Earlier this morning we mentioned that we slipped into Mary Jo’s fabric store outside Charlotte, NC again—if you missed our first trip, you can read about it elsewhere—where bolts of discounted fabric tower higher than my 5’2″ frame.
We thought it would be fun to show what caught our eye and what we actually bought, since some of you might be planning your own fabric pilgrimage. Much of this fabric is available from multiple retailers (though Mary Jo’s prices are especially hard to beat), so when possible I’ve included manufacturer and style details to help you track similar options online or locally. On to the finds.
The first fabric that drew me in was a lovely yellow-and-gray ikat. At $13.98 per yard (marked down from more than $35), it’s an incredible deal—you could reupholster two dining chairs for under $15. Manufacturer: Richloom; style: Modesto; color: Charmom.
Next up was a red-and-blue floral print that manages to be both fun and refined thanks to its detailed pattern and color palette. Also $13.98 per yard, it would make a striking headboard with two yards. Manufacturer: Richloom; style: Cornwall; color: Garden.
My favorite find was an oversized medallion fabric full of texture and bright color that put a big smile on my face. Richloom’s Brompton in the Citrin colorway has a lot of personality and would make a bold statement as upholstery or accent pieces.
We also spotted a designer suzani on clearance for $16.98 a yard (down from $50.95). I couldn’t leave without one yard. After debating among aqua, greeny-yellow, and gray variations, we chose a gray option with greeny-yellow accents that felt versatile. I plan to turn it into large wall art—more on that later.
We didn’t find curtain fabric this trip, but we tossed around a few ideas on the drive home and will sleep on them before deciding which direction to take. Of course we’ll share every step when we settle on a plan.
Switching gears, we also visited the Pottery Barn Outlet in Gaffney, SC. Below is a quick rundown of what we saw and the one item we couldn’t leave behind. Apologies for some grainy pictures—my camera battery died and many were taken on my phone.
First was a charming jewelry box with gray-purple velvet lining and a crackled metallic exterior. It was marked $34.99 (down from $50) and looked pricier than it was—something you might expect to see at a higher-end shop.
An upholstered bar stool pictured at $149 (down from $229) inspired a simple DIY idea: similar budget stools are widely available, and you can recover a seat with a quarter yard of fabric and a staple gun to get a similar look for much less.
We found pretty tiered plates that would be lovely on a kitchen counter or party table—an affordable decorative piece for serving fruit or treats.
A large round mirror with Restoration Hardware vibes was marked down nearly $100 (from $279 to $194). It’s the kind of statement piece that can change a room’s look.
A window-style mirror was $208 (down from $299). For a dark room or basement, a mirror like this can introduce architectural interest and the illusion of light without remodeling.
John loved an oversized clock, but we couldn’t find a place for it at home, so we left it. It was reduced from $249 to $124—a pricey but dramatic focal point.
A chalkboard easel caught my eye as a DIY candidate. It was marked $169 (down from $199), but the idea could be recreated at a fraction of that cost.
Textured urchin bowls were $9.99 each (down from $15) and made for sweet little accessories.
We spotted a pink kids’ toy vacuum that mimics a Dyson, complete with sounds and moving beads. Priced at $24 (down from $50), it was tempting as a fun gift and a playful way to get kids interested in cleaning, but the car was already full so we passed.
I could picture several of the white-painted chairs with cushions around a future kitchen island. They were $99 each (down from $200), but without an island or space in the car, I reluctantly left them behind.
Small silver ornament frames were $5.99 each (down from $10)—cute for holiday photos or tiny keepsakes.
A faux sea fan placemat made of flexible cut rubber looked like a great budget art idea—spray-paint it a bold color and frame it on burlap or linen for an instant coastal accent. It was $9.99 (down from $16).
Braided red lampshades at $19 each offered a punch of texture and color that could enliven a neutral room.
A textured tonal pillow sham was $32—lovely but slightly above what I expect at an outlet.
Lighting was a highlight. A charming bronze sconce with a seeded glass shade was just $39, though the finish wasn’t exactly what we’re aiming for. The real treasure we couldn’t resist was a hardwired pendant: an 8″ mercury-glass-style pendant with a subtle honeycomb pattern, priced at $29 (down from $80). It’s ideal for over the sink in our future kitchen upgrade.
Everything from the mercury-glass tone to the honeycomb detail felt like a must-have, so we brought it home. It’s currently sitting in the playroom until the kitchen makeover begins—soon, we hope. On the drive home we brainstormed kitchen plans and even worked on our book with laptops open in the car.
So that’s what we saw while window shopping and actual shopping. Any favorites from our finds? Have you discovered anything recently that you couldn’t leave the store without? Let’s talk shopping.