9.18.2012

distracted explanations


Oh, the precious. The pretty, pretty precious.

I started to unpack, I really did, and then my hands fell on this yardage of velvet burnout, picked out at Mood's LA locale for my next network make. Which reminded me: in my excitement over all the announcing yesterday (seriously, my head almost flew off) I realized I didn't actually let you in on the details of the Mood Sewing Network. You see, I've been periodically (read: every 15 minutes) yelling at Rob I'M A MOOD SEWING NETWORK BLOGGER ever since the second I found out, so I do tend to forget that you haven't heard it from my rather large mouth until yesterday.

When Meg at mood (our Tim Gunn-- a Tim Gunn who sews her own fabulous stuff daily) contacted me about this new adventure, I responded within minutes. knowing it could look desperate, and not caring. Peeps who've been around here awhile know I'm a two dollar a yard mystery fabric sort of girl... but you also know a recent fateful trip to FIDM's designer section (with incorrectly marked dollar a yard prices) spoiled me completely. When Meg contacted me, I'd already been to Mood's LA locale, and surprised myself by falling swiftly in love with the staff, the remnants boxes, and the manageable size of the store. Before I ever knew I'd get a golden ticket, I was plunking down 25 bucks a yard for an Anna Sui print. (No, not that one. Miss Sui, she floats my boat.) Dude. It's nice to have nice fabric. It's nice to know what that nice fabric IS, and how to work with it. 

And it was a shock to be asked! So before they could realize the err of their ways, I immediately responded with a resounding YES, and waited with baited breath...


...and then I saw the company I'd keep. Holy cow. If you don't know them already, the lovely, talented ladies of the Mood Sewing Network are: Amanda's Adventures in Sewing, Diary of a Sewing Fanatic, Erica B's DIY Style, Frabjous Couture, Ginger Makes, Goodbye Valentino, Miss Celie's Pants, and Sew Well. These are ladies I've admired from afar for quite some time.

(Yes, I photoshopped my pic background periwinkle. That house really needs to be periwinkle.)

Lest you think the lot of us are allowed to walk in the joint and rob the place, we get a set monthly allowance for fabric. No cashola. We're allowed to choose what we want, and make what we want, and we are meant to post our failures as well as our successes, whether it's due to the fabric or the sewist. (This could prove problematic for me, as I always succeed. What, you don't believe me?) Online shopping is encouraged as well, and necessary for a good portion of us spread across the country. I was lucky to still be in LA for my last mood make, and the crew was excited to hear the news. (You'll be meeting them soon, I went a little crazy with pictures. Swatch ain't got nuthin on Oscar.) But it won't be all Mood all the time here. I'll still be tromping in to Chic, and Paron, and forcing you to listen to jazz, and yelling about all manner of things. (And drinking. Oh yes, drinking.)

I am so honored to be a part of this uber-talented network. But for real, I'm honored to be part of the sewing blogisphere in its entirety. It's a supportive community of endless inspiration, and I hope we all continue to contribute to that.

Now. How do I distract myself from that lavender yardage long enough to unpack?

55 comments:

  1. Congrats, Oona! You are the perfect person to be a Mood blogger!! xo

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'll be waiting excitedly to see what you make with that velvet burnout gorgeousness!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i think about it almost every minute... though now i'm wondering if it's laser cut velvet? i should have taken notes :)

      Delete
  3. well, congrats, lovely lady! and that fabric looks insane, i absolutely have no idea what i would do with it, and can't wait to see your next miracle :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oooo you would work this fabric. i wish i could teleport half of everything i buy to you just so we could compare closets.

      Delete
  4. You are the ultimate Mood girl, everytime I go in there I think of you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. teehee! the LA store, at least... i may have a panic attack in the NY beast sized locale...

      Delete
  5. Congrats lady!!! Well deserved! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations!! :-)
    LA misses you so maybe you should come back out here and, you know, save on all that online shopping.... And have more food. And drink. And, well, just come back already!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NY has a mood. just not a julian &co. COME. TO. NEW. YORK.

      NOW.

      (and thank you.)

      Delete
  7. Yay Oona! Can't say I'm surprised ;) But so looking forward to seeing more divine creations--that velvet is gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i was shocked!!

      if i don't get to that velvet soon, i may fall over...

