Jem Fabric Warehouse

A few days ago, I told you about my trip to the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market. You may remember that after that, I went over to Mood Fabrics. Well, before I left the city, I decided to make one more stop. I wanted to go to Jem Fabric Warehouse...the one Jenny's always talking about. 

Jem is not walking distance from Mood, so I did need to drive there.

It is definitely a place where you would hunt for the perfect trim

Rolls of fabric are mixed among the trims

Braids, cords, gimp and tassels are intermingled.

Vintage cases hold stacks of possibility

There is a small section of African Cloth....love it!

A display of all the various patterns. 

I was just about to check out, when I asked if they had home fabrics. Good thing I asked, they are downstairs. The selection of fabrics is not as large as Mood, but the prices are much less, and they have a decent selection.

I didn't buy any fabric, but I did buy some trim. 

They coordinate with the fabrics that I purchased.

After all this, there is one other fabric store I would like to explore on another day

Wonder if Jill will be there?
Please do me a favor.....If you earned a "free frozen turkey" from one of the many markets participating in a Holiday Points program....AND....you don't think you will use that turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner.....PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE....give that turkey to a local food drive, or a Food Bank.
DON'T let it go unused. 
I earned 2 from two different markets, and will be donating both.

Mood Fabrics

Yesterday, I told you about my trip to the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market. If you remember, it was on the way to Mood Fabrics. Mood Fabrics became famous from Project Runway. Remember when Project Runway was on Bravo....and everyone watched? I never followed to show over to Liftime....did you?

If you have never been to Mood, you might be a bit surprised by the location. It is not a storefront like you would expect. You need to enter a very large building where an elevator operator will take you to the third floor. Once inside, you can use the stairs to access the other two floors. 
It really does look like this

There are isles and isles of fabric like this

There is definitely more clothing fabric vs. home fabrics.

The trims are neatly organized, and there is an abundance.

When you get to the home fabrics section, there are a few displays that feature some of the fabric.

Here are the two yards I cane home with

I love that it is orange, and not red

And I love the metallic thread

I have been feeling the blue and white, lately...although this is cream

I like it both directions

And there is a raised trim detail on it for texture

My plans for the fabric is top secret....so secret, I'm not exactly sure yet. 

So far, I took you along to the NY Flea Market, Mood Fabrics....but there was one more stop, and tomorrow I'll tell you where that was.

New York Flea Market

This may sound crazy, but until a few weeks ago, I had never been to any of the NY Flea Markets. Crazy, because they are only 40 minutes away. For the longest time, I would try to get one of my friends to go with me. Sadly, my friends have no interest in this type of adventure.
Since I needed to go to Mood Fabrics for a fresh looking yard or two of something... I decided to combine the trip. Being geographically conscious,  I chose the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market. It was a short walk to Mood, so I would only need to pay for parking once.
I arrived slightly after 9am on a Saturday and parked in a lot just 2 blocks away. It was a bit confusing as to which direction to go, but thankfully my walking map on my phone worked great. Here are some images I snapped while I hunted.
It's a real mix of vintage clothing

Bits and pieces of furniture

Old bottles, and other collectibles like matchbooks

I was really interested in the African artifacts from these dudes

But once I asked a few prices, it became clear that they were smoking the hashish pipe

Lots of costume and vintage jewelry

Painted re-purposed odds and ends

Books....and of course

A dead animal, or two.

I bought a few bits of odds and ends, but overall, I was not impressed. The prices were much more in line with New York than a true Flea Market. Next time, I'm going to try this one

  

Tomorrow, I will tell you all about my fabric shopping at Mood. Do you have a favorite Flea Market?