It’s Thanksgiving day 2013, and I find myself feeling thankful for living in a land of abundance. So today, I’m sharing my favorite online resources, the ones that I am most thankful for and go back to again and again. Each of these suppliers was instrumental in supplying materials for multiple projects in my upcoming book, Cloth of Egypt: All About Assiut. Happy Thanksgiving!
Velvet and Velvet Ribbon
Jo-Ann’s has great sales – so when they are rocking an amazing sale, I stock up on velvet ribbon. I love the contrast of texture between the matte cotton of the assiut and the depth and richness of the velvet pile. www.joann.com
Silk Dupioni
Practically the largest selection of colors. This company is local to me, so going over to their store is always a delightful selection. This is also a great source for white silk in a variety of weights in color and white ready to dye. www.thaisilks.com
Spandex Fabric
Make a comfortable, but stretchy dress to wear with your assiut bedlah – like the gorgeous dress designed by Poppy Maya and worn by international dance instructor, Sara Sharpnell. One of the biggest offerings of spandex are available via the internet from Spandex World. spandexworld.com
Rhinestones
Rhinestone Guy has a huge selection and fast service! If you work with rhinestones a lot, be sure to order one of their rhinestone sample cards so you can select the best colors and shapes for your products from the comfort of your home. www.rhinestoneguy.com
Rings
Interested in those sexy x-back tribal style bra closures? Here’s my favorite source for O-rings in four different finishes. Fast and accurate delivery. www.pursesupplydepot.com
Unusual Bra Sizes
If I have a customer who requires an unusual size, this is where I go. Their website allows you to conduct searches by size, saving time. Sign up for their mailing list – some of their sales are excellent. www.barenecessities.com
Tribal Bra Components
I love coins, chains, and all sorts of lovely tribal jewelry components. I find myself going back to Paul at Tribal Bazaar over and over again. This is my go-to source for coins, filets, kuchi jewelry, and more. www.tribalbazaar.com
(PS – special thanks to model Sara Sharpnell and costume designer Poppy Maya for this photo. Photograph by Alisha Westerfeld)