Last Fabric Run in July - Atlanta Fabric Marketplace

My shopping cart at Fabric World - Stone Mountain, GA

I spent some time last week shopping for fabrics with my daughter who is in the process of furnishing her new home. She has learned some valuable lessons from her dear old mom including the benefits of taking well constructed upholstered pieces and having them professionally reupholstered with designer fabrics to save $$$ and get truly unique pieces.

So far, she has used one of my fabrics to redo a set of vintage wingback chairs for the home office (look wonderful); selected one of my finished sets (Storehouse settee and matching chair) as a move-in gift; and taken over two sets of my "before" sets of chairs to redo. We were shopping for the latter pieces and ended up at several renowned fabric shops in the area: Forsyth Fabrics (link) and Lewis and Sheron (link). She fell in love with several fabrics in the $33-40 per yard range and purchased one for two of the chairs. We also stopped by Calico Corners and looked at their selection. She is still looking for the second set of chairs but has some firm ideas about where she wants to go with them. Even at the (for me) high price of fabric, she will have GREAT pieces at very reasonable prices for her home.

I, on the other hand, continue to shop at Fabric World (link) where for two months now they have been having a $3.00 a yard sale on their upholstery and drapery fabrics. The selection has not been too bad and I have been stopping by almost every week to add to MY collection. This last week, they had acquired a large load of fabric ends that were just beautiful. I picked up 15 pieces ranging from 17 yards to 2.5 - enough to do quite a bit.

Here are some of my choices! These will have to do for the next few weeks since we will be traveling - I just hope there will be even more fabrics available when I get back!

Love these!

Goodwill Industries and a Calico Corners Diversion!

Goodwill of North Georgia Store in Buckhead (Atlanta, GA)

Small loveseat purchased at Goodwill

On this beautiful, sunny day, I thought I would travel to my neighborhood Goodwill of North Georgia stores for their "you cannot beat this" Senior Discount Tuesday (a whopping 25% percent off for anyone over 55). I started out at my favorite store on Roswell Road in Buckhead. I needed some new reading material and this is my best source for great paper-packs. And, of course, I am always looking for great ready-to-be-refurbished upholstered furniture. I scored on both counts today.

Books found and bought at Goodwill 

I have a client looking for a loveseat and ottoman for her bedroom and found this nicely sized and well constructed piece. I don't know if this will work for her but I can envision it in a number of my fabrics.

 I also needed some new reading material and this particular store seems to have some high-quality readers. Without spending much time, I found six books that sounded interesting. 

On my way to the next store (about 4 miles down the road), I diverted to go to the Roswell Road Calico Corners Fine Fabrics. I used to be a regular at their stores because I LOVE all fabrics! Since they are now using an order only process (eliminating large bolts which could be eventually reduced in price), I very seldom find usable fabrics at my price point (VERY reasonable). So, this trip was really just an opportunity to breathe in the new fabrics and leave inspired.

The store was having a fabric sale but not at the price point that I can use. However, they had a stack of "bolt-ends" that had been 75% off of their regular retail but were now marked at three bundles for $10. This got my my blood flowing!

I could not resist these prices although most were only 1.5 to 2.0 yards. The fabrics were beautiful and a great deal!

Here are some of the labels - the original prices were quite high. My cost per bundle was $3.33 - not too bad!

Here are some of my purchases - can't wait to find the right furniture match for these!

The pieces I bought ranged from 1.3 to 2.4 yards although I did get three bundles of the same totaling 5.5 yards and another two totaling almost 4 yards. I guess I will be looking for smallish pieces (upholstery requirement-wise) for some time to come.

What fun! 

Visiting the Great Atlanta Fabric Houses

Atlanta is home to two old fabric houses that cater to decorators and homeowners for miles around. They are located in the inner "industrial" area of the city - near the water treatment plant - with views of the Atlanta skyline. Both have been around for over 60 years. One is Lewis and Sheron link and the other is Forsyth Fabrics link. They carry all types of decorator fabrics and Lewis and Sheron has a great line of North Carolina upholstered pieces that can be upholstered in any of their in-stock or ordered fabrics.

On a rainy day yesterday, I accompanied a neighborhood friend in her quest to find the right fabric for two Victorian-era chairs she has just inherited. She mentioned she wanted to visit and, of course, I jumped on the opportunity to accompany her - I cannot resist hanging around great fabrics.

