It's about exploring and sharing my creative adventures (mostly sewing these days) ~
~those activities that sometimes obsess, usually inspire, occasionally frustrate
~and always provide a delightful maze to wander through.

Monday, June 18, 2012

A Chance Meeting -The Sewist and The Thief

My favorite local sewing haven, Stonemountain and Daughter, was on the route home from a client visit today, which means that I just had to pop in, of course.   I also happened to have some fabric swatches that I needed to match with me...just in case...and was determined to keep my eye on the goal and not get distracted by bright shiny objects.

It almost worked.   But they had a couple of inches of this on display:

Now, if you've seen Mary's fabulous version of Marcy T's jacket, you will understand why I stopped dead in my tracks, turned around & shouted out "Where do you have this????"  It actually took a little while to find it, but with the help of one of the Stonemountain ladies, we finally spied what precious little there was left...and it was HALF OFF!  Now, this is pricey stuff folks, imported from France, and at $24.00 yard, even at half off it still ain't cheap.  I eyed the length, knew it was more than enough, but figured I would take it ALL home and hoard what I didn't use on the jacket.   Just because.

Per Stonemountain protocol, I placed it lovingly on their counter & put one of their order pads on top of it.   This is the equivalent of a she-wolf marking her territory, and as I wandered through the store, I  returned to check my markings and add to my pile....and all was well in my she-wolf world.

In my wanderings, I struck up a conversation with a friendly woman, who was there with another friendly woman, and wouldn't you know it, after a bit we realized that we already knew each other!   In the online sense, that is.  The creative and talented Patti B, who is definitely one of my sources of inspiration, had driven up with sew2little (who does need to sew more, because she's made some delightful items!).   So we giggled a bit & chatted about fabrics & patterns & all those things that sewists tend to chat about, and I must say that Patti SEEMED to be as delightful as her big smile in her pics indicated.

"Seemed" being the operative word.  (Note:  I'm allowing my inner selfish seamstress to emerge; normally I hide her well, but she's there, lurking....)

So I'm all done shopping, I've done a pretty good job of not being distracted by bright shiny objects (My Precious, above, being the one understandable exception), and I go to my pile on the counter......and.... there is NO HOOK AND EYE TAPE!)   Now, I did a double take, staring in disbelief, but you should have seen the look on the face of the employee who had helped me find it earlier.  This woman, trust me, is a formidable presence, and she was ready to go into attack mode to find out what happened to My Precious!
Seriously.  You had to be there.  She was frightening me!

What ensued happened very quickly.  Stonemountain uses clear plastic bags.  The sweet and innocent Patti B was also at the counter.  With her clear plastic bag in front of her.  Filled with fabric.  And.....you guessed it....MY PRECIOUS!!!!   Well, only part of it....my sharp eyes could tell that she, unlike me, was not being greedy and only cut off what she needed.  Meanwhile, my helpful cutter found the remaining bit of My Precious, which, thankfully, was enough. Just barely. Even so, she was ready to pounce on Patti's bag & reclaim My Precious to return it to its rightful owner.   Patti B begged forgiveness, CLAIMED she didn't know the aforementioned protocol, and pretended to be all embarrassed and remorseful, but I knew better....   Still, I chose the high road, and opted to be my usual gracious public self and pretended like I believed her.  In a fit of generosity,  I even let her maintain her dignity and keep her cut.

Especially since she really DOES have fabulous creative taste.  And we both wanted that tape for the same reason (Mary should be getting commissions on this!).  And there really was enough.

OK, ok....it's time to shove my inner selfish seamstress back inside...  And the truth is, it really was delightful  meeting Patti and sew2little, and I'm glad that we BOTH got our tape.   We parted with hugs & smiles, and I hope we get to meet again!

But if we do, I'm keeping my eye on any precious notions I might have with me ;-)

Here's my mini-haul for the day:
Golden silk charmeuse w/ lycra, a copper silk dupioni,  
and a textured, sheer silk from the half-off floor.
I'm SO proud of myself, because all of the fabric was bought
specifically to match something I already have - I'm learning to control myself!

I hope you had a day that was filled with enough for you, and everyone around you :)



21 comments:

Andrea said...

What a fun visit to the fabric store! I'm glad there was enough hook tape to share. Can't wait to see your jacket.
I'm loving that copper silk. I have a soft spot for stretch silk charmeuse. That piece would look lovely with my copper dupioni silk family room curtains. Just sayin'!

glorm said...

Stone Mountain: great for spur-of-the-moment sewing meetings as well as thievery.

Anonymous said...

;) Hah! I'm relieved there was no blood shed! Let there be hook tape for all!!!

What a delightful surprise to find virtual friends in such a lovely setting! Great minds think alike!

Looking forward to seeing what your purchases match!

Brenda

Carolyn said...

Hehe... Something that fabulous, I have to admit I would not have put it down anywhere but kept it securely and selfishly clutched firmly in my own hot little hand... but I'm glad there was enough for the both of you!

Karin said...

That hook and eye tape is worth coveting! It will definitely make something look special, customised, and not at all "becky-home-ecky!"
Glad to hear all ended well and everyone still friends.

ElleC said...

Your title had me all nervous about what was stolen. Very pleased it all worked out okay and no blood was shed. Damn you and Mary, now I have to buy another Tilton pattern to go on the sewing list. This jacket is lovely, why didn't I notice that before?

Dixie said...

I, too, would have walked the sales floor with that hook and eye tape in hand. When I find something precious, I hold it close!
Glad you met Patti and friend so serendipitously. Even though one of them was a thief!

Jillybejoyful said...

I'm thinking I would love your family room ;-)

Jillybejoyful said...

Now I know......

Jillybejoyful said...

Next time, I will! But I do believe that the right thing happened in the end. :)

Jillybejoyful said...

May the goddesses shine on me and let me not becky-home-ecky this find!

Jillybejoyful said...

Very happy to enable you :)

Jillybejoyful said...

I truly did consider keeping it in my mitts, but with fabric swatches in hand, I would have had to put it in my purse...kinda not kosher, you know?

And I do believe the Universe stepped in and took care of us all :in the end :)

Rose said...

I'm glad that nothing was stolen and you got the hook and eye tape--it's great stuff. Robin made a Jalie coat using similar tape (http://alittlesewing.blogspot.com/2009/12/jalie-2680-city-coat-finished.html). I look forward to seeing your project.

Rose in SV

Jillybejoyful said...

I think that's exactly the same tape - and it looks great! I'm in good company :)

kbenco said...

What a good story. I'm glad there was enough tape.

Martha said...

Wow. Such restraint. In so many ways.

I too lust after Mary's fabulous jacket.

Martha

Anonymous said...

What a fun day you had!!!

RhondaBuss said...

Funny, funny post :)))))

Patti B said...

Jillian, I am now safely home with the unwittingly purloined hook and eye tape! It was such fun to meet you so unexpectedly in one of my favorite fabric shops. And you have portrayed the fierceness of the offended staff member very accurately!

Louisa said...

Great story with a (mostly) happy ending! Good thing too. If it were me, I would have absconded with the copper dupioni instead.