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Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics

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You are here: Home / Communities / Just a small town girl

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Just a small town girl

Today I’m taking a momentary turn in a more ominous direction to talk to you about where most experts say it’s best to live as the world begins the downslope on the other side of peak oil.

But first, a primer

Peak oil means the peak of oil production—the top point when the most oil is flowing before the straw starts to sip at the bottom half. The bottom half, unfortunately, is harder to reach, and of a lower quality, making it more difficult and expensive to refine. The costs for everything go up all over in response to peak oil.

Those who are always upbeat (usually because they want to sell you something) say not to worry, that we have tar sands and deepwater oil and shale, or oil from rocks.

What they don’t say is that the cost to make oil from gravel and stones or the cost to dredge it from five miles under the ocean is so significantly higher than getting light sweet crude from desert sands that the two kinds of production aren’t even in the same universe, much less ballpark.

And the International Energy Agency said we hit the peak in 2006. It’s all downhill from there.

Bottom line all costs are going up, there will be no real kind of economic recovery and our lives—but mostly the lives of our children—are set to change for good. And not for the better unless we act now.

Taking action in the face of inaction

The sooner we grasp this and respond to it effectively the better any of us will be as individuals and families, and the more resilient will be our communities and nations.

Problem is we have a total abdication of responsibility on the part of our elected leaders and appointed officials in the US.

In the UK and many nations in Europe and even in Asia there’s much more willingness to accept that a finite resource does have an actual end to it (or to it’s cost-effectiveness) and to adjust accordingly.

The wise ones are implementing conservation measures, clean energy solutions, distributed power (power at everyone’s house and business, such as with solar panels) rather than big centralized power plants that depend on huge inputs. These countries also have or are putting in train systems to move their people and goods around.

In the US, fuggetabout it.

Neither political party has taken any real leadership to help America through this. For now, US citizens are all on our own.

Today I’m not even going to get into how bad things will be for us because of this. Another day, but not today. But suffice it to say that they will

In an interesting side note, the International Monetary Fund now indicates that China will take over the US as the world’s biggest economy in 2016. They’re calling it the end of the Age of America. Maybe they hope it’s our kids who will work for them at .27 cents an hour. And in that scenario, I shudder to think what life will be like for women and girls.

Someone has to grow up and deal with this

Dear readers, I do not in any way enjoy being the bearer of bad news.

But I am driven to help women in particular to take a leadership role to address what the mostly men and sometimes women in leadership positions in our country refuse to deal with. And that is the negative impact on economy from the decline of oil and fossil fuels and all the attendant negative impacts to society, culture and lifestyle that it implies.

I’m focused on honest communication about the predicament, and those solutions we can do now as we also press our leaders for an effective national plan.

Getting around

For today let me just leave you with with the walkability index. This index allows you to input various factors about where you live and how close you are to needed or desired amenities. Where you live matters so much in the wake of peak oil. Keep in mind that if you have to drive to get everywhere you may be in an extremely vulnerable position as energy decline accelerates.

The Transition movement and many key writers on the reality of energy decline suggest that small towns and mid-sized cities surrounded by a green belt for agriculture are your best bet for a living place. They’re not the only solution, but are considered superior by resilience standards to large cities (food distribution issues) and rural living (isolation, and having to almost entirely eek out an existence on your own).

In my view if you can move to a smaller town now, preferably one on a rail line (even though US rail lines need much work), and preferable one with some culture, do so.

If you can’t, then focus instead on what’s known as reskilling, which I’ll talk about more another time.

If you have any questions or comments please post them below. I’ll be writing more on this difficult subject…but not every day. However, the subject is the whole reason for Lindsay’s List—conserving to save money and adapting NOW so you can withstand the era of energy decline—but I like to offer more ideas than grim news.

Together we can face this. But we can’t put it off any longer. Our leaders have abandoned us. It’s up to you and me now.

–Lindsay Curren, Lindsay’s List

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About Lindsay Curren

A Christian, mama, and writer, Lindsay Curren (aka Lady Virginia) is also a passionate lifelong collector of vintage fabrics. "There's something inexplicable about the pull textiles have on me. I simply can't resist sourcing them, using them, and now selling them. Other fabric addicts will understand!"

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A Christian, mama, and writer, Lindsay Curren (aka Lady Virginia) is also a passionate lifelong collector of vintage fabrics. "There's something inexplicable about the pull textiles have on me. I simply can't resist sourcing them, using them, and now selling them. Other fabric addicts will understand!"

