"The industry of fabric is older than pottery or metallurgy and perhaps even than agriculture and stock-breeding. Cloth is the original technology." So writes Kassia St. Clair in the introduction to her 2018 book The Golden Thread, How Fabric Changed History*. It's a pithy statement, yet with it she hints at a thesis that the book amply — and entertainingly — defends throughout: that cloth … [Read more...] about Book Review: ‘The Golden Thread, How Fabric Changed History’ by Kassia St. Clair
Blog
Finding the Light in These Dark Corona Times
Though I've been married for eleven years now, it's only been in about the last eight weeks that I finally stopped living my life on my husband's rhythms and instead began to live more fully on mine. We work from home so we mostly make our own schedule and he likes to sleep in. So for years I've let the clock tick further into the morning kind of just laying there, even though I wanted to get … [Read more...] about Finding the Light in These Dark Corona Times
Christmas in July Sale and What’s Going on at Chez Lady Virginia…
I hope that everyone out there in #ilovevintagefabric land has been doing well in this extraordinary pandemic. My best advice is to wear those masks, practice physical distancing, stay home whenever possible, but also get fresh air and sunshine every day! I know this is hard on many folks, both those who are working at home and those who aren't. I've worked from home for 25 years so for me … [Read more...] about Christmas in July Sale and What’s Going on at Chez Lady Virginia…
Customer Profile: Vintage Fabric Pieces Make Cheery Home Art Gallery for Designer’s Grand Niece
Editor's Note: The first in an occasional series focused on Lady Virginia Vintage customers and their projects using our fabrics. Earlier this year I received a delightfully excited note from one of my fabric customers who had picked up a few vintage Kent-Bragaline pieces in my Etsy shop, Lady Virginia Vintage. "Hello! I just wanted to say thank you. I am the grand niece of Edward Bragaline … [Read more...] about Customer Profile: Vintage Fabric Pieces Make Cheery Home Art Gallery for Designer’s Grand Niece
Introducing my line of high-end fabric masks
At first I didn't think I wanted to produce a line of masks in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Even though I wrote an essay with a full-throated cry for fair pay for all the seamstresses out there (professional and hobbyists) who pivoted on a dime from their usual sewing and alterations work to mask-making, I still didn't think that I wanted to do it, for a couple of reasons: First, I mainly … [Read more...] about Introducing my line of high-end fabric masks
How I Got Addicted to Decorator Fabric Brands
Here it comes, the true confessions of a rabid fabric fan! Now, I’m not a schooled expert on fabrics for home decorators. I don’t work in the industry as a designer, and I'm not a fabric house mogul nor an academic textiles historian. I’m simply an antique and vintage fabric and textile seller who loves home decorator (and other) fabrics big time. Luxurious, intricate, richly colored, and … [Read more...] about How I Got Addicted to Decorator Fabric Brands
