Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Featured Sponsor: Gorgeous Fabrics

Readers, I am thrilled to have Gorgeous Fabrics as one of my sponsors. When I first started the sponsorship program here, I wrote down a list of my top picks for partners - and this fabulous online fabric shop was definitely among them since I'm one of their many satisfied customers! I've always loved the selection of fine garment fabrics and the fact that owner Ann Steeves takes the time to suggest patterns to go with them. Luckily, Ann agreed with me that we'd be a perfect match. Read on for a little interview (Ann tells about the time she got kissed by Tim Gunn!) and a fabulous sale (get 24% all orders today!).

Gertie: How did you get started with Gorgeous Fabrics?

Ann: Gorgeous Fabrics grew out of my previous business, Gorgeous Things. Gorgeous Things was a manufacturer of women's handbags and accessories. One time a vendor suggested, after seeing me wearing a dress I had made, that I try selling fabrics. I tried an experiment where I bought 15 yards of a fabric I had used to make a dress. I put the fabric up on my blog and it sold out in less than 6 hours! And so it began.

What's the most gorgeous fabric in your shop right now?

Oh, that's a really hard one! Of course, I love the Parisian couture fabrics, though most of them have sold out. This one, Tea at the Ritz Bouclé, is so sumptuous! But I also love a lot of the knits, and the stretch, and the wools, and the silks, and the cottons . . .


What's been your favorite part of your business so far?

The people I meet. I'm really fortunate that I'm doing something I adore, and it allows me to meet all sorts of great people. I have clients all over the world. They range from people who sew for themselves to designers who manufacture clothing for a wide range of clientele. I really LOVE it when customers send me pictures of things they have made with my fabrics. That's the best!

So how did you get that fabulous picture with Tim Gunn?

That picture came from the finale party for Season 4 of Project Runway. I was invited to the party as the "official" Project Rungay photographer. Tom and Lorenzo and I were talking when Tim Gunn came running over to say hello to them. Then he looked at me and said, "And who is this?" and gave me a big kiss on both cheeks. It was one of the best nights of my life! You can read about it here and here on my blog.

Isn't Ann just lovely? Also lovely is the sale going on at Gorgeous Fabrics. Everything is 24% off TODAY and then most fabrics are 20% off through this Sunday the 28th.

There are so many beauties that I don't know where to start! But how about taking a look at the silk 4-ply crepe in coral or perhaps some shantung in jewel colors like this emerald green? And then there's this fantastic polka dot stretch charmeuse. And I'm sure you'll want some deep red wool crepe to go with that, right? Oh dear, we could really be here all day . . . I hope you'll go over to Gorgeous Fabrics to see for yourself!

10 comments:

  1. WOW! Congratulations on that one! What a great sponsor to have, and what a pity for me and my wallet... I browsed through some of their selection a couple of days ago, and decided I wanted some fabrics... Now is the time! So congratulations, and thanks! I knew your exclusively chosen sponsors would gain both you and your readers...

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  2. Thank you so much for posting about this sponsor. I had never heard of them before *gasp*. But I am always on the lookout for great new fabric stores and this one just got added to my list!

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  3. I just want to leap in here and say that even though I live in London I have ordered lots of fabrics from Gorgeous Fabrics and have always been thrilled with everything and it arrives here in the UK pretty quickly. Ann's stock is always wonderful and the customer service is excellent - so even if you don't live in the USA you should definitely take a look.

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  4. Online fabric stores are essential to me coming from a small town. Sometimes it's hard to know what you're getting when shopping online, but I have to say that everything I've ever ordered from Gorgeous Fabrics has been gorgeous! I just put in my order for some wool crepe to make myself a Rooibos. So excited!

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  5. Congratulations!

    I see the Tea at the Ritz fabric is already (practically) sold out - I would have been tempted too, despite my status as a beginner. LOL.

    Thank you also to Eugenia for the rec. I was just about to ask plaintively why we don't have stores like that on this side of the pond! I always wonder why US stores get to stock Parisian fabric and I can't find anything similar in the UK.

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  6. Oh my goodness, I just bought the last of the Tea at the Ritz boucle! And some of the gorgeous coordinating stretch 4-ply crepe. It's the most I've ever spent on fabric, but even at full price it was a good deal.

    I initially discovered Ann's shop through a mention on your blog, and this is my third purchase. Congratulations on finding such a fantastic sponsor!

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  7. Re: audreyswardrobe
    I know what you mean! I have just returned to my native NZ after spending 2 months around europe, but mostly in Manchester where my parents live. Manchester used to be the centre of the textile industry, but no, I could barely find any "proper" fabric shops. It seems there's just not that much demand for fabric - no one really seems to sew that much anymore. Hopefully there will be a resurgence! It just seems odd when you think of how famous Manchester is for the textile industry and now there's nothing left... I feel there's a blog post in this topic haha...

    Also: very tempted to get some shauntung!

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  8. Congratulations Gertie!
    Gorgeous Fabrics is such a wonderful site! The descriptions of the fabrics are so lovely that I get convinced that I really need to buy a piece of everything.
    I was a big spender yesterday, buying some of the most beautiful fuchsia 4 ply silk for an evening gown and a cute bouclé for a Chanel jacket. I’m in heaven =)
    Have a nice day everyone!
    Sara

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  9. Oh, no, Gertie! I foresee spending my grocery money on that site. A taste for fine fabrics, a historic-sewing induced need for large quantities, and a returning college student's budget do NOT a good combination make! Those silk taffeta stripes - ohhhh my.

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  10. Congrats, Gertie! What a great sponsorship. I'm still such a newbie, but I really am drooling over their designs. Can't wait to get more advanced and try out one of their woven fabrics for a breezy summer skirt.

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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