CONTEST ALERT!!

Just cruising through my emails when a little mention in Threads website caught my attention.
Project Runway is casting for a spin-off that will feature accessories! What a great opportunity for perhaps the more crafty individual in the fashion community.
It's not as hard to make a hat or bag fit but, I'm sure the challenges will be just that-challenging!

LA auditions are June 25 & 26

Goodbye Pictures is the production company so visit their website for all the info or go Threads website and search for Project Accessory.

Applications can be downloaded at

http://www.goodbyepictures.com/casting.html

GOOD LUCK

OMG! Super NEW Fabric Warehouse

Early Wednesday I had to drive someone to LAX but, I noticed that a new fabric warehouse was finally open off the 405 freeway off Euclid. Of course what really caught my eye was the offer of "free fabric". Upon my return trip to South OC I stopped by the fabric superstore. It is a Dorell Fabric outlet and Dorell advertises that it has been in business since 1934. It has a very LA vibe but, how smart of them to locate in OC. The store is HUGE, Costco size, and laid out in a very coherent color themed way. The fabric is all home dec fabric on rolls 54" to 60" wide. It starts with cotton prints then moves into 'upholstery fabric' with very little fabric content information. Prices are also pretty darn good ranging from $9.99 per yard for most all of the cotton prints to $12.99 - $16.99 per yard for most of the upholstery fabric and $19.99 per yard for the ultra suede ( which is quite a savings I think ).

The selection of fabrics, weaves and colors was UNBELIEVABLE. I truly think it would be impossible to not find something you liked. I just wanted to make a dozen different garments out of this home dec fabric. However I know from experience that many home dec fabrics do not launder well so I resisted my fabric-aholic impulse. But, man oh man did I find LOTS of fabric that would make the cutest skirts, my personal passion!!

This is a giant warehouse that has no notions ( ie. threads, zippers, etc. ) but, it has some fantastic trims that include amazing fringes, tassels, and cording. Everything needed for some seriously great pillows!

Then there is a HUGE selection of pillow forms ( even down pillow forms ) at fantastic prices. This is really a superstore for interior decorators.

AND there is a serious WALL of ultra seude. I have never seen such a selection in one place. I counted approximately 96 ( !! ) ultra seude colors each priced at $19.99 a yard. The selection is truly mind-boggling.

So after perusing the GIANT warehouse fabric store I finally stumbled upon the advertised FREE FABRIC!! It was in a bin by the cash register and no one was around so I couldn't ask if you had to make a purchase to take the free fabric so I just took a fabric that I liked. You can see by the final photo that the free pieces were very large! I will be returning to Dorell Fabric Outlet to purchase fabric and probably a couple pillow forms, at least to use with my free fabric:)

Balenciaga in San Francisco

On a gorgeous sunny Saturday in San Francisco my daughter Chrissie and I ventured out to the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park to view a Balenciaga exhibit. Cristobal Balenciaga was a designer from the early 20th century that was raised in Spain but, became a couture designer in Paris from the 1930s until he retired in late 1960s. The exhibit had 120 ( ! ) gowns that represented the entire span of his career. The garments were all fabulous and very inspired by his Spainish youth. During his career Balenciaga kept revisiting images that obviously captured his imagination such as bows, bubble hems, pom-poms, scooped out skirt fronts, boat necklines, pinked fabric edges, collar details in the back, etc. etc.
The exhibit was a joy to walk through with giant art work reproductions of Velasquez and Goya and bullfights and photos of fisher women that probably influenced Balenciaga's designs. From a technical perspective the garments were inspirational and from a purely visual experience the garments were stunning. The exhibit had my imagination and awe on overdrive and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

There were 120 garments to be awed by at the exhibit. Balenciaga only designed dresses for a few decades ( late 1930s to late 1960s ) but what I enjoyed about the exhibit was how Balenciaga kept revisiting style lines and ideas that captured his imagination. Most prominent was the scooped front and the boat neck neckline. Also, bunching up the skirt bottom which was supposedly copying fisherman wives tucking the skirts into the waistband. Balenciaga exaggerated silhouettes and hid surprises. It is hard to accurately describe the obvious recurring themes in the garments but, they were very noticeable. It seemed Balenciaga kept working on a concept until he got it perfect-and he did get it perfect. Some of the gowns were absolutely breathtaking in their beauty and simplicity. The last striking feature was the modernity of the pieces. Over and over my 19 year old daughter and I were exclaiming " I'd wear that ! "

The exhibit had the lights dimmed so that the textiles of the garments would not be damaged, however that also made it impossible to sneak a good non-flash picture when the guards weren't looking. I can never resist snapping a few furtive photos because my memory is terrible!! Also, the catalog of the show did not capture the spirit of the exhibit AT ALL and did not even have good photos of the garments. The catalogue was so bad that I actually asked if there were copyright concerns that prohibited photos of each garment. The museum cashier looked at me like I was nuts but, I was disappointed that the catalog was so lacking so I did not purchase it. Next month Threads magazine is doing an article on Balenciaga so I'm hoping that will illuminate some of the more intriguing construction details of this amazing fabric artist. The exhibit was truly inspiring and I highly recommend it to all fashionistas.

After the exhibit Chrissie and I drove to Haight Ashbury where once again I totally scored with a great parking place for the vehicle beast ( Ford Excursion ) and we enjoyed a delicious lunch together in a window seat with GREAT people watching. Metered parking was 25 cents for like 10 minutes so we didn't stay long. But, I enjoyed every minute of my beautiful day with my beautiful daughter. Life is good :)