CBC « make something

The grand finale to my weekend was the much anticipated Love & Rummage Trunk Show. I don’t think we realized how enticing the ‘rummage’ aspect was going to be. Everyone was so excited to scoop up the vintage fabrics, buttons, clothing, housewares and trims. I have to admit, so was I. I got the sweetest vintage hankie with squirrels and bunnies on it and a lovely piece of vintage floral fabric from Claire. I also got a super colourful Vera scarf from Margie, which I think will bring a little spring to these last winter days and a darling grey vintage blazer from Jen.

I think I now officially have a Trunk Show bunny tradition. I can’t seem to resist the bunny! At this show I picked up one of Sarah McNeil‘s crazy cute knit bunny brooches. Of course, I also got one of Margie’s (Resurrection Fern) crochet sea stones. I have been coveting those stones for a very long time.

We were blown away by the crowds that showed up right at noon and had a steady stream of people until we started closing up the trunks at 5pm. It was pretty incredible and exciting.

We got a lot of great press for this show, including that lovely article in the Toronto Star and mentions in The National Post, BlogTO, and Toronto Life. Many of you early birds also heard me on CBC radio’s Metro Morning on Friday with Jane Hawtin. It was a live chat, so I got up at 4:30am to be in the CBC studio for 5:30am! I didn’t realize that so many people listened to the radio so early in the morning. (while I’m usually fast asleep for a few more hours) It was really wonderful to meet all the people who discovered us through these mentions.

Since we never rest on our laurels over here, the end of a trunk show means the start of planning for the next one!

Okay, this is not my usual ‘found by the side of the road‘ post. This is about discovering something in your possession that you forgot you owned. Like finding a $20 bill in an old purse you haven’t used for a few months, only I think this is much better. When talking to Debbie the other day about her metallic tote bag, I suddenly had a flash that I had bought myself some gorgeous metallic linen when I went to New York over Labour Day. When I went home, I scavenged in my spare closet and pulled out a beloved B & J Fabric store bag. Inside it, I found a yard of silvery linen fabric and also a couple yards of the finest wale corduroy in purplish grey. I can’t tell you how delighted and inspired I was.

One of the things I miss most about living in New York (besides French bistro fare, sample sales, Chelsea art galleries and the Strand) is aimlessly wandering the Garment district, slowly scanning shelves piled high with bolts of delicious fabric. I would often spend hours dreaming up creations and carefully choosing which fabrics would come home with me. B & J Fabrics is one of my favourites. This is where I first discovered Liberty of London fabrics. Just to be near those bolts of fabulous prints made me giddy.

Usually I find that the fabric tells me what it wants to be. The soft corduroy demands to be a dress and the linen a little sparkly top. As I start having some down-time over the holidays, I’ll be ready with my Gingher scissors to cut into these two fabrics and start creating.

p.s. There was a piece on the CBC radio show, ‘Spark’, yesterday about the resurgence of sewing. You can hear my funny voice for a few seconds here. Just fast forward to 12:30 for the part on sewing. The piece starts and finishes with cute audio clips from the 1948 film by Simplicity, “Pattern for Smartness“. It is extremely entertaining.

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