Creating and adapting in the time of Covid

For many of us, the new work-life means staying at home, or in a less "congested" workplace. It means rethinking how we are going to choose to engage with the public and how accessible we should be.

It means following health guidelines for the foreseeable future. 

It's a paradigm shift for many of us who are accustomed to working behind a counter, window dressing, draping fabric around our customers, and keeping the shelves stocked.

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But for us at Exquisite Fabrics, it's just a continuum. We were adapting to online selling starting in 2006. WOW. That's 15 years ago! 

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One community of sewing enthusiasts that remains optimistic and active, despite everything, is the costuming community. Normally there are "events" and conferences throughout the year that feed the community with new inspiration. 

One of the last festivals to take place was at the beginning of the pandemic, surrounding Mardi Gras. The aftermath of "Carnevale" in Venice proved to be catastrophic, despite warnings from health specialists to cancel or stay away. The SARSCOV2 virus traveled back to the United States with some of the revelers, landing in New York. Things have never been the same, and most "Carnival" and Mardi Gras events for this year have been put on hold.

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However, innovation is what fuels creative people. Many people have taken this at-home time to learn. It is possible to add new skills and carry those to your own projects, looking forward to the future. That means online classes in creative arts are growing at an exponential rate! 

One of these creatives is Kristen Darville Foggie, owner of Black Orchid Atelier, an online purveyor via Etsy and Facebook. Kristen offers Custom Historical Costumes, Accessories & Patterns, made to order or ready-made. 

Kristen has gathered some of her industry contacts into a new online learning experience called Costume Skills Institute. With a low monthly fee, you can learn skills that may be new to you, but have been carefully preserved by this community of experts. If you join her Patreon project at the highest level, 

Check it out! 

In addition, Kristen runs a "de-stashing" page on Facebook, where other costumers get to join in the fun of de-acquiring/re-acquiring no-longer-needed fabric yardages, trims, and even spec costumes and antique textile goodies.

Kristen's "trunk show" page is filled with costumes that anyone can envy! 

Springtime sewing

Springtime means sewing, cleaning, organizing! Make it work with a new sewing basket.

Have you ever treated yourself to a new sewing basket? It's amazing how being organized helps to get the sewing underway! Find those marking tools, pins, scissors, seam rippers in record time.

Or, if you're a one-project-at-a-time sewing genius (oh, how I've tried that), use the basket to store your pattern, instructions, and cut-out pieces until you have time to work on sewing...it's like having a mini sewing room. Tidy is good for the soul!

A basket like this also makes a great gift for mom, a housewarming gift, or an off-to-college gift for a student. (Students who sew make "friends" fast!)

Stop by the store or order via our website while supplies last. 

Happy sewing!

Silly me, I've forgotten all about Blogger, Google+, etc.

I've built our store website about six times...I'm kind of obsessed with the different builds that are possible. Now I've settled on one, and I'm full steam ahead!

To start with, there's a NOTIONS SALE going on through the weekend (ok, maybe until the snow ends). Use the coupon code VAL and get 40% off on a variety of things from metallic thread, to sewing pins, to rhinestone studs. gold eye needles, and jean buttons.

If you feel like venturing out of your house, tomorrow is the last day of our full-blown
WINTER SALE.

Our spring fabrics are just arriving too fast!

Meanwhile, for your blog enjoyment, here's a post from the blog that's attached to our website.



HAUTE COUTURE LESSON 13


All I learned about couture methods (not much) was from Madam Simone and Madam Therese Andree.

I think my next teacher, when I decide to learn in earnest about couture, will be Claire Shaeffer. But I haven't much time to decide, because the last of her famous Sewfari workshop/classes are filling up.

So, in the meantime, I found her on Facebook and viewed a video she had posted from the Chanel website.

If you have time to watch it, notice a few things.

You can get lessons on "French jackets" (which are cleverly not referred to as "Chanel"for trademark reasons), but many times the result seems overworked. Not that 130 hours or so on a jacket isn't a lot of work! It is a matter of experience and a certain light touch to be able to make a jacket that looks as casual and yet perfectly fitted as the real thing.

