Something I'm very sorry to have put aside for a few months as I focus on other things is sewing, a craft I took up this past spring. I even got a refurbished sewing machine over the summer, one of the best ways I've ever spent $150. (More about my philosophy on sewing later.)
Every time I went to Joann's for the past few months--usually for tools and things, because their fabric is generally pretty sub-par--I found myself wandering to the upholstery section for furniture-grade fabrics. I loved the extra-large bolts suspended on tall wooden racks, impossibly generous portions of fabric with the prices to match. I was bewitched by the black-and-white toile they had, as well as this gorgeous black-and-white paisley Waverly fabric that I could see on a darling accent slipper chair, or maybe a tri-fold screen bordered in black, or even just used to upholster the walls of a small powder room. Each time, though, the prohibitive price--$30/yard--kept me away.
A couple weeks ago though, I went into Joann's for a black Halloween wig (crazy cheap--just over $3), I wandered back there and saw that all the Waverly fabric was 50% off and there was only a small bit of the paisley left. I tugged on the loose end and the whole thing came pouring off the rack--to the amusement of the friends who were with me. Shrugging, I picked it up and took it over to the counter to have it measured.
It came out to 3.25 yards--at $45 for that last scrap of fabric, I had to take it. The whole thing. I have no idea what I'm actually going to do with it--knowing me, it will sit in my fabric box along with all the other fabrics I've been collecting, for the next couple years. Oh well. I don't think I made a mistake, because just looking at the sumptuous stuff makes me happy.
