In the mists of time, my back-to-school outfit 
was always either a Black Watch plaid or a Red Stewart cotton dress. Later my grandmother helped me to make a cute culotte/jumpsuit of a blue and white tartan from Dan River Fabrics (dress code was vague about whether we could wear them so I risked it...living dangerously). 

One particularly matchy matchy period had me carrying a lunchbox like this, which is replicated for today and available through Orvis.

The color blue is 30% off during our Sunday/Monday Sale!
Use coupon code BLUE on our new website: exqfabrics.com



Those of us who work with color have probably been mystified or frustrated by colors in our imagination that just cannot be duplicated in life!

I used to see beautiful, vivid colors that might occur in nature but do not seem to replicable with dyes, paints, textiles, or other media.

Sometimes it's evident that color is elusive...just hover around the paint counter at your local Home Depot long enough and you'll hear frustrated customers who cannot find the right shade of white, or husbands and wives disagreeing whether a color is blue or green.

So when a "new" pigment is discovered and released for commercial use, its pretty exciting!
Crayola held a contest to name the vivid color, and the winner was "Bluetiful." 
​(The scientific name for the pigment is YInMn). ​ 









Do see color or patterns as you fall asleep? There is a name for them: Phosphenes. They are thought to occur because of the natural electrical charges that occur from normal body/brain functions. While we are awake, the inputs to our eyes and brains just distract us from perceiving them!


Attributions:
The Metropolitan Museum
Wikipedia
The University of Oregon
ArtNet News
Exquisite Fabrics

How to survive Crazy Work Life...
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Seen any good movies (or television series!) that feature fabrics, fashion, or design? 

Here's one of my impressions from the past year or so.

Phantom Thread (2017)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5776858/


Forgettable. Weird. It was fun to think that Daniel Day Lewis did actually make that dress though, as he immersed himself in the role. He always does!

We've decided to close the Culpeper storefront and concentrate on our online business. It's fun to have a storefront, but it's also practical to use our resources wisely. We've been getting our warehouse ready and as soon as our storefront inventory is liquidated we will be expanding our online store exponentially!

In the meantime, if you are in the Culpeper area (between Washington DC and Charlottesville), visit our store on weekends to get big savings and help us liquidate our storefront inventory! There's plenty here to make your sewing dreams come true. 

Minimum one yard purchases or whole piece. Inventory at the storefront will not be replenished, so first come, first served!

FABRICS:  30% to 50% off as marked.
SPECIAL FABRIC GROUPINGS: $3.50 to $5.50/yd  (no further discount)
TRIMS: 20% to 30% off. 
NOTIONS, SEWING SUPPLIES: 30% off.
SPECIALS: discontinued carded buttons 10 cards/$1.00 at entrance (no two alike) (no further discount)
TRUNK SALE: remnants and "goody bags" $1-$5 (no further discount)

These sales discounts apply to our brick and mortar inventory located in Culpeper, Virginia only. 

Don't be sad, just come and have fun!

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We have cotton bunting in red, white and navy/white star field stripes. Get ready for July 4th with this patriotic extra-wide fabric for your picnics, or display it along the railings at home!

This fabric is 100" wide, with three repeats along the width of the fabric. Each repeat can be used as a strip with a red, white, and blue (the blue has white stars). 

To make a bunting effect, use about 2.5 yards. Separate the fabric lengthwise into three strips, each with red, white, and blue included. Gather across one long edge to form a half circle. Each half circle will be about 54" wide and will hang about 20" long. 

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You didn't know you needed any, right?
This metallic brocade is a classic that you can use for jackets, or use for lightweight handbags or even decorative pillows or other home decor projects.
We have a lot, so for a limited time indulge yourself at only $14.00/yd! (Reg. $24.00). 

​51" wide.

Are you afraid of lace? Saving some lace for a special occasion? Well, news flash. Every day is a special occasion, if you make it one! 

Here's a nice dress up/dress down blouse pattern that uses a touch of lace just for the sleeves, but you could make the entire top in lace if you have enough. 

If you have some precious lace scraps, about 5/8 yard is enough for both sleeves if it's 36" or more wide. 

Or go for it and order something from our lace section online, or come visit us in store for a stunning color selection. Inquiries welcome too.