A few differences. All those buttons and all that braid can make a jacket look militaristic. One reason Chanel jackets look relaxed is that the braid is applied following the natural contour of the fabric. Since the fabrics are usually nubby, the braid does not look like it was applied to a piece of cardboard. If you can look carefully, the pockets are not mirror image perfect nor are they perfectly flat. Everything lies, relaxed, and has enough "give" in the application to allow the human body to wear the jacket, and not the jacket to wear the person.

That's why some of the real jackets have survived generations of women who have worn then first as suits, then donned them over chiffon dresses, and then at last with jeans. 

​All that being said, I can't explain how it's done. I just know it when I see it. 

Happy Holidays from Exquisite Fabrics!

We hope you've got your holiday plans under control. With one weekend left before Christmas and two before the New Year, we thought we'd mention all the great resources here in old town Culpeper.

After you stock up at Exquisite Fabrics on your fabrics and notions for your latest project, take a stroll down Davis Street!

For wine, there are a few stores that have tastings and that specialize in the great local selections. Check out Vinosity for Friday evening tastings! Culpeper Cheese Company has tastings sometimes too, and you can check out their fine selection of cheeses and other tasties including fresh baguettes. You won't leave empty handed!

For other tastings, check out the infused oils and vinegars at Taste. They carry a line of spices too! Your nose will thank you.

Then head back up to Davis Street and check out the largest free-standing Neuhaus chocolatier in the country, at the Frenchman's Corner.

If you'd rather sit and sip, consider a real "teatime" at Miss Minerva's, or a light lunch at Hazel River Inn or their new Rathskeller.

There's so much to do that even we haven't done it all yet!

Customers on the move!

It's been fun to learn that some of our customers are detaching from old work lives, the "inside the beltway" pace of life, and enjoying new and creative ways of working and living. There are so many alternatives to the hellish commute and "9 to 5" (which in most cases is really more like 8 to 7) routine that for many people it just no longer makes sense.

We've been hearing about customers who work from home at creative jobs, people who telecommute at their old jobs several times a week, and people who have just unplugged completely. Maybe that economic crash of 2008 gave everyone a great excuse to re-think and re-boot?

Of course for many people that frees time and energy for pursuits like gardening, catching up with family...and sewing!

Tell us how you're contemplating a change in your routine!

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN CULPEPER WITH EXQUISITE FABRICS PART 2

There's lots to do in the next few weeks, so it's a great time to enjoy a day-trip from the DC area, Richmond, or Charlottesville.

Sunday November 23rd. We and other businesses in downtown Culpeper will be open special hours from noon to 5 for the annual Holiday Open House.  For all planned activities, click here.

Wednesday before Thanksgiving, November 26th, we'll be open at noon. Please call 202 507  9775 or 540 727 0396 so you can enjoy our November Sale!

Friday after Thanksgiving, we'll be open noon to six, our regular seasonal hours, November Sale in progress.

To make a day trip fun for the whole family, you might plan to take in a movie at the Library of Congress Packard Campus. Screenings are free but reservations are required.

There are lots of holiday programs in store at the State Theatre in downtown Culpeper. Some are free, including the following:

Thursday December at 7:30 pm:  It's a Wonderful Life
Thursday December at 7:30 pm:  White Christmas

Along with the dining, shopping, and entertainment, the "main street" atmosphere is very enjoyable to take in while strolling around.

Have fun!

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN CULPEPER WITH EXQUISITE FABRICS

Nothing beats small town America during the holiday season. Share our delight on Sunday November 23rd, when Culpeper Downtown holds its annual open house. 

Many businesses (including Exquisite Fabrics) will be open from noon to 5 pm. Now that's special!  Get out of the mall and into a delightful, local shopping experience with our fellow merchants on Davis and Main Streets. If you act fast, you may be able to get seats on Amtrak's Cardinal train. Walk, dine, and shop!

In addition, we'll be open one more Sunday, on December 7th. As of this writing, Amtrak has seats from DC on the Cardinal train which departs Union Station at 11:05 am and departs Culpeper for the return trip at 4:11 pm. Reserve your seat very soon for the best prices (as little as $20.00 one way).