3.28.2013

sugar tooth


hey guess what!  sick cat allowed me like sixty extra minutes of sleep last night!  I AM POSITIVELY GIDDY!!!! and check it out, yo!  my first crack at flatlocking!!  I LIKE IT!!  it's tim burton esque!!!!!!

i solemnly promise to try to limit my use of the exclamation point key from this sentence forward!

when carolyn and i set up camp in the lace shelves at mood over a month ago, i couldn't help but pull every technicolor bolt out for a snapshot.  carolyn quite rightly reminded me: oooooooooona. we're here to take pictures for everyone else.

i am not the best listener, especially when distracted by fabric.  she had to remind me of this repeatedly.

but i abstained!  i did not walk out with my own lace that day!  (the promise of lazzara's pizza helped.)  instead, i let the bolts simmer in my head for a week, and returned to find this crazy pink and orange diddy hanging out in the fancy lace section.  putting on airs, for sure.  this poly assault on the senses did not belong in the fancy lace section.  i carted her lovingly over to silk prints, and found her mate in this jungle boogie cacophony.  (did you click the link?  oh, do.  please do.  otherwise how will you see the folly of my ways?  that's a zebra colored cheetah with butterfly wings.  for realz.)




after i made my drunken picks, i emailed carolyn with utter joy: i'm going to look like willy wonka!  three weeks later, still eyeing my intended match folded on my sewing desk, i realized with utter dread: I'M GOING TO LOOK LIKE WILLY WONKA.

yeah.  well.  something had to be done, obviously.  i had set myself the goal of two lace posts, and a kalkatroonaan does not like to accept defeat.  enter six iterations of this lace.  at one point it was attached in flatlocked pleats to this pale-as-ice blue ponte knit (meant, bien sur, for leggings).  it was the definition of overworked.  one could even call it underpaid.  then a memory of janine's excellent comment on my feathery skirt via the MSN blog came floating back to me: "Note to self: KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)."



simple!  my kingdom for simple!  yes, the built in columns in this candy hued lace wanted to fall into pleats.  but they didn't have to be hammered into submission position.  you would have thought i'd used a saws-all and cement mixer to make this dress.  

i wish i'd snapped a photo before coming to my senses and severing the parts, but alas, a kalkatroonaan also does not care for incriminating evidence.  most of the time.  after amputation, i attached a soft lavender poly charmeuse lining to the skirt, and folded over a waist band, inserting a nice wide flat elastic.  the gathered waistband relaxed into instant pleats, with no work whatsoever.  oh, the hours of cursing wasted.


although some of those hours were not for naught.  this lace pattern runs vertically to the selvedge, with selvedge edges being nothing special.  i say this because i heard fairy godmother susan khalje in my head: pay attention to the pretty bits and include them in the garment.  before the amputation, i spent several sessions handstitching the side seams together into a disappearing act, and i carefully trimmed a long column of leaf motif and handstitched it to the hem of the dress.  of course it's a beginner's crack at it, but i think it kind of looks like the edges were made that way, non?  I AM EXCEEDINGLY PROUD OF IT, YO!


i cropped the top of this burda dress pattern (issue 06/09, mod 116) just enough to  show off the waistband.  i find that, on me,  if you can't see the waistband on gathered skirts, i suddenly have no waist.  not that you can see the waistband here, as the top is pulling, 'cause ooooh hey, guess what else i don't have? A C CUP.  tell that to my new bra. this tank top fits, i swear.  but not when i'm having delusions of grandeur.  i blame k-line.  YES, THAT'S RIGHT, MISSY!  you and your glorious tatas...

speaking of grandeur, i got so caught up in the lace aspect of this challenge, wanting to make something spectacular with a fabric i've always adored playing with sans fear, i forgot to listen to the yardage in hand.  it was amazing how it fell into place when i stopped going for extravagant.  now i've got a great staple in my closet!

(yes.  in kalkatroona, this is indeed a neutral staple.  see: willy wonka.)

this ensemble was made using my monthly fabric "allowance" as part of the Mood Sewing Network.

56 comments:

  1. Holy. Cannoli. The detail on that skirt is EXQUISITE. Love the leaf motif stitched to the hem - it's such a delicious addition. The lace is so lovely in that color - I'm glad you were finally able to work out all the pieces.

    In other words, OMG JUNGLE FEVER AND BUTTERFLY WINGS. It might be the most amazing thing I have ever seen in the history of EVER.

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  2. Lol!! You may have gone through seamstress hell + back BUT this turned turned out so beautifully!!! Loving the orange/pinks in the lace with the lavender peeking through. All the colors just sing off your fab skin tone!!! And the edging detail is awesome!!

    Lastly, there is absolutely no need to EVER hold back on the exclamations (!!!!!!!!!)

    xo,
    raven

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  3. I thought the lace was made that way for sure! SMASHING!!

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  4. I was admiring the hem before you even mentioned it - it looks fantastic!

    The bonkers-ness of the cheeta with butterfly wings fabric is only enhanced by the fact that it is made of silk. LOL. LOVE it!

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  5. That lace is so pretty! And those shoes are adorable :)

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  6. That hem looks fabulous! And the skirt is ridiculously good-looking.

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  7. You have really out done yourself with this lace!!!!! I love, love, lovvvvvveeee this lace. You are really turning heads. You keep us on our toes every time. I just have two questions would you ever do any patterns or sew-a-longs. Also on the yellow an purple lace dress that you did is that lace on the Mood website.

    Wendy

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    1. i could see a sew along in the future, and i wish i had the skills to make a pattern. i keep looking at classes...

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  8. Love the skirt! The color is so happy. And the hem is awesome.