      Delete
  8. Yay! This is so cool! I am so glad Mood is doing this, and you really deserve it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Replies
    1. thanks girl. toasting the last of your delicious rittenhouse to you:)

      Delete
  10. Congrats on your Mood awesomeness!

    And I would love to get my hands on some of that velvet burnout. I can see it as a short kimono sleeve jacket.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i should start bookmarking the stock numbers of what i by in store so i can find it on line.... i love the jacket idea!

      Delete
  11. Unpacking can wait. Fabric-play first. Always.

    Well done on the mood sewing network - you're certainly in fine company. I shall look forward to sewing fabulousness, jazz and drinking from you... while I do my bit on this side of the globe.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm very excited for you! And it looks like you're among very good company-- I've had at least half of those bloggers on my blog reader for awhile. Brilliant move on Mood's part!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you becky! the network is stepping up my game (i HOPE).

      Delete
  13. I'm so proud of you! And jealous. But proud AND STILL JEALOUS. In any case, drape the fabric over your dress form and pin a note that says "I'm your reward for unpacking".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks girl! i love that idea, especially still neither fabric nor boxes have really been touched. mais... my dress form is history in los angeles.

      maybe i can tie it to one of the cats as a constant walking reminder to keep my eyes on the prize?

      Delete
  14. Ooooh! The benefits of being able to see fabric in the store. Such a beautiful fabric!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you are SO good at picking out online, i don't know how you do it. i've been spoiled!

      Delete
  15. This is SO fantastic. BEYOND Fantastic!! I'm excited. For you, by you. The whole she-bang.

    (Seriously, though. I've been quilting all winter and the other day it got above 15 degrees in our nation's capital. Time to pull out the Tessuti and Spotlight and (gasp!) even Paron fabric stash out for airing and sewing! Sadly I've already sewn my one piece of fabric from Mood. Thank God for online shopping though, eh?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you miss buttontree, and YAY SEWING! YAY COLORED TIGHTS!

      Delete
  16. Is there more yardage to unpack? Or sewing supplies?

    No wonder you're distracted, though. I'm distracted, and it's only a picture!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. there is indeed. both. but it's like having fancy visitors in the house, and wanting to get everything clean first...

      Delete
  17. You are one lucky lady - and that burnt out velvet is DELISH. Can't wait to see what it gets transformed into!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nice to meet you. I look forward to reading your future posts.

    ~Sewjourner

    ReplyDelete
  19. OONA!!! CONGRATS GIRL! This is such exciting news! You certainly deserve it and I CAN'T WAIT to see what you do - also, burnt out velvet... yum.

    ReplyDelete
  20. That velvet looks absolutely delicious, and congratulations on being a Mood network sewing blogger!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you! i'm sad we never got to mood la together... go. go, go, go, they even have three remnants boxes.

      Delete
  21. Wow, that really is an all-star team! How exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lucky! congratulations. What I would do with an allowance of free fabric every month...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it's hard! well, hard in a really really good way, but you know... what to PICK.

      Delete
  23. Congrats! I can't wait to see the projects that come from this.

    ReplyDelete
  24. what fun! looking forward to your wonderful creations!

    ReplyDelete
  25. how lucky you are indeed but you completely deserve it! I'm not surprised they asked you and I'm so excited to see what you create with their fabric!

    ReplyDelete
  26. You 100% deserve this, you Queen of Awesome you. I am so excited for you! And I CANNOT WAIT to see what you do with that purple pile of gorgeousness...

    ReplyDelete
  27. Fabulous! Looking forward to seeing your creations.

    ReplyDelete
  28. OMG Oona this is THE BEST NEWS EVER!! and well deserved. I cant wait to see what you whip up. Good things come to those who work hard and that's you fancy pants.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oona, I've been a longtime reader and love, LOVE your blog, but have never commented. This news however demands a comment. Congratulations and how simply wonderful for you!!!! I can't wait to see what you make! It occurred to me however that your gorgeous lavender burnout might not stand out in front of a periwinkle wall, so I'm also looking forward to seeing what color wall it becomes for that photo shoot :)

    ReplyDelete

i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!