Both stores have an impressive array of fabric choices at pretty good prices that appear to be more reasonable than Calico Corners Fine Fabrics. They have far more choices as well. Forsyth has a "clearance corner" - fabrics are marked $8, $10 and $11. This is still more than I am willing to pay for the fabrics used in refurbishing my fine furniture but a pretty good deal for a homeowner.

The stores both have extensive in-stock availability and many many more that can be ordered at a reasonable price (far below recommended retail).

Racks near entrance at Forsyth - these are linens and cottons.

More racks at Forsyth - arranged by color groups and types of fabrics - wovens and silks and solids were in another area. 

I do love all things blue - this rack is at Lewis and Sheron - they do not separate the types of fabrics - all blues  are grouped together (silks, cottons, linens, silks, wovens).

More racks at Lewis and Sheron - blues and greens are big colors this year.

Look at the fish in the top and bottom fabrics - love them!

Well, with dashing in and out of the rain to get into the shops (with another one in between whose name I didn't capture), I failed to take many photographs. My friend was looking for a mid-size woven print with reds, greens and golds and didn't find many that would work for her. We discussed this color combo with one of the decorators who told us that true red is currently hard to find - it it out of "cycle" for fabric houses. Most of the reds are either brownish or raspberry - not cherry. She did find several gorgeous embellishing fabrics including a crewel but these were $45-60 per yard and even if that is a good price for this type and style of fabric, it is more than she wants to spend. She did feel that the visits were worthwhile and helped her establish some better ideas of what to do with her chairs.

I saw a number of fabrics that I either have in my current inventory or have used. I am always happy to compare these prices - several were in the $40-60 a yard range - which is great for me and my customers. Fun all around!

Buying Fabrics through eBay

One of the primary challenges in my quest to find and refurbish heirloom-quality upholstered furniture is buying great fabrics at low prices. I buy from a number of sources: store close-outs, designer sales, estate and garage sales, discount fabric stores and eBay. This posting is about buying fabrics on-line and gives away another of my secrets - my primary eBay source.

Fabrics already purchased in 2013 - I see a theme emerging!  The source for these pieces is Designer Fabrics - check them out here.

Predicting which fabrics will work (and sell) for my pieces is even harder to do with on-line fabrics because you are not able to feel the fabric and accurately see the color. I have been buying fabrics from this particular vendor, Designer Fabrics, for about five years. Over that time, I have loved some, found others to be OK and disliked a few. Designer Fabrics is the biggest on-line retailer that I've found that offers large sized pieces (as well as small) at reasonable prices. Ray is the owner and he is located not all that far from my house in Canton, Georgia. He provides discounted consolidated shipping so I always buy at least a few bolts to get the discount or he lets me wait until I've accumulated several purchases since all his sales are 7 day auctions. He also provides a 7% discount for purchases using United States Postal Service (USPS) money orders - a discount I also take advantage of.

Here are some pieces reupholstered using the online fabrics purchased from Designer Fabrics - from my 2011 collection.

One of the reasons I like Designer Fabrics (besides price) is the detailed description that he provides with all of his fabrics along with multiple both-side photos.  Normally, composition of the fabric and weight are provided which tells you a lot about the usefulness of a piece for upholstering. I like a weight of at least 1 to 1.5 pounds per yard - less is usually too thin/flimsy for upholstered pieces.

Here is a partial description of one of the fabrics that I purchased (above).

Weight is just under 2 lbs per yard.
Valued at $48 per yard and not available at the retail level.
Pattern in the vertical direction for easy use as drapery or upholstery.
This piece would look magnificent on any window.
100% heavy weight canvas cotton.

Designer Fabrics also has a 14 day return policy which I have used sparingly but it is available. Not all of the fabrics are reasonable enough for me to purchase and, like everything else in life, his prices have gone up over the years. After all, it is a business!

Over the years, I have also used other eBay sources. Several years ago, a woman whose family had a business in the furniture capital of America - High Point, NC - sold italian woven fabrics for about a four months period. I got some GREAT deals and developed a good communication pattern with her including advice and comments about completed pieces.  She quit, however, indicating that she just wasn't selling for enough money to make it worth her while.  Hers were consistently the best fabrics I have bought on-line. I wish I had bought everything she was selling during her brief stint - but who knew it would end so soon.

Some of the great Italian woven fabrics I bought back in 2010 - wish I had more.

So, buying online via eBay does work and give you fabric choices that include some very reasonable pieces. Buying and selling online, as I know, does require faith and perseverance - and as much research and homework as you can do.  I do recommend Designers Fabrics - tell me if you have found any sellers on eBay (or elsewhere) that you would recommend.

