Material mania

Timaru is about 80kms north of Oamaru but I think it's a funny old place; there are more people there than in Oamaru, but it seems to lack soul. Having said that, it has a bumper crop of op shops (thrift stores).

The Red Cross Store has to be the cleanest and best organised op shop I've ever seen. The patterns are in labeled folders, the material is laundered, measured and priced. While it means that you're unlikely to find any treasures hidden in the bottom of boxes, it does mean that the shop smells nice and there is no ambiguity when it comes to paying. I picked up these two pieces of fabric for $2.50 each. A good price seeing as the material is new and there is a couple of metres of each.


I'll use the hearts material for little petticoats under girls' dresses. I'm not sure what to do with the other; it doesn't seem right for kids' clothes but I also don't think I'll make myself anything out of it. I guess that means it's destined for my stash...

I picked up this fabric at one of the antique stores:

I'm planning on using this in girls' frocks as well. I'll use a shocking pink bias around the arms, neck and hem to set off the navy, plus, as far as I can tell, girls around here only wear pink.

I popped into St Vincents as well. I was in two minds about going there because it was out of my way, but I am so glad I did. I hit the motherlode of genuine vintage fabric. Tadaa!



Jealous? I would be if I wasn't me! I couldn't believe my luck. It's actually made up into two curtains but the fabric is a good quality cotton. I'm kind of planning to make little tunics and circle skirts, but we'll have to see. I love it so much, and I know I'll never find anything like it again; the only sensible thing to do is to have it buried with me.