fabric shopping in houston !

after mood in new york i was sure that i had discovered the best place to unique fabrics. that was until i spent monday at fashion fabrics in houston texas. from new designers to old vintage favorites i was in heaven. they say that everything is bigger in texas and this fabric warehouse is no exception.

unlike mood fabrics the fabrics that lined the walls and tables here were perfectly color-coded. love that. silk charmeuse prints perfectly rolled on the wall. the selction of vintage Pucci fabric had my mind spinnging. the print below will be a summer skirt.

luckily i found this normally $125 a yard piece on the remnant table...

millie fabric... how great would this be in a long patio dress? may have to keep this one for me...

cup dress heaven... brought home a few of these prints for the last of the custom cup orders.

japanese ribbon fit for a waist band on a simple skirt

love this ribbon hanging suspended from the branches... thinking we will do this in the windows at the shop for summer.

the selection of bridal lace and trim was extensive and breath taking... if we ever make a turn towards bridal this will be my first stop.

how about these feathers to trim the bottom of a party dress?

sometimes i see a fabric and think... skirt or pillow? this time pillow won. perfect on my favorite chair at home this cobalt silk will soon be filled with feathers.

everyone needs a little time away.... hello austin texas!

look closely, can you see those two cowboys on horses ridding down the street mixed with the traffic? welcome to austin texas.

an article in the wall street journal heighten my desire to know what all this " getting weird" in austin texas was all about, so reece and i sat out for a weekend adventure.

the slogan for austin is "keep austin weird" and trust me, they are doing it.

you haven't seen austin till you have wondered south congress avenue. known for the cluster of eclectic shops and cluster of food trailers there is something at every turn to amaze your senses. the smell of fresh baked cupcakes mixes with the sound of street musicians to make this street a world renown place for people watching.

even a non antique lover will love uncommon objects. a warehouse of sorts with artfully arranged vintage goods this place has a modern western vibe with a retro twist. from western hand bags to art and artifacts this place has a way of making the clutter seem priceless.

how about that hilton head belt buckle...

one step in lucy in disguise and you will see that any time you want to "get weird" the costume possibilities are endless all year long....

rows and rows of countless colors and styles of cowboy boots. from range ready to $2,500 a pair for two steeping at the local honkeyhonk everyone is sure to find a pair that fits. from the smallest cowgirl to hand tooled goat skin for a rodeo it was a sight to see.

on the hunt for the odd duck on south lamar we found gourdoughs. the home of the original donut creation. from sweet to savory the choices where equally odd and tempting. fried chicken and honey on a donut to bananas and chocolate.... we shared a donut topped with BBQ and potato salad... yep, it sounded strange to us too but it was surprisingly heavenly.

this is the type of "weird " i could get used to. hotel san jose is a retreat. scandinavian design meets modern in this hotel with simple decor and concrete floors. who doesn't want a pair of Toms shoes waiting to great you?

on sunday we kayaked down the lady bird lake river. the weather was perfect. the park on one side of the bank was filled with picnic goers while the other side of the river was lined with city buildings.

can't leave austin with out one more treat. a nutella crepe and we were on our way back to houston...

why am i so tired on a friday night? shouldn't i be out dancing?

the week end review:

new bridesmaid dress order

3 mothers of the groom/bride

71 cup dresses on order

first wholesale shipment out to del ray beach fl

helped prom goers with bow ties

3 prom dresses

fit a bride for her wedding gown

first skype consolation

new fabric

make new pillows for the shop added to the to do list

friends birthday dinner,

girlie movies rented but not watched

went to denver

traveled 12 hours by plane

late night pizza

spent the night in the loft of an old church converted to condos

vail for a day of skying

tai valentines day lunch with reece and friends

had an elk taco

new respect for professional skiers

jl mclaughlin truck show.. converting a tunic into a dress

meeting with the factory

went without internet for 38 hrs at work

thought of painting my kitchen

started new book

ordered fall fabric

went to bed at 10 on a friday night...

is this a sign im getting old?

kelly and parker tie the knot and a day i wont forget

i am thankful that every day i go to a place that i love, a place that feels more like a living room than a place of business. a place where friends are made and lives are stitched together as we design and sew. intrinsic validation at its finest, to make a living off of your life. there is no greater reward to see someone happy in a dress i have created.

the days have gone by in the last five years, and i have no idea where they went. seasons bleed together and i can hardly believe this is our 5th spring. there are many days that i do not remember. parker and kelly's wedding day and the time that i spent with them will not be forgotten.

my relationship with kelly began with a top for her engagement pictures... what an honor in itself. a few months later we began to design and construct her wedding gown. simple and elegant with a pleat detail and small bow the dress just fit her personality and style. as we began to work on the bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride, mother of the groom, flower girl and the soloist dress for the big day i knew this would be an event i wouldn't forget.

something changed in me seeing them. i known that love exist. but something happens when you see it. love that is giving and unselfish. where the other person is put first. i saw this in how kelly and parker talked to each each other, how the each mother worked with her daughters to find the style that best suited them for their bridesmaid dress. how dorothy bragged on and conversed with her grand children... when they were together at the shop, love was there too.

mother of the bride

mother of the groom

the 5th year of custom carolina cup dresses!

its hard to believe this is the fifth year.

there were a few flyers around campus, my kitchen table, a monogramed ribbon label and a group of girls who were willing the give a custom made carolina cup dress a try.

pick your fabric and your style, one dress per fabric, no two alike.

i remember that first year. my mom and aunt came at the last second to help me sew in the labels and finish the hems of the 78 dresses. i had no idea that five years later laroque would expand the way it has. never imagined we would be here on the 5th year of custom cup dresses and also be selling in shops all over the east coast. God is so good.

i am so grateful for all of you who have supported me over the years. it feels so good when you choose to wear larouqe to the cup ( or to any occasion really...) there are so many talented designers and fashion houses. thank you for choosing laroque. the intrinsic reward and these pictures are priceless.

here are some of my favorite cup photos from over the years....

if you are wondering how to have a custom made dress, here is the process,

1. pick your fabric and your style

2. we take your measurements

3. you decide what color.. do you want a ruffle? a pleat? a monogram on your sash? we will make your dress exactly how you wish.

3. two to three weeks later, you come in for a fitting.

at the point changes can be made and an alterations are noted

4. a week or so later your dress is ready to take home!

5. have a good time at the race and take photos!

we will stop taking orders in a few weeks...

hope to see you soon!