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Ruby Summer........Vintage Inspiration

Sunday 14 October 2012

Ally Pally I love you! Christmas comes early!

Yesterday was like Christmas coming early! The annual fabric porn fest that is the knitting and stitching show has been held over the last four days at the iconic Alexandra Palace. Every year I forget just how big and busy it's gonna be! Rest assured I had my elbows sharpened so I could barge out anyone in my way and get to the front of the stands to view and fondle their irresistible wares! I managed to do all that without being arrested!
This year I went with my gorj fabricilicious friend Jan - its so much more fun going with a friend! (you can see her pic in the blog concentrating very hard taking pix of the knitted village. A couple of hours in and she had bought more than me but that was before we stumbled upon a stand where I fell totally in love! There was the most beautiful, toned and naked man serving- JOKING! Okay so there weren't even any men on the stand but you should have seen the fabrics! The patterns were stunning ( simplistic and japanese in influence) and one of the ladies obviously saw our deep admiration and showed us how it was all done. Evidently in small
villages in south western China patterns are hand sewn onto cotton or linen. This scrunches up the fabric - think a very skilled version of us at school tying fabric up with string to tie dye.It is then placed into buckets of dye and once the colour has taken and the fabric is dried each piece has its stitches very carefully removed to leave the work in a flawless condition.
Her enthusiasm and knowledge was so refreshing and catching and at this
point I spent a blooming fortune and indeed outspent Jan!
At present this seller doesn't have a website but they are hoping to have one soon. In the meantime look out for them, they are called Changs, when you are next at a show. I think you will love them!
I'm going to use the Changs fabric to make some gorj handbags - yay! keep your eyes peeled!
Until next time I blog I am off to make sure the calico samples for the bags are accurate before I cut my precious Changs fabric!
Have a fabulous week and keep crafty!
Loads of love Janie xxxx

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