[amanda_raqs]

Hi again, just wanted to report back on my experiences in the fabric district last friday.

First stop-Michael Levine's. All I can say is WOW, I think I spent over an hour just wandering around, looking at everything. I decided to browse some others store before I bought anything, so on I went.

I walked around for a while, peaking in open shops to see what they had, and ducking into others when the rain started up again. Since I didn't have anything specific in mind that I wanted to purchase, I just waited for something to catch my eye.

1st buy-I found a little shop that had lots of great lycra and sequinned fabric. I'm not used to being followed around the store by the clerk and being asked at every piece of fabric I touch "how many yards do you want". I think I said the phrase "I'm just looking" about a hundred times that day. But I accepted it and when I found my first acquisition, it came in handy to have him right behind me. I've never really haggled on the price of anything so it was a new experience. I asked how much per yard, he countered with how many yards do I want, I said 2, he said $12.99 a yard. Ouch, I'm on a budget and not going to pay that much, but thanks anyway. But wait, how much do I want to pay, $10 for 2 yards I say, $20 says he, $10-me, $16-he, $10-me, $14-he, $12-me, ok $12. So I left the store $12 lighter with my first purchase, some amazing wet-look lycra in a kind of burgandy/maroon color. Yay!

2nd buy-after more wandering I found another must have in a little shop. Compliments (you are so pretty, such a beautiful girl must have this fabric, blah blah blah) and more haggling ensued and I walked out with 2 yards of a lycra with a kind of soft striped pattern of blues and greens, $3 a yard.

3rd buy-I stumbled upon a shop that had everything on sale for $1 a yard, so I had to buy something, right? I ended up with 3 yards of white lycra with light blue stripes, to hopefully make an Eman style galabeya and bra.

I managed to find some of the other places people recommended. Stopped into Berger Beads and Bohemian Crystal but the kind of rhinestones I wanted were unfortunately not in the budget at the moment. I also went into another shop which I think was right next door to Bohemian Crystal that had a great selection of rhinestone chain, including some with really large blue rhinestones (like the size of a pencil eraser). I went in Azi Payless too, but that place was so cramped and packed full of stuff that I had some serious anxiety and had to leave! There were a few other fabric stores like that too!

Overall it was a fun adventure and I got some great stuff for only going $1 over my budget ($20). Thanks to everyone for your help and suggestions, I will definitely be making another trip to the LA Fabric District, with more money next time!!!

P.S. I definitely didn't mind all the compliments on my beauty (serious or not) from the shop owners!

XOXOXO
amanda