Last week I got some sad news that my 80 something Nanny who has been in very good health took a turn for the worst, and my Grandpa who’s health has been up and down for the last few years also went into hospital the next day. They are both at home now so I took the chance of going to The Royal Lemington Spa where they live to see them for cake and chat. Even though my nanny looked pale and tired she had gone to the trouble of making me cake.
Nanny Harris's Lemon drizzle cake of dreams
Please note she made me a whole cake, which I have managed to eat half of in about 3 hours. I have now stored the rest away and will be sharing it with all I meet. If you like lemon drizzle cake come and have tea at mine tomorrow. You will be saving me from myself.
Me and Waldo went for a nice stroll around the town. It was so sunny today that I managed to not wear 4 layers! That is a big big thing. Waldo enjoyed being taken into all the charity shops in search of vintage china, sadly we did not find any to add to my two trios, but we did find lots of fabric…..
Here is another of my favorite fabric stores to add to the list. Think I will have to make a separate blog page with all my favorites so I can keep track!!!
122 Warwick St, Leamington Spa CV32 4QY
This lovely little shop stocks lovely lovely fabrics for dress making and quilting, including brand names at really good prices. But hands off the discount corner. Its all mine. I managed to get some lovely discounted items today. These included:
The label says it all really- £7.99 for two scrumptious meters. What you can not feel is the softness of this fabric. The lovely lovely softness. Waldo enjoyed the softness by sleeping on the bag it was in during the ride home.
This slightly open weave linen cotton mix cost £4.99 a meter. I bought two. It apparently has flaws running trough the dye- the darker red splodge in right hand corner is the ‘flaw’ but the red thistles take all the glory.
100% cotton soft like worn in jean material, and at £2.99 for two meters I bought two lots! Thats at least 2.5 dresses…..or 2 dresses and a skirt for all you clever readers. I had a look at decorative cloths website and its back up to £8 a meter. I really got a great bargain!!
Last week I went into town and visited the fancy silk store, which holds about three floors or random c**p. I would not recommend this store for value, good quality products or service. The MEN who work there know nothing about the fabrics content or weaves type. Actually they nothing about fabrics at all. In fact they hate helping you so much all the good looking fabrics are kept 7 feet in the air and when you ask if you can have a look they get cross or ignore you for a while in hopes you may go away. They also do not understand the notion of samples as they have a ‘samples bin’ which holds tiny bits of material with a sign saying 5 ‘free’ samples a visit. When I found a fabric I actually liked and asked where this fabric was (after two different workers not being able to understand me) I found out that most of the fabrics in that bin are the end of a roll and not stocked anymore. ??? Also I had one employee ask if he could touch my dislocated hip. I never swear in blog but what the f**king f*uck. I now only go in this shop with a man. Rant over. I did find a weird print that was cute enough to brave asking its price…..it started of at £4.99 a meter and then went up to £6.99……I payed £4.99 per meter. Was it worth it. You decide.
I think it will make a pretty summer dress.
Another fabric shop that I have visited recently was Newbury’s ‘smaller in the town’ fabricland. I had heard great things about fabricland and rushed to their website only to get really really confused by all the side bars and odd colours. When I found out they had a branch in Newbury I got excited but was left a little disappointed. The staff seemed bored and uninterested in what the customers where doing, the fabrics where not as cheap as I had been led to believe and the variety quite limited. I would like to visit one of the big stores as I have heard great things about those.
I bought this oriental inspired fabric and a sheer voile to sit along side the current trends.
2011 trends fashion week
These fabrics covers prints, asia, brights and sheer. I intend for it to be used to make Simplicity 2248, which I also purchased at fabric land. Was a little annoyed the assistant initially gave me the larger sized pattern pack….I did not loose 3 stone for no reason!
Here is the pattern I am planning for the oriental fabric and iridescent sheer voile. As usual I want to make a non suggested mix of dress elements. Sheer sleeves with the cross over tie….. why can I not ever be simple.
So all in all today has been good, apart from my Grandparents being ill. I am hoping they will both get better.
I can sing a fabric rainbow
