Destashing fabrics and patterns ... any takers?

I've been cleaning up and am mortified by the amount of fabric and patterns I've managed to (over)stuff into our tiny apartment. So, sadly, I have to let go of some of the goodies.

I don't know if anybody who sews has found this blog ... if you have and if you're from Singapore and if you're interested in fabric (Amy Butler, Michael Miller, Alexander Henry, Kokka, etc) and patterns (Buterick, McCalls, Burda), leave a comment and let me know. I'll take photos and put up a listing somewhere. They're all going for far, far lower than what I paid for them -- I'm thinking SGD$5-10/metre for the fabric and SGD$2 per pattern.

Or if you know of any charities which would welcome donations of fabric and patterns, let me know too.

Thanks a lot.

Fabric fast ... sigh

The stash is out of control, so, reluctantly, I'm going on a fabric fast until all that yardage is depleted by at least half.

From the glass-half-full perspective, this means I have to sew more!!

Proof that I actually *do* sew...

This was a quick-and-easy project that took just a couple of hours, from cutting to sewing up. I really wish I had more time to sew because I love it and well, there is this growing problem of a stash mountain that has already taken over the living room and is going to conquer the rest of the tiny apartment any day now, LOL!

I made this for the darling munchkin to wear on Mother's Day this year and I'm very pleased that she actually kept it on "all day long" (one of her favourite phrases). She's a fuss-pot and if she had her way all the time, would be decked out in PINK and ONLY PINK from head to toe.


The pattern is Heidi & Finn's "The Perfect Little Party Dress" which is a pdf download with very comprehensive instructions which are tailored for the beginner.

I did make a few small changes, such as adding topstitching to the wait/ties area just so the seams would lay properly and look "finished". And all edges are overlocked since I have an overlocker.

Oh, and the instructions don't emphasise pressing, which to me is what takes a garment from looking "happy-hands-at-home" to "where did you buy that?" So if you decide to get this pattern, don't forget to press your seams at every opportunity :-)

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And here are some pics of gifts I sewed last Christmas:

Well hullo, new additions to the stash!

My name is Simone and I'm a fabricaholic. There, I've said it out "loud". Hahahaha! No matter how hard I try (and to be really honest, I don't try really hard at all), I can't resist lovely fabric.

Take, for example, Exhibit A ..... a package which arrived to fuel my addiction:

Seems innocent enough. It wasn't even that big, for goodness sake. But inside, oh my, were these BEAUTIES. Aren't they simply delicious?!

While trawling the web one day, I stumbled upon the site of an indie designer from Australia (Melbourne, to be precise) and just fell in love with her self-designed, screen-printed (with environmentally-friendly ink no less) fabric.

And before you can say "stash overload!" the virtual cart was filled.

Caitlin of Pippijoe (http://www.pippijoe.bigcartel.com/) prints her designs on hemp or hemp/organic cotton mix and they are diiiivvvviiiiiinnneeeee. Her prints are all limited editions, so you won't find them everywhere, which is a big plus for me.

You can buy Pippijoe fabric by the metre (or smaller) and even in sample packs. Shipping to Singapore is really quick -- it takes less than a week -- and Caitlin is super-responsive. When I placed my order, she was in the midst of preparing for a big craft show. And yet, she took the time to very patiently and graciously answer my million questions, found prints that were almost out of stock and got everything shipped in a couple of days.

Expect to pay more than what you'd shell out for fabric from Spotlight -- after all, these are designer prints and they are printed by hand using environmentally friendly inks on organic fabric. I think they are worth it! A little also goes a long way -- I'm thinking of mixing these with some plain linen or even solid, heavier cotton. We'll see.

Now if only Caitlin sold time in a bottle for sewing. Hahahahahha! I really need to reduce the stash Everest. Maybe if I sewed more instead of just petting all my fabric :-)

"My father rode a camel..."

"I drive a Mercedes..." (click the link for the back story) and so the vision to transform a desert landscape began. It was my first trip to Dubai and the Emirate impressed indeed.

