CoBloWriMo #24-Unexpected Source

Most cities in the UK are not as great for fabric buying as Birmingham.  We still have a very extensive market area, selling fresh fruit &veg, fish [apparently fresher than you can buy on the coast], meat, spices and snacks.  There are knick-knacks, toys, hardware, toiletries…and fabric.  Lots and lots and lots of fabric.   And haberdashery, and trim.

Next to the markets is a 4-storey emporium called the Fancy Silk Store, which sells all types of fabric, not just silk.  Round the block is Barry’s Warehouse, another source of textile delight.   I regularly organise sewing meet-ups in Brum and have made loads of friends this way, even gaining a bridesmaid!

Bridesmaid-t-be Glends, lurking right behind me in this pic

Always time for a delicious meal, usually at Mount Fuji Japanese restaurant…oh, the bento boxes!

Birmingham is a very multi-cultural city, and it shows in the range of fabric and trim that’s available, often at ridiculously low prices.  My current favourite is African wax-print cotton.  This is usually sold in lengths of approximately 5-6 yards, at about £15-£20.  Dirt cheap.  Fancier types reach a staggering £25.  [Outrageous!]

I like to make my steampunk outfits fairly historically correct, but with maybe anachronistic fabric choices.  Examples here are

black/red embossed print, made up into TV Eton jacket and ten gore skirt

black and red pin-tucked chintz-finish cotton, TV ten gore skirt and Truly Victorian 1894 shirtwaist

Shocking pink key-print cotton and black sateen riding skirt.  Detachable front panel with HUGE pink buttons from eBay.  Reconstructing History.

Red/green dashiki print cotton jacket, sateen bloomers, Laughing Moon cycling outfit.

All except the pink key-print was from the market, that was from eBay.