Nicki and Carolyn taking a trip through some of the stores in downtown LA's Fabric District. If ever you get a chance to go....GO! It is a Crazy Quilters dream!
Beads, beads and more beads!!!!! Wall to wall - floor to ceiling!
Satins, silks, wedding fabrics in every color and design - just beautiful!
Absolutely gorgeous silk dupioni in every color and tons of beautiful Asian brocades! This by far was our favorite store - Silk City. For a kiss on the cheek you can even barter with the owners for a better price !
Me in one of the many fabric stores..... you can walk on buy ...there's another one just feet away.
Not a great shot but this is just one of maybe 20 aisle of sequin appliques - it was a warehouse full! The owner showed me boxes and boxes of beautiful items from the 30's, 40' & 50's that they used on costumes - just beautiful!
Laces, trims & ribbons by the tons - floor to ceiling! (Berger Beads)
Last month while out in California I went on a wild Crazy Quilt Treasure Hunt with my friend Carolyn ( Sunshine Designs ) from the HGTV Board. I have always wanted to spend a couple days wandering around the LA Fabric District and I have to tell you - a couple days just wasn't enough! We had a ball and only hit about 15-20 of the shops out of 100's! OMG! I think we could have probably have spent a week there if we had more money!
Prior to me flying out to CA I had sign ups for the girls on the HGTV Board for a Buy In. We had a total of 65 ladies who all wanted in on the goodies. It was fun spending someone elses money but I had to control myself as I could have spent thousands of dollars more - the place was like walking into a CQers Candyland! Thanks Carolyn for holding me back!
On the first day our first stop was at a well known bead store called Berger Beads - we spent at least 3 hours in that store alone going through beads, lace, trims and charms. I bought so much the first day I had to have it shipped home. Funny how when you are buying that many beads all at once it looks like a ton but when you get it home and divide it up into 65 piles it almost looks like nothing....guess we'll just have to go back again with more $ LOL!
We went back to Michael Levines both days. Not a store that you can bargin with but the fabrics for quilting are to die for - just gorgeous and at $5-$8.50 a yard- all high end quality. The laces, ribbons and trims were plentiful but bit high in $ but so well worth checking out. My son gave me some fun money to spend on myself so you can be sure I bought a few pieces that I normally would not have. Thank you Jason.
By the time I had everything packed and ready to ship home I was lugging 4 boxes to UPS. They sure made some $ on me that day but 5 days later they all arrived at my home in MA just waiting for me to cut & divide. All the CQ packages are just about home to their new owners now with hopes that every one is happy with what was picked out. I can't wait to get started making some new blocks with my goodies and dying up some of the laces - you can be sure that the next time I say "California here I come" it'll be another trip to the Fabric District. Carolyn... get your walking show ready!
WOW WOW WOW, I envy your trip and getting to look at all those gobs of things that could be used for crazy quilting. So much fun. I am sure you did a fantastic job shopping:):):):)
ReplyDeleteIf I ever get to the USA you can take me on a trip to LA's fabric district (I'll pay! cos lets face it I will have won lotto to be able to do it!) and we can have fun fun fun. What a fabulous district to go to for a CQer asnd congratulations on the birth of your twin grandchildren!
ReplyDeletelove n hugs bear xoxoxoxo
The feather boas are so you :-) Sounds like a great time. Where your arms sore from picking up all that fabric and your sides sore from laughing?
ReplyDeleteLove all the CQ treasures, I have used a couple pieces of trim already and plan to use several pieces of the fabric for my County Fair blocks.
Good thing that fabric district is so far away....that would be a money trap for sure...you and Carolyn look like you were in heaven! Love all the goods...thanks!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
I sure wish we all could have been with you! That HAD to be a ton of fun!
ReplyDeleteWOW! that looks like so much fun. Grandbabies and shopping who could ask for more!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun report!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGAH!!! Droooool..........
ReplyDeleteThat district looks like heaven!!
What a treasure, I'm sure you had a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteHi Nicki! Nice to see you! It looks like you had a blast!And you don't look like a Mom 2 to grown men!
ReplyDeleteNicki:
ReplyDeleteI don't know who was holding who back, but neither of us did a very good job of it!!!
Every time I think of our trip to the Fabric District, (getting to hold your grandbabies, getting to hug each other any time we wanted to, spending time together being incredibly silly,) I get the biggest dopey grin on my face.
Love you, girlfriend!!!
Carolyn
http://sunshinedesigns-carolynphi.blogspot.com/
I am soooooooooooooooo jealous and am going to HAVE to get there... All I could think about was there had to be COOL old MOP buttons... my never ending quest... If you get there before I do you will have to look for some for me...
ReplyDeleteGerry K.
Wow, you've been busy! I'm still hoping you'll teach another crazy quilt class at Saftlers....any chance of that in the future? Hope all is well with you. :)
ReplyDeleteNicki, Was just catching up on your blog tonight and boy, did I enjoy your trip through the fabric/bead/lace stores...what fun that must have been...thanks for the tour...and have a wonderful weekend. pat
ReplyDeleteNicki, it sounds like you and Carolyn had so much fun...
ReplyDeletecheers - FDS