Lucy's Fashion, Fabrics (and Trims)

Lucy 4.0 is launched!

2011-05-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we launched our fourth major iteration of lucysfabrics.com since 2004, Lucy 4.0. Lucysbuckles.com is our new home.

Since we no longer carry fabric, the name was a little confusing. However, we carry much more than buckles -- lace, trimmings, rhinestone embellishments, metal hardware (check out our mini locks!) and more.

I've been trying to get to this redesign for more than a year! Since I do internet marketing work for other clients, they always took priority, but finally I decided enough was enough with our old shopping cart thatwas driving me nuts. Maybe it's fitting that the launch took place during Oprah's last week -- I think she would approve.

Some important things:
If you are an existing customer, welcome back! Your account, addresses and order history have been imported with three exceptions:

Order numbers have been changed.
On old orders, the price ea. does not reflect the quantity discount price (it gives the 1 pc. price). Your total is correct, so you can do the math to figure out the unit price or contact us and we can e-mail you a copy of your old invoice. New orders will of course reflect the discounted price.
Passwords could not be imported. However, just click on the "forgot your password" link on the site and you will receive a new one (unlike with our old software, this feature actually works).

You can then log in with the same e-mail address you used before.

What's not changing:

Automatic bulk discounts on most products (which are a lot easier for you to see).
Free Shipping for orders over $75 in the USA! Now includes HI, AK and PR!
Free shipping on $200 or more to Canada!

We will be able to provide you with even better service than before. You can track your orders, view old orders and re-order much more easily. The checkout flow is faster.

Here's something I like -- you can view all the products in a handy grid. Click on the product category (example: rhinestone buckles):

Right below the subcategories, there is a little drop-down box - pick COMPACT LIST.

This is especially useful if you already know what you want.

Remember, the price shown on the page is the 1 pc. price and not the bulk discount price, which is shown on each product's page in a handy table (no more pop-up windows! Yay!).

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Diva Madness at lucysfabrics.com

2011-04-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

I am excited to share all the new product lines we have available:
Rhinestone Brooches
Ribbon and Garland

Loretta Lynn, the Official Greeter, has been helping me try out the new Rhinestone Mesh. It's perfect for bling dog collars! It's better to start with a plain nylon buckle collar that's not adjustable, but at Dollar General that's all we got (and in our town, Dollar General is it). Two 3-row cuttings of this mesh is all it took to do the collar. The easiest way to remove the hanging threads from the mesh is with a candle lighter - hit it gently and it comes right off without harming the rhinestone cups. Then I glued it on with E6000. Done!

The black rhinestone mesh looks extremely cool on a black collar, so our black dog Johnny Cash is going to be getting one too. He's happy-go-lucky, so I doubt he will get an attitude like Loretta, but since rhinestones bring out the Diva in all of us, you never know.

Then I had to come up with a silent auction item for our Chamber of Commerce Banquet. There are a lot of crafty people in our town, so I decided to make an Assortment of Crystal Embellishments and Ribbons for Crafty Divas. I hot-glued a ribbon around a vase (again, from Dollar General) finished with our new crown rhinestone buckle. I filled it with the leopard print tulle fabric, along with a nice assortment of our products. I hope people bid high!

The Rhinestone Buckle category is expanding based on your feedback. We have been adding more shapes other than round and square, gold buckles and AB (Aurora Borealis) Crystal buckles.

I love this rhinestone mesh and want to glue it on everything. You never know when one of our lambs will be wearing a Liberace-like Lambie Jammie. I may need to bling my muck boots.

New Rhinestone Buckle and Flatback Styles!

2010-08-03T06:07:00.000-07:00

I am really excited about these new styles. Click here to see the rhinestone buckles, newest products first. And here to see embellishments other than buckles, newest products first. The rhinestone peace sign and rhinestone fleur-de-lis are available with and without a buckle on the back, for tying or for attaching with glue.

As a less-expensive option, there are a couple of styles with glass rather than czech crystal stones. The type of stone is important and I am careful to accurately describe the stone as czech crystal (the best -- which the vast majority of our products are), glass or acrylic. These glass-stoned buckles are excellent quality - very sparkly and clear, not cloudy like acrylic or plastic.

In the photo at left, the 1" buckle is glass and the 7/8" one is czech crystal. As you can see they both look great but crystal has richer color.

Crystal is always the preferred material but I am always experimenting to see what works best for our customers.

Check out the new embellishments for floral decorations and other crafts (see pics above). Right now these are in limited quantities but if customer reaction is positive, we will bring more in -- your feedback is welcome!

These new items include beaded wire, rhinestone floral pins and sprays, and more.

Please note the following times when there will be no shipments going out:

We will be will be closed August 11-15. Orders placed by 2PM CDT on Tuesday, August 10 will go out, then shipping resumes on Monday, August 16.

We will also be closed September 13-September 22. Orders received before 2PM CDT on Friday, September 10 will go out, then shipments will resume Thursday, September 23.

New local phone number... moving almost done!

2010-05-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

And I have a new local phone number! The 866 number might have a glitch in the next few days as it gets re-routed to the new number. So if you can't get through on one, please try the other. I do check emails more often anyway.

Til midnight, June 1, you can still get 30% off your fabric order of $100 or more. There is still some fabric but it's in pre-cut pieces and small rolls - the new place doesn't have a cutting table. But everything is marked down at least 25% if not much more. Plus there is still free shipping in the continental USA for orders over $75.

You can still find some of your favorites like stretch knit lining assortments, skull knit fabric assortments, and even some rayon jersey fabric.

Your favorite trims including 6" wide stretch lace are still here, as well as eyelet tape, bra straps, elastics and lots of metal and rhinestone trims. So be sure to keep us in mind for your trimming needs, as new things are being added all the time!

Like trendy cinch belt buckles... now in 3 sizes.

More new stuff is coming soon! If you have not already subscribed to the email newsletter or joined our Facebook page, that is the best way to find out what is new (more info on our "contact" page).

I am really looking forward to getting back to a more normal routine in the new place, starting Tuesday after the holiday. It's right in the middle of all the action in Van Alstyne, a quaint little town North of McKinney. Visitors are encouraged and welcome - Loretta the Official Greeter loves company,

Since it's within walking distance of homemade pie, and many other great restaurants, my husband pointed out how fortunate it is that there is a nutritionist in the same building. So that she can tell me that my problem is: "You eat too much pie. And fried pickles is not a vegetable."

Almost everything -- all fabric anyway -- must go....

2010-05-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

After six years of selling fabric and trim, I am eliminating the fabric part of the business in order to free up more time for other things. Therefore, all fabric and most notions are on sale.

Although I have enjoyed sourcing and sharing a unique selection of knit fabrics over the years, fabric is very labor and space-intensive. I am moving into a nicer space, focusing on my ever-growing internet marketing clients while maintaining a focused e-commerce store focused on trims.

What's changing:

We will no longer carry fabric or fabric-related notions.
Part of our trim business is expanding, particularly in the rhinestone category. Watch for an all new shopping experience in a couple of months!
Most by-the-yard trims (other than rhinestones) will be discontinued.
Local phone number and address - coming soon.

What's not changing:

For the time being our email address, website and toll-free number.
The service excellence you have come to expect.
Most by-the-piece and by-the-roll trims are staying in the product line.
Free shipping.

All sale items are in the SALE category but now that it's so large, you might just want to browse the regular categories you are interested in.

As we close out fabrics, please understand that we cannot supply swatches or do fractional yards. All fabric sales are final, except in cases of damage or wrong item shipped.

Also, if there is anything you would like in bulk (10 yards or more per style for fabric, 25 yards or more per style/color for trims) if there is not already a bulk discount on the website please feel free to contact me for special pricing.

It's been a blessing and a pleasure working with so many great and creative sewers over the years. I hope that you all will continue to utilize us for your trim needs.

May 15: Join us in person for a community yard sale and our Spring Clearance sale!

2010-05-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

It is that time again for Westminster to have a community yard sale on the "square." I am going to take the opportunity to open up the shop and do some serious Spring Cleaning.

There will be $1 and $2 fabrics and lots of interesting odds and ends. Virtually everything in the store will be on sale.

So, whether you want to check out the "Junque" being sold by many of our neighbors, get some great deals on fabric, trim and notions or just see the fabric in person while enjoying a nice drive, please come by! Since my husband is going to get fussy pretty quick, I expect to be open only til 1PM or so, depending on the traffic.

Bring the hubby and park him at Big Slick's across the street for a beer & burger while you shop! If it is a nice day, there will be a gorgeous selection of Harleys parked outside.

COMMUNITY YARD SALE and Lucysfabrics Spring Clearance Sale!

WHEN: Saturday, May 15 from 8 AM til 1 PM (maybe later depending on the traffic)

If there is inclement weather, the yard sale will probably not happen but we will be selling INSIDE.

We are in "downtown" Westminster, easily accessible from 5 or 121. Follow the signs to Westminster, in far North Collin County (on the Grayson County border). That's 1 hour north of Dallas, and 15 min. NE of McKinney. GPS navigation is accurate to the shop.

Lucysfabrics.com
103 S. College St.
Anna, Texas 75409

Read on for more directions.

All lining fabric is 30% off!

2010-04-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

The entire linings category is on sale for 30% off. You don't have to enter a coupon code - the discount will apply automatically when placed in your cart. The new price will be visible and the original price will be crossed out.

This sale includes Helenca lining, 70D lining and Whisper 4-way stretch lining, and lasts only til Friday, May 7 midnight CST.

Also just put on sale for the first time ever: Red, Hot Pink, Candy Pink, Purple, Tiffany Blue and Lime Green Eyelet tape while supplies last...

It's hard to find good knit /stretch lining fabric. I am happy to say that we have three kinds:

1) 70D or 70 denier polyester lining. This is your most basic lining, best suited for fashion knits, when you need some modesty. It's great under lace tops, or even under non-stretch fabrics such as with a chiffon or crepe skirt. Manufacturers usually just serge the hem since it does not fray. There is a little mechanical stretch, mostly along the width. It's *not* stretchy like 4-way stretch tricot, swim or dance fabric. This is used in RTW all the time because it's inexpensive and durable. I have a knit dress from Max Studio that has slighly poofy sleeves -- they only lined the sleeves with this to give the sleeves more body. Pretty clever. People in warm climates may find it hot, however.

2) Helenca / Helanca Nylon lining. Helenca Lining for swimsuits, dance, activewear, or to line stretch tops. My friend who makes hot Yoga wear clued me in on this. It's very stretchy, soft and breatheable, and has a meshy texture. It's not slick. My friend doubles it in the mens' yoga shorts, for obvious reasons. It's very light, so it won't drag down the garment. The downside is that it can be delicate and hard to handle.

3) Whisper Nylon-Lycra 4-way stretch lining. This is a lovely, silky and cool fabric that is good for lining for or the self of bras, panties and slips. For a lining, this is heavier than it feels (it's 6 oz. per square yard) so use it only for very lightweight fabrics or the entire garment will be too heavy and it will bag. The downside is the cost and weight (because it has lycra). Now we have dyed-to-match 5 7/8" stretch lace to match in Ivory and Nude, in addition to several other wide lace and narrow lace trim in black and white.

Hopefully this will encourage everyone to go ahead and try a new lining or two. Enjoy and let me know how it goes!

Save 30% on things that make sewing with knits easier and more fun!

2010-04-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

The entire "notions" category is on sale for 30% off. You don't have to enter a coupon code - the discount will apply automatically when placed in your cart. The new price will be visible and the original price will be crossed out.

This sale includes YLI Wooly nylon thread, elastic, knit cuffs and bands, interfacing and more! Our notions selection is geared especially for the knit fabric enthusiast. Most products were suggested by customers just like you. Supplies are very limited and the sale will go on only until Friday, May 1 midnight CST.

Limited to stock on-hand and not on special orders, and cannot be applied retroactively.

Also: Our Spring Clearance sale continues with all fleece on sale, including recycled cotton eco-fleece and all Thermal knit fabric. The fleece sale has been extremely popular but a couple of pieces were hiding out, so there is still time to get in on it.

Check our our new bulk trims section. Customers wanted an easy way to buy the things they use the most at a discount, so you will find wide lace by the roll, 100-pair bags of bra straps and much more.

Why getting Jerseylicious is a good thing for American fashion.

2010-04-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

Jerseylicious, the new Style Network reality-TV show, is sending this Texas fashionista back to school.

I thought Texas women ruled the art of of big hair, bling and animal prints. Ladies of Houston, Dallas and Paris (Texas), we have officially lost the pink rhinestone-encrusted crown. And I am addicted -- the unapologetically gaudy gals at this New Jersey salon are inspiring me, and they can inspire you too.

I have been buying textiles since 2003, and animal prints have never gone out of fashion for home or apparel. I guess they just make folks happy, even more so in blue or hot pink. There is nothing better for shoes, bags and scarves (though probably not all at the same time).

Cinch belts are one of the best accessory trends to come along in a while -- they can polish up a shapeless knit dress or boring skirt and top. I won't be wearing mine to the feed store, but since it hits the smallest part of my waist, it's slimming, which surprised me. You never know until you try one and see.

Along with the cinch belt, these ladies can work a knit dress. I can't tell you how many women have told me that once they left their 30's, they left knits behind as well. This is so not necessary, especially if you sew for yourself. The key to knits, such as matte jersey, is to skim, not hug the body, and to use gathers, ruching and empire waists to skip over hips and tummy. My biggest, loudest patterns are my best sellers because, as counterintuitive as it may seem, they are the most flattering.

