Fabricholism...

[Dinobabe]

"Grocery Only" line!?  What's the point in going to Wal-Mart, then!

[LadyStitch]

Some one told me that they are doing regional fabric stores.  If there is a walmart with in 20 miles that still has a full "Craft and Fabric section"  They will be removing it from stores.   We have one walmart near here that still has the fabric section and it is just crud.  I've gotten stuff from them but only as late night Oh Crap!  type things.
However I did go to a walmart 30 minutes from a super walmart and they had THE BEST craft fabric section I had seen in a walmart in years.  They were the only walmart for another 60 miles. It serviced the local farming comunities, so I'm not surprised.  To be honest it is really just hit and miss anymore. 

[Rowan MacD]

I've only actually been in the JoAnns that's a 1/2 hour away  once.   While there I asked one of the sales ladies to show me where the cotton gauze was.  You know what she told me?  She said "we don't carry anything like that here, you have to go to a drug store, they'll have it in the first aid section."  I'm not making this up!  Although I've been sewing for years, I'm only a very basic sewer, and am still very much a beginner, but goodness.. You'd think someone who works there would know what I was talking about! I don't expect a store employee to always know every single thing about what they sell, but it's not like I was asking for some high end exotic hard to find fabric!  Oh well, maybe she was a beginner too.   

I have never been able to find anyone at the two Jo-ann's in this area that knows squat about anything except how to work a cash register, and that's frustrating since they have the best trim.  

[Dinobabe]

I've always thought of places like JoAnns or Hobby Lobby like Wal-Mart for crafts.  It's just a job, not something that they do because they love the hobby (though there is this one woman at Hobby Lobby that loves her job and is a crafter, so there are exceptions).  I don't expect too much out of the employees.  I do find that Hancocks generally has great staff. 
I couldn't imagine working at a crafts place and not loosing my paycheck every week to the cool stuff!  Hence why I do not work at a bookstore, either.

[Cilean]

Back from Costume College! So I went down to the Fabric District!!!!!  Here is what I have;

This is my 12th Night gown! It reminds me of an Italian Extant fabric, but I am making a 1570's Gown with it.  I might do a silk Taffeta  This was on sale for $7.95


This is the same fabric that I made my Venetian from, it was on sale for $4.95 per yard so I picked up some more rather than go and miss out on it!


And this is only 1 1/2 yards of velveteen to become guards for the Faire Gown and was $2.95 a yard!!  Now I need gold for the forepart and inner sleeves.  I will be set!  


This piece came from Micheal Levine's!  I never buy from there usually but I walked in and they had a sale on all sorts of silks, and I found this taffeta under a bunch of charmuese and prints.  I am going to try and get some lavender or light blue dye and do a wash so I can get lavender out of this fabric it was $7.00 per yard!!!


I have to save up some more cash to go back in November as they had some other fabrics but I did not want to go over my limit of $100.00.


Cilean

[LadyStitch]

BTW I stumbled onto this today.  It is free printable pages to organize your fabric stash. 
http://organizedhome.com/printable/crafts-hobbies

Not sure if I will go that far just yet but thought I would post it for other people to use. 

FYI I use someof the household pages this place offers for my FlyLady Control Journal.

[Rani Zemirah]

Gorgeous fabrics, Cilean, and great prices, also!  I'm very envious of your trip to Costume College, and it's proximity to the Fabric District, as well! 


It just occurred to me that the adhesive-backed clear pocket thingies they use for FedEx shipping labels would be great to stick on my bins so I could have a removable/update-able list of everything in each bin, so I wouldn't need to even open it if what I'm looking for isn't on the list.  It would make it easier to add or remove things from the list as they are used or shuffled around, as well.  I bet Office Depot carries them, and lots of other places, as well.  

[Adriana Rose]

My mother and I win.. We are in the midst of cleaning out our storage unit and I have found like 12 58qt totes FULL of fabric!

great merciful mother I dont get to go to a fabric store for YEARS

[Auryn]

Rani, genius idea. I am going to hit up my fed ex guy for some this week.

Cilean, beautiful fabrics you got there.
Is this the fabric district in LA??
I was there once in May and literally had a dream about it 2 nights ago.
You better let us see what you make of those gorgeous fabrics.

[Rani Zemirah]

My mother and I win.. We are in the midst of cleaning out our storage unit and I have found like 12 58qt totes FULL of fabric!

great merciful mother I dont get to go to a fabric store for YEARS

Buried treasure!!!  What a score!  Hope we get to see at least some of the best pieces!  Wow... 12 of them!  Have you stopped jumping up and down yet?!?    heheh

[Dustin]

It just occurred to me that the adhesive-backed clear pocket thingies they use for FedEx shipping labels would be great to stick on my bins so I could have a removable/update-able list of everything in each bin, so I wouldn't need to even open it if what I'm looking for isn't on the list.  It would make it easier to add or remove things from the list as they are used or shuffled around, as well.  I bet Office Depot carries them, and lots of other places, as well.  

They're called "packing list envelopes" and they're available at:
Staples http://www.staples.com/Packing-List-Envelopes-Mailing-and-Packing-List-Envelopes/cat_CL141896
Office Max http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/shipping-mailing-supplies/packing-list-envelopes
Office Depot http://www.officedepot.com/catalog/search.do?Ntt=packing list envelopes&predict=true

Most of the prices on the websites are for cases of 1,000. I bet they have smaller packages at the stores.

[Adriana Rose]

I did a happy squee dance when I found the pile. I think there is more still!

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, thank you, Dustin!  I knew they had a name, I just wasn't sure what it was...  lol

AR, I would be doing a happy squee dance, myself!  Can't wait to see pics (hint, hint...)   

[operafantomet]

If any of you ever head to Rome (and have lots of money and space in the suitcase... ), do seek out the area between Piazza Argentina and Piazza Venezia. This seems to be Rome's no.1 fabric hotspot. There are both tailor fabric shops (read: fine wools for suits etc), upholstery shops (read: thick brocades, tassels and whatnot), as well as small appliquées-buttons-beads-trims-laces-and-whatnot stores. Here's some pictures to tempt you...



Alas I was there as a poor student, so I only bought mustard silk for a saccoccia, as well as a bit of trim and lace. But I dream of going back there!

[Rani Zemirah]

Ooooh... the handmade laces and the tassels are amazing!!!  How fun to just wander through shop after shop of so many beautiful things...