When we think about the sex symbols of the 1920’s, images of long legged flappers with short bobbed hair doing the charleston and foxtrot to the latest jazz bands in shapeless shift dresses and plenty of publicly applied makeup come to mind.A fashionista of sorts who epitomized the spirit of a reckless rebel with a boyish physique and a girlish charm dancing the night away in smoky jazz houses around New York consume the memoirs of the era simply known as the “Roaring 20’s”.
The look and the mood certainly redefined modern womanhood and broke the traditions of earlier years. No longer were rounded figures and older faces, the passé.Instead, grown women who loved to party all night long in youthful glory and tomboyish fashion were all the rage. One didn’t have to look far to see the effects of this contagious fever, on stage and screen. Enter Betty Boop!
Betty Boop is known as the first and one of the most famous sex symbols on the animated screens of the 20’s and 30’s. She was a symbol of the depression era and a reminder of the more carefree days of the Jazz Age flapper. In the world of animation, this fem fetal would go down in history as the first cartoon character to fully represent a sexual woman. But she didn’t start out that way. In the early stages of her career, this lovely lady was designed as a human-like dog. That’s right. For those of you who remember her premiere in the 1930 film “Dizzy Dishes”, she was the yet un-named anthropomorphic character with obvious feminine qualities and charm enveloped in a poodle like body.By the time she starred in the 1932 film“ Any Rags”, her floppy dog ears gave way to hoop earrings, her ambiguous form molded into a petite hourglass figure, and her pudgy black nose became the cute buttoned one that accompanied her high baby voice and black finger waved crop that would later become synonymous with the world famous “ Boop-oop-a-doop” girl.
Betty’s flapper style and innocent sexuality led to what some have called the “Boop-O-Mania “craze over the years. Fans from far and wide fell in love with her combination of schoolgirl flirtatiousness and womanly maturity.Her short dresses, high heels, contoured bodice and signature garter beltdidn’t leave much to the imagination and certainly caught the attention of male viewers who were used to the straight bodied, boyish female fashion of the19 20’s they had grown accustomed to. But while some adored, some also condemned as well. As moralists and public broadcasting systems concerned with sexual content and indecent exposure issues found support from the public, the somewhat risqué Betty Boop began showing far less leg and her décolletage was often hidden by prim buttons.Her lecherous suitors started disappearing from her grasp and soon her limelight was dimmed out by her cute little trouble making dog “Pudgy” and the lovable “Grampy” who helped Betty solve problems with his wacky inventions.As the country saw the rise of yet another world war (WWII), the market for the once popular and in-demand flapper started to fade. Betty Boop’s final film series aired 9 years later with the release of “Yip ,Yip ,Yippy!”
"Though Betty bowed out as a headliner in 1939, her popularity remains as intact as her boop-oop-a-doop. Maybe it lies in her sassy independence or the fact that she is the only female cartoon who’s not a foil for a male. Maybe she just came at the right time, when the feminist movement of her era needed her the most…for the cycles of life will surely repeat again. Whatever the reason, Betty Boop still haunts the dreams and inspires the imagination of artists, craftsmen and designers still today. With no limit to the creative well of our minds, everything from Betty Boop bedding and quilts to character clothing and accessories can be found and created. After what seemed like years of patient waiting and anticipating, J&O has come back with some of the latest and greatest themed prints of this historic screen star& siren, just for you! From the in demand “Betty Boop Biker Chic”, an ode to our fem fetal bikers worldwide, to the ever popular “Lucky Ladies”, a great decorative print for casinos and game rooms across the nation; now all her favorite characters and scenes can be relived over and over again for friends, family or even just yourself.
With so much history wrapped around her little spit-curled hair, Betty Boop has left her mark on world, her “ Boop-oop-a-doop “ on our tongues, and a space in our hearts.
Clothing made from natural fabrics are not only good for our environment, but the body as well. The fibers have a natural give that lets the cloth drape in a way that synthetics just cant do. Plus, natural fabrics just feel good when you wear them. Natural fabrics, created from organically grown cotton and flax, hemp and ramie, or harvested from sheep, silkworms and other animals, are renewable, sustainable resourcesas well. Unlike synthetics, which are largely produced from petroleum and mineral sources, cotton and wool and silk do not deplete the earth of its natural resources either.
Every natural fabric has its own unique advantages and qualities.
Wool, for instance, is a natural insulator. It's naturally water resistant and fire resistant. It also absorbs up to 30% of its own weight in moisture before it even begins to feel damp. There are dozens of varieties of wool, from lightweight challis to thick warm tweed.
Natural cotton breathes with your body. Their fibers are responsible for wicking away perspiration and drying quickly. It's the single most used fabric in today's world both for clothing and for furnishings and accessories. Cotton takes dyes very well, and is very easy to care for. It is also an excellent material for plus sized clothes, with the natural fiber creating a smooth outline and the organic texture helping the skin to breath.
Silk is one of the oldest fabric fibers known to man, and throughout its history, it has been synonymous with luxury. Silk is naturally absorbent, which makes it warm in winter and cool in summer. It has stronger fibers than steel, but its smooth, soft drape makes it a most sensual fabric to wear.
Linen, like silk, has been used for thousands of years. Dating back to Ancient Egypt, it is made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is strong and durable, yet lightweight and breathable depending on the weight. Linen goods can last generations, becoming softer and more lustrous as use after use.
Hemp and ramie are made from the stalks of plants, much like linen is. They are strong and durable, and have the same natural sheen as linen. Both fabrics absorb heat and release moisture, making them cool and comfortable to wear.
Please checkout website as we will be carrying a whole line of Organic and Natural Fabrics!!! GO GREEN!!!