I am past the age where it's a good idea to visit the tanning salon, so bronzer is my friend. Being Texan, it's difficult for me to use in moderation, but I do my best.

I spent my twenties taking myself much too seriously and feeling fat (shopping at Talbot's at 23 -- what the Hell was I thinking?), so while I would like to see more sisterhood and less backstabbing (this is reality TV after all), I enjoy seeing the girls have a good time with fashion. Even the salon owner, with her age and career-appropriate style, takes Jerseyliciousness beyond the twenty-something set.

Jerseylicious, as well as RuPaul's Drag Race, and Be Good Johnny Weir, are inspiring because the stars use fashion to express themselves, holding nothing back. The ladies at the Gatsby salon don't apologize for being curvy, for having hair that cannot be moved, or for their regional style.

I think far worse fashion crimes are committed by women who dress to hide their bodies (example: mom jeans and vests) than by women who are really out there. We think our style is constrained by our size, age and budget. Not true. We are limited only by our insecurities and imaginations.

Contest Time! Win a Lucysfabrics.com gift certificate!

2010-03-05T06:25:00.000-08:00

Patternreview.com is running the contest and we are providing the prize - a $50 or $25 gift certificate! But hurry - you have til March 15 to submit your entry.

Between March 1st and March 15th cut, sew and review a handbag of your choice and enter it in the contest.

1st Place -- determined by reader votes . $50 Gift Certificate from lucysfabrics.com
Random drawing -- from all eligible entries excluding 1st place winner $25 Gift certificate from lucysfabrics.com

Here are the rules as drafted by the Patternreview.com community:

A commercial pattern or self drafted pattern may be used. A pattern you've used previously may also be used, however the entry for this contest should be a different and new bag.
A lining is required
A closure of some sort is required ( snaps, magnetic snaps, flap with snaps, zippers, button and loop closure )
Use of interfacing to make it a structured bag is required. It can be a slouchy bag also, but interfacing is still required.
Purchased handles are allowed but purchased straps are not allowed.
Use of hardware is optional but is encouraged.
Grocery bags are not included in this contest.

There are more rules and guidelines -- read them all here.

Enter the contest now.

FTC says: Call Bamboo "Rayon," stop antimicrobial and eco-friendly manufacturing claims

2010-02-27T06:42:00.000-08:00

The Federal Trade Commission of the United States has slapped several companies with product claims concerning bamboo-based textiles (read the press release here).

I am a fan of bamboo knit fabric, and buy it when I can find it at a reasonable price. Like most rayon knit fabrics, it's hand and drape gives a garment a higher-end look than cotton and it breathes better than polyester or nylon. From a crop standpoint, bamboo certainly has a sustainability advantage over other fibers because it grows quickly, without harsh chemicals.

However, according to the FTC, the soft and drapey bamboo textiles we are seeing in the stores should be called "rayon made from bamboo:"

The Federal Trade Commission has charged four sellers of clothing and other textile products with deceptively labeling and advertising these items as made of bamboo fiber, when they are made of rayon. The complaints also charge the companies with making false and unsubstantiated “green” claims that their clothing and textile products are manufactured using an environmentally friendly process, that they retain the natural antimicrobial properties of the bamboo plant, and that they are biodegradable....The proposed orders do allow the companies to describe their products as "rayon made from bamboo," as long as this is true and can be substantiated.

Hype and green-washing in the textile industry? Well, consider my bubble burst!

Modal is another rayon fabric that has some hype issues. I have been offered "modal" fabric from wholesalers (nice, but no better than regular rayon knit), and have seen "modal rayon" fabric being sold online for half of what I know the price should be. I buy genuine Modal knit fabric (a fiber licensed from Lenzing) directly from a domestic mill -- a mill a friend of mine has toured personally. And it's expensive for a reason. I have rolled out 40 yards of this fabric without finding a single flaw -- rare for knits, where sometimes I am lucky to get 8-10 continuous perfect yards.

When we first started carrying Modal fabric a couple of years ago, Lenzing's printed marketing materials and website focused on "green" -- "Modal is sustainable because it is made from beech wood and uses fewer harsh chemicals." When I went to update our website with our new Modal stock, I noticed that Lenzing now emphasizes softness and color fastness and no green claims are to be found (even the color palette has changed from green to tan). I therefore no longer include Modal under the eco-friendly fabric category in our store. This is such a huge shift that I suspect that Lenzing was asked by the EU or USA to remove the green claims from their marketing materials.

Unless I buy a fabric directly from a mill, as with our Modal and recycled cotton knits, or has a tag from a mill on it, I am wary about green or brand name claims.

Some textile salesman make used car salesman look like Mary Poppins.

Do you have a Facebook Page for your business?

2010-01-10T19:54:00.000-08:00

Please let me know! I will add your page to the Lucysfabrics.com Facebook Page "Favorites" list, and hope that you will do the same.

You may be wondering, "What the heck is a Facebook Page?" Since so many of our customers are also business owners, I like to share the occasional nerdy tip. So here it is:

A "Page" is like a profile, but on Facebook, "Profiles" are for People only! Pages are for businesses, TV shows, bands, artists, etc. Through your business Page, you can share photos, videos, tips, resources, and special offers with customers who are "Fans" of your business on Facebook. Fans may use the Page to share photos and other information with the business and with other fans. Setting up a Page is free.

Pages can show support for other Pages. Example: I want to add ApronCity to Lucysfabrics.com's "Favorite Pages."

(at left) I click on "Add to my Page's Favorites." Since I manage more than one, it will ask me which Page I want to add it to. I select Lucysfabrics.com from the list then.....

Ta-daa! ApronCity appears on Lucysfabrics.com's list of "Favorite Pages." (at right)

So if your business or organization has a Page on Facebook, let me know and I will add it to this list. Then our Fans, who may have similar interests, will see your page when they visit ours. If you add Lucysfabrics.com to your Favorite Pages, you'll have to let me know so I can reciprocate, because Facebook doesn't notify Page owners when this happens.

Speaking of Fans.... you may be wondering how individual's "Profiles" interact with Pages? Simple: People become "Fans" of Pages. So, if you (an individual, not a business) are not a fan already, when you go to a Page that you like, you will see the "Become a Fan" button (see below). Click on the "Fan" button: (please note: as of April, 2010, Facebook has changed the "Fan" terminology to "Like," which is very confusing.... more edits coming later....)

What happens when you are a Fan? As a Fan of Lucysfabrics.com, you will get occasional stories in your news feed. Don't worry, I don't post about my dogs' upset tummies (I save that for my Profile!). But, I do try to share information that home sewers and independent designers will find useful.

Being a Fan of a Page is not the same as being a Friend of an individual. There is a privacy wall. If a Page has enough Fans for it to be anonymous, Page owners see aggregated demographic data. However, I can't see Fans' profiles, friends, photos, etc. (unless the owner has made this public - read about Facebook's privacy settings here). And, Fans can't see mine, because my personal Profile is set to allow only Friends to see my personal information. I can post to the Lucysfabrics.com Page as "Laura" and everyone can read it, but I can also post as "Lucysfabrics.com".

One final tip about Pages: For some reason Facebook neither provides a way for Fans to message the page owner, nor does it notify the owner when a question or comment has been posted to the Page's Wall. So, I put our e-mail address and toll-free number on our Page. Facebook really needs to enable two-way messaging, since those who use personal Profiles are accustomed to this.

Still have questions? If you think a Page might be right for your business, read the help file on Facebook.

And by the way, the design division of Lucysfabrics is Sheep Boutique Internet Marketing. If you or someone you know needs help with a web presence, check us out.

How can I recycle textile products?

2009-12-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

Since we sell recycled cotton fabric (made from cutting waste), twice in the last week people have called the office asking if we knew how regular folks could recycle garments too shabby to donate.

Some cities are adding textile products alongside paper, plastic and glass to curbside or drop-off recycling programs. So, my first suggestion is to contact City Hall. If your city does not offer textile recycling, contact your city council person -- chances are, citizens have simply never asked for it. The California Waste Management Board website says that in some communities, textile recycling has reduced collection costs up to 15-20%, yet only about 15% of textile materials are removed from the waste stream.

Since the larger national charities such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and St. Jude’s already have a process for selling their excess materials by weight to textile recyclers, the California Waste Management Board suggests that communities work with charities to collect and recycle textiles. Individuals, too can contact their local charities to see if they accept clothing that cannot be sold for recycling.

Other options: Natural fibers (i.e., 100% cotton, wool, flax, silk, linen) can be put into the compost bin. Many of my customers use their sewing talents to reconstruct old garments into new, trendy clothes and bags. And of course, we can always recycle like our grandmothers and use scraps for quilts or doll clothes.

2009-12-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our wonderful customers!

2009-11-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

It has been a blessing working with each and every one of you over the years! Have a safe and joyous Thanksgiving!

I wanted to share some information on holiday shipping with you. If you have deadlines (whether shopping with us or elsewhere) for your business or for gift-giving bear in mind that the holidays cause delivery delays. UPS even suspends their Ground delivery guarantee from Dec. 11-Dec. 24 -- it's not unusual for our incoming deliveries to take some unexpected detours enroute to Texas during this time. International packages may take an unusually long time to clear customs. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Holiday Shipping & Delivery Schedule for 2009:

UPS is not delivering Friday, Nov. 27. All packages will take an extra day of transit time.
Dec. 24: UPS is delivering but no UPS Ground packages will go out. USPS packages will go out. All packages will take at least an extra day of transit time.
Dec. 25: We will be Closed. Neither UPS or USPS delivers.
Dec. 31: No UPS Ground pickups or deliveries. UPS packages will take at least 2 extra days and USPS will take at least 1 extra day.
Jan 1: We will be Closed. Neither UPS or USPS delivers.

This is such a challenging time of year for our Postal Carriers and UPS drivers. I am very thankful for Shannon and Brad, without whom we would not be able to provide exceptional service to our customers.

Three Kinds of Polartec: Three Kinds of Cozy Goodness!

2009-11-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

Our Polartec Power Stretch has been popular with customers who are "in the know" about this high-performance fabric. So, I wanted to explain how the three types of Polartec we offer are typically used and how to tell them apart. All three styles are the genuine article from Malden Mills, and are all available in black which is hard to find.

NEW: Lightweight Polartec. This is not Powerstretch -- it's fuzzy on both sides and has moderate stretch along the width only. This is great if you are hot-natured or live in a climate where the regular weight Polartec is just too hot. Lightweight Polartec is also great for base-layer, layering pieces, lightweight tops and pants, sleepwear and warm-ups. It weighs less than 5 oz. per square yard. This fabric was used in Patagonia's line.

Next is "regular-weight" Polartec Powerstretch. It has a knitted side and a fuzzy side, and keeps you warm without being bulky or heavy. The knit side is normally worn on the outside. It has 4-way stretch and is often used for warm-up jackets and pants. It weighs 6 oz. per square yard.

Finally, our Heavyweight Polartec Powerstretch has been very popular for ice skating warmups and for people who live in colder climates. People are making garments for a fraction of what they would cost in the stores. Heavyweight Powerstretch also has a knitted side and a fuzzy side and the fuzzy side has a more of a nap. This style is a bit thicker and heavier than the 6 oz. Power Stretch style but it actually has more stretch. It weighs 7 oz. per square yard.

Polartec garments make great Holiday gifts for those hard-to-buy-for teens and men!

Do you have a sewing/craft blog? We would like to send you a $25 store credit.

2009-10-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

I appreciate that lots of my customers are like me -- "sew nerdy" you keep a craft & sewing blog. Many of you have linked to lucysfabrics.com and I would like to thank you! Problem is, I know you by your real name, not by your blog nom-de-plume, so I cannot tie the two together.

I am asking all of you bloggers who link to us -- please e-mail me with your real name & the email address you want to shop with (so I can issue you a $25 store credit), along with the URL that links to us. Send it to mail (-at-) lucysfabrics.com.

Your links will be listed here as well.

Thanks!

So you need something to wear to a Halloween party?

2009-09-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

...and I am not talking about costumes. Local fabric stores are full of costume fabrics right now, but what if you want to get into the spirit when a costume is not appropriate? If you are looking for inspiration, check out these new fabrics:

First, our luscious Pumpkin Modal. This modal-lycra fabric is super-soft and has gorgeous drape for sexy dresses and tops, tees and loungewear. If you want something warm to go with this spicy fall color, check out this recycled cotton fleece which has ginger and navy flecks on one side and solid navy on the other.

We have three knit fabrics with skull prints now. The black and white prints would make cute tees or corset tops. The pink and black skull print is a lightweight French Terry and would make a great hoodie.

For a dark yet fashionable look, try these two new rayon-lycra jerseys in purple and navy and teal and black. Not only do they feel great, but they have skinny lurex metallic stripes too!

You can add a little witchy touch to just about any design with some black mesh -- add mesh to a plain tee as sleeves, necklines and cut-outs, or sew it onto the bottom of a skirt. We have several kinds -- the fishnet kind has big open holes, power mesh has little holes and can be stretched tight, and glissenet has barely visible holes (like pantyhose). We have had a sudden uptick in sales of the neon lime green mesh, probably because it looks nifty with black and should glow under black light.

I hope that these suggestions have gotten you into the Halloween Spirit!

