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From: Shellymoon
Date: 02-20-2007, 07:30 PM (1 of 17)
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Check out this article! I believe a road trip to OKC is in my near future! Oklahoma City woman keeps declining art of dressmaking alive February 15, 2007 They call me the kamikaze shopper because seldom do I enter a retail venue without a list, a budget and a tight timetable. Don't care to linger over stuff I don't need. Not much of an impulse buyer. Last week an 83-year-old Oklahoma City woman named Helen Enox changed all of that for me, if only for a while. It had been a long time since I'd seen merchandise the likes of which Helen peddles and it was an almost transcendent experience. Although I never made much of a seamstress, even as a 10-year-old I had the kind of imagination that allowed me to look at pattern and fabric and in my mind's eye, see the garment made up. Seldom could I afford my true taste but I was good at the visionary work. Since then garment sewing has gone the way of the American home ec class; since schools stopped teaching sewing, the demand for clothing yardage has gradually decreased. To survive, fabric stores have broadened their inventories to include upholstery goods, household accessories, arts and crafts kits, scrapbooking supplies, quilting gear, etc. I didn't know anything like Helen Enox Fine Fabric still existed until we pulled into the parking lot of an aging strip mall on SW 59th Street. Although the store didn't open for another hour Helen's husband, wearing a natty suit and carrying his coffee cup, waved us in. It was like taking an express bus to the '60s, this store dedicated solely to garment making. No disrespect to any of the fine local retailers who sell yard goods but this was something completely different. Helen admits that these days much of her reputation is wrapped up in bridal and special occasion fabric. Just the models of wedding gowns and bridesmaid's dresses were eye-popping, many copied from bridal magazines with the page displayed nearby to prove it. But there were also samples of gored skirts, elegant weskits and handmade dress suits (Helen was sporting a handsome black ensemble with a feather-trimmed collar) hanging above yards of boucle knit and real English tweed. Asked if she did any business with quilters, Helen purred, "Dear, I have all the quilts I'll ever need, don't you?" Seamstresses hungry for the good stuff travel far and wide to Enox's. Helen keeps the shop open Sunday afternoon because "that's when the girls from Kansas like to come in." It was no surprise she knew the fate of my first fabric love, Richard Brooks. Richard Brooks Couture Fabrics in Dallas was and still is Mecca to professional designers and gifted home seamstresses. Like an Oriental bazaar its aisles are draped with rich color and elegant texture, sheer organza, watermark taffeta, sturdy wool and satin brocade. As a child the effect was dizzying. To calm myself I would go to the button wall where each of the hundreds of button styles had its own drawer with a little window in front for the sample card. The founding Brooks family has sold the business, Helen says, but the buyer wisely changed nothing, not even the name. Although Mrs. Enox still has plenty of years ahead, she couldn't help wondering aloud if anyone will be interested in taking over the reins for her some day. In the meantime I'm re-appropriating my budget and looking at pattern books again. I may end up like those women who have their spare rooms full of unused dress lengths but I don't care. It would be a privilege to preserve Helen's legacy by the yard. Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: MaryW
Date: 02-20-2007, 07:43 PM (2 of 17)
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What an amazing story.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: paroper
Date: 02-20-2007, 10:53 PM (3 of 17)
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About 2-3 years ago a bird flew into the sign over the store and caught the store on fire. It was closed several months. Some things were lost, but much of the store's wonderful fabric was saved and undamaged. It so happened that this closed the store during the summer months when the store is selling uniform fabrics to choirs, show choirs, pom squads, dance teams, cheer leading squads, etc. It was a terrible loss to the community to be with the store for those few months...and many a bride had to shop elsewhere for their fabric...however, I called once (not knowing about the fire) and they offered to go through the inventory in storage to locate what I needed. They are very dedicated to their business. One of the things that they sell that is SOOO incredibly helpful is they have instock rolls of fabric about 18-20 inches wide that are beaded motifs...sold by the yard. If you've ever done the front of a formal or wedding gown with the motifs, you know that it can be difficult to locate enough motifs of the right size, configuration and match to do a bodice, let alone down the front of the skirt...across the bottom. These yardages start about about 56 or do dollars a yard and graduate upward but they are lovely and placed on a netted backing so that they can be cut apart and arranged as you please. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 02-21-2007, 12:42 AM (4 of 17)
