Sewing Vloggers

Friday, April 16, 2010

Arab Street in Singapore

A couple of weeks ago DD#1 had a business trip to Hong Kong and Singapore. While HK did not leave her impressed (can you believe it?) she came home wild about Singapore and said she would live there in a heartbeat. ACK!!! While I knew these areas were some of the best textile shopping in the world, I never would ask her to shop for me while on business. Her job is VERY high level and intense and for one of the Fortune Five. She has a tremendous brain for business, totally respects my passion for textiles, and couldn't sew a button if her life depended on it. So  never even broached the subject.

We went to visit her last weekend and at one point she called me up to her bedroom. I got this weird feeling like she was going to tell me some deep dark secret but it was way better than that. On the dresser she had folded up 5 exquisite Pashmina shawls and said "Mom, pick two." To say this was difficult is an understatement! I eventually settled on these beauties and MUST make a new winter coat to wear with them.

On the tag you can see that this a a 55% Pashmina cashmere wool and 45% silk. All I know is it feels incredibly yummy, soft, and luxurious. On a totally different tangent I also picked this brightly colored one, the better to cheer up our dreary winters.
It seems DD knew this was textile heaven and with what little time off she had she asked where to shop. She ended up in and area called "Arab Street", go figure, and said it was all fabrics, beads, buttons, tailors for custom suits, etc., IOW,  heaven!  She knew she wanted to bring me back some fabric and as she walked by one particular store the following was in the store window. She said it took her breath away as it did mine. She bought all that was on the bolt. This is 100% silk, 3.5 yards, 45 inches wide, and has this green/blue warp weft thing going on. As it ripples the color changes. It is so much more beautiful in person. I love the design as it is very small making it easier to work with in my opinion.
What you see that is blue will shift and move and turn green as the wearer moves. It is just exquisite. Now she also bought me some beads to go with it, understanding full well how I design. I have them here by some hand embroidered numbers and Asian letters(?) that are on the selvedge.
 What I will sew with this and when is up in the clouds. In the meantime, I have the thrill of knowing that my daughter understands, encourages and remembered  my passions while she was busy on the other side of the planet. That's worth more than all of these treasures....Bunny

25 comments:

  1. What amazing fabric! What a great daughter! I can't wait to see what you ultimately do with all these treasures.

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  2. How beautiful. Your daughter is so sweet to think of you.

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  3. Have you come down off of cloud 9 yet? :) Lovely shawls, beautiful fabric and beads. What a thoughtful daughter you have.

    Barb

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  4. How sweet of her, and the things she picked out are just beautiful. I can't wait to see what you design because I know it will be grand.

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  5. What wonderful presents from your daughter. I am sure whatever you make out of the silk will be spectacular!

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  6. Simone from SingaporeApril 16, 2010 at 1:17 PM

    What a wonderful, thoughtful daughter! Can't wait to see what you make of that gorgeous fabric.

    If your daughter is in Singapore again and won't mind some local help (and bargaining skills) when she goes fabric shopping, I'm very happy to help.

    Arab Street (the name is a legacy from when the British were here and designated different areas for people from different parts of the world) is my go-to area for silk, Swarovski crystals at wholesale prices, perfume oils and bellydance costumes :-))

    ~ Simone (simone_d_c@yahoo.com)

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  7. Those are absolutely gorgeous, you have such a thoughtful daughter!

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  8. My heart stopped when I saw the fabric. I think I would just have to hang it close by, viewing it as an art piece for a while.
    Beckie in Brentwood, TN

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  9. gorgeous! what a wonderful, thoughtful dd. good taste too!

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  10. How yummy! She knows her mother well. Make a beautiful thing!

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  11. How wonderful! Your DD may not have the same passions as you but she sure does have good taste! Beautiful purchases.

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  12. What a wonderful daughter! You did a great job:)
    I love the fabric as well - your daughter must have your great taste!

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  13. I would have picked the same ones you did! Bunny, Your daughter is a treasure.

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  14. It's so sweet that your daughter thought of you while on her trip! Those are beautiful!

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  15. Daughters have a special understanding of our loves. What a sweetheart to remember Mom. Love the fabric it's amazing.

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  16. Oh, my, gosh! Those are beautiful! Lucky you! Good to have a daughter that thinks of you many miles away from home.

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  17. To.die.for. How wonderful that she thought of you when she was so far away and so busy, too.

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  18. Exquisite is the right word! WOW.......
    I can understand your joy!! Just fabulous...

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  19. Have been to both Singapore and HK and they are both fabric havens...still have contacts from HK...you will LOVE these fabrics....I did a tunic and pants (pants coordinated) using the fringe of the shawl to make the hem of the tunic. Oh what fun you will have!

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  20. See???? I TOLD you it was genetic!! That eye for color & design, that knack for spotting just the right accessories. Yep, she inherited it from YOU! :-)
    ♫ ♫ Lucky Dog~Lucky Dog ♫ ♫

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  21. Stunning. I can't wait to see what beautiful creation you make from it. Your daughter is so thoughtful and considerate. And she sounds brilliant, especially in the fabric choosing department.

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  22. Gorgeous choices! Maybe she has no head for sewing, but definitely has great taste!

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  23. Beautiful ~ gorgeous ~ fabrics and shawls. What a very thoughtful daughter :)

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  24. The fabric is magnificent! I bought fabric on Arab Street and used it for my gown that I wore to our daughter's wedding. The skirt and bolero fabric are from Arab Street and the bodice fabric came from Mood Fabrics in New York. If you'd like to see this gown check out December 2009 on my blog. http:bubbygigi.blogspot.com . Gigi/Gita

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  25. The fabric is gorgeous!! How very thoughtful of your daughter.

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