Pits and Fash fashion show and benefit in Sacramento!

2009-09-25T06:12:00.000-07:00

It's a special occation when I can support both independent designers and Pit Bull dogs at the same time. Lucy's Fabrics is a proud sponsor of the "Pits and Fash" Fashion and Trunk Show in Sacramento, CA. The fashion show features independent designers (of human clothing) and is aimed at raising money for the completion of "Beyond the Myth", an important documentary that looks into the truth behind Breed Specific Legislation. The fashion show will also promote homeless pit bull dogs that are up for adoption through the Yolo SPCA.

The show is October 10th, 2009, at the RetroLodge at 1111 H Street, next to the Naked Lounge. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. I hope that my Sacramento-area customers can go and check it out -- it looks like a blast!

I really wish I could go, but my beloved Lucy will be watching from the Bridge -- that is her picture on the goodie bag graphic. Here is an article about the event:
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1263778

Notions make sewing with knit fabrics easier

2009-09-23T05:56:00.000-07:00

I have met countless customers at shows who confess that sewing with knits scares them. No doubt about it, sewing with knit fabrics is not the same as sewing with wovens. If you mainly sew quilts or woven garments, you will need to add a few things to your toolbox before you get started. Based on personal experience and customer recommendations, we've collected a nice assortment of notions that will make sewing with knit fabrics easier for newbies and experienced home sewers alike.

One of the problems with knits is that, although they don't ravel or fray, they can run or get needle holes. This problem is solved by using a new, sharp needle on each project and by using special pins for this purpose. Fortunately Schmetz makes a great line of needles specifically for stretch fabrics and Iris pins.

Another challenge with knit fabrics is that they can get away from you or sag. Design Plus Fusible Tape comes in white, black, bias, straight and double-sided versions and it is designed to solve this problem. My customers swear by it and it was featured in Threads Magazine. All you need is a steam iron - each package comes with detailed instructions. Use the straight version for hems, v-necks and straight seams and the bias version for curved necklines, armholes and curved seams.

You may have noticed some clear, rubbery stuff in the shoulder seam of your ready-to-wear knit tops and wondered where you can get it. That's clear elastic, and we carry it in 1/4" and 3/8" widths. It will keep seams from coming apart. You can also use it for ruching effects and crafts such as ponytail holders.

We have a new shipment in of knit cuffs for sweatshirts and coats. The Dritz ones are a little smaller and softer. The Lyle's cuffs are heavier-duty and come in more colors - these are good for men and boys too. We also have Lyle's matching banding for the bottom of a coat or for the waistband of pants.

I hope that these items will make sewing with knit fabrics easier and more fun! If you have a favorite time-saving notion for knit fabrics, please send it to me and I will do my best to stock it.

New way for International Customers to save shipping $$

2009-09-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

I love our International customers, but the US Postal Service apparently doesn't love Lucy because they have raised international rates many times over the last two years.

In order to help our customers save money, Lucy's Fabrics has partnered with Bongo International, a freight forwarding service. How it works: 1) You sign up a for a US address with Bongo - once you have it, you can use it with virtually any US retailer.

2) We ship to Bongo's warehouse in the USA (FREE for orders over $75!) and Bongo ships to you. That means that for orders over $75 you only pay Bongo's rates, plus duties assessed in your home country.

This is a great option for heavy, high value and time-sensitive shipments. For your lighter-weight orders where time is not an issue, continuing to select USPS First Class or USPS Priority is probably your best option. However, Bongo offers more tracking -- we ship UPS to them and they ship DHL to you, while with the US Postal Service tracking is available only on the most expensive shipping method.

Our checkout system for international customers has not changed -- once you have the address from Bongo just plug that in as your shipping address. Or you can still choose USPS and ship directly.

I know it can be difficult to find good apparel fabric, so I hope that our customers find this useful.

Visit our international shipping page to read more and sign up with Bongo International.

Huge Summer Sale! Cute knit prints for under $5

2009-09-14T06:08:00.000-07:00

Fall has arrived in North Texas and everyone is giddy with excitement. So, lots of cute Summer cotton knit prints and swim fabric are now on sale -- supplies are very limited. Check out all sale items here.
I am thinking resort and cruisewear... enjoy!

Fall is here! Some favorite fabrics...

2009-09-04T03:59:00.000-07:00

A nice chill is in the air here in North Texas, which is something we always look forward to. Here are some fun things for Fall.

I usually don't get faux fur because it's kind of a pain to handle, but this short-pile leopard is cute and versatile. The print is small enough to use for cuffs and collars, or for kids or dog clothes.

It goes with this chocolate brown solid fleece. I don't usually do fleece either because it's not fashionable, but this has a more high-end feel and would make a great little jacket.

People who have visited the shop have responded very well to these new matte jersey / microfiber prints - great for tops.

And now, orders over $100 get a free puppy! OK, just kidding. I just wanted to share this sweet picture of our little foster puppies. They are 12 week-old American Pit Bull Terriers and are from a massive cruelty bust. The county actually gave the Pit Bulls a chance, which is unusual. So, these two little girls are up for adoption! They have great personalities - their mama did a fine job. Nooooooooo we are not keeping them.

So you want to start a blog?

2009-08-19T04:41:00.000-07:00

I have been doing websites since 1996, and each summer I challenge myself to learn something new. Summer is website time for me because it's too hot in Texas to go outside.

In March, I re-launched Lucysfabrics.com with a brand new e-commerce platform (the fourth, counting the old eBay store). At the time I didn't focus much on the graphics so I re-did them this week. I wish I got paid to download free fonts and brushes, because that is pretty much all I did in my spare time this month!

Then I decided to take on upgrading Texoma Bully Breed Outreach and re-doing those graphics also. Whoa! I have fallen head over heels in love with WordPress 2.8 and a new theme. I can't wait to apply what I learned on my personal site.

You don't have to go theme, font, and Photoshop brush crazy like I do to have a blog. The blog you are reading now uses Blogger, a Google product. This is by far the easiest to use. You never have to worry about upgrading software, and the set up process is basically just point and click. If you can use Microsoft Word, Blogger should be a snap. An advantage for business users is that your posts should begin showing up in Google search results almost immediately.

Blogger is free and is adequate for a personal or basic blog. I don't care for the image-handling or the design control Blogger offers, however. Another option is the free version of WordPress hosted by WP. I believe this will eliminate the need to upgrade but I can't speak to how much flexibility the free version has. My fully-featured WP software is included with my website hosting package, so it was essentially free but has no limitations.

If you want to have multiple authors, WordPress is a must. The free version allows up to 35 authors/editors. You can set different permission levels for individuals, and set posts and pages to draft or password protected. Your team members can edit the blog without messing up the code or design.

If anyone has questions about blogging, please feel free to ask me. I love to talk about nerdy things!

30% off Sale Extended through Monday

2009-08-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

30% off sale extended through Monday August 3!
The "Sale" and Bottom-Weight knit fabric categories are an additional 30% off. And as always there is free shipping on orders of $75 or more in the Continental USA, so now is a good time to stock up for Fall.

The sale price does not show up until you add the item to your shopping cart and view the cart. The old price is crossed out and the new price shows, along with a message confirming that you saved 30%.

This means for example that the Rayon blend double knit is is now $8.05/yd instead of $11.50/yd. Customers love this fabric because it is easy to work with, is wrinkle-resistant, and can be machine-washed.

For more casual garments, check out the brushed jersey knit in several colors, which is made from pre-consumer recycled cotton. If the pattern requires just a little give and not spandex, it is good for tops, hoodies and lounge pants - a little like fleece but lighter. It is a good price at $6.25/yd. and even better at $4.38/yd.

And if you have not checked out the recycled cotton knit fabrics, do! Several of my art-to-wear and custom clothier customers are using it.

Two Trends: Pretty in Pink and Inspired by Nature

2009-07-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

It was wonderful meeting so many of you at the American Sewing Guild National Conference. The best thing about doing shows is talking to customers about current trends. Here are a couple of trends or motifs to think about....

Pretty in PINK!
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Pink is always a favorite for folks who are sewing either for themselves or for daughters or granddaughters. Several of my customers make dresses for little dogs, and the smaller prints are particularly good for this. The prints below all happen to be cotton knits, and can be found here.

Inspired by Nature
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Some folks escape from troubled times by sewing or wearing happy pink princess prints. Others seek out the peace and serenity of nature. Fashion has responded to this desire by offering realistic prints inspired by nature. Feathers, animal prints, koi fish, and realistic florals are very popular. Most of the below are cotton knit prints as well.These colorways and patterns could not be more different, but they are two sides of the same coin.

Most people are surprised when I tell them that I sell apparel fabric: "Nobody sews clothes anymore, do they?" Off-the-rack clothing today is so inexpensive it is virtually disposable. Although home sewers can save relative to specialty stores, cost is not why most people sew. Sewers spend time and money on their craft because it makes them feel good! Home sewers enjoy the process and the self-esteem they get from achieving a certain look, color and fit that cannot be found in stores.

Whether you are a Pink Princess or a Natural Woman, I hope that you find something to inspire you today.

So you want to sew a maxi dress

2009-07-12T05:55:00.000-07:00

My husband and I spent much of the weekend at Honkytonk Fest, a music festival near our home. For some reason this part of far Northeast Texas is an incubator of great musicians. One of the singers pointed out that the crowd looked like "Hillbilly Woodstock." Maybe he was thinking like I was: Maxi Dress! Lots of women of all ages were wearing them, not just because they are cute but because it was over 100 degrees out. So it really did look a lot like Woodstock.

Many of my customers are making maxi dresses - here are some recommendations gleaned from their experiences.

A customer in Hawaii used several print and solid rayon-lycra jerseys and adapted Simplicity 3882. Rayon-Lycra jersey is very breatheable and drapey - perfect for the hot and humid weather of her home state. However, check the fabric descriptions - you might want to stick to 6 oz. per square yards or less, or it will be too hot.

Another customer chose a lightweight 100% cotton knit print and Burda 515B. This fabric does not have much stretch, since it has no spandex, but for a loose-fitting garment it will be fine. In fact these low-stretch 100% cotton knit fabrics (read our descriptions) will probably be OK for wovens patterns too. Just be sure to pre-shrink, probably more than once. Some of these cotton knit prints are a little on the sheer side, but again, if the print is busy and the fit is loose it should not be revealing.

Here are some other suggestions: Simplicty 2622, Simplicity 3803. Expect to use about 3 yards of fabric.

You may want to line the bodice - I recommend Whisper II lining or 70D poly lining. The former has cooler feel but is more stretchy and slippery. The latter is your basic lining (most RTW garments use it) and has only mechanical stretch. Or just use a solid leftover cotton knit fabric in your stash.

I think a maxi dress and a good outdoor music festival can help make the summer heat a little easier to bear. If you have any maxi dress experiences please share them with me!

Black and White Prints

2009-07-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

Black and white prints are always very popular during the summer, and I wanted to share some of these with you.

Also just a reminder: No shipping July 16-20 (inclusive) due to the ASG Conference. Orders placed by noon CST July 15 will ship before the closure.

I hope to see many of you in person at booth 313 in the exhibit hall at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Many digits were burned on the glue gun making displays and I just shipped about 200 lbs. of stuff out there!

These fabrics are all located in the Cotton Knit Print section.

We also have more solid black rayon-lycra jersey to complement all of these prints, as well as a nice, heavy solid white rayon-lycra jersey.

New recycled & organic knits and sweatshirt fleeces!

2009-06-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

Because it's 100 degrees out, here is some FLEECE. I know, it's a strange thing to be promoting right now, but this recycled and organic fleece became available and I had to grab it. Our last supply did not last long. There is a nice 8 oz. lightweight style ideal for cool evenings or for travel.

But fleece isn't everything - we have some new jerseys and ribs too. Tip: If the color names are the same (i.e., "Artichoke Green"), you can buy different styles in that color and they will match.

I love recycled cotton because it's good to the environment in two ways. First, it reduces the amount of cutting waste that goes into the landfill. Second, recycling eliminates the need for irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides and dyes. Finally, the fabrics are just plain neat looking because they contain all the yarns and colors of the t-shirts from which they are made. Each run is a little unique.

Click here to view all of the organic and sustainable styles - 42 in all.

Sorry for the dearth of updates here. I have been spending more updating time on the highly-addictive Facebook! So be sure you join us by becoming a fan, as I occasionally post exclusive coupons just for fans.

Visit us at the American Sewing Guild national conference in July, Albuquerque, NM.

2009-04-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

Tons of new items have been added lately. I am thinking about what I am going to wear to the American Sewing Guild (ASG) Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in July. We will have a booth there.

So this has put the idea of light, cool cotton prints into my head. Thus, there are lots of new cotton knits like the one on the left.

Also, I had the opportunity to procure bra-making supplies for a fashion design class at the Art Institute in Dallas. It was really fun to see what the students are working on and what inspires them.
As a result, I have some new bra-making items such as elastics, and this really lovely new stretch fabric for lingerie. Those of you who liked the "Whisper" fabric will like this. The Whisper mill went out of business but this one is sturdier and I think it has a cooler feel. If it proves to be popular, more colors can be brought in.

OK, so back to the cotton knits. If you are planning to go to the conference, I am thinking gauze. We have some cotton gauze knit fabric that is not flimsy. The prints are very detailed and on-trend, with the major Indian influences we are seeing now.