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Pam lives a bit father east than I do but I'm about 20 minutes from Helen Enox. She carries dress fabrics, etc. that you will never see at the Hancock Fabrics or Joann stores. She doesn't mind people wandering around and feeling the fabrics. In fact, the last time I was in there was the day Pam, mytwogirlies (Susan) and I met for coffee and pie. Susan and I went to Helen's afterward and spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around Helen's store and day dreaming. I did purchase I think some serger thread to match a piece of silk velvet that I have and a zipper, I believe but laid them down when I was browsing the pattern books with Susan and left them. When I called to ask what time they closed, they offered to mail the thread and the zipper to me rather than me drive across town again to pick them up. Now, ladies I ask you, how long has it been since you shopped in a store that would offer to do that for you? That was on Saturday afternoon, I received my serger thread and zipper on Monday with a note signed by Helen inviting me back to visit her store anytime I am in that part of town. The sales ladies there are all very nice, informed, experienced and heplful. Patsy P.S. Shellymoon come on up and let me know when you're coming. Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-21-2007, 12:46 AM (5 of 17)
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We can all meet for pie!!!! It's only about a mile away!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 02-21-2007, 12:48 AM (6 of 17)
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Hey Pam how did I know that you would show up for another road trip, especially to Helen's and Pioneeer Pies??? LOL Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-21-2007, 01:12 AM (7 of 17)
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Not that much of a road trip..when you live out here you drive everywhere.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: mamadus
Date: 02-21-2007, 02:15 AM (8 of 17)
oh heavens.. I think I have to plan a road trip... anybody from the east interested??? I think we should go stay at Pam's and Patsy's and visit Helen's shop!!!!  MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-21-2007, 07:58 AM (9 of 17)
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What a treasure. I'd probably just move in to the store. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: my2girlies
Date: 02-21-2007, 09:57 AM (10 of 17)
| Hey guys - count me in again!! I've actually already gone back once to pick up some fabric I saw there the day Pam and Patsy were there. (I made 4 of the shawls that we saw there as gifts). And the writer is correct, you can go in there and dream about all the wonderful fabric. |
User: my2girlies
Member since: 03-25-2005 Total posts: 154 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-21-2007, 10:18 AM (11 of 17)
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I have a friend who works there. She started while in high school and is in her 50's now. Not only does she sell but she also does custom sewing. Most of the people in the store have been there for years and they know their fabrics and stock very well. At one point they had two shops...one for bridal and formal wear one for all other fabrics. A few years ago they increased the size of the wedding and formal shop and moved everything into one place. It is THE place in OKC to buy fine fabric. Just about a block away is a smaller shop that specialized in pagent/specialty fabrics for uniforms and gymnastics (fabrics like fancy lycra). There is a little overlap but the two shops have a different "spin" on their fabrics. About 3-4 miles away is a great shop that specializes in outdoor/uphostery fabrics, foam, etc. All of these shops are stricty fabric oriented and great places to shop. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 02-21-2007, 11:12 AM (12 of 17)
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Feel free to come west to OKC anytime ladies. I'm retiring August 31st and then my days are free to shop and sew til I drop or until my dh makes me stop!!! Make sure your credit card is empty or your bank account is full, cause you sure can drop a lot of bucks at Helen's. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: h2ofitchef
Date: 02-22-2007, 07:51 PM (13 of 17)
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I'm originally from OK, and my first trip to Helen Enox was tremendous! The fabric, the knowledge of the staff, I could go on and on... No place like in in my neck of the woods (gulf coast of Alabama) even in New Orleans or Atlanta! Pam |
User: h2ofitchef
Member since: 09-28-2006 Total posts: 14 |
From: Shellymoon
Date: 02-23-2007, 10:54 PM (14 of 17)
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Fabulous Fabric and homemade pie? OMG...Count me in!!! Doesn't Central Expressway (I-75) take you straight from Dallas to OKC? I have heard about the Richard Brooks place in Dallas but have never been. Now I'm inspired to check it out. A full report is forthcoming. Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-23-2007, 11:13 PM (15 of 17)
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The shop is located near I-35 which goes north from Dallas and south from Wichita, Ks. We are also located on I-40 which runs across the US east to west. The two interstates intersect in the middle of OKC.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: paroper
Date: 08-13-2007, 10:35 PM (16 of 17)
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Sadly, the founder of Helen Enox, (Helen herself) passed away the first part of last week. I was at a Bernina meeting on Thursday where it was announced by an attendee. Just on Monday of last week her daughter had told another atendee that she and her husband were still coming to the shop every day. The daughter will continue the legacy.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 08-14-2007, 12:13 PM (17 of 17)
Pam I just read your post about Helen Enox dying. I guess I need to read the Daily Oklahoman more often and look at the obits. You never know, I might see myself in there one day!!!  Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
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