Retail therapy is fun!!!

[lovetriangle]

Ok, so I am being eaten alive by thoughts of the gowns I need to make asap - namely, the Viscountess gown - so I thought I'd take my JoAnn's 40% off coupon down today and go get at least the base velvet for it. I still hadn't decided on dark red, dark blue or black, and much depends on the trim I find since Santa did not bring me the trim on my wish list. :-(

I called Joann's before I drove all the way over there and they said they had NO 100% cotton velvet nor velveteen. Plenty of poly, she said helpfully. No, thank you. So Claire and I went downtown. I always forget how close I am and on a weekday parking ain't so bad.

The first store I passed through has 44" black 100% cotton velvet for $3.99/yd, and 60" navy or green cotton velvet of a very nice quality for $4.99/yd. I went in search of trim and would match what I could find when I was done.

Then I found trim. Now, it's not as nice as the stuff I asked Santa for, but it IS handmade bullion trim and it was $5/yd in 5 yard bundles. I got 2 bundles and may get more if I need it. It's bright and dark gold bullion on a bronze shot ground with little olive stones at the flower centers.

Without flash - more accurate contrast


With flash - more accurate color but shows more sparkly than it really is:

I went back to the velvet man and held the trim up to the three colors. The blue velvet was the prettiest but the trim went best with the green velvet. Unfortunately, I really didn't like the green - it was a little too towards kelly and not dark enough for my taste. I ruled out the blue just because the whole dress spectrum I have to work in will be shifted to the blue/teal/green end, so I went with black. It will be very pretty.

And the total bill for this trip was $86 including parking. WOOT! And if anyone is in need of $5/yd 60" navy or mid-green cotton velvet, you can't beat this stuff! Reply here and I'll tell you where it is.

I'll edit this to add pictures of my finds as soon as I charge up the camera battery. And eat some dinner. I'm starving. :-)

Comments

[thesane.livejournal.com]

Oh-so-pretty. It's going to look absolutely gorgeous.

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Very nice! And excellent price!. After my stupid mistake, that's my my basic cotton 1860s dress cost :)

Can't wait to see what you make :)

[sewphisticate.livejournal.com]

Vicountess Whom (may I be so bold as to enquire)? ;-)

[howlgirl.livejournal.com]

Binden? *snicker*

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

Hey!

Montague. I get to be Catholic! And feisty! Imagine that! LOL! :-)

[marymont.livejournal.com]

Where? Where?

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

Ok, the place is called Silk City
305 E 9th Street, #120, AL, CA 90015
They're between Santee & Maple. :-) Have fun!

[marymont.livejournal.com]

I don't make it down to the Garment District (I'm old school; can't get used to calling it the Fashion District) often, but I will file this in the brain as a good one.

[catherinejs.livejournal.com]

I am so insanely jealous! Yesterday I spent $15 a yard on brown cotton velvet, 54 or 60 inches wide, at "Discount" fabrics in Berkeley. Not only was that the best price, it was the ONLY price -- brown velvet seems to only come in nylon around these parts.

I don't often wish I lived in LA, but that garment district....

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

LOL! Maybe it will make you feel a little better that I didn't see any cotton velvet in brown anywhere.

[chartreusekitty.livejournal.com]

Mid green eh? That might go nicely with my teal/brown stripe. Good price too.
That trim is really yummy. Other colors and styles?

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, that green would look terrible with your stripe. There's not enough yellow in it. :-( Hmmmm, the blue wouln't work either. Still, you could make something great out of 4-5 yards and at that price it's hard to pass it up just to have it in the stash. If it's still there after my next payday I'm going to go back and get the blue.

That trim is WAY yummy, but it was the only thing he had like it in the whole shop. I suspect that's why it was so cheap because it's the same kind of stuff that Heritage Trading sells on ebay, never below $15/yd. It was quite a score butthere's no reason why you can't get some, too. Actually that trim is what would look great with your stripe.

[empresscao.livejournal.com]

Hi, I found your site through Festive Attire and I am drooling over all your costumes! I was wondering if you could recommend some of the fabric stores you like downtown. I've been twice but I always get a little overwhelmed by all the selection.