When desperate - think outside the box.

I have known for the longest time that I have an obsessive personality. Whatever I do, I dive in head first and often, if I latch on to something, I find it hard to just let go. So I want to tell you a little story (I will try to keep it short lol)

I mentioned in a post or two ago that I went to a get together where I met some new ladies. Well, the night was cool and while we sat outside on the balcony, silly me realised she had forgotten to bring a jacket. So I was loaned this beautiful wrap. It was a heavy duty wool-look kind of wrap (like a great big shawl) but not at all itchy and soft to the touch. I fell in love with it instantly. I sat outside, sipping wine, snuggled down inside it and then the idea set in. I wanted one for myself. 

My friends original - imagine taking one side and draping it over your shoulder and you get the idea. 

I asked the lady who gave it to me where she had purchased it. She was a bit vague as she had bought it years ago and couldn't remember the exact name of the shop but she did know it was quite expensive and it was a little shop she had never been in before. Bummer. Even by the end of the night she couldn't for the life of her remember where she got it. 

So this got me thinking. And thinking hard. I searched the net, first in Australian sites then the US. Nothing even came close. This lead me to believe it would have to be bought at either a little exclusive boutique or some bohemian place like the markets or a Bali-esque kind of place. I tried a few around the place in person and then made a few calls to Fremantle and Perth but again nothing. Then it hit me. I laid this rather large wrap out on the bed. 

 

It was longer than it was wide and the U sits around your neck and hangs on either side of you (kind of like a poncho but with a split) but then you throw one side over your shoulder and it drapes to give a rather put together look. It looks AMAZING ON. I kid you not. I was wearing jeans and a shirt and ankle boots and it just looked beautiful. So what did I do? I decided to get one made. 

I went on the hunt to five fabric places but nothing in the fabrics even came close to being warm enough. The best I found was a jacket kind of material but then you would need to line it and well, that was a hassle and besides it wouldn't look the same. Every single lady I showed my friends wrap to (I had it on hand to copy the pattern) was impressed by it and some even wanted one for themselves. So the idea hit me. If I couldn't find the material I was next going on the hunt for .. shock! horror! a throw rug. 

Yup. This wrap when laid out looks exactly like a throw rug with a U cut in it. After traipsing around the shops some more I hit on the perfect ones. I found what I wanted in a few different shades and patterns - they were medium-thick but not heavy and cumberson.  I wanted two in basic colours to throw over whatever I was wearing and it had to match size wise to the original. 

I ended up getting two (a black and a cream) took them to an alteration place we have here at the mall and within 24 hours I had my very own wraps. 

 

If you click on the pic you might be able to see it in slightly bigger detail. 

This is the finished product. I wore the black one out to the movies the other night and I have to say, I got a lot of compliments on it, a couple of people even asking where I found it. I lied lol. I said I got it at the markets. Somehow telling them my new fashion accessory was originally designed to throw over the back of a lounge sounded, well, kind of silly. Who was it who said desperation is the mother of all invention? Why me, of course.