Good morning, ya'll. It's waay early-feeling. Jamie proposed a daylight savings time change of 10 min @ a time and at this moment, I have to say it sounds like a much better plan. Yawn.
FYI, there are NO chain fabric or craft stores in SF. Isn't that just the weirdest? And no Target, might I add again. Not that I'm against mom+pop places. I'm absolutely sure there are many more bargains and fun-finds to be had at these non-corporate places that have managed to maintain independence. It's just that sometimes, I'm in a rush and need to just run in and grab a _____ (fill-in-the-blank). On Friday, I went in for plain, white cotton at Discount Fabrics that has received tons and tons of online accolades. Oh my gosh, I can't even tell you how completely overwhelmed I felt:
Luckily, I've caught a couple of episodes of Project Runway and knew enough to fake my way through the aisles. I examined the composition of fabric, touched the various textures, investigated the 2way vs 4way stretch, and really thought I was doing a convincing act. Then a design school student called me out. He laughed at my face. Literally. He said my face looked confused, perplexed, and slightly lost. Then he helped me find the plain, cotton section and told me to keep coming back, that it was a learning process, and that it would be fun...one day.Oddly enough, it wasn't the first time in a week that someone felt obligated to help me out in a similar situation. I must exude discomfort when I seem out of my element. The nicest couple helped us @ HomeDepot while I contemplated a cordless drill and palm sander. One guy walked me through all the important specs and the other pointed out other ways to use the tools (throw on a bit and you can buff your jewelry!).
It's as if I can't find "real" people who get paid to help me and instead I draw innocent bystanders to assist my pathetic ways. Hmmm...I wonder if there's a market in that. You know, like undercover sales people?
7 comments:
that store is scary, but looks like a dream store to me! i would start having a gazillion ideas all at once! what's the fabric for???
my grandparents used to own a fabric store in scranton (yes, my dad's side of the family is from up there... not too far from honesdale... oh the stories i could tell...). i feel like i should be at one with fabric, but i get pretty overwhelmed in those stores! that is nice that someone eventually helped you out (after laughing in your face...).
and what are you making this time?
hilarious! i am tres impressed by the niceness of cali folks. i think if i accidentally light fabric on fire in a store up here no one would flinch or ask for assistance.
i would have been totally overwhelmed and probably walked out the door, but then again i am less than creative and wouldn't have ever gone in there in the first place... that and i don't own a sewing machine so i don't know what to do with just fabric. come to think of it, i have some really really cool fabrics from thailand that i have no idea what to do with.. and i've only had them for 6 years... hmmm....
and i totally agree about the target thing. we didn't have them in manhattan either and it would drive me crazy sometimes!
les, surprised by the perplexed face people laugh at? it's one of your best looks!! j/k. that fabric store looks like a dream...to someone as creative as yourself, i mean.
i definitely think stores should hire undercover sales people. i tend to share my opinions and sell things to complete strangers all the time -- my family and pete get so embarassed! it would be nice to make a little moola in the process!
ah, i know that this is frusterating but I couldn't help but laugh. I totally know how you feel - for me it's the posh department store style perfume/makeup counters. Not knowing what to ask is almost worse than getting caught with 'the look'.
according to Oprah, the best place to meet guys is in Home Depot-type stores, in the fasteners aisle (screws/nails/washers) so maybe 'the look' isn't such a bad thing. But I guess for all of you ladies w/ men, I guess the look is still not great, is it?
oh my gosh, i TOTALLY got picked up on by a paint distributor @ Home Depot. i was buying primer and white paint for the bathroom and again, had the lost look while staring @ two identical swatches of paint. his name was ed, said i looked incredibly helpless, was seemingly a nice guy, not creepy, but:
(a) i have 2 guys in my life already, thank you.
(b) no more painters.
i got totally thrown off and didn't even think quickly enough to keep his number for my single girlfriends. sucky wingman.
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