Party in the OC!

I finally found the new location of a sweet boutique-The Sewing Party. It is now located off Ridge Route on Ridge Route ( how's that for confusing ) near the back of a little industrial center. The boring facade does not prepare you for the wonderful treats inside. Love of fabric and all its potential is what I take from this store. Fabric is grouped by textile designers or descriptions like 'shabby' or 'contemporary'. This makes it easy for their target customers of quilters to find the multiple mix of fabrics necessary to complete a quilt. NO emphasis on garments here-it is all about pillows, quilts and purses. But, alot of these techniques can easily be applied to clothing and nice fabric is nice fabric. Prices run from $9 up to $10.50 a yard with a back sale wall of $4.50 per yard.

The fabric here is absolutely beautiful ( do I say that about EVERY store? I just adore fabric ). And while you won't find zippers and thread and buttons and garment patterns you WILL find examples of wildly wonderful pillows, Japanese embroidery, and lots of creative class offerings.

What really brings me back to Sewing Party besides the great fabrics, classes, books, etc. is the fantastic purses. The selection of purse handles, hardware and ideas are inspiring.

And purses are everywhere! There are books of purse patterns, giant grommets, decorative zippers, the little feet for purse bottoms, and just great examples of the purses that can only be purchased as kits. No individual patterns, just kits that hopefully you'll buy when you sign-up for the class on how to make the purse. I really fell in love with the Bostonian purse with its nice size and shape. Plus lots of hardware that makes it look expensive and not at all homemade. No classes offered right now on the Bostonian but, I signed up for it on the store's wishlist of classes. When enough people sign up they schedule a class!

While I was perusing the goods at Sewing Party women kept entering the store murmuring about " Quilter's Run ". I suspected it was some sort of top secret quilting guild activity and I wasn't too wrong. As I exited I spied a Quilter's Run pamphlet and grabbed it. Quilter's Run is a 2 weekend promotion covering the four seasons and 40 fabric stores from LA, OC and San Diego counties. There are prizes and drawings and passports, etc. All I know is that I now have a list of 40 fabric boutiques just waiting for me to visit :) So stay tuned...

LOOK WHAT I MADE

This is the inaugural image of me in something I made. Since I am a sewing instructor I figured that I should show that I practice what I teach-well crafted, wearable clothes. This particular skirt is the one I asked Tim Gunn ( see earlier posts ) about skirt length. I did exactly what he advised NOT to do and truncate my calf. I really like the skirt and the awkward length; I just feel too old for a maxi length, over the hill for a mini and bored to tears with another knee length. Since I'm 5"11 I think I can work the mid-calf length.

Skirt: Butterick 3134and a beautiful heavy knit from LA @ $2 lb ( see earlier post ) approx. cost $3

Sweater: Target on sale

Camisole: Gap

Shoes: Steinmart $49

Belt: Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie; so old I forgot where I got it :)

MISSION: Maisonnette in Oceanside

On a semi-sunny Wednesday afternoon I went in search of Maisonnette in Oceanside. Students had raved about what an inspiring little shop it was and what I saw online intrigued me. Oceanside is only 19 miles from my house but, it always feels so far because the drive through Camp Pendleton. Of course, you never know what you might spy at Pendleton and this drive did not disappoint- a desert style encampment.

Downtown Oceanside has such a military town feel to it, but Oceanside really is a pretty little coastal town.

I finally found Maisonnette at the corner of Surfrider and N.Freeman St. It is the cutest house right off the main street. Parking is easy and if you're planning on going click on the store website for open hours and a little store history. I really love that this family is nuturing their passions AND sharing it with us.

Maisonnette delights all your senses the moment you walk through the front door. The store is bright, bursting with creativity, and full of wonderful items from books to paintings to fabrics to photos to jewelry! It puts a smile on your face just to anticipate the delightful browsing that awaits you :)

Good selection of books and fabrics by one of my favorite textile designers- Amy Butler. And lots of wonderful patterns, fabrics and books by Anna Maria Horner, who could become another favorite textile designer.

The prices very reasonable to very beautiful fabrics and the selection of striped knits at $6 a yard was incredible! First it's so hard to find knits, much less with a print that you like! Also, lots of garments on display made from the patterns and fabrics in the store.

I couldn't resist...

So I left with a nice bag of striped knits ( who could resist $6 a yard! ), maxi dress pattern, wallet pattern, polka-dot bias tape and a GREAT woven bird/cage fabric.

I think the smile on my face says it all- Maisonnette was a joy to visit. It's a little jewel box full of treasures in nearby Oceanside.