17. We Got It!

For the month of December, as planned, Susan and I stopped into the Sewing Studio Fabric Superstore about once a week to keep an eye on her fabric. Instead of staying up to watch the ball drop, I was in bed by 10 pm on New Year's Eve - all in preparation for: The New Year's Day Sale! On January 1st, I got up at 5 am and was at the store by 6:30 am. I had been hoping to be first in line, but one woman actually beat me - by about 5 minutes. Another woman arrived about 5 minutes later and the 3 of us visited companionably, sitting on our folding chairs in front of the store for about 30 minutes before anyone else showed up. Then, slowly but surely, people starting trickling up to join the line. Susan joined me around 8 am and by the time the store opened, at 9 am, we estimated that there were around 40 people in line.

I had a list with all of our selections (including lining, button loops and 50 little pearl buttons!) and we divided up the list ahead of time, with plans to grab our respective bolts and meet at the cutting counter. Scotti (the person who had been helping us all this time) saw us at the front of the line and so he had the silk satin and lace out and waiting for us as we came in the door! I'm pretty sure that those were 2 of the first pieces of fabric cut that day.

The store had run out of one thing - the lining that we had picked - Ambiance Bemberg rayon. Luckily that's commonly available and I was able to order the exact color we wanted on the Internet that same day. (It's already arrived.) I had a bit of difficulty finding the golden fabric for the godet, but Susan was able to pick out the right bolt from across the room. We were out of the store by 9:30! Pretty amazing!

It's very difficult to get a photograph that accurately reflects the colors, especially the just-off white of the silk satin, but here goes my best effort. The first shot shows the silk satin for the main dress and the gold (polyester) satin for the godet with the champagne lace on top of it.

This second shot shows the silk satin with the champagne lace laid on top, as we have planned for the bodice.

The colors aren't perfectly represented, but the fabrics really look beautiful together and using the same lace for the bodice and godet really makes the whole thing come together.

We're scheduled for our final muslin fitting next Sunday (Jan. 13th) and then... Then I have to find the nerve to cut into the most beautiful (and most expensive!) fabric that I have ever touched in my whole life... ;)