My first impression was that everything was rather green, thanks to an extensive sprinkler system. The second thing that struck me was the proliferation of space-agey skyscrapers.

Then, I realised how HUGE everything was, from the 7-lane highways to the miles and miles and miles of carpet one had to walk from the hotel lobby to the conference area. I got a good workout! LOL!

Dubai is also home to the world's largest mall (1,200 stores), the largest fountain and the tallest hotel/building, amongst other superlatives.

Oh, and over at the Mall of the Emirates, they even have a ski slope!

Shops open till 10.30pm daily except Thursday when they stay open till 12 midnight.

There wasn't time for retail therapy, unfortunately. I just managed to sneak in a zip into the shops on the way back to the bus after the team dinner. My darling monkey is now in happy possession of some pink camels. Hahahahahaha!

The next time I visit, I'll extend the stay and make it a point to visit the dunes in the desert too. I've never seen a desert up close, so it has been a bit of a dream to do so.

I'm off ...!

It's for work, not pleasure. And no, the work does not involve being in that structure. Too bad. Wonder if ...

1) I'll stumble upon any fabulous fabric;
2) By some miracle, I'll have any TIME to do anything that is not work-related.

We'll see.

Chanel fabric at Nicole Xavier

UPDATE (1st July): The Chanel fabric is still available! But I need to let you know that NicoleXavier may not necessarily be open every day. They're always closed on Sundays, but sometimes, take a day off during the week too. So if you're intending to visit, give them a call first (+65 532-7856)

I love Saturdays because that's the only day I get a few hours to myself as there is no work that day and my darling monkey spends some quality time with one set of grandparents.

Saturday is usually the day I get to do all the "me" things that get neglected during the week. It's the day for housework (hahaha! as if), getting a hair cut or sewing. Most Saturdays, though, I somehow end up at Chinatown.
These terrible taxi drivers, I tell you ... always taking me to Chinatown. Hahahahhaha! A few of my favourite fabric stores are located in Chinatown.

Anyway, this past Saturday, the decision to go to Chinatown was made easier when I received an sms from Nicole of NicoleXavier, one of my all-time fave fabric stores in Singapore and Chinatown.

For months, I had been bugging Nicole to bring in Chanel-esque boucles. Well, my wish came true and she brought in four bolts of yummy Chanel boucles AND some trim too!

They're not inexpensive -- expect to pay upwards of SGD$75 per metre for the fabric and SGD$25 a metre for the trim. But, you know, they are beeeyoootiful and hard to resist, especially if you consider that a real Chanel jacket costs in the region of SGD$10,000.

So some of the fabric and a lot of the trim leaped into my bag, all ready for my Chanel jacket project. Now to get the time and mojo to actually embark on that adventure! I'll post a pic of the fabrics when I get a chance.

Other sources of Chanel fabric that I have tried:

Alta Moda @ Arab Street. Prices are close to SGD$100 a metre and they have a very limited supply. Alta Moda is also where you'll find Pucci, Cavalli, Valentino, etc.

Linton Direct (http://www.lintondirect.co.uk/) -- they will send you free samples! These are the people who supply to the house of Chanel. Cost is between GBP20-40 a metre. Shipping is the killer, though, at about GBP35-40 for three metres of fabric.

Gorgeous Fabrics (http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/index.php) sometimes has Chanel too. I bought a lovely beige piece and another black/blue beauty. Prices are about USD$50 a metre.

24 hours of good luck

Just heard on the BBC that according to the Hindu calendar, we're in a 24-hour period where the stars and all that is good are perfectly aligned for embarking on anything new.

So today is a great day for weddings and having children. It's also traditional today for moms to buy a piece of gold or silver for their daughters' wedding trusseaus -- any trinket bought symbolises much happiness for future wedded blisss.

How lovely!

Well, as the presenter said, it can't hurt to get a nudge from Nature and the gods .... and so begins this new blog about my sewing adventures and fabric buying escapades here in Singapore.

PS. SIN is the airline code for Singapore, hence "Sewing in SIN"