No sewing – but Punks!
Posted: June 13, 2016 Filed under: Exhibitions, Fabric, Meet ups, Punk at Kings Cross, Swimming, Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear, V&A | Tags: Exhibitions, Fabric, Meet ups, Punk, Swimming, Undressed 21 Comments
My fabrics – for me.
I have had a really good time of late – but very little sewing has been done. I had a lovely day in Birmingham at a meet organised by the magnificent Demented Fairy which she talked about in her post here . She is a great encourager of fabric purchases (as if I need the encouragement), and I came home with all of this despite not really intending to buy anything. The fabric from Barrys for me was really not necessary but it begged me to bring it home – I am still deciding what to do with it. The blue patterned fabric was from the ‘Liberty’ man in the outside market on a previous visit and I was delighted to see how well it went with this lot.
PJ fabric for The Management – except now he wants a shirt from one
The Management is in need of a couple of new pairs of PJ’s so I was happy to buy these lengths with that in mind. I really hadn’t considered that when I made the first pair in silly fabric it would mean he wants all his PJ’s made to order in future. At least this lot would be OK if he ever needed to go into hospital – I’m not sure what would be made of the tractors or helicopter pairs! The ‘bird box’ stripe and the fine black and red stripe were both from Barrys, but the other stripe was from a new fabric store which was new to all of us – EU Fabrics – still unpacking fabric but happy to take our money. They appear to be mainly wholesale but didn’t object to selling me 4 meters. There was some interesting stuff in here, maybe factory surplus? Anyway, we spotted neoprene and waxed cotton among other goodies and I will certainly be adding this to my shopping circuit.
I spent another few days in London last week. The Management had work based in central London and I bummed in on the trip. He seemed to enjoy the company but it must have been a bit galling to be told about my daily adventures when he had been working!
Tuesday was spent at the V&A, I love that place. I wandered through the underwear exhibition again and have to say I enjoyed it more this time. The photographs of Paul Strand were wonderful, I spent a good while in that exhibition. If you want to see this you will have to hurry as it closes early in July.
Wednesdays treat was a visit to the V&A’s sister site – The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. There were toys going bag to before my childhood and coming up to date. It was amusing and thought provoking to see how ‘safety’ has become much more of an issue recently. I’m sure we all remember having sewing sets and knitting Nancy’s like those pictured – child services would probably get involved if you gave a child needles now. Sad.
Childrens goodies
On Thursday I had a swim at the magnificent Kings Cross Pond Club. The weather certainly helped but it was wonderful to swim in a ‘natural’ environment rather than a chlorinated pool. Kings Cross has changed immensely since my days living in Watford and traveling into London. There was an exhibition of punk, which was current at around the time I lived in Watford. It was a very enjoyable time in my life but I was never a punk. I probably wasn’t brave enough, and I’m not convinced that the bank which employed me would have approved 😉. This closed on Saturday so if you didn’t get there enjoy my pictures. Sorry that the quality isn’t great.
The Sex Pistols t-shirts relate to a single and album the are in our collection. I really enjoyed looking at this exhibition, and contemplating how the look was diluted and ended up in mainstream. I know that many people didn’t like punk but I think it was just the ‘disruptive influence’ of that particular time and there always needs to be one. And it gave us some great designers – Westwood being the obvious one (and very visible in this exhibition) but not the only one.
I spent some time around Soho in the fabric and haberdashery shops which I thoroughly enjoyed. Since I was sans Fairy I got away without buying fabric – and incidentally the prices make Birmingham shops look positively bargainous – but also without the zips I had hoped to buy for my ziggi jacket. Back to internet sources for those I think.
It will be good to get back to sewing this week. Strangely I have started to feel the creative itch – I just need to get active before it goes away again!
Whatever you are doing I hope it’s going well. 😃
The Material Lady 
Sex pistols! Love it.
Took me back! It was amusing to imagine the other visitors of my vintage wearing the exhibits in their youth. Only the ‘youngsters’ seemed shocked by some of the display 😂
Sounds like you had a fab time! I’m so glad you shared your pictures of the punk exhibition; being a local, I typically missed it.
That’s so often the case. I’m sure I miss loads of local things but I research like a demon for when I visit London! There’s never any chance of fitting all I want to do into the time available 😞
Mmmm, that fabric looks rather wonderful. Love the punk exhibition!
I am churning ideas around for my fabric – about six for each piece. Do you struggle to decide what some fabrics want to be?
The punk exhibition was fun. There were a few things I would have loved to run away with!
Yes, I often buy fabric for a specific purpose only to change my mind, and then buy fabric that looks at me for years before I finally decide what to do with it!
Love the punk exhibition! You’d probably the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here in Cleveland, OH. While the emphasis is on music, there are plenty of outfits worn by various bands and individual singers. It gave me a giggle to hear that Fairy “forced” you to buy fabric; I follow her blog and can see that happening! And, by the way, the fabric that came home with you is quite wonderful. 🙂
The rock and roll exhibition sounds right up my alley! (I actually have a rocker client you might know. I can’t say who sadly).
Don’t go shopping with Fairy! It is great fun but you won’t come back empty handed 😀
Curses, now I’m so curious! Wouldn’t be surprised if the shopping trip is repeated… 😉
What fun you have! The hubster and I are off to Birmingham next week. I’m hoping for fine weather and fabulous purchases. Good job he’s got muscles….. 😉
I appreciate I’m a lucky girl! Shake out the piggy bank before you come – you don’t want to run short if you see something fabulous to buy!
Sex pistols!! aah, I’m so envious! I loved the fashion and the music, even though it was so shocking at the time. I was a bit young for it so not allowed to play it at home and by the time I was old enough the fad had passed by to be replaced by the new romantics, of which I was a HUGE fan. Would have loved to see the exhibition though! Likewise, I’m envious of your fabric purchases. You seem to have the most wonderful fabric stores over there. I so wish I could visit!
I am very lucky! If I’m honest I probably preferred the new romantics to punk, but they both really catch their time. If ever you are coming to the UK get in touch. I would be glad to show you some of my haunts – both fabric and exhibitions 😃
Birmingham is on my ‘one day’ list. But I would need to take an empty wheely suitcase. The punk expo looked like it was fun, can we expect a few safety pins in your next creation?
Safety pins only if I foul up!
I wish I had seen the punk exhibition, but I did indeed enjoy your photographs. Please do let me know when you are in London again as I would love to meet up. Love the PJ fabric.
A pair of pj’s is probably my next project when he makes up his mind which to use. I will certainly contact you before I come to London next as it would be lovely to meet up.
Great news.
Hey there, Kim! Since June is the 6th month of the year, I’m following 6 fun and interesting blogs each day, and you’re one of them! Follow me back if you like at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com and make six new blog friends of your own. Have a great day!
The Sex Pistols shirts are great. Interesting how many punk bands have become mainstream as a fashion in addition to a sound–Ramones t-shirts everywhere for example.