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A host of fun #vintagefabrics head to California t A host of fun #vintagefabrics head to California today for someone’s new year projects. We’ve got a small amount of yardage of most of these fabrics still in the shop. Gorgeous brown tropical #barkcloth, sumptuous chartreuse and #indigo linen, blingy rose cotton (lovely gold accents that are hard to see in the pics) that’s perfect for #valentinesday, deep indigo floral from Ireland and a #vintagefabricsample that’s sold out but we have many more rare ones in the shop. Find them and 100s more pieces in our #etsyshop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). 

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Just in time for #valentinesdaysewing, this bright Just in time for #valentinesdaysewing, this bright and cheery flannel packs a 1960s era punch with its bold colors and multi-sized converging paisleys. Perfect for apparel projects like cozy pajamas or a fun oversized bag. Use it in home decor or upholstery to fashion a sheet or pillow cases, reupholster a side chair, and more. Great for crafts for Valentine's Day like stuffed flannel hearts with trim or a cute pair of boxers. 42.5" wide x 1 yard increments with up to 3 continuous yards available. $39/yard w/ free shipping in the US. Find it in our #etsy shop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). 

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Charming craft pieces just in time to make a Valen Charming craft pieces just in time to make a Valentine present for the lover of Victoriana and/or Edwardian styles. Rare. Features well-dressed men, women, and children out enjoying a park environment, having tea, strolling, playing with toy sailboats, walking dogs, and more. Features what appear to be a Pug dog and a Lhasa apso.

36” w X 20” h for $49 w/ free shipping in the USA. Find them (we have 6 pieces) in our #etsy shop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio).

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Just listed: pretty vintage (and one 21st century) Just listed: pretty vintage (and one 21st century) fabric scraps for your smaller #slowsewing or #quilting projects. Perfect colors for #valentinesday gift making, projects, and crafts. Find them and 40 other #vintagefabricscraps (and 100s more larger pieces) in our #etsyshop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). 

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RARE! Extremely rare and likely part of Greeff Fa RARE!

Extremely rare and likely part of Greeff Fabrics' unique "The Federal Collection" of the 1960s. This piece, "National Emblem" was made by special arrangement with The Henry Ford Museum and is a Good Housekeeping seal fabric.

Perfect fabric for the history lover, patriot, Father's Day, or simply for decorating in Federal Style. 

SIZE: Each piece (two are available and they are currently connected so if you buy both they will come as a continuous piece of fabric) is 36" wide x 40.5" long. $159/ea w/ free shipping in the US. Find it in our #etsy shop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics. Link in bio. 

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"Pavilion" from Greeff's "The Greeff Collection" w "Pavilion" from Greeff's "The Greeff Collection" was likely made in partnership with Warner and Sons and printed in England. A stunning glazed chintz chinoiserie in exotic and timeless colors offers stunning statement-making opportunities for your project.

The large central chinoiserie motif features a man with a parasol at the top of a set of steps. He has reached a silk draped pavilion with a variety of hanging ladders astride richly expressive trees and foliage.

Plenty of fabric for an upcycled pillow collection for home use or sale, oversized bags, Roman shades, cover furniture, and more! Perfect fabric for Grandmillennial and traditional projects.

A highly polished 100% cotton chintz with a stiff hand and low drape. $129./yard w/ free shipping in the US. Find it in our #etdy shop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). 

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This 1996 Borderline Fabrics vertically striped an This 1996 Borderline Fabrics vertically striped and floral Indienne is titled "Coriander eau de nil." It's a stunning grandmillennial style piece blending gravitas with a relaxed glean. Made in Britain.

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Listing for one yard — as of the original listing there are up to 3 continuous yards. $119/ yard with free shipping in the US. Find it in our #etsyshop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). 

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Just listed: Crisp colors and firm fiber combine i Just listed: Crisp colors and firm fiber combine in a stunning late 19th century (1890s)/early 20th century (1900-1915) upholstery piece for your restoration or home décor project. Big beautiful florals are perfect for eclectic takes on Shabby Chic, Granny Chic, Coastal, and Grandmillennial styles today. Sourced in France.

Delicate, romantic sensibility to the flowers, like an old color postcard or Valentine. Asters, daisies, tulips, peonies, Foxglove and more...

FIBER: Expertly woven heavy weight canvas, firm hand, little to no drape. Excellent for pillows, a taut Roman shade, lamp shades, totes, wall hanging, a table runner, etc.

SIZE: 28" wide x 1 yard increments with up to 3 yards available. $139/yard w/ free shipping in the US. Find it in our #etsy shop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). 

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We have one small scrap and one full width piece t We have one small scrap and one full width piece that’s just shy of a yard. Beautiful brocade gold and ivory bees on red silk/rayon. Find it in our #etsyshop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). 

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Make pillows (add lining or interfacing for structure), small café curtains, a message board, a mumu, and more! 100% cotton, light to light-mid weight, nice drape. $59/yard w/ free shipping in the US. On sale through January 23 for 15% off. 

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