Rhinestone Buckles under $1

2009-03-19T02:09:00.000-07:00

Did you know that lucysfabrics.com has rhinestone buckles for under $1, and many styles that are close to $1? When browsing the rhinestone buckles, be sure to click on the "buy in bulk and save" links to see the wholesale/bulk price discounts. To get these discounts, just place the quantity in your cart and check out. It's very easy!

10mm square - 90 cents for 100 or more!
13mm round - 95 cents for 300 or more!
15mm round (at left) - 99 cents each for 300 or more!

Polartech Power Stretch now available in Spring colors!

2009-03-19T02:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Polartec Power Stretch!

For those cool Spring mornings and nights, here is an updated fleece just for you!
Polartec Power Stretch can be found in many high-end athletic wear brands. It has a knitted side and a fuzzy side, and is not bulky. The knit side is normally worn on the outside. It has 4-way stretch, wicking properties and is machine washable. Try it for hoodies, vests, loungewear and more. It's great for travel because it's light and folds really flat.

Check them all out here.

Dress Barn, Double Knit, Michelle Obama and Me

2009-03-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

A bunch of us Pit Bull people are going down to Austin to lobby the legislature. Stop #1 was the hairdresser - my overgrown hair that is usually in a ponytail is now a cute layered 'do inspired by Alexis on American Idol. Now, I need something to wear that doesn't make me look like a hillbilly who lives on a sheep farm with 5 dogs. It's going to be a long day, so the ideal thing would be a double-knit or matte jersey dress in a transitional or year-round color or muted print. A knit is a must for a long trip because I want something that stretches and does not wrinkle.

We were in our closest small city for date night, so I dragged my husband into Dress Barn. I can't say it without going, "Dress Barn! MOOO!" I mean, who would place the word BARN in a clothing store for women? Nonetheless, when I need a dress in a hurry I can find something there as the selection is better than the name implies.

I was delighted to find a sheath dress in my best selling rayon-poly-spandex double knit but the style wasn't for me. The sales lady said that they had a lot of Jackie Kennedy-type sheath dresses in and I said something about how Michelle Obama must be driving up demand for those. Then the lady said, "Ugh, Michelle Obama. I wish someone would teach her how to dress! She doesn't dress like a First Lady."

Oh, here we go. Once again, I am going to get in trouble for gushing about the Obamas while too close to the Red River. "Michelle is the best thing to happen to the fashion industry since 'Sex in the City.' It's been a long time since the general public has even been interested in fashion. Besides, she's young and fit and wears it well."

Well, the sales lady and I probably came to an impasse but hopefully I gave her some thought about which side her bread is buttered on.

I tried on a dress but it hit the fattest part of my knee, so the search continues at the outlet mall down in the big city. But my quest has given me more appreciation for our gracious First Lady and her impact on the industry. Even though, in almost-Oklahoma-Texas, Michelle's impact might never be fully recognized or appreciated.

Announcing Lucy 3.0 - Now offering Free Shipping!

2009-03-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

Monday morning, the third iteration of Lucysfabrics.com launched and we are up and running at full speed. Credit cards and PayPal are working via secure server. The only thing not hooked up yet is Google Checkout. However, we will be happy to send a Google Checkout invoice to anyone who wants to use it.

We hope that you will find the checkout runs much faster and more smoothly.

We now offer FREE SHIPPING!

On orders of $75 or more to the Continental USA.

$150 or more to AK, H I, PR and other Islands handled by USPS.

$200 or more to Canada.

There are several new features:

Wish List.

Ability to get RSS Feeds for new products.

Deeper volume discounts for rhinestone buckles.

Automatically saves your account at checkout if you choose. Your account includes all order info and communications from us.

Save your shopping cart for much longer (but don't save it too long in case it sells out!).

Better navigation - easy to get back to previously viewed products.

I could go on but I will go ahead and let you try it out!

If there are any questions or glitches please do not hesitate to contact us.

You asked for it! More Stretch Mesh Fabrics!

2009-02-07T09:36:00.000-08:00

A new shipment of power mesh in various weights and glissenet has just arrived.
The mill I used to work with had gone out of business, so our selection had run low, but I am happy to bring you several new styles and colors including a really nice, neutral, non-orangey fleshtone (far right).

So, now there is a good supply of it, but what is it used for?

Power mesh fabric is a stretch mesh with tiny but visible holes. The stronger varieties are good for bra backs. Read the descriptions for more details, since many differ from one another. Power mesh is also great for panties, thongs, and as an embellishment for day or night. I have seen many t-shirts with strips of power mesh around the neck and/or sleeves with the edges left raw (it does not ravel). Customers use this a lot for sleeves. And, I bought a skirt from Max Studio that has it sewn along the lining so that it peeks out at the bottom.

Glissenet (Glissenette, Glistenet, stretch illusion) fabric is very sheer and has holes that are basically invisible. It is like pantyhose, but stronger. You see this a lot on dance costumes, skating costumes or bridal dresses to fill in a low back or neckline for modesty. I don't know how they do it but I have many customers who make stockings for fashion dolls out of glissenet! Any of these meshes would be good for doll clothes and a variety of crafts. I use my scraps to make gift bags or bows. And finally, customers have used the stretch mesh fabrics to make wings for costumes - you can stretch them nice and tight. Some have dyed the white but honestly I am not sure how they did it, so you will need to experiment with a dye that can be used on a 100% synthetic fiber.

Check out all the mesh fabrics here.

Needles for Knit Fabrics

2009-01-15T07:06:00.000-08:00

It is not the most exciting thing I have ever bought, but for your convenience we now carry Schmetz needles for stretch knit fabrics. Twin needles too! They are on the Notions page.

When sewing with knits, it is important to use new, ball-point needles. Synthetic fibers are especially hard on needles and you will find yourself going through them pretty quickly. Otherwise, you will experience skipped stitches, needle holes, snags and runs. So next time you order some knits, pick up some extra needles, just in case.

A memo to our inventory: Please, please go away.

2008-12-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

Almost the entire store is 20-50% off til 12-31-08!

Please don't make me count all this stuff! It's inventory time, and I would rather ship it than count it.

These specials don't show up under the "specials" tab. Almost everything is marked down temporarily, from 20%-50% off. Sale ends midnight, CST, 12-31-08 and is not retroactive. In addition to the big sale you also get:

Volume Discounts: Any Product, Any Time... No Codes!5% off $50 or more * 10% off $100 or more * 12.5% off $200 or moreDiscount will display at the order confirmation stage and does not apply to shipping.

Exception: for Google Checkout -only-, your discount will be manually refunded to your credit card.

Happy holidays!-Laura

Now We are on Facebook!

2008-12-13T08:25:00.000-08:00

Here is the Facebook page.
This blog will be uploaded to Facebook automatically.

2008-12-12T06:27:00.000-08:00

Holiday Shipping Schedule - New RL Solids!

2008-12-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays to you and yours. If you'll be getting some time off to sew, here are some new things that you might like.

Also please note our holiday shipping schedule: From Dec. 19-26, please allow an extra day or two of shipping time as there will be a reduced schedule. UPS will not run Ground packages at all on the 25th or 26th. Also we will be closed Jan. 7-11.

Check out these new products, including heavyweight cotton-lycra jersey, perfect for your activewear projects.

New Solids to go with your European Rayon-Lycra Jersey prints
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some of you may already have these fabulous prints (a very limited amount is still in stock). Did you need some some coordinating solids? They are soft, much like the Modal we had previously. It may be Modal but since Modal is a licensed fiber, I don't want to say it's Modal without proof. At any rate, you will love it! These solids are unusually heavy for Rayon-Lycra jersey as well. The colors are deep olive and deep gray.

25 varieties available, so check out:
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Fashion-Knits/Rayon-Jersey/

You asked for it: 22mm / 7/8" Rhinestone Buckle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is a new buckle in between our 5/8" and 1" square. It fits a 22mm / 7/8" ribbon exactly.

Also check out our lower prices and improved quality on the 3/8" heart shaped buckle, and on the 1/2" round buckle.

We currently have a good supply of all the sizes for your holiday crafting needs, cards, doll clothes, ornaments and more.

Fun Facts about YOU

2008-11-23T05:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who has answered the survey so far.

Here are some fun facts about YOU:

A third of you sell or plan to sell at least some of your creations.
In the last year, or upcoming 6 months, most of you have or plan to sew home decor or quilting projects. Most of you are not scrapbooking (this surprised me, given the amount of attention scrapbooking gets in the media compared to sewing).
Most of you describe your style as "Classic". The second most popular is "Trendy." 17% of you are "Retro." 6% are "Gothic."

EU Customers: Most Orders Import Duty Free!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We ship worldwide daily and value our International customers. Now that the European Union has lowered the duty threshold, you can bring in more fabric & trim for less!

Customs duty is currently payable on goods worth e22 (about £19) or more bought online from non-EU countries. But from December 1, the new limit of e150, or about £130, will apply.

I am not a duty expert, but please note that your country VAT will still apply. We declare the amount of the goods (not including shipping) on our customs form.

Unfortunately, the USPS is raising international shipping rates an average of 8.5% on January 1. So, now is the time to shop!

For more info please see:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/71897/Customs-duty-cut-for-online-shoppers

Prints you can't live without!

2008-10-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

Prints you cannot live without! Seriously!

Some great new knit prints have just arrived.

Do you need some tops and dresses that can go to work and to holiday parties? Check out our great selection of wonderful European rayon-lycra jersey prints are ready to be worn now. There are some softer colors perfect for resort wear as well.

And, for your tank tops, workout tops and other cases where you would like a little more stretch in your cotton, we have some new cotton-lycra prints. Many of these would be great for kids too!

For all the latest products please see;
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/products_new.php

(there is * 3 pages! * of new stuff!)

2008-10-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

NEW Rhinestone Slide Buckle colors have just arrived-
Classy Black Diamond and Aqua Blue (shown with the clear crystal) Both are in the popular round, 1" (25mm) style. On all the buckles, the dimension in the title is the dimension in the center bar. The blue will go well with a Tiffany Blue theme, although it is a bit darker than Tiffany Blue.

The 3 colors look great together! I could see them used for table decorations for a sparkling holiday party - put around candles, napkin rings, or placeholders. Or use them for those holiday cards.

2008-09-25T03:51:00.001-07:00

Eco-fabrics you won't find anywhere else
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Organic cotton is in extremely high demand right now and it comes with a signficant price premium. Pre-consumer recycled cotton is a resource-saving, less costly alternative. I love the end result, because the colors and textures are richer than conventional cotton knits, allowing for a more boutique look (i.e., Flax, J. Jill). It can go into work or casual wear very easily.

We have several jersey knits, rib knits, and 4 kinds of sweatshirt fleece. Some are a combination of recycled and organic cotton. Bulk discounts are available automatically on the website, where quantities allow.

Three pages of sustainable, organic and recycled fabrics and still growing:
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Organic-Sustainable/

2008-09-07T10:48:00.001-07:00

I have a lot of new stuff on order and I have no idea where I am going to put it. Seriously. Help!

All activewear fabrics are 50% off our already low prices.
This includes lycra, swimwear fabric, heavier duty cotton-lycra, fabric for dancewear, ice skating, equestrian, etc.

There are many other fabrics on sale starting at $3. These are mostly summer fashion fabrics

http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Activewear-Knits/
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/specials.php

Thank you for helping me clear room!!

2008-09-04T14:15:00.001-07:00

NEW Knit Skull Fabrics and Rhinestone Buckles at lucysfabrics.com!

Reasons to check Lucysfabrics.com out again:
1) BABY PINK rhinestone buckles.
2) GARNET RED rhinestone buckles. (and more new stuff too)
3) New and improved czech crystal quality on our most popular sizes....
4)...with no increase in price.
5) The highest volume price break now starts at 100 pcs., down from 125.

6) Additional Volume Discounts based on order size: Any Product, Any Time... No Codes!
5% off $50 or more * 10% off $100 or more * 12.5% off $200 or more

New Skull Prints -- in cotton!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just in time for Fall - a light cotton French Terry with pink and black skulls. Automatic volume discounts will apply at checkout. It goes great with our hot pink and black eyelet tapes.

And try some white cotton baby rib knit with blue and navy skulls -- it coordinates with our navy and white nautical striped fabric.

2008-08-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

New Rhinestone Slide Buckle Styles at lucysfabrics.com:

Now we have pink and red crystal buckles. And a 1" square, which has the same center bar size as the round, but it looks bigger because there are more crystals on it due to the shape.
Also, we have dropped our highest-volume price break from 125 pc. to 99 pcs.

2008-08-25T06:38:00.000-07:00

$3 flat rate shipping special - now through Friday 8/29 only!

For a limited time, enjoy $3.00 flat rate shipping anywhere in the USA.
This special ends at midnight CST on Friday, August 29.

When you check out, select "WORLD ZONE RATES $3.00".

Shipping method is Lucy's choice, however, express (ex. 2-day)
is still available.


check out the newest items here: 
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/products_new.php

This special applies to sale items, too:
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/specials.php

Sales, Specials and Coupons: Are valid only for website, telephone and in-store
sales. They are limited to stock on-hand and not on special orders.
Shipping specials exclude "oversize" packages (i.e. rolls).

