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. 

Fabric raid!

One thing I love to do, but rarely ever had time to do until this point, is to go through the storage rooms, re-organize them, and, sometimes, raid them!  After my long semester in Blacksburg, last week was a good start to summer.  I got a good start on organizing, did a a lot of weeding, and today I treated myself to a raid session at the store.  I got out a couple of dozen  mostly summery silk prints, with short yardage left.  These silks are priced at $29.98 to $39.00 per yard, and include designer prints, charmeuse prints, some georgette prints, ethnic and batik type prints, and now they are listed here at only $9.50 a yard!

$9.50/yd SILK RAID specials!

Here's one--it's a coral and pink floral pure silk print with a very subtle shantung texture.  

Our web site is secure for e-commerce (see the green padlock symbol in your browser's address bar along with the "https://" prefix...this is your assurance of secure payment encryption).  You  may also phone in your order or email us your order (for your protection please don't send your credit card info through email, however--we'll call you for that after we have a total).

Finally, enjoy browsing!  We're happy to take requests, because our customer requests serve more than one purpose--first of all it makes them happy sewers--but in addition it helps us decide what to put online in order to expand our e-commerce offerings.

So, go ahead, egg me on to do more raids!

Nautical buttons

http://www.exqfabrics.com/BUTTONS-NAUTICAL.html

To order please click above!

Loads of buttons, in response to our customer requests, are being added to our website daily.

For your summer pleasure, how about these nautical 4-hole buttons?  Use the white ones on navy, red, striped or colorblocked garments.  The black ones are perfect for use over white or striped black/white, for shirts, blouses, dresses, jackets.  Use a contrast-y thread on the white ones for a classic, fun, nautical effect (yellow or royal blue are fun).