MPB DAY -- The Musical!

As a much-mocked two-time Oscar winner once gushed, "I can't deny the fact that you like me -- right now, YOU LIKE ME!"

There's so much to tell about MPB 2013, friends.  We laughed, we cried, we schvitzed; we shopped till we dropped, then picked ourselves up and shopped some more.

A quick re-cap:

On Saturday at 9:30 am, a small group met me at the Chelsea Flea Market: Vicki (far left), Linda, Tracy, Suzanne, and Teri (behind the camera).



We spotted a number of vintage sewing machines for sale, including a mid-century Stradivari and a Willcox & Gibbs from the 1870's!





Teri wore a beautiful maxi sundress made from fabric she bought at MPB Day last year -- and thus becomes the first-annual winner of the Miss MPB Day Award!  Let's give a big hand to Teri!!

Teri was a tomboy in 2012....

And in 2013 -- WOW!

At 11 am, the main group met outside the FIT Museum, where we caught the splendid RetroSpective exhibit.  I am happy to report that this year no one tried to remove the dresses off the mannequins.



The exhibit was followed by lunch at nearby Panera's, where we held the largest pattern swap I've ever experienced.  Busy MPB reader Misa showed up merely to drop off a bag of roughly 70 patterns, then disappeared, no doubt overwhelmed by the off-gassing estrogen on the upper-level seating area, which we filled entirely!







Michael joined us too and even copped some free fabric, which he is insisting I make into pants for him.  Stripes are the new black!



After lunch we headed to the Garment District, where the newly-dubbed MPB Day Debs + Duane virtually vacuumed up fabric.  It was, frankly, a little embarrassing.





One of my responsibilities is not only organizing the day's events, but also steering attendees away from questionable fabric purchases.  Unfortunately, with a group this large, things slip through the cracks.   I will not take responsibility for any of the following:

At Paron's, Claudine found the only fabric I've ever seen embellished with used Nad's For Men body waxing strips.





Vicki insists this perforated pleather from Mood will make a delightful dress; I get a heat rash just looking at it.  Please underline!



What Mary is going to do with her extensive yardage of robin's egg blue neoprene is anybody's guess.  Not only does this spongy synthetic not breathe, it actually sucks oxygen from your lungs.



There are approximately 57,000 different fabrics for sale in the Garment District.  So what are the chances that both Teri and Vicki would purchase (separately) the exact same striped knit at two different fabric stores?  If they show up at a women's club luncheon in the same outfit, watch out!



Our day ended on the lawn at Bryant Park, where we shared our tales, our treasures and, in Carol, Mary, and Clio's case, a talent for knitting socks.  Coincidence?





The rest is a blur, readers.  I remember heading home around 6 pm with much of the group still intact.  What may have happened later -- bar hopping, public nudity, destruction of private property -- you'll have to read about in the tabloids.

While every year we have repeaters, I must mention six special ladies who have attended MPB Day ALL THREE TIMES: Claudine, Joanne, Cindy, Johanna, Roberta, and Suzanne.  Shall we make it four?

Claudine

Joanne

Cindy

Johanna and Roberta

Suzanne

Thank yous to everyone for helping to make Saturday such a memorable event: Paula, Nicole, Cathy & Paul, Joanne, Glennys, Joyce, Ashley, Aleksandra, Roberta, Jennifer, Tracy, Kristen, Linda, Teri, Wanett, Clio, Suzanne, Lisette, Vicki, Mary, Kyle, Mimi, Cindy, Johanna, Duane, Angie, Ariel, Donna, Karen, Aimee, Jackie, Sonja, Charlotte, Carol, and Claudine.

I still have a bag of 38 patterns -- Somebody help!

You can view more MPB Day 2013 pics here.

Have a great day, everybody!

(Read Kyle's Re-cap here, and Amanda's here.)