Did you know.... Lucy's Fabrics has a wide selection of bottom-weight fabrics?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And now, just in time for fall, 3 new colors of our very popular rayon-poly-spandex blend double knit fabric. Plum, heathered plum, and royal blue-

There are 20 kinds of bottom-weight double knit fabrics to choose from, so check them out. http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Bottom-Weight-Fabrics/

2008-08-09T20:02:00.001-07:00

New Rhinestone buckle styles! I am so excited.
Here is an important tip when shopping for rhinestone buckles. Be sure you read all of the measurements in the product description. I have seen a lot of sites that only give one measurement and does not specify what this means -- is this the inside or the outside? If it's not listed, ask before buying.

The industry standard is to primarily use the inside center bar measurement (as listed below). That way you know right away what size ribbon or strap will go through it. For example, in the square buckle shown below, a 5/8" ribbon slides through exactly. Of course you could use a wider ribbon for a gathered effect (the one in the photo is 7/8"), but the inside center bar measurement is the minimum you would want to use. Our online product catalog lists this dimension first, and gives all the other measurements in the detailed product description.

15mm / 5/8" square rhinestone slide buckle:
Heart-shaped rhinestone buckle with a horizontal bar - this way you can put them on straps and ribbons that go up and down. This is little and dainty - very cute. It would make good hair bows for small dogs. This is a one-time purchase at this special price.

25mm / 1" round rhinestone buckle .

2008-07-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

Special Stuff at lucysfabrics.com!
Free Shipping on orders of $75 or more - only through Friday
Sizzling Summer Sale - 1st quality knit fabrics as low as $3 / yd.

Brand New Additions -- Check out 5 pages of new stuff!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are some fun cotton knit prints for your summer pleasure... just added in the last couple of days and only $5.50/yd. Quantities are limited. These include cotton baby jersey, 100% cotton interlock, and soft cotton baby rib.

See all the new products here: (5 pages) http://www.lucysfabrics.com/products_new.php

Less than 2 days left.... FREE SHIPPING
on orders of $75 or more
in the Continental USA! 

Offer is only through midnight CST Friday, July 25.

This includes sale items. Be sure to check out all 3 pages:
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/specials.php


Many are summer fabrics that you can wear now.

And on top of all of this you still have
volume discounts which apply
automatically at checkout.
Volume Discounts: Any Product, Any Time... No Codes!
5% off $50 or more
10% off $100 or more
12.5% off $200 or more

2008-07-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

Hey, Lucy? Where is your eBay store?

OK, we did not get kicked off eBay or anything. I decided to suspend our eBay store (only), lucysfabrics, from July 15-August 15. We are still very much in business, still shipping orders and accepting payment for items that have not gone out yet, and still available to answer any questions.

Since many of my customers are also former, current or prospective eBay sellers, I wanted to give you some background. I have met many wonderful and highly valued customers through eBay, but as many of you may know, eBay is not the place it once was two years ago. And neither is Lucysfabrics.com. Our website revenue far dwarfs the eBay business. It also takes a fraction of the time to list products and fulfill orders compared to eBay.

I always say, "Never underestimate the ability of people to kill the goose that laid the golden egg," and eBay is a perfect example. eBay has made a lot of changes lately, which while irritating, I can live with -- if they were bringing in eyeballs like they did even a year ago. eBay is the most expensive selling venue on the Internet, which is why you will see 15% higher prices on eBay compared to lucysfabrics.com. That does not even cover the additional labor eBay orders take. In the past the additional traffic made the cost worthwhile, but my website pages actually have more traffic than my eBay pages do now.

When you own your own business, and you are not happy or inspired, you have only one person to blame. Something has to go. What is stressing me out the most? I have to say it's eBay. There is a threat of having to revise and re-revise over 100 listings due to constant policy revisions, as well as a significant pricing change looming "before the holidays." Uh, has anyone at eBay ever looked at a merchandising calendar? From a retail buying perspective this IS the holidays.

So, maybe in a month I will discover that the stress is worth it, that I really do need eBay. Or maybe, since they are constantly revising and re-revising their new policies, they will settle on some changes, pricing or otherwise, that make business sense.

We are still here to support our customers 100%, in a fast, friendly and professional manner - as always since 2004.

2008-07-11T04:59:00.000-07:00

Click on the above link to see the specials - there are 3 pages worth!
I have gotten in so much new stuff, please help me make some room!

Now on to the NEW STUFF!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have acquired several European rayon-jersey prints and solids, which won't last long. Nothing beats the comfort of this luxurious fabric for summer. Some of the prints are extremely groovy.

See the full selection here: (2 pages) http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Fashion-Knits/Rayon-Jersey/

2008-07-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

CONTEST TIME!

Enter the "One Fabric: Knits" Contest on Patternreview.com

Check out the Patternreview.com website for the rules and instructions. Mainly, it needs to be made of A KNIT fabric (only the best, of course). And, you must have been a member of Pattern Review for at least 90 days by the contest starting date. Free or paying membership qualifies. (So in this case, April 2nd or earlier qualifies).

So unfortunately if you are not already a member, you can't enter, but I highly suggest becoming a member anyway because you will get lots of cool ideas and support from the group.

First prize is a $75 gift certificate, second prize is a $50 gift certificate from yours truly. Thank goodness, it is not I who decides. The members will vote. I sponsored the costume contest too, and it was amazing! The winners made costume ensembles that could have been in movies.

So, get goin' since the deadline is the end of this month. Here are some new knit fabrics to get you started...

2008-06-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

Ooops! Did you check out the sale? You might want to check it again. When the sale announcement was made, some fabrics in the "MORE Fashion Knit Fabrics" category were not discounted, due to a technical issue. This is fixed now and everything in the category is 20% off,
as intended. Like these new adorable little 4-way stretch polkadots -

Sale goes through midnight CST this Sunday, June 29,
Three pages worth! (on the left, Fashion Knits category ---> MORE)

http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Fashion-Knits/MORE/

And as always save even more based on your order size (see our website for details)
5% off $50 or more * 10% off $100 or more * 12.5% off $200 or more

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Matte Jersey fabric is a favorite for a wide range of fashions. I have customers make everything from close-fitting, trendy tops and dresses to loose-fitting tunic tops. Some customers have even used it for bridesmaids dresses. We have just added chocolate, olive and a new art-deco inspired print while it lasts.

Product Discontinuation Notice - 3/8" Rhinestone Buckles #1080

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, the 3/8" square rhinestone buckles - http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Rhinestone/Rhinestone-buckle-3-8-square/
are being discontinued by the manufacturer. I have ordered as many as possible, but once they are gone, they are gone. There is no exact replacement, particularly at this price point (when you buy $200 worth or more, these are only 87.5 cents each). However, they are available now, so in case you have projects underway I wanted you to know.

2008-06-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

Save 20% on MORE Fashion Knit Fabrics! Sale ends Sun. Jun. 29!

Three pages worth! (on the left, Fashion Knits category ---> MORE)

http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Fashion-Knits/MORE/

This includes brand new new yarn-dyed striped fabrics!


Hurry - sale ends at Midnight CST this Sunday.

2008-06-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

Special Event Sat. July 19, 2008: Fun for the Entire Family! Cars! Bikes! Lucy's Open House!

All 400 people in the town of Westminster, Texas are hopping with excitement because for the first time in history, all of the streets in the town square have been paved. We have hit the big time. Willie Nelson's daughter, Paula, is even coming to town in August to play a show.

But before that.... bring the menfolk & youngins' and come to the 2nd Annual Car and Bike show, hosted by Big Slicks Bar and Grill. This is a famous biker bar in the area, but not to worry - these are harmless Collin County bikers. Even on regular weekends, people stop and take photos of all the beautiful Harleys lined up outside. While the guys check out the classic cars and hot rods, Lucy's Fabrics will be having an open house from 10 AM - 5 PM with specials, free stuff, and snacks to celebrate our 1-year anniversary in this location. For more info on the Car & Bike Show, click here. http://www.bigslicksbarandgrill.com/page0003.html

For directions, click here. http://www.lucysfabrics.com/information/Our-N-Texas-Store/
The car show is right outside our shop, so you can't miss it. We are not usually open on the weekends, so come on down and check it out!

We don't have a Chamber of Commerce but if we did, my suggestion for the slogan would be: Wesminster, Texas: As Seen on TV as a Rural Panamanian Village in "Prison Break."

2008-06-13T04:22:00.001-07:00

New Category: Sewing for Men and Boys.
If ready-to-wear is just not good enough for your man, check out our new collection of fabric for mens' and boys' apparel. With plenty of time to get ready for fall we have some really great technical camo stretch fabric including x-static fabric which has silver fibers. The silver reduces odors.

I will keep on the lookout for new things that will appeal to men and boys (for those of you who sew for male dogs, I know it's hard to find cute fabrics for them and I have not forgotten you!).

On a completely unrelated topic, please note that many of our rhinestone buckles are now special order for quantities of 100 or more. This means that they may take 3-4 weeks for delivery. If you see the image at left on the description, that means that the 3-4 week leadtime applies. So, place your order 4 weeks before you need them in-house and they will be shipped upon arrival, and your credit card will not be charged until they are ready to ship. PayPal and Google Checkout charge automatically (there is no way to control the timing -- it just happens immediately).

For quantities of less than 100, we normally will be able to ship your order the same or the next day. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

2008-04-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

To say thank you for your business and to celebrate the many new arrivals
for Spring and Summer....

Sign up for our newsletter and receive a $10 off coupon code good through April 30. This code will be in your "Welcome" e-mail. This applies to all
orders of $35 or more on lucysfabrics.com. Click on the link below:
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101746578337&p=oi
After you do this, you will receive a "welcome" email with the coupon code.

If you don't receive it within a few minutes, check your SPAM/bulk mail folder and then
add us to your address book so that you receive future newsletters.
The newsletters are sent a couple of times a month and most, and announce new products,
sales and specials. Of course your information is never shared with anyone.

But hurry - the coupon expires after April 30, 2008.

If you are already signed up, thank you!
If you use the same e-mail address, the sign up form will tell you that you are already on the list.
You will receive the coupon today through our regular newsletter.
Enter the coupon under the payment information, and click"Redeem Code Voucher."

Here is a funny thing - if you live in Texas and use PayPal, it will not compute due to
the sales tax. So, if you live in Texas either use a credit card or we will refund the coupon through PP after the fact.

If something goes wrong please do not hesitate to let me know and your total will be adjusted. We don't mean for it to be tricky - sometimes coupons are like that



check out the newest items here: (4 pages worth!) 
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/products_new.php

Sales, Specials and Coupons: Are valid only for website, telephone and in-store sales. They are limited to stock on-hand and not on special orders.

If you have not visited us in a while,
check out our new Beautiful Knit Fabrics!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Metallic Knit Group with 4 coordinates:
These colors are perfect for Spring & Summer weddings and vacations.
The fabric is soft and light with just a little sheen.
There is a pleated and a smooth version in saffron and soft pink.
(click on the below images to get to the product detail pages).

Rayon-Lycra Jersey Prints from Europe:

Camo Butterflies and Lace Group in 4-way stretch tricot:

Thank You!
Contact Information: Lucy's Fashion Fabrics & Trims
www.lucysfabrics.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

toll free: 1-866-544-LUCY / In TX: 972-924-8080 / mail@lucysfabrics.com
blog http://lucysfabrics.blogspot.com/
"Bossy Baby Twin" wishes you all a Happy Spring! The blog will explain...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In-person shopping at our brick-and-mortar store - please call for hours.

2008-04-20T05:21:00.001-07:00

There have been no blog entries for a while... every spare moment has been consumed with finding our way though our very first Lambing Season. Now we are done having babies! I will miss the excitement of watching the births but I am glad that the moms have all gotten through their pregnancies and births and stayed healthy. We have 6 ewe lambs and 4 ram lambs out of 6 ewes (we have a 7th ewe who got away with not being pregnant this year!).

Here are some of my favorite moments and favorite lambs. Top left are our first babies getting the zoomies. Now they are 1 month old, huge and chewing cuds. Below, left to right: Tinkerbell, who was born half the normal size and required hand-feeding for 4 days but is now doing great under her mom's watchful care. Here she is sitting in the chair, at 3 days old. She is over 2 weeks old and yesterday's newborns still came out taller than she is now. Then we have the opposite end of the spectrum, massive Nigel, our first ram lamb.

Then we have Longface and one of her twins at just a few hours old. She is so named because she has a really long face. She had two longfaced ram twins with huge ears. They look exactly like her. They are all great moms, but she is particularly vigilant.

Below left, Bossy and her babies. The next picture shows her ewe lamb at around a week old. She is in the top 3 of our cutest lambs. The prototypical white, fuzzy little cutie. I am partially bottle feeding her and her sister because sometimes mom's milk is not enough for them. They come running for the bottle when they see me. Happy Spring everyone!

2008-02-11T05:27:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I have updated the blog. It's been more insane than usual around here in Lucy land. No, we haven't gotten any more dogs.

This past weekend was the Education of the Textile Arts Dallas conference in Dallas. So I had a little weekend "vacation" at the Doubletree Hotel. My husband spent an hour and a half chasing Cinquo the Boston Terrier around the back yard trying to get him inside. Apparently he also took a little vacation in our neighbors pasture for a while. I think all my training was thrown out the window in one weekend. At least hubby didn't visit the Kubota, Polaris or Ford dealers while I was gone. Maybe he knew I was going to be mad, but he was sweet enough to put up a new digital TV in my shop so I can watch the Martha Stewart show while I work!