Upholstery Fabrics - Crewel

I just had an opportunity to use some hand-embroidered crewel fabric that I had picked up last year at an estate sale - a  small bolt of multi-colored fabric of unknown vintage. I had waited a long time to use it because I wanted to be sure that I found the right piece(s) for this great and hard to find (and afford) fabric. A set of Jacobean style armchairs bought later in the year were just the ticket - I just listed them and they are simply beautiful.

Chairs upholstered in hand-embroidered crewel fabric.  I think the pattern is called "Tree of Life" based on my research.

I spent some time looking for more information about this great fabric (and verifying how costly it is) and found this interesting information - link to website.

Crewel is a special kind of embroidery done with a pointed hook and used for drapery and upholstery. Rows of chain stitch done with a pointed hook form solid patterns usually rotating from the center and creating an embossed effect to add richness to the textile. Crewel is done on the thick material popularly used for furnishing and usually carries flowing floral and creeper designs. 

All embroidery is done by hand in either single or double ply wool. Designs are available in assortment of colors ranging from a single color to multicolour embroidery. The price is related with the amount of embroidery done on the material.

The technique is at least a thousand years old. It was used in the Bayeux Tapestry, in Jacobean embroidery and in the Quaker tapestry.The origin of the word crewel is unknown but is thought to come from an ancient word describing the curl in the staple, the single hair of the wool.

Here is an example of a single color embroidered crewel.  This fabric had a much looser weave and was very heavily textured.  The background linen was very thick and heavy.  These Wydeven Design chairs sold in 2011.

There are so many variations and styles of crewel and I found dozens just by googling "crewel fabric images" on the web. The prices also vary greatly. I have found some below $100 a yard while others are closer to $1000. This is one fabric that also sells well as vintage material and is highly prized for its provenance.

I hope to find and use more of this wonderful type fabric in future refurbishing projects.

A Fabrics Kind of Weekend!

I did my usual Friday and Saturday estate and garage sale running around this weekend and, as mostly but not always happens, found great deals and met interesting people.  Most of my finds were fabrics - wonderful fabrics that I could not let go (and already wish I had bought more)!

At an otherwise so-so estate sale in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, I found silk and other luxurious fabrics piled in a dusty corner - the pieces ranged from 2-6 yards - large enough for small to medium sized chairs or a tight-seat settee.  I have silks in my current inventory that I take out every now and then to consider for various projects and often put back - my upholsterer does not love doing pieces in silk.  It doesn't stretch like other fabrics do which makes the piping and other details a little harder to execute.  Also, silk has a reputation for being a "fancy" fabric that does not take abuse well and wears easily.   I do have one silk chair in my current inventory of refurbished furniture - link to website - but tend not to have too many.  In my own home, I have a silk plaid chair in both my kitchen (desk chair) and family room which have done well and are still spotless and beautiful after almost 10 years.   But nevertheless, silk does have that reputation!

Silk Fabrics Purchased on Friday - there are almost seven yards on the red and cream stripe - should be wonderful!

I have found that silk can be managed with a few basic rules:

• Keep water or other liquids away - it spots and does not forgive
• Keep out of direct sunlight - the fibers can break down
• Enjoy!!

Silk Chair in Wydeven Design Inventory

I bought a number of other fabrics - none were labeled - there are damasks, stripes, toiles .... great looks all!  The total yardage was about 30 - I got all of these for less than $2.00 per yard!  

On Saturday, a neighborhood sale in the midtown area of Atlanta yielded even more fabrics and, if possible, even better deals!   The seller works (or worked) at ADAC (Atlanta Design Center) and she was selling large samples (2.5 yards bound) of Cowtan and Tout, Jane Churchill, Pierre Deux, Roma and other TOP-END fabrics - 3 for $25.00.  These fabrics typically sell for over a $100 a yard retail.   I bought seven pieces - 2.5 yards is enough for very few upholstered pieces so this was probably not the best idea but I just loved them and could have bought just about all of them.  

Here are some of those beauties!

The pieces were bound on all sides so the resulting measurement was approximately 84 by 52 - which actually works quite well as a tablecloth.  I put one on my kitchen dining table and VOILA - it works and looks very springlike and lovely!  So, these are double-use!  I can use as tablecloths and also on smaller chairs!   

What a great weekend!  

Cowtan and Tout fabric sample - as tablecloth in my home - love it!!

Buying Fabrics - I am Obsessed!

Fabric Chart - Add Extra for patterns (I also think some of these are a little conservative)!

