. . . and double Light

On my way home yesterday I stopped at Bloom Fabrics (http://www.bloomfabrics.com.au/). I'd been promising myself a look at this fabulous looking fabric store for years: desiring the beauty, but dreading the cost! So when I drove past yesterday and saw the sign, "Clearance, Last Day 31 January", I just had to stop. The shop was nearly empty, but the few bolts, dresses and laces left on display confirmed my drive-by impressions.

When I found this fabric I was gone:

Silk-cotton double weave, almost sheer. The upper layer is chocolate coloured silk and the under layer, a fawn cotton, both incredibly light weaves with the double weave interaction of layers producing this effect.

• I had to buy it for its sheer beauty
• I had to buy it for its silk lustre
• I had to buy it for its tempting chocolate richness
• I had to buy it for the play of light and shade across its fine surface
• I had to buy it as a beautiful example of double-weave technique
• . . . and did I mention I just had to buy it!

Four and a half metres were left on the bolt--enough to make something. So far I have turned it into a skirt, an overblouse and an embellished stole in my imagination. For now, I'm treating it as an exotic pet: admiring and stroking it and thinking about it a lot.