Isn't this great ugly fabric? I mean, I think it's very attractive, in a charmingly grotesque way. I have no idea why the pattern designer thought only the letters a-e-g-i-s-v were needed (is it supposed to spell 'visage' and if so, why?) and I don't know why there's some kind of craquelure behind those letters, but I don't care. I like it. Which is why I now have four yards of it. (And it wasn't even on sale--I liked it that much!)
As you all know by now, I'm a huge fan of the unconventionally pretty, which is not to say, in so many words, the downright ugly. I like things to have a hard edge, sometimes, and to make you work to see how beautiful they are. The easy beauty of pink roses and sunsets is one thing; the difficult, ornery, belligerent beauty of rough concrete and sheets of rain is another.
This fabric wants to be a narrow 'secretary' dress with a round collar, midriff band, and contrast piping (and, thanks to Lydia, I actually HAVE this pattern right now) but I don't know when I'll get a chance to make it. I'm pretty overwhelmed with Actual Work at the moment. Making a new dress is starting to feel as far away as some of my other nebulous goals, like "lose fifteen pounds" and "answer all my email" and "live on Moon colony before I die," and having "make new dress" slip into that category is a bit depressing.
But, I'm sure things will lighten up around here eventually, says the woman who is traveling three out of the next four weeks ...
Under the subjects of serendipity and Great Minds Think Alike, I have that fabric too!
Posted by: sz | 04/12/2007 at 05:45 PM
The "i"'s look more like "!"'sI think it's "Vegas!".....
Posted by: Anonymous | 04/12/2007 at 05:46 PM
That fabric is mesmerizing. It's like alpabet soup, I keep trying to find words. I thought I saw "veggies".
Posted by: S. | 04/12/2007 at 06:47 PM
i think it may be "vegas!"or it could be "savages!"
Posted by: Lindsay | 04/12/2007 at 06:50 PM
Your description of hard-edged beauty ddefinitely resonated with me. I adore the crumbling, decaying buildings downtown in my city... I don't think I've ever thought of a way to describe the aesthetc before.I also adore that fabric. I want to make a blouse from it. Do you know of a source for it online?
Posted by: Mandy | 04/12/2007 at 06:51 PM
i'm loving the phrase "charmingly grotesque". something about it resonates with me and my aesthetic. GOOD ONE.
Posted by: tricia | 04/12/2007 at 07:06 PM
I ran the letters through http://www.unscramble.net/ and the only word it made was "visage". But that doesn't take into account doubled letters. The S is more prominent in the pattern than the other letters.
Posted by: Cathy | 04/12/2007 at 07:11 PM
I too often chose the thing with the harder edge, not as obvious beauty so that it will grow on me. Otherwise, I may grow tired of it.
Posted by: Mary E | 04/12/2007 at 10:58 PM
OMG. Want, want, want some of this! And I don't usually wear anything in the black/white/grey palette. Please, someone, post where I can buy some online.
Posted by: Anonymous | 04/12/2007 at 11:25 PM
I bought it at Vogue, email 'em and ask for it!http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/store/help.php?section=contactus&mode=update
Posted by: Erin | 04/12/2007 at 11:29 PM
How big are the letters? I'm thinking I would like them at a nice medium as opposed to huge or tiny.
Posted by: Anonymous | 04/13/2007 at 08:05 AM
It's a CAPTCHA in dress form! A dress made from this fabric would be perfect for the bloggie awards to to an EFF event!
Posted by: vespabelle | 04/13/2007 at 01:54 PM
I think it says 'I, Vegas'. ;)
Posted by: Roxanne | 04/14/2007 at 01:14 PM
We have a big couch cushion I made from that fabric! I think it came in a big remnant box from FashionFabricsClub.com I wonder how much I have left...
Posted by: Jocelyn | 04/18/2007 at 06:30 PM
I saw this fabric at the store and thought of you.
Posted by: Robinson | 04/25/2007 at 09:06 AM