Anyway, it was wonderful seeing many of my loyal customers again and meeting some new people. Since my booth overlooked one of the classrooms I eavesdropped on many fascinating classes, including the extremely hilarious Cynthia Guffey. The classes, at least the ones I saw, were challenging and well worth the time. So think about it for next year. It will be Feb. 15, 2009 I believe.

I bought many new things for the show including some rayon-lycra jersey prints, slinky prints, and punk cotton-lycra prints, but it is going to take a few days to get them all online. Feel free to contact me with any questions in the meantime though. I'll be glad to swatch.

On the personal front, A local trainer and I have started a new group, Texoma Bully Breed Outreach, a group to help people train and socialize their Pit Bulls and other Bull Breeds. We were fortunate to have had our first meeting covered on the local Sherman TV station. Our next big project is a 6-week Canine Good Citizen training class.

We also put down deposits on our starter sheep flock, 7 pregnant ewes. The girls are coming home the first week of March. So you know there will be cute lamb pictures! I would have liked to carry wool fiber in the store, it's nearly impossible to keep the wool clean out here with all the brush. So we are going the registered show sheep (Southdown) route instead. OK, since I can't wait, here are some lambs. I took these at the breeders' place. Is that cuuuuuute or what?

2008-01-14T06:49:00.000-08:00

For my customers who also sell their creations, I wanted to share a couple of free advertising venues. I am just trying them myself for the first time, but they look really promising.

1) BigCrumbs.com
Everyone can use this, not just people who sell stuff. As a shopper, I get cash back for buying from eBay and national retailers I shop at anyway like the Gap, Old Navy, Dell, etc. So, before doing online shopping, I need to check and see if they are with Big Crumbs and then click through there.

It literally took me 5 minutes to import my entire eBay store. When people buy, the transaction is completed on eBay, the usual way, but the buyer gets a little cash back for their purchase and it doesn't cost you anything.

If you refer people, you can get additional cash back based on the shopping of the people you referred, up to 5 generations. It's entirely free. If you are more interested in getting paid for your own shopping, pick the "CrumbSaver" plan and if you are interested in referrals, pick the "CrumbEarner" plan.

The money goes into your PayPal account.

If anyone is interested I would really appreciate the referral (click below).
http://www.bigcrumbs.com/crumbs/landing.do?r=lucysfabrics&s=4981

2)ShopIt.com
This differs from the above in that it is an actual shopping cart format, not a way to access an eBay store. You can import your entire eBay store, but I would hold off on massive importing because it's not perfect. Or just manually enter a few items. There are no listing or selling fees. If your customers tend to be younger, this is a good site for you.

If you already use FaceBook, MySpace and other social networking sites it is supposed to be integrated with these sites. So, if you have a band on mySpace, you can easily sell your band t-shirts and CDs.

The nice thing is customers can check out through PayPal or Google Checkout (the latter being much less expensive and forbidden on eBay). I believe you would need to manually handle the shipping costs if the customer bought more than one thing or if they were outside the USA. If you can include the shipping in the price, or use flat rate envelopes/boxes then this site would be great for you.

Browsing is not intuitive, and I believe it relies heavily on the "friends" and social networking aspect for people to find stuff. You can see my store here: http://www.shopit.com/lucysfabrics
if you want to be a friend, click "add to network" and it will send out a network invite.

It needs some work, but customer service has been really responsive and they are making improvements all the time.

Good luck and I hope that this was somewhat helpful!

2008-01-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

And now... Nice Slinky Prints
Slinky is a huge customer favorite because it is so easy care and slimming, but many of the prints I find are not up to snuff. They fall under the category of "popsicles and flip-flops." Also, a lot of slinky fabric I find to be too thin, so even if the print doesn't offend me, I pass it up. The exception is slinky that is intended for the junior market (with prints that appeal to that customer), which I call "light slinky" in the description and price accordingly.

But I recently found some good quality acetate slinky that I really like and would even wear myself.

Behold. Go to the slinky page to read more about it.

2008-01-04T18:30:00.001-08:00

Many of my customers have their own businesses, so I wanted to share my recent experiences with blogging.

"Blogs" are a hot topic now. They started out as "weblogs" or diaries. Most people use them to post many short topics, with great frequency, usually with very topical or current information. That's pretty much what I use this blog for, because I already have an e-commerce site that handles the meat and bones of my business. Many people started out with a website, and then they added a blog to it.

Don't have a website yet? Just skip the website phase and do a blog instead. In my opinion, the blogging tools are much easier to update and seem to be indexed more quickly by search engines. Even if your business is all done in person, a blog will send customers your way through internet searches. You can use a blog to present your hours, location, policies, and photos of your work.

This came to mind because I needed to create a website for a new dog club some folks and I are forming. I figured that since it was in the 20's and it was too cold to go outside, it was time to learn something new. But before doing something that might make my new friends hate me, I used myself as a guinea pig.

Blogging software was the way to go for the dog club project. Why? Because the website would not live on any one computer, so other members could easily contribute to the site. And, the software is free. Finally, the webmaster can have complete control over the site's look, organization and functionality, and the other authors can just type their content and not worry about formatting or breaking something.

So, new website number 1: Revamping lucydog.com, my personal site. My old website looked -o-l-d and I needed a better way to organize 12 years worth of content.

I tried Moveable Type, Blogger (which is what this blog is made from), and WordPress. All three are free and have templates that you can apply to change the look and feel. I am, however, a geek. I have to tweak the templates a lot to get my own look, and none of the three had the navigation features I needed in their standard setup.

First I tried MT. I found it to be extremely difficult to customize. I got lost really quickly and felt over my head. Then I tried Blogger, which I find to be extremely easy, but I was not able to dig in and get the customization I wanted. Then I tried WordPress. After a false start with a template that was out of date and therefore did not take advantage of WordPress' latest features, I installed the Cutline 2.0 template and WordPress finally clicked with me.

WordPress is an open-source platform, which means that people all over the world are busy creating 'plug-ins' (modifications). Some are easier to install and use than others. Since these are programs written by volunteers, some have very poor or no documentation ("insert the following code: ....." - where?) and zero support. You are on your own. I tried a lot of them but didn't use most of them.

Once I got lucydog.com the way I wanted it, I applied the same template and most of the same plugins to our new site, Texomabullybreed.com.

For the person who has limited web experience and can live with the templates the way they are, I suggest using Blogger. Blogger is very easy, and each version gets better. For the person who has more definite ideas about look, feel and navigation, use WordPress. There are many more templates to choose from, but if you can't live with them, and you lack the technical skills to customize it yourself, you can pay someone to set it up for you. Once it gets going, it could not be much easier.

2008-01-04T18:22:00.000-08:00

Visit us at ETA Dallas!

We are pleased to return to Education of the Textile Arts at Dallas from February 9-10, 2008. This year it will be at the Doubletree Hotel in the 635 and Midway area. This will be much easier parking, and less walking (which means.... more time to shop and visit with people).

Our booth will be twice as big as last year, which means more stuff will be visible instead of stuffed under the table. Last year my eyes were bigger than my booth and it didn't quite all fit.

My customers really enjoyed the programs and of course the social aspect of meeting so many wonderful women who sew garments. Not tea cozies, garments. That is what makes this conference so unique.

If anyone would like to place an order for pick up at the show or has any special requests for the show (I can't bring everything - my car is not that big!) please do not hesitate to let me know.

Register now at http://www.etadallas.com/

2008-01-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to Everyone! 2008 has brought in our new volume discount program:
The cool thing about this is that it applies to all products, and a coupon code is not necessary. It will take the discount automatically when you check out.

*** NEW Volume Discount Program***

5% off orders of $50 or more

10% off orders of $100 or more

12.5% off orders of $200 or more

Discount will display at the order confirmation stage and does not apply to shipping.

Exception: There is a problem with Google Checkout processing coupons on Googles' end. I will refund your credit card with your discount. If you have any concerns about this, please let me know.

2007-12-08T05:06:00.000-08:00

New Kids' Prints - In limited quantities. These are nicely done, and on good quality knit fabrics so I couldn't resist them. They are not limited to childrens' clothes -- they would also make nice loungewear for you! This cotton rib knit has french poodles on it. Very cute!

Not to leave out the cat people, here is a nice velour with kitties-

There are more - the new cotton prints are on page 2o f the new products page, of you can just click here.

The black and white sale continues! See below.

2007-12-07T05:57:00.000-08:00

Cinquo's Big Black and White Sale! 15% off tons of Black and White items through Wednesday, December 12 only! See all sale items here.

Hi, everyone! This is Cinquo (that's SEENK-o, as in "5"). The world revolves around ME, because I am THE PUPPY. Yet, the store is called "Lucy's Fabrics." Not "Hammonds' El Cinquo's Fabrics" as it should be. Mom said to me, "Cinquo, [NO NO Cinquo! Put that Down!] I set up the shop way [AH AH! Do you have to go outside?] before you were born, so do you want to have your very own sale [Cinquo! noooooooo bad dog!]?" So I put a bunch of BLACK and WHITE stuff on sale for 15% off, because I am a Boston Terrier and Black and White is AWESOME. So, shop my sale this week! It ends on Wednesday, December 12.

2007-12-02T06:24:00.001-08:00

Lucysfabrics.com table of contents: (this is also on the front page of the website)

When you look at the website, only the main categories (first on the line) are visible til you click on one, then its subcategories --> become visible -

Activewear Knits (swimsuit fabric and other 4-way stretch fabric that would hold up to dance, swim, workout wear - other than the meshes, which have their own category)
Fashion Knits --> Cotton , Double Knit , Matte Jersey , Rayon Jersey , Slinky , MORE (everything else).
Bottom-Weight Fabrics (heavier-weight fabric other than strictly activewear fabric, i.e., for pants, more fitted skirts)
Mesh / Net / Sheer (mostly these are stretch mesh for dancewear and lingerie)
Linings
Lingerie Supplies --> Fabrics , Narrow Lace (lace trim), Straps & Elastic , Lingerie Notions
Buckes & Hardware --> Lucite & Plastic , Metal (d-rings, o-rings, etc.), PVC / Vinyl , Rhinestone buckles & hardware
Purse-Making Supplies --> Handles , Findings (purse snaps, feet, bottom studs etc.)
Trims --> Appliques, Eyelet Tape , Stretch Trims
Organic & Sustainable fabrics
Woven Fabrics

2007-11-29T05:13:00.000-08:00

I just updated the "Fun things to do with Small Rhinestone Buckles" article.

So, check it out!

Also, for a limited time, I these cuties. The center bar is 1/2", and they are made of a very nice, sturdy silvertone metal and the crystals are very sparkly. They are a special purchase and I am passing the savings on to you. Unfortunately, once they are gone, they are gone.

If you need a small rhinestone buckle for a doll or dog outfit this holiday season, this buckle would be perfect. It would also be nice on ornaments or holiday cards.

Oh and don't forget to stop by the Whitewright Christmas Extravaganza! If the weather is bad it will be moved inside the civic center by City Hall. I will have all the fabric swatches for you to pet and trims, buckles, etc. to take home.

2007-11-27T05:38:00.000-08:00

It's Fall in Lucyland and time for some Gratuitous Dog Pictures. Here is Jasper the Chow Chow and Lucy. They must just be coming back from varmint huntin' because they look tired. Jasper is 11 and Lucy is 12 1/2 so it doesn't take much to wear them out.
We went camping over Thanksgiving weekend largely because our club was putting on the big dog show. The first couple of days were not so bad, then it started snowing. Now I am going to do something that amuses my friends and horrifies my mother. I am going to use the words "Pit Bull" and "Trailer" together in a sentence. Here it is: Since it was so cold and wet, we were mostly stuck in the trailer with three Pit Bulls, a Chow Chow, and a Boston Terrier. Here is Lucy, Loretta and Cinquo (the Boston) hanging out. They are really good campers. Cinquo just had a big growth spurt and we went on a shopping spree at Tractor Supply Company for a new collar and harness. He will be 8 months at the end of the month and weighs 17 lbs.

2007-11-09T14:04:00.001-08:00

Special of the week: ALL Woven Fabrics are 50% off through Wednesday, December 5 only! See the complete selection here.

Yup, that includes cotton batiste, stretch cord, everything! Quantities are very limited, so don't miss out.

Psst... you can still get light blue and pink double knit shown below for 40% off too...

2007-11-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

Double Knits 40% off - all colors

Special of the week..... A favorite of many customers, Spring double-knit fabric is 40% off only til November 7.

Very soft and easy to work with -- 70% Polyester, 28% Cotton, 2% Spandex. They can be put in the machine to wash and dry, and are highly wrinkle-resistant. Use it now for resort or cruise wear. Since it's so durable and easy-care, also good for kids' clothing.

A good investment for $11.50 - now only $6.90.

Offer applies only to website and telephone orders. While supplies last.

If these colors aren't your thing, please check out our excellent selection of double-knit fabrics - some even have 4 way stretch.

Gift Certificates are Now Available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the Sewist who has everything, gift certificates are now available in $10, $25 and $50 increments.

I received this question the other day: "Do you ship to Canada?" Of course - we ship internationally (and to Military addresses) every single day. The exchange rate is very favorable for those of you who live overseas!

2007-10-31T06:35:00.001-07:00

They Can Knit That?! New Technology Trends in Knit Fabrics

A few years ago, most knit garments were sweaters or the unfortunate choices of spandex or polyester pants. Home sewers might have used knit fabrics to make t-shirts, bathing suits, undergarments or leotards, but that was about it. But today, women of all ages can’t live without knits –from the body-conscious, sheer tees of Michael Stars to figure-friendly Chico’s travel ensembles. Even men are spending on high-end t-shirts to go with their $200 premium denim jeans. Thanks to high consumer demand, many fascinating new knit fabrics have been developed over the last five years.