Fabric. . . it's just delicious. It's soft, comfy and warm. It can be bright and pretty and draw you to touch it. Stretchy or stiff, snug and homely, here at J&O we just love fabric. At our store in New Jersey, it's literally all over the place. We have huge rolls of decoratives stacked on top of each other, a wall filled with tapestries of all kinds, and additional rolls on the floor display. Not to mention our aisles and aisles of novelty cottons from every manufacturer imaginable.
There's something about seeing rolls of beautiful fabric that signifies potential; a raw material with "sew" many possibilities. Could be a summer dress, a pair of slacks, a quilt, drapes, the possibilities go on and on. Meditating on all the possibilities could make a fabric lover go crazy.
Just think, we spend our whole lives wrapped in some kind of cloth. From the moment we arrive in this world to when our fragile shells deteriorate and become apart of the Earth, fabric is apart of our lives. Cotton, linen, cashmere, wool, silk and including polyester and rayon, fabric can be used for everything from apparel, to sails on a sailboat, to becoming a base for a lamp. Every group of people on this planet use fabric, so it can almost be put on the same level as food and shelter (or maybe not, lol).
From another perspective, if you sew, you're appreciation for fabrics may be on a more conscious level than everyone else. Someone who sews is constantly working, touching, manipulating and shaping fabric. So it's normal for a sewer to absolutely LOVE fabrics. Some sewers walk into our store in New Jersey and become overwhelmed at the amount of fabric we have. Who doesn't adore gorgeous fabric, that not only has an awesome surface but is pleasant to the touch? It's perfectly all right to buy fabric just because you think its gorgeous, without any immediate use in mind.
If you're an avid sewer, building up your very own "fabric stash." is an excellent way to stimulate your creativity. There's just something about looking at neatly folded stacks of beautiful fabric that will provoke a sense of calm and serenity. On a side note, we'll let you in on a little secret. . . the fabric industry is in many ways like the ever-changing fashion industry; styles come and go, prints come and go; items go in and out of style. So, if there's a print you just absolutely love, get it before it's gone and discontinued. Even the most popular prints have a cut off point.
J&O Fabrics is dedicated to doing all we can to keep your sewing possibilities fresh. If you LOVE fabric, celebrate it! Teach someone how to sew, make someone a quilt, or sew your own drapes. Allow yourself to reconnect with something that's very closely woven into our lives.
J&O Fabrics. . . sew many possibilities _______________________________________
If you're in the area, visit our store in Pennsauken, New Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia. The size of a supermarket, we have the largest selection of fabrics in New Jersey! Everything we carry is not on our website, so if you're in the area, check us out and browse our fabric aisles.
J&O Fabric Center 9401 Route 130 South Where Rt.73 and 130 meet Pennsauken, New Jersey 08110 info@jandofabrics.com
When it comes to fabric there are many indications of quality, but few are as resonant and recognizable as the one word that serves as the basis for this blog: pima. Cotton is produced in many places and under many names, but pima cotton is one of the varieties which most stands out. Pima cotton and items made with it have a reputation for being of very high quality.
What makes pima cotton so special? Part of the answer lies in its strength, attributable to its long fibers. Fabrics with strong fibers produce apparel and home goods that resist pilling and are longer lasting. Pima cotton fibers are also very fine, so more fibers can be spun into the yarn. Therefore, apparel and other goods made from pima cotton also tend to be lustrous in appearance as well as very soft. This particular characteristic of pima cotton also allows it to drape more naturally.
At J&O Fabrics we carry an ever increasing array of pima cotton fabrics. These are designer fabrics at discount prices that can be used for anything you have in mind. Our pima cotton fabrics are available in an extensive selection of colors and designs, from dots to floral calicos.
Take a look at some of our pima cotton fabrics and try imagining how they could be used in your fabric projects:
This is really just a small selection of our vast array of pima cotton fabrics. If you have enjoyed viewing these designer fabrics and would like to see more just visit our web site - www.jandofabrics.com - and type in the word "pima". There you will be able to browse our entire selection of pima cotton fabrics. With J&O Fabrics high quality pima cotton fabrics are within your budget and just a click away.
The Big East is one of the premiere collegiate athletic conferences in the country. Founded in 1979, the conference recently lost some of its members to the Athletic Coast Conference and gained new members from Conference USA.
The success enjoyed by the Big East since the changes shows that it is still a conference to be reckoned with.
The Big East Conferences current membership is:
Cincinnati Bearcats
Connecticut (Uconn) Huskies
DePaul Blue Demons
Georgetown Hoyas
Louisville Cardinals
Marquette Golden Eagles
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (basketball only)
Pittsburgh Panthers
Providence Friars
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
St. John's Red Storm
Seton Hall Pirates
South Florida Bulls
Syracuse Orangemen
Villanova Wildcats
West Virginia Mountaineers
The Big East's 17 member institutions currently participate in 23 sports.
The Big East teams currently available on cotton are the following:
Now you can bring the Big East's tradition of athletic excellence to your home with J & O's college team prints. Order as many yards as you would like and keep a look out for the teams you don't yet see as we get more fabrics in almost daily.
* If you have enjoyed viewing the aforementioned fabrics and would like to see more of our selection of discount quilting fabrics click on the following link: Novelty Fabric.
# Do you have any pictures showing the great uses you’ve given our fabric? Then please e-mail them to us at jandofabrics@comcast.net. We’ll be happy to hear from you and might even use your pictures for future blogs or on our website. We reserve the right to utilize the pictures sent without prior notification and in the time and manner that J&O Fabric deems appropriate.
J & O Fabrics is a leader in online fabric stores with hundreds of discount fabrics including: upholstery, quilt, quilting, drapery fabric, fleece, decorator, felt, retro, upholstery fabrics and more!