I am obsessed with fabrics and cannot stop myself from buying some when I see great fabrics at great prices.  I look for and buy fabrics in both the likely places (e.g., fabric stores like Fabric World in Stone Mountain, GA) and the unlikely places such as estate and garage sales, craigslist, Goodwill stores, etc.  Buying fabrics and filling up first a "fabric closet" and now a "fabric room" is what got me started with my business of refurbishing and selling heirloom quality upholstered furniture - going on for eight years now http://wydevendesigns.com   I had to so something with all those fabrics!!

I do not do my own upholstery work and that is my major refurbishing expense.  Therefore, saving money on the basic furniture pieces (the more they need reupholstering, the cheaper and better for me) and fabrics is how I can put together a good value for my customers.  Yesterday, on an  errand in the Stone Mountain area, I stopped in to see what was happening at Fabric World.  They had been having a month-long $2.00 a yard sale that I had already indulged in so I expected the shelves to be even more depleted.  Evidently they had received a shipment earlier in the week of smaller pieces (2-8 yards) and had them piled on two large tables.  I found some great pieces in current colors, patterns, and textures.  I found several that matched so bought 16 yards combined of a nice neutral houndstooth.  

Here are some photos of the loot!   I can't wait to start using these and already have several pegged for existing projects.  This is my idea of a fun day!!

As I mentioned under the yardage chart above, you need to look at the fabric to determine yardage - I have added as much as 25-35% when using larger scaled patterns.  You can also stretch smaller pieces (I bought several as small as 2.5 yards) by combining fabrics and/or using other fabrics for contrasting cording - a very nice look on many pieces.   Check with your upholsterer!  

Buying More Fabric at Fabric World

 

I have previously written about the great fabric deals available in the Atlanta area at Fabric World.

Fabric World Incorporated(770) 413-76551555 E Park Place Blvd, #C,Stone Mountain, GA
Given my strong passion for fabrics and the fact that you just never know what you will need, I try to get over there at least every couple of weeks but have been pretty busy since the holidays (and  recent big trip) so I neglected to do due diligence until yesterday.  I discovered that the parking lot was unusually busy and I had to hunt for a shopping cart.  Because of their super low costs, you are basically on your own including hauling down bolts of fabric and getting them to the registers.  I wouldn't be surprised if injuries have occurred.  
Once inside, I noticed long lines at the registers and then noticed that all trims and fabrics were $2.00 per yard.  This really started my heart racing although their usual price of $3.99 is not bad and has resulted in more buying sprees than I want to acknowledge.
I found that the sale had been going on for two whole weeks and noticed that the racks were pretty low - I was getting depressed.  Once I started looking, however, I did find some really nice fabrics - four of which I have already dropped off at the upholsterers for pieces waiting to be redone.  
I got several fabrics that fit nicely into the color scheme I discussed this week from Benjamin Moore with blue "wythe" as its star (a seafoamy blue).  Several of my pieces fit into the color scheme suggested by the paint company.

Benjamin Moore Sky and Sea Colors for 2012

   

In addition, I bought several creams (both duck cloth and a weather-friendly cream and pale gold tweed).
It is not too late for locals to visit the shop and particularly if you need trims - their trim collection is outstanding including very high end pieces.  Good hunting!  
I will try not to go back until this sale has passed - my fabric room is getting pretty crowded.

Weekend Update - Estate Sales and More

Estate Sale in Buckhead

Yesterday was a picture-perfect day in Atlanta.  The morning started out at just over freezing and my trusty minivan's windows were covered with ice but the skies were crystal clear and bright!  I bundled up for a round of morning estate sales with a focus on the Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Buckhead metropolitan areas.

I have been registered with EstateSales.net for about half a year and find it a useful site - they send messages 3-4 times a week with upcoming sales including photos of items for sale. I find the pictures give me so much information about the type and quality of items for sale.

I traveled to several sales (bought some great table-scape candles to add to my holiday decorating) before landing at the day's BEST and most INTERESTING sale.  The sale was located on Woodhaven Drive, at a huge home behind the Governor's Mansion in very upscale Buckhead (actually a neighborhood in the City of Atlanta).  The house was spacious and elegant and there were quite a few nice items for sale - most either already sold or pricey or both!

Interior of Woodhaven Home with Some of the Items for Sale

The motherlode for me was to find bolts of great fabrics at great prices (as little as $35 for 25 yards).   I purchased 4 bolts!

I joyously brought the bolts home and tried to get them into my "fabric room" before my husband noticed that I was acquiring even more fabric!

Needless to say, with successes like this, I will be out again today hoping for even more great bargains.  I do love the sales!