NYC Garment District Trip

Sorry I've been absent from the blog world lately. I've just been busy with life. Kids are still home for summer break so pretty much all my time has been spent with them.

I did get a chance to escape to for my day trip to the NYC Garment District/Fashion Center with my friend. This was such a fun experience. This is not a place to go if you are looking for quilting fabrics but it is a place for dress makers, clothes designers and anyone wanting to build their stash with fabulous fabrics. I have to say you need a plan to get through all the stores. It is some what over whelming. I found some stores seem to be duplicates of each other so you really want to hit some of the more popular stores (Paron, Lace Star, Elegant Fabrics, BQ Trimmings, Spandex House, Mood (never made it there), Steinlauf & Stoller, etc.).

My friend, Colleen, is a dress maker at Murhpy Dresses and she was there for several items that she really needed for her customers. We searched high and low for the things she needed. It was quite adventurous ... She has some good stories on her site, especially about our hunt to find NY Fashion Center. It was fun searching and hunting in all the shops for the items she was looking for. She had some good luck with her finds. I was there for the pure pleasure of just looking. I was able to pick up a few a goodies (of course).


These African print fabrics really caught my attention. I purchased them at Fashion Fabrics for approx $5/yd.



Paron Fabrics was my favorite store. Probably because they carried the types of fabrics I like to work with (cottons) ...

Here's the nice man at Paron cutting my $2/yd sweet treats fabric..


Elegant Fabrics had every type of fabric imaginable .. faux furs, shirt fabric, suit fabric, silks, organza, cotton, etc. You get the idea ...


Nothing but lace at Lace Star ... (very cool)


A store with nothing but trimmings. Fun, Fun...
BQ Trimmings ...

Need a zipper ... Go to Steinlauf & Stoller ... I had fun here looking at every color and size imaginable of zippers. They also carried many threads, and notions here.



Spandex House ....
Here are photos of a few other places we were able to visit...


Ladies, if you'd like to go shopping with the guys then just drop them off here at the Midtown Comic Book store.
We shopped to the very last possible minute. We really wanted to sit down at a nice NYC restaurant for dinner but time got a way from us. We stopped at Pret "Just Made' for a sammie .. It was quite yummy (grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, tomato, lettuce with balsamic vinaigrette)


At last, we get to sit and rest while we wait for our bus to pick us up at beautiful Bryant Park ...

Stop for a game of ping pong in Bryant Park ...
Great trip! :)

NYC Garment Distrcit ... Here I Come !

I'm very much looking forward to a day trip to New York City's Garment District with one of my best buds (you know who you are). My friend is on a hunt for some specialty fabrics where I am just going for the joy of going and have no particular need for anything. I'm sure once I get I step foot there I will have a "need". I've been past the Garment District several times but have never had the chance to visit. I have drooled over the number of shops and the awesome statue of the Garment District worker as we drove through the Garment District area on several occasions. So I can't wait to actually get there to see and touch all the fabric, notions and whatever other exciting things there to see there.

The New York Garment District

From what I have read ... The NYC Garment District, also known as the Fashion District, was originally fully retail, until the gradual moving of retailers uptown. What remained was wholesalers and warehouses.

The district is now home to a high concentration of garment and fabric manufacturers, wholesale distributors, designer studios, brokers and factory sales reps.

After a quick research online I have found the following places that interest me and will try to visit while we are there.

B&J Fabrics (High end fabrics - probably going to just look & feel the fabric in here. :))
M&J Trimming (All kind of trimmings - oh my!)
Steinlau and Stoller (Notions, and more notions. Can't wait to see this.)
Panda Threads (Threads, etc. - A store just for specialty threads - cool!)
The City Quilter (3,000 bolts of 100% cotton fabric!)
Paron Fabrics (I've read they have wonderfully discounted fabric)
Lazzara's Pizza (Ok, we need some place to eat .. heard it's the best thin crust pizza)

Lindsy T, of Lindsy T Sews (Again), has a blog totally dedicated to shopping in the NYC Garment District. Have a look, she has some great information here and you must see the wonderful clothes she has made!



Ta-Ta for now. I will be back soon with an update on our adventure to NYC's Garment District.

If you have any favorite fabric shops in the Garment District, please leave a comment with the name of the shop and I will try to pay a visit while there. Thanks!

Taking A Break

Time For A Break ...

I haven't seen my sewing machine or blogged in weeks but that comes with the territory of being a stay-at-home mom. In June the kids activities, homework, etc. got insane so no free time at all and then next thing you know they are on summer vacation! So officially now I'm on a break from sewing for a while. I admit I was some-what 'cranky' after not being able to go down into my 'studio' during the day to create but my family definitely comes first and I stay home so that I have the greatest pleasure of hanging out with my kids all summer long.

My 9 year old daughter has been stuck to me like glue so I've been trying to get her to call friends and/or find something to do... last week she said to me "Mom, I just like being with you" ... who could not love that statement? So I decided to stop being cranky and take total advantage of my little shadow and we've really been enjoying our time together. She has the creative need as much as me, if not more. She has decided she wants to redecorate her room. She's been online, reading magazines & watching HGTV, etc. So for her birthday we will be redecorating (basically painting the walls, new bedding, and most of all CLEANING). She's doing an awesome job cleaning up her room and donating her toys and clothes that she does not need anymore.


Now my 12 year old son, he just likes being home, hanging out and keeps himself busy. And he still likes to hang out with me (even in public). He has been enjoying swimming, golfing, hanging out with friends, going to baseball games, and demolition derbies & drag races with Dad.


Our first trip this summer was to visit family in Pennsylvania for an annual pig roast. It was great to see everyone, aunts, uncles, cousins, brother-in-law & sister-in-law. Baby K was still in the hospital at the time so we didn't get to see her. But she is home now with her mommy & daddy.

Baby K ...
Our next stop was to Lake Erie & Splash Lagoon Waterpark in Erie, PA...

Splash Lagoon ....


Drag Race ...
Summer Fun ...


Whenever we go some place new I like to look for fabric stores and garden centers. While in Erie, PA I had the chance to visit Mill Creek Sewing & Fabric ... what a great store and the nicest people working there. I used my cell phone camera, which is not great, but here is a look at the store...

In this picture there are the cutest aprons. Of course I purchased the pattern and lots of fabric to make them.
Enjoy your summer!