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  9. Words have almost left me. Such an adorable skirt. The lace, wow, the lace! The hem is exquisite.

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  10. So colorful and fabulous! Love it!!!

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  11. This lace is amazing! I'm always trying to find cute lace that doesn't look like it was salvaged from a bridal dress or grandmothers table cloth :) And that hem! I can't stop looking at it - SUCH a great addition to an already awesome skirt!

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    1. this pink is definitley not your gramma's :). although mine would've loved it!

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  12. The hem detail is amazing! Great work Oona!

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  13. Beautiful skirt, your leaf motif hem is amazing!! Such a great color on you!

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  14. Knocked it right out of the park . . .

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  15. Girl I am in LOVE with this. Oh my goodness, so beautiful. I am obsessed with that lace!! And those shoes, and that leaf hem! You're right, it completely looks like it was made that way. Wow, just wow that is all I can say.

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  16. It's very cute and a little extravagant, but not over the top, just sparkling with prettyness! Very nice combination with the simple top and the belt, they even enhance each other. Oh and the hummingbird has a little heart on it's chest <3

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  17. Crazy gorgeous, girl!! Thanks for bringing the spring! We needed this. Amazing lace and details.
    And thanks to Sonja for showing me the jungle fabric in person at Mood. It simply has to be seen to be believed.

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  18. Fantastic skirt and you look fabulous. Great job showcasing the lace.

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  19. *lol* You tell the most exciting stories ever.
    The hem looks amazing.

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  20. I love it so much !!! The color is just fantastic :)
    I can't wait to see your futur creation :P

    mpbymaude.blogspot.ca

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  21. I can definitely how this would be considered a neutral staple. :)

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  22. i'm having a similar skirt in my head these days, just can't find any free time to make it happen.. and those shoes - i die!

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  23. So hard to find good looking lace like that over here
    Looks amazing ;)

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  24. first thing i noticed was the great hem! love the skirt. one of these days i need to add a lacy garment to my wardrobe. PS your shoes are awesome!

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  25. ge-orgeous! And I'm loving to shoes. Delicious!

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  26. Skirt is to DIE for....OMG...:D

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  27. Miss Oona, I've been a follower of your blog for about seven months now and I just have to say that I am insanely jealous of your skills. I am utterly impressed with each new piece of clothing you make and I don't even like pink that much and yet I feel the urge to try to figure out how I can make this skirt of yours. So thanks and please keep being you. :)

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    1. eep carlee, thank you! i'm ever inspired by (and totally jealous of) our community :)

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  28. I see no reason why this wouldn't be a neutral staple :). Also, damn that skirt is awesome! And now I want a miss-patterned large cat with butterfly wings, hahaha. "can I keep him?"

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  29. Beautiful! So beautiful...
    And those shoes...wow... match perfect to your unique style!
    :-) Claudia

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  30. This is making me re-think some plans I have for some lace thats laying around here... so cute!

    ~Amy Nicole "Lady M"

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  31. Oooh, that leaf motif hem...I am in love. And I'm the slightest bit sad that we didn't get to see you as Willy Wonka.

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  32. That skirt is gorgeous, especially the hem! ALSO THE SHOES.

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  33. You know, I didn't even blink when you called this bright ass skirt a neutral. That's how engrained Oona+BrightColors is in my mind!

    It is so cute and so you! I can see you pairing it with something that no one but you could pull off!

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  34. Oh I love these colours! I thought the hem edge was so clever then reading that you hand cut and stitched it on, mind blown!

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  35. Gorgeous!! Love the colours they are my favourite and that hem oh and those shoes I love it all!

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  36. Its lovely!!! I love how it 'just fell into' pleats... one day such a helpful fabric will make it into my hands for sure.
    Your disappearing act is a complete success, I have been trying to see a join, can't!
    And as usual, you make me yearn for your shoes.

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  37. lovely skirt, the hem is perfect. but that jungle chiffon craziness? i need that. it has to be mine.

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  38. "i emailed carolyn with utter joy: i'm going to look like willy wonka! three weeks later, still eyeing my intended match folded on my sewing desk, i realized with utter dread: I'M GOING TO LOOK LIKE WILLY WONKA."

    I do this ALL THE TIME! I get really excited about doing something crazy, and then it turns into dread taht I'm going to do something crazy haha! =D

    I absolutely LOVE the colors, and the skirt itself! Well done, as always!

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  39. A piece to be proud of! Good for you! And I clicked the link, and TOTALLY fell in L.O.V.E. with that zebra-srtiped cheetah with butterfly wings, let alone all of the pretty birds...it NEEDS to be made into a dress! OMG, if this wonderous stuff ever goes on sale I just may leap upon it, much like that dear cheetah might...

    Love,
    Mugsy

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  40. It's so pretty! The skirt has such a nice shape and I really like the hem. Btw, that bird, cheetah, butterfly fabric is amazing! Haha!

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  41. Oh wow that fabric is so pretty! After watching Project Runway I've always wanted to go to Mood, bar the 20+ hours of flying to get there. The skirt suits you so much as well!

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  42. I just found your blog today, and I had to tell you that I LOVE this skirt. It looks lovely on you, and the fabric is very, very pretty. Stellar job.
    Did you use a commercial pattern or draft one yourself?
    I'm very envious that you can shop at Mood Fabrics.

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    1. thank you! really all you do is join two rectangles of fabric together, and fold over an elastic casing for the waistband. easy peasy, though i took a very windy road to get there. and then there was all of the hand sewing to make the seams invisible... but other than that!! :)

      mood's a carnival. but i shopped online last month to get a feel for it, and having the box arrive was like christmas!

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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!