The number one trend driving new fiber technology is eco-fashion. According to the Organic Trade Association, the sales of organic women’s apparel rose 28% in 2006. Supplies of organic cotton are likely to be tight until more certified growers come on board, as everyone from mass-market retailers such as Wal-Mart to high-end West Coast brands like C&C California chase a limited supply. The limited demand and evolving processes currently give organic cotton and wool a significant price premium.

Recycling cotton is another way to minimize the impact of producing cotton garments. With new pre-consumer recycled cotton, consumers don’t have to worry about wearing someone’s old socks. Millions of t-shirts produced each year leave tons of “table waste” – fabric left over after t-shirts are cut out. As the waste is turned back into yarn, it’s necessary to add back about 25% of another fiber. Virgin acrylic is gradually being replaced with recycled polyester, creating a 100% recycled fabric. Since the yarn is not re-dyed, the fabric may have a heathered effect. The end product? More t-shirts and fleece. Recycled cotton takes a bite out of the 5 billion pounds of textile waste generated each year, uses a fraction of the chemicals, and costs less than conventional cotton fabric.

Companies have been making fleece out of post-consumer waste such as pop bottles for several years now. Polarfleece and similar pile fleece fabrics were the first applications of recycled polyester. However, new Nike Signature swimwear also uses recycled polyester. Currently, recycled polyester is more costly than virgin polyester.

Although recycled polyester, organic cotton and hemp were among the first “green” fabrics to hit the market, new Earth-friendly fabrics are being developed every year.

Plant fiber (cellulose), has been converted into knit and woven rayon (also called viscose) for decades. Next-generation branded cellulose fabrics are more environmentally friendly and are a hit with consumers.
Among the first to be embraced by designers and consumers are TENCEL® and Modal®. These are Lenzing-branded fibers made from beech wood, which is a renewable and biodegradable natural material. Modal and Tencel are sold in both woven and knit forms – Modal jersey is particularly popular in t-shirts and loungewear. These fabrics are said to have better moisture management and dye retention than cotton, and retain softness after repeated washings. Compared to previous rayon processes, manufacturing uses fewer chemicals and less energy, and produces less waste.
However, wood is not the only material that can be turned into a soft knitted garment. Bamboo, which is fast-growing and has low chemical and water demands, makes wonderfully soft and drapey garments. Bamboo’s wicking and anti-bacterial capabilities make it a popular choice for intimate apparel and t-shirts.

Seaweed and silver, sometimes used together, have strong selling points for spa and athletic apparel. Smartfiber AG in Germany says its SeaCell® fiber made from seaweed and cellulose releases the seaweed’s vitamins A and E and amino acids into the skin. Some varieties are enriched with silver to inhibit bacteria and odor growth. Invista’s new Lycra Body Care encapsulates vitamin E, sea kelp, aloe vera or even aromatherapy scent which can be released onto the skin when activated by body movement.

Turning various proteins into fibers isn’t a new concept. In fact, research goes back to WWII when wool was in short supply. Scientists created fibers from milk, corn, peanuts, soybeans, and even chicken feathers. Today, many of the hottest new fibers are made from proteins, driven not by shortages, but by a desire to use manufacturing by-products or easily renewable resources. Chicken feather fabric might not – ahem – fly in today’s marketplace, but you will find garments on the rack today made from:

Soy: Soy protein fabric is made from by-products of soybean oil and tofu production. It has a silky feel and is often called the “vegetable cashmere.” It’s found in many high-profile brands such as Nike and Gaiam.

Corn: IngeoTM fiber is made from corn, but since the main ingredient is dextrose, it can also be made from rice, sugar beets, sugar cane, wheat and sweet potatoes. The Ingeo fabric I have seen was intended for activewear, and it had a slick texture and a cool feel.

Milk: The Japanese have developed fabric made from de-watered and skimmed milk. It is said to nourish the skin and even reduce wrinkles. Products on the market include t-shirts, underwear and sweaters. The WWII-era version of milk protein fabric didn’t quite pan out because it tended to smell like sour milk when wet. This was among the many early protein experiments that faded away as fiber shortages ended along with the war.

Finally, if Earth-friendly, skin-softening, odor-controlling undies are not enough, try this product that could only be born on the Japanese public transit system. A Japanese textile company has developed a nylon and polyurethane fabric that blocks infrared rays. For a military application? Nope. ShotGuard Inner Shorts are panties, and bras are coming soon. According to Wired magazine: “For years, [Japanese] schoolgirls have had to be vigilant about jerks with cameras trying to get…a glimpse up their skirts. Clever degenerates are modifying their videocam’s night-vision mode to see right through fabric, revealing all.”

copyright Lucysfabrics.com 2007

2007-10-26T04:56:00.000-07:00

Special! For those of you doing holiday crafts, all appliques are 25% off for a limited time. These are iron-on /heat seal transfers with popular motifs such as cherries, skulls, gothic crosses, scotties and more. If you are doing craft fairs, now is the time to stock up.

The sale applies only to stock on hand, and not to special orders or eBay orders.

2007-10-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

BRUSH WITH GREATNESS!!
Did y'all see Prison Break last night? Lucy's Fabrics was featured on the show! Well, not really. As I mentioned previously, they filmed Prison Break on the town square. It was supposed to be a small town in Panama. Here are photos of our shop.

The statue isn't really there. The statue camoflauges a flagpole erected, according to an undated plaque, by the Woodmen of the World. Since the town's heyday was the 20's-30's, I have to assume that it dates to that period.

2007-09-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

Group of the week: 9/17 - 9/24/2007:

Each week an inspirational and seasonal group is in the spotlight. All items in that group are on sale for 15% off for one week only, while supplies last. You don't have to buy the whole group to receive the discount.

This week: If you need something that can be dressed up or down and won't wrinkle, this is it -- especially if you like silver jewelry. The black matte jersey is a favorite, and so is this charcoal rayon blend double knit. Be sure you use the double knit in the link at left (the other grey double knit is too blue). The fern slinky print is new, and the grey lines in the background pick up the charcoal double knit. If you need a touch of black lace trim around the neckline or anywhere else, that is on sale too.

2007-09-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Group of the week - Skulls!

This week: A little bit goth, a little bit disco. Metallic fabrics and trims are really hot right now, so here is a sheer silver and black stripe. The lighter-weight slightly sheer black matte jersey would be nice to layer with it. Any of our heavier black fabrics would look great too. With some silver-on-white cotton skulls, a skull heat seal in silver or hot pink, and you have a really fun look.

White Cotton-Lycra with Silver Foil Skull print

Applique: Skull Studs

Stripe: Black and Silver Metallic Stripes

Solid Black Sheer Matte Jersey

2007-09-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

CINQUO has now been neutered. Sorry buddy. He's 5 months, 2 weeks and about 15 lbs.

2007-09-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

CINQUO is home!
ALL HAIL CINQUO!

Well, look what just showed up in the garden! This is Cinquo, ("5" - as in, dog #5, I know, we are nuts). A friend who breeds dogs I have admired for years had several males, so here he is. He's a very good boy and seems to be fitting into the pack very well. He's a 5 month old Boston Terrier and begins training tomorrow for Shop Greeter duties.

2007-08-27T18:21:00.001-07:00

A fashion-related question..... Since we just moved into our house around Memorial Day, I haven't received many catalogs. So I was amused when received one from a certain popular Misses' apparel company. My mom likes their clothes, and I even sell their fabric when I can get it. Their clothes aren't cheap. However, what genius of marketing segmentation decided that I needed to order a purple, elastic-waisted, embellished pantsuit?

I'm a little sensitive about this because my freakin' birthday is coming up. I want a Boston Terrier puppy for my birthday, which apparently I am not receiving and am forbidden to get for myself. But anyway, when I was in MBA school, I was fascinated with psychographics -- segmenting consumer groups into discrete sub-groups based on attitudes, opinions and values. I am in the "Entrepreneurial Liberals Who Call Their Dogs 'fur kids'" segment. This group has no money and therefore shops at Old Navy and Gap Outlet. And occasionally, at the feed store. We don't go anywhere other than to the feed store, the vet and of course work. And therefore we have no need for purple embellished pantsuits.

2007-08-24T11:32:00.001-07:00

New specials at Lucysfabrics.com: Here is the new "group of the week" program. Sometimes I get really excited about how different items look together. They may have come in several weeks apart, so I wanted customers to be aware of how neat some of our fabrics look together. Each week, 3-4 that could form a small wardrobe group will be selected and marked 15% off for one week only or til they sell out. Right now they will be changed out Fridays, but it may change depending on how it goes. I will try to make it a print and a couple of solids, including a couple of bottom-weight solids. Sometimes trims will be included also! So stay tuned. Go to the home page to see the latest group of the week.

SPECIAL -- 15% OFF --

Group of the week: 8/24-8/31:

This week: A fun transitional print and contrasting solids. Easy care, and perfect for travel. The solids can be loose-fitting bottoms, unstructured jackets, or tops. The print makes a great crossover top, shell, wrap dress or flowing skirt. Use the solids for contrast banding on the top and you have some great wardrobe possibilities!

Print: Rayon-Lycra "Mosaic ".

Solid Cotton Blend double knit in Spring Red and Turquoise .

Black: Ponte Tencel Knit .

(if you need a heavier fabric, for the same look try the Rayon Blend Double Knit )

2007-08-16T16:08:00.001-07:00

New Shop Pics:
Still no sign however. This requires work to be done OUTSIDE and right now it's the hottest week of the year, so no outside work for me! This includes more outside painting that needs to be done. So, it's shabby as heck but too hot to change.

Ain't it cute? Don't you wish you lived in North Texas so you could shop here? Here, people, let's pretend we live in North Texas. Turn your thermostat up to about 95 degrees and run your humidifier, first. Now put on some Max Stalling or Jack Ingram. If you choose, open up a Shiner Bock. Now go to lucysfabrics.com and shop!

2007-08-12T03:46:00.000-07:00

New Stuff:
I love it when products from various sources coordinate! This is rayon-lycra jersey "Mosaic" and "Flower Dots" and it goes with the cotton double knit turquoise and spring red. Actually these rayon knit prints fron Europe go with a ton of stuff - perfect for Fall and late summer. Click on the images for more info!

2007-08-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Lucy's Fashoin Fabrics, Trims & House of Ill-Repute!

OK, I have been dying to tell y'all about this, and now that it's in the paper, it's OK for me to share it. This week, our little shop was turned into a brothel. That's Madam Lucy to you, thank you.

The TV Show Prison Break turned our village into a red light district in Panama, so Lucysfabrics.com became "La Rosa," a cathouse. I got to keep the sign - it's beautiful. They did a lovely job with the sets and signs. I learned a lot about painting and faux finishing from the crew -- a nicer bunch of guys you will never meet. My neighbor and I took to calling them "the cute crew" (we don't get a lot of good-looking men around here, OK?).

They went out of their way to be nice to us and put the town back in better shape than they found it. Since I had not started remodeling on the front of the shop yet, thanks to them it's now about half completed already. An interesting process -- they paint everything, then they spray dirt on it to make it look old, then they paint it nicely again before they leave.

Rumor has it that they'll be back. You won't hear any of the women around here complaining about that!

When you view the article, it seems like different pictures pop up. If you see the one with the prostitutes in it, look in the distance and you will see a tin-covered building -- that is the new Lucysfabrics.com World Headquarters.

2007-07-31T13:20:00.001-07:00

OK, the Monster energy drink guys did a fine job moving and Lucysfabrics.com is back open for business!

The new website is open for business also. PayPal, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover all seem to be working. We also now offer Google Checkout. This is a nice thing to have because it is in my opinion easier for the customer than PayPal. Like PayPal, you can use a regular credit card without sharing the information with the merchant.

Is it really, really working? Well, you think it is when you're in test, then when you move over to the live server something breaks. Then you fix the one thing and break something else. But it seems like it is basically OK though we are still tweaking some things here and there. What was worse? This or painting? I am not sure.

I really want to hear about any checkout problems so that we can fix them however!

2007-07-24T19:21:00.000-07:00

OK, the new site is up! (sort of)
It takes a while for the magical internet pointer thingies (Name Servers) around the world to get the message, so some people are seeing a "suspended" message at the moment, even 24 hours later. However, the shiny new webpage is visible, and you can browse the site and even put stuff in your cart. However, the payment methods are still in the process of being hooked up. E-mail is working, so if you have any questions or would like to process an order manually please feel free to call or email.

Also, the shop is packed up and the crazy Monster Energy Drink-chugging movers are coming tomorrow to haul it an hour north up to the new location. This same crew recently moved our house at 1:00 in the morning. This should be a little more basic. I hope.

2007-07-15T03:26:00.000-07:00

Moving Sale and Closing Schedule.....

Just a reminder about your 15% off Moving Sale Coupon. It has been extended one more day so that it can be used til midnight Monday July 16 also. The code is MOVIN15
Enter this at the beginning of the checkout process (case-sensitive, no extra spaces) and be sure to click APPLY.

If you used it once go ahead and use it again!

