one point I thought I just might get blown away and meet the Wizard of Oz!!! I hope that all of you who drop by had an uneventful night as I heard this morning that there were a number of tornadoes across the United States. 

I can be a bit of a junker...you know, the person who loves to visit resale shops, junkie antique stores, and look for treasures. I've always enjoyed antiques. My very first antique store purchase was a little green cup and saucer, which I still have. In fact, that little cup and saucer grew into a rather large collection.  

There was a time when I could not afford much of anything except my rent and car payment. I ate LOTS of beans and rice, and with my few extra dollars, I would hit resale shops in search of pieces that I could either wear as they were, or remake them. Well, the joy of going to a resale shop and finding a treasure is still something I absolutely love to do. 

I talk to so many who lament the fact that it is becoming more and more difficult to shop at a brick and mortar store for fabric. More and more, we are all having to move our shopping to online resources. While they provide lovely pieces of fabric, I think that what we all miss is being able to touch the fabric. After all, there's so much more to buying fabric than just seeing a pretty piece. 

Resale shops offer great fabrics...in the form of ready made clothes. Of course, sometimes you get lucky, and other times not. I recently visited a favorite shop and I thought that before I tear the pieces apart, I would share my treasures. 

The first piece I purchased was this pretty brocade dress. There's lots of fabric, so I can experiment and play to my heart's content.



It's a little wild, but I loved the print on this knit dress. 

This sequined top might get used with the brocade for something fun. BTW, I am in a pair of my Thrifty Thursday Martha Stewart pajama pants. They are made from a piece of vintage flannel that I found in a resale shop!

This dress will probably be worn this summer just as it is. I initially thought that I would cut off the top and make a skirt, but it fits perfectly, and it will be a nice, fast to throw on garment that I can dress up or dress down.
  

I rather like the trim too. The nice thing about it is that if I change my mind, I can always cut it up at a later date. And, I'll never feel guilty since I only paid $2.00 for the dress.

On the same trip, I found this great pair of leather pants. They are teeny tiny, so unless I decide to practically starve myself to death, I won't be wearing them. I'm ripping them apart and using the leather for some bags and then whatever trim I might think of.

All of the above pieces were a total of $14.00. I think that the pants were the largest portion of the cost, $7.00, but still a steal for leather.  

Now to see what I can create!

If you haven't thrown your name in for the Sew News magazine giveaway, be sure to pop over to THIS post and throw your name in before Friday!

Happy Shopping!
Rhonda