New Selvedge Issue
The July/August 2008 issue of Selvedge Magazine is out now. I have a digital subscription through Exact Editions — highly recommended since it’s far more affordable than the paper version and gives you access to all the back issues.
The issue’s theme is “Indian Summer” and contains a few standout articles on block printing in Jaipur, and the history of the textile trade between India and the West. Other good stuff:
- A feature on Takashi Iwasaki’s embroidery (oh how I love this guy)
- A trend report on silhouette and papercut motifs
- An obit for Swedish textile designer Anna Sorensson
- A profile of Susanne Grundell, one of the “10-gruppen” (Ten Swedish Designers collective) that revolutionized Swedish textile design in the 1970s.
- True Up hero Skinny LaMinx gets not-one-but-two mentions!
Daily Swatch: Red White and Blue Week
“Eels … I think.” From Jessica Rita on Flickr.
Bell Bottoms by Sis Boom for FreeSpirit
Jennifer Paganelli aka Sis Boom’s newest line for FreeSpirit/Westminster is called Bell Bottoms. Notice how all the designs (except Mary Trellis, topmost in first image) use only two colors, which breathes modern life into the ornate motifs and gives a nod to the papercutting/silhouette trend. I’m also happy to see the plain stripes — I need some of these in my stash!
Like what you see? Paganelli is giving away Bell Bottoms fat quarters through her blog; comment by July 5 at 5pm!
She keeps a detailed list of both online and brick-and-mortar stores that carry her fabrics here.
What To Do With Vintage Polyester?
If you existed in the Sixties or Seventies, you wore polyester. Perhaps a stifling turtleneck, or plaid bell bottoms, or kid leisure suit, or Garanimals dress-up outfit that coordinated with your brother’s Garanimals dress-up outfit.
The double-knit variety is especially unbreathable, and the years give it a greasy patina. OK, not really, but in my mind it has a greasy patina, even after I touch it and am reassured that it does not.
I have come across lots of double-knit polyester yardage in thrift stores, and sometimes the designs are very cool. A lady in my quilt guild offered huge boxes of the stuff to anyone who would give it a good home. I stopped just short of the “reply” button. I do have a few pieces, but I wonder what to do with it. Purses, bags, sure. What else? The thought of wearing it makes me shudder, so no garments.
Daily Swatch: Red White and Blue Week
Whale Love, from Giant Dwarf on Flickr.
Sale Alert Special
Pink by Post: 10% off entire order with coupon code SUMMER (through 7/10/08)
Big sale at Always Mod, the Marimekko store, including many fabrics as well as finished products. (Through 7/15/08)
Reprodepot: All books and stationery 40% off, ribbons 25% off (both categories through 7/8/08), Marimekko fabric discounted (through 7/15/08), and many new fabrics added to the sale section.
Unclutterer on Fabric Stashes
Those home improvement and organization shows have gotten to me — I’ve got the decluttering bug. Unclutterer is a great resource and cheerleader. Here’s a post from last year on fabric stashes. Does it hurt you like it hurts me to read it? I will declutter every other inch of my living space, but being this much of a minimalist with the fabric stash is out of the question. For now anyway. It might be considered clutter in that I have more than I need (in too small of a space too boot), but it is useful and a huge inspiration for me.
That said, it is still good to organize one’s stash and crafting space with a decluttering mindset, getting rid of fabrics that have fallen into the “meh” category, not to mention supplies for other crafts that you no longer have time for. In fact, I already see a couple pieces in the picture above that I could part with.
Related:
- Unclutterer on collections (1 2)
- Unclutterer on saying goodbye to a hobby
- Show Us Your Stash: Manda of Tree Fall: It’s not a stash, it’s an archive.
Daily Swatch: Red White and Blue Week
Red, white, and two-blue argyle, from Antiquefabric.com.
Fabricmatcher.com
click for larger view of screenshot
Fabricmatcher.com is a nice online app that finds fabrics based on a color you specify or an image you upload. If I remember correctly, it used to be associated with Hancock’s of Paducah and search results were from their inventory. But that relationship appears to have ended. Now it is partnered with Moda and the Australian shop Material Obsessions. Moda offers a huge range of fabrics, so the search results are satisfying, but the trouble is you can’t order retail from them. You can, however, print a “shopping list,” which could lead to some fun searching. Materials Obsessions has a great selection of modern fabrics, and they do ship internationally, but at least here in the U.S. the shipping costs make ordering fabric from overseas impractical. Still, anyone can use the tool whether ordering from the shop or not.
Daily Swatch: Red White and Blue Week
Three from Etsy …
From the Tin Thimble, $18 for 1.5 yard piece
From Zaama, 14 for one-yard piece
From Sweet Poppy, $12 for one yard, 16″ piece, poly-cotton blend
Beth Rawlinson Textiles
Beth Rawlinson from Madison, Wisconsin designs fabric that is screenprinted in Belgium. She sells the fabric as well as finished products (pillows, lampshades, totes, and cosmetic bags) through her website.
The fabrics are a cotton-linen blend upholstery weight fabric. Some of her designs are even on sale right now.
Daily Swatch: Red White and Blue Week
Why, because it’s Independence Day in the U.S. this Friday. I’m not a typical patriot, but then this is not your typical red white and blue.
Vera scarf from Malisonian on Flickr.
Sale Alert Sunday
eQuilter: Independence Week Sale — Over 1400 bolt ends and discontinued products 35% off through Thursday, July 3, then 45% off July 4-6.
Fabrics-store.com: summer weight handkerchief linen $8.06/yard (regularly $8.95) (through tonight, 6/29/08)
Fabric.com: Back in Time sale, $1.95-$4.95 per yard in select categories (through 6/30/08)
Z&S Fabrics: 10% off entire online purchase (through 6/30/08)
Hollabee: end of the year sale. 15% off all mixed packs, 20% off the second length (buy 50cm, get 20% off the second 50cm bought of the same fabric only; free postage in Australia for orders over US $50.00 and half price postage worldwide for orders over US $50.00. Order from the shop but wait for a revised invoice from Bianca before paying. (through 6/30/08, 8pm Melbourne time)
Bee Square Fabrics has the Zazu line by Tina Givens marked down to $6.30/yard (till it’s gone).Modern Fabrics, previously posted about here, is now offering some of their fabrics by-the-yard. They are also offering 10% off your entire order with coupon code WELOVEMODFAB0806 (through 6/30/08)
J.Caroline Creative: short ends (discounted remnants) updated; all summer-themed fabric on sale, all canvas too, and all paper and scrapbooking priced to move! Plus an additional 10% off with coupon code PAPER with minimum purchase. (through 6/30/08)
The Virginia Quilter: All Westminster/Rowan fabrics $7.00/yard (through 7/5/08)Jo-Ann Fabrics: 50% off notions, foam by the yard, Warm & Natural by-the-yard batting (through 7/6/08), cotton twill solids, interlock knit solids (through 7/19/08)
Hancock Fabrics: semi-annual clearance sale, 30-60% off tons of categories; 99-cent patterns (various dates per brand), sales flyer here (through 7/9/08)
Daily Swatch: Teapot Week
Whoa, this is the real motherlode of teapot textiles. Teapot tablecloth, from d e b b i e (Debbie Hill) on Flickr.
Daily Swatch: Teapot Week
Vintage kitchen curtain, from Simple Charm on Flickr.