Also, if you use our small rhinestone buckles for crafts, invitations, etc. there are now plenty in stock even for big projects. If you need larger or heftier rhinestone buckles please let me know - many new styles have been added to the new site but not the old. Here is an example of a new arrival which would be so pretty for western wear. It's $20 and imported from Italy.

On the front page of the website you will see the lucysfabrics.com closing schedule. I am re-launching the website and moving our brick-and-mortar store at the same time to minimize the disruption to our customers. Orders placed before Noon on July 23 will ship before the shop is dismantled. Right now, the website and email may be down intermittently from July 24-29 and there will be no shipping during this time, while we set up the new shop. Our toll-free number should still work. Shipping resumes July 30. Hopefully sooner but this is the plan. Check the website for updates (if it's down, then we are moving servers!).

This is a huge pain but I am thrilled with the progress of the new virtual and real stores. Our local customers will get a kick out of the new location, in peaceful little Westminster, TX (far North Collin county - near Anna). Watch the blog for before and after pics.

Thanks to our loyal customers for supporting lucysfabrics.com these three years and helping us get to this new phase.

2007-07-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

Yeah, we are moving at the end of the month.

This is how it looked a couple of weeks ago. Doesn't it just make you want to part with your money?

It's starting to shape up. The lighting and most of the trim work is done, and it no longer stinks inside. We have nice shade trees all around the building, so I am looking forward to getting out of the sweatbox in Garland. I have offered it up to a Bikram Yoga enthusiast I know, but even she has passed on it.

I actually found time to pick up some new fabric, as well as some extremely fancy rhinestone buckles but they are being added to the new website only. There just isn't time to add them to the old site just to re-enter them on the new. So y'all are just going to have to wait for the new site to come up in a little over a week! It looks really nice and I just love the new system.

2007-07-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

2007-07-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

It's Summertime! And this means two things:

1. PEACHES

2. Chow-shaving time.

So here are the two sides of country living.

The huge old peach tree gave us two 5 gallon buckets of juicy white peaches!

The land has also given us speargrass, which almost killed him a couple of weeks ago.
The little needle-shaped burrs don't get caught by the brush and are almost impossible to find in a long coat, so they work their way into the skin and cause abcesses. Poor old Jasper got a whopper.

I was surprised to discover that although he is more stout than Lucy and weighs a little more, my big bear is actually shorter than old Lucy! There is my vicious Guard Chow, shorn of his locks but much healthier. And no more off-road wandering for him.

See below for pics!

2007-07-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

2007-06-21T05:32:00.000-07:00

Spring-Summer Double Knit fabric - what you have been waiting for! I have been meaning to get this for a long time, based on the strong recommendation of a couple of my most loyal local customers. Here it is in several bright colors. I took it to the Martha Pullen show. People oohed and ahhed over how soft it is and said "I haven't sewed with knits since they came out with those awful scratchy polyester double knits!" And yes, it is poly-cotton-spandex blend, easy care, but it still feels great. If you want to build a coordinating wardrobe for your upcoming vacation or cruise, this is a nice choice.

Many modern polyester fibers are soft, not scratchy or plastic-feeling. They are being used for higher-end fashion applications, and in swim and workout wear. It takes vibrant dyes and prints more easily and cost-effectively than many other fabrics. So give it a try! And if you ever have questions or would like swatches, please feel free to ask.

And now for a little thing that makes me happy - here are how the wildflowers are looking at The Ranch of Lucy. These are Standing Cypress and Basketflower. Both make great cut flowers if you change the water every day. If they do not appear naturally in your yard you can also buy the seeds at Native American Seed Company.

Other things that are looking nifty right now are the silver bluestem grass and the witch grass.

2007-06-11T05:34:00.000-07:00

Lots of changes are underfoot at the House of Lucy. First of all, we are still moving our Web home, (with our new and improved shopping cart) but this has taken a little back seat to moving our Real home.

As you can see, Lucy is here happily running through the grass and picking up ticks at our new country home in Whitewright, Texas, which is an hour northeast of Dallas. For you Collin County folks, this should be more convenient than Garland. It's 20 minutes northeast of McKinney.

Right now the shop is still in Garland but it will be moving over the summer to Whitewright. Hopefully the new place will be more awesome and fabulous for our customers. We have a very active area Chamber of Commerce working hard to promote the areas' unique country charm and bring in new business and tourism to the area, and I look forward to working with them toward this goal.

The country life is more fascinating than I had imagined. Every day I see a new wildflower or bird. The land has a rich ecosystem, since it was left pretty much undisturbed for quite some time. It's full of native plants that I used to buy at the nursery, and many I have never seen before and had to look up. We even have wild rosebushes! I am meeting with local experts to learn about further restoring the native grasses and wildflowers, enhancing what nature has given us.

In addition to the lovely things like scads of butterflies, dragonflies, and birds, we have many spiders, mosquitos and ticks, and yesterday I discovered a scorpion in the dogs' room. This bug thing is going to challenge my fears, that is for sure.

We also have bigger critters like coyotes, skunks, and it is rumored, cougars. I have seen the first two but not the cougar. We have also seen deer tracks, but no deer. I would think that with four dogs they are going to steer clear of this place.

Stay tuned because when it is time to move we will have an extreme warehouse sale in Garland.

Until then, please feel free to call for an appointment to shop in person or of course, visit our booth at the Martha Pullen show.

2007-06-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to have a real live and in person show coming up next weekend. We are very selective about what shows we do, and we believe that the Martha Pullen show is of great value to our customers.

So come on our and visit the fabric live and in person at the Martha Pullen Sewing Market in Arlington, TX. June 14-16 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday), booth 423/425. We will have many items available to take with you that are no longer available on the website (greatest hits, now sold out), and special purchases just for the show. There are several fashion-related vendors signed up, so bring your quilting and needlework friends to Arlington!
For more information on the show, please see: http://www.marthapullen.com/market/mmktstx.html

Due to the show, there will be no shipping June 13-17. Shipping will resume on Monday, June 18.

For those of you who love goth and glitter, be sure to check out the new skull cotton-lycra prints (see above). They are available in green, white and black with silver skulls and roses.

2007-05-19T05:34:00.000-07:00

Knit fabrics have been a hot topic lately. First, in the issue of Threads Magazine that is on newsstands now, there are two articles my customers will love - one is on jersey knit fabric and the other is on sewing swimsuits. Thanks to the editors for mentioning lucysfabrics.com in the sourcing columns of both articles. You can order the issue from Threads directly at the link above, or you can find it at your local fabric store.

The local Plano American Sewing Guild (ASG) Neighborhood Group was kind enough to invite me to speak on knit fabrics. Many of the ladies commented that they had not done much sewing with knits since the days of the old double-knits, and wanted to know what was out there, how to work with it, and how to take care of it. There is a lot of interest in bottom-weight knits and knit pant patterns, and no wonder since companies such as Chico's, J. Jill and Coldwater Creek have built such great businesses on complete knit outfits. Why not make your own, save some money and make it fit you perfectly? A good way to learn is to get involved with your local ASG chapter and have a group project where you pick from a couple of patterns and work on them together to make it fit you perfectly. Two heads (and pairs of eyes) are better than one in creating your perfect pants pattern.

(ahhh, nuts! This fabric is now sold out). Finally, in a wonderful coincidence, the June 2007 Burda Mode Magazine has our "Talavera" fabric in it. Check out the 119 skirt and 114 top! How fun to see it made into these garments. Since it is white, and therefore a little sheer, the beachy, casual skirt is very appropriate. The top is sexy and drapey with an open back. Any pattern with twisting or ruching details is perfect for this fabric, and Burda has several. As you can see by the ads on their website, they cater to a young and very hip demographic.

2007-05-09T20:27:00.001-07:00

Hi there! As you know we try to keep e-mails to a minimum at Lucysfabrics.com
but there are a couple of things I wanted to tell you

After the 11th, the postage rates are going up. All of the international
services are changing names, and some are going away. Our software provider says
that customers will not see any interruptions, but I don't believe them! If you
experience problems or have questions about shipping, please email or call 1-866-544-LUCY.

We can always e-mail invoices which can be paid securely with either credit cards
or PayPal, or take orders over the phone. Especially if you are overseas or even
in Canada, the shipping pricing may come out way wrong. I think all of your favorite
web stores and eBay sellers are going to appreciate your patience over the next
few weeks.

If you select USPS as your shipping method, please allow an
extra couple of days of transit time as we and the Post Office gets used to all
the new rules.

We predict that there will be backlogs at the post office. If by
any chance you receive a package with Postage Due, please let me know and you
will be refunded immediately.

FedEx Ground / Home Delivery will be the best
option for many of you in the Continental USA, if you are ordering more than for
instance 2-3 yards of Lycra. Fed Ex rates remain the same, and they deliver in
1-4 business days with excellent tracking.

Check out the "SALE"
category see -
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=45

So,
let's see how we are doing: The site checkout might not work, the coupon might
not work, and the Post Office is going into meltdown next week .... Thanks for
your support and please let me know how I can help!

-Laura Dapkus
lucysfabrics.com
mail@lucysfabrics.com
1-866-544-LUCY

2007-05-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

Service Notices and Website Drama:

Post Office Drama: This is another category unto itself. I will be sending out a message as soon as I get more info, or Friday, whichever comes first. Will our website function when the USPS rates and services change? Our vendor is saying, "We are looking into it." There is a software change they need to make on their end to interface with the USPS. Have they done it? Will they do it? We don't know. If not, the hundreds or thousands of other people using the same software will wake up on Monday to discover that their websites won't work either.

Our workaround will be to change to a different shipping calculation method which will not be as accurate, and probably won't work for International, but it will have to do til they fix it or til we launch the new website, whichever comes first. Thanks for bearing with us during this extremely difficult time. Shop the next couple of days and save, that is all I can say!

We have had some intermittent website slowness and bizarre behavior. However, it is like your car making a funny noise, which promptly stops when you get to the mechanic. Our vendor has not been able to figure out what the deal is.

Last week, there was a known issue with PayPal Checkout being down. I am told that it is fixed. Credit cards have continued to work for everyone in the USA and international.

Remember we have a toll-free number if you need help. We can always e-mail PayPal invoices as well. Then you can just click on the invoice and check out. If you don't use PayPal, we can email you an invoice that will allow you to use a regular credit card (see Google Checkout info below).

If you received a coupon from Google Checkout, and want to use it, we can send you a Google Checkout invoice and I am pretty sure it will work (haven't tried it yet using the coupon, but I would like to). Google checkout allows you to use your credit card, and the info is secure (the merchant does not see your credit card info).

Our new website will have Google Checkout fully integrated. It's coming along great! It's very pretty and should be easier to use.

2007-05-02T03:25:00.000-07:00

Here is our latest e-mail newsletter:

I just wanted to give you a heads up on some new items, and to let you know to about our "Stampin' Mad" sale honoring the upcoming postage increase.

Wide stretch lace trim has become very difficult to find. I call it "wide narrow lace" because it's not as wide as fabric, but it's extra wide -- over 5 1/2- 6 3/4". And it stretches in the length. These are very unique, two-tone styles ranging from the soft to the gothic.

We also have some new nylon-lycra prints, and heavyweight black and white solids just in time for swimwear and costume needs. See the "NEW" category.

Through May 9, 2007, Lucysfabrics.com is having a "Stampin' Mad" sale to celebrate
the US Postal Service (USPS) rate increase coming on May 14. You will receive another e-mail from me about the May 14 postage increase because there will be a temporary service impact (because we will be slow getting stuff out to avoid the wrath of the post office, and the post office will be bogged down with the new rules). But, in the meantime, enjoy the sale. Quantities on some items are very limited. If you want
to read more about the sale, you can see it on the blog.

Check out the "SALE" category.

Keep visiting the site because many new things are coming in over the next couple of
weeks.

Thank you for your business and especially for your great ideas
and suggestions!

2007-04-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

Big SALE til the end of April!
Through May 9, 2007, Lucysfabrics.com is having our "Stampin' Mad" sale to celebrate the US Postal Service (USPS) rate increase coming on May 14. Many items have just been put on sale, and others already on sale have been reduced even more. So, save twice -- the sale, and because you will pay todays' postage rates. And, lots and lots of new stuff is coming in, so I get to free up some space. What a deal for everyone!

I will be e-mailing my customers in another couple of weeks about the rate increase. This is more than just the price of stamps going up a few cents; the entire shipping model with the post office is becoming much more complicated.

For most USA customers, FedEx Home Delivery will more often than not be less expensive than USPS. Plus, it includes detailed tracking information and insurance. FedEx rates are not changing - we will continue to pass our volume discount on to you and it's quite a good deal.

We are fortunate to be located in Texas, which helps keep shipping relatively low to most points of the country.

International shipping is going to be quite another matter. We must continue to use USPS, because private carriers like FedEx will charge our customers a high fee to process their items through customs. It's going to take some time to figure out how the increase will impact customers, because the changes are so drastic.

Well, I am worrying now but you don't have to! Just enjoy the sale.

2007-04-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

Jasper's twin was on Martha Stewart's TV show yesterday! We always look forward to appearances of Paw Paw, the red Chow Chow. As usual, Paw Paw was oblivious to the live TV audience and hung out in the usual Chow Chow position, chin on the floor between two fuzzy paws, sound asleep. When the camera had a close up Martha's Chow, I looked over to see Jasper in exactly the same pose, the two big red old men mirror images of one another. Paw Paw is 12 and Jasper is 10, so they have had many years to perfect the art of conserving energy.