Liberty arrival.

The fabric I ordered from Shaukat arrived this week. It is the first time I have every purchased 8 meters of fabric in one hit, and I have to admit that it did feel particularly decadent to have it shipped to me from the United Kingdom! They are all Tana Lawn fabrics and feel and look so beautiful.

I was thrilled to open the parcel and unwrap my bundles of joy, however something wasn't quite right. I had been most excited about purchasing the navy Mauverina fabric. I had fallen in love with it months ago and knew that I had to - needed to - buy some. However, I could not understand why, looking at it in my hands, I was not excited by it at all...

Take a close look. You might notice that the Mauverina isn't the colourway I had originally ordered. The Mauverina fabric of my dreams was a navy print with popping yellow flowers, and in my hands I held a dark and dull purple mess (a tad dramatic I know). Disappointed and not expecting much help, I emailed the address listed on the website and was surprised to get an almost instant response! Leila was very apologetic and more than helpful, giving me many options that were all very reasonable. I decided to exchange the purple fabric for the navy (as I did not want to keep the 'dull mess').

I am thrilled with how easy this error was to resolve with Shaukat. I am now a very happy customer and would highly recommend Shaukat not only for their immaculate fabrics and swift delivery, but for their superior customer service too!

I cannot wait for craft day this Saturday! What do I make first?!?

Sam xox

In the post.

After months of lurking around the Shaukat website, I finally made my first fabric purchase!

Well, several fabric purchases...

You see, this website has a flat rate for shipping to Australia of up to 8 meters of fabric. So, I figured I may as well get my moneys worth and make use of the entire 8 meter allowance! So I have been saving my pennies and this is whats now coming my way...

2 meters of 'Mauverina' in navy blue to make the Vogue V8184 dress.

2 meters of 'Ceaser' in dark blue to make the Vogue V8184 dress.

2.7 meters of 'Claie-Aude' in red to make a blouse and a skirt.

1.3 meters of 'Wiltshire' in red to make ... ?

I especially like this pattern because my Mum was born in Wiltshire...

Exactly 8 meters of beautiful fabric in the post. I can't wait to get my hands (and scissors) onto it!

Sam xox

Dressmaker dreaming.

I have spent some time window shopping researching fabrics online and I thought I might share some of my finds with you, in case anyone else out there was looking for good quality online fabric stores.

As I mentioned in this post, you can find a large range of Liberty of London fabrics for a very reasonable price on the Shaukat & Company website (I will be spending some of my first pay cheque on some Liberty fabrics from this store!).

I came across this little gem tonight: Tessuti Fabrics, an Aussie online fabric store with a great variety of unusual fabrics and prints. The website also lists their store location as being in Surry Hills of all places (remember my trip to Surry Hills recently?)!

Here are my favourites from Tessuti Fabrics' online store...

{Dark Clan - Wool - AUS$89 p/m}

This wool fabric is so beautiful, but the price ... I would have to be very confident in my sewing skills! I was thinking that I could perhaps make a lined winter skirt or coat? Maybe for winter 2011?

{Nouveau Bloom - Printed Silk/Cottom Voile - AUS$29 p/m}

This fabric captured my imagination. It does have a nouveau feel to it, and I thought it would look great with the right dress or skirt pattern.

{Osaka Sand Bloom - Japanese Cotton - AUS$29 p/m}

I like the weave of the fabric here as it looks like it would be quite textured. I am unsure what I would make from it, perhaps a summer top?

{Suki Mauve Bloom - Japanese Cotton - AUS$24 p/m}

Finally, I just think this is so cute, the perfect spring fabric.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here, winner drawn this Sunday August 8!

Sam xox