4.07.2014

technicolor noise

technicolor noise | oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing with by hand london

There's a guy on a neon green crotch rocket who revs up directly in front of our home about three times a day. I think he's delivering soup.

 technicolor noise | oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing with by hand london

In the middle of shooting a garment (my betty drunken dress, to be exact), I teetered up the stairs behind me, and appeared out of 1952 (with a dash of 2012) to have a conversation with the lad.

technicolor noise | oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing with by hand london

Hellooooo, hellooo there I purred, and when the purr wasn't sufficient over the roar of the idling engine, I put a little Betty in it.  

technicolor noise | oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing with by hand london

It must have been an interesting sight, two people who probably had around a dozen races between them, one straddling 90s metal & chrome, one in 50s cotton & curls, one coaxing a friendly conversation out of the cautious other.  When you ride around on a rocket that needs ten minutes of idling to produce an inch of movement, you're gonna get some shade.  I know, I've seen my neighbors giving him the business these past months.  I was ready to throw my hat in that rude ring.  But ruggy thought my brand of sugar could be a better answer.

When I heard this suggestion, I squinted my eyes.  I am not the droid you're looking for.  But the day was warmish, and the outfit was ladylike. 

technicolor noise | oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing with by hand london

It worked. My Crotch Rocket Soup Guy promised to be quieter.  He was sorry he'd been so loud.  As I turned to go, I introduced myself.  Still slightly baffled by the friendly tone, he shook my hand.  I'm Ed, he said.  Nice to meet you Ed, I cooed. 

No.  Ahmed. 

technicolor noise | oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing with by hand london

whoops.


(In fact, there he is right now!  He's trying his best to keep it to a soft rumble.  Ruggy tells me he is "choking the bike," and in his expert opinion, he truly is doing it as quietly as he can.  A for effort, but IT'S NOT THAT QUIET.  It's about at the level of chainsaw in resting mode.  Let's see if he's done by the time i hit publish.  This is minute one.)

I toddled back down the stairs and into this outfit, gotta take advantage of a warm day, no? OH YEAH THE OUTFIT!  Wanna know about it?  You may recognize the top from yesteryear: she is the by hand london elisalex dress with circle skirt.  I've been wanting to try the peplum-with-fitted-skirt trend since it started, so I hacked off the half circle skirt at the middle, and paired it with BHL's charlotte skirt! YEEEEAH INSTANT SEPARATES WIN! The charlotte skirt pattern is a lovely prize from the BHL ladies for project sewn, I just made it up two sizes smaller to account for making it up in a stretch jersey. This prize makes my collection of BHL patterns currently complete. 

(Hey! Three minutes, aaand he's off!)

(But he's now doing laps around the block.)

67 comments:

  1. Best to "drown them in sugar," I always say. You can catch flies with vinegar -- apple cider vinegar does the best job -- but you DO catch more flies with honey.

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    1. i am thrilled to know about the apple cider vinegar, tho. that's coming out at the next BBQ.

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  2. Super fun and fits you like a glove!

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  3. LURVE the colors and the divine look of this outfit! Perfect for letting people know who's boss in the area ;) Marvelous creation, my dear!

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    1. thankya meg! if i ever see this stuff again i'm getting some for you.

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  4. HA! Excellent. I could have used some of that persuasive sugar on the street below the apt we stayed in. ;) And the though of him trying to idle quietly now, thinking of you-as-Betty the whole time... gigglegigglegiggle...

    Awesomesauce outfit, and I totally couldn't even tell it was jersey. Bonus comfort!

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  5. You're hilarious! I love that you went the whole "you get more bees with honey" route, I would've probably gone straight to the "pour a bucket of water on him from a second story window" route, and it would've backfired (like it always does!)
    Love your head-to-toe BHL look! Those girls are just the best, and you make them look even better in this neon floral!!

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  6. Now your spring wardrobe is complete! Such a cheerful print!

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  7. Holy hotness! Your outfit just sings joy! Wow.

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  8. Tripalicious - or is that even a word? In any case, that dress is totally fabu!!!

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  9. We've discussed the horse hair, or lack thereof, in my wardrobe....and now I must fess up to veering away from the jersey aisle. Being of a certain age, natural fibers are my friend, if ya know what I mean. But, your technicolour web has been woven, and you've got me tangled up in it. I'm certain to be drooling over stretch jersey the next time I'm in a fabric store. You are looking SO lovely in your BHL special! The print and the fit are perfect! Good Luck with the green monster.

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  10. Fabulous once again, I am just going to start calling you the Miss Fabulous Oona! Love the fabric and the dress and the story.

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    1. so i would be TMFO, right? i like it. it has a ring to it.

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  11. You sassy minx!!!! How could that poor man have said no to you?! He didn't stand a chance! He probably didn't even know what hit him! Maybe you can come over to pour on some honey next time my neighbors are in a screaming match like they were last night?

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  12. LOL - good for you approaching with honey. As per normal, you look lovely!

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  13. My eyeballs are exploding in joy. I feel like if you went to see the neon fire crotch in this beauty, old Ahmed owuld have given you the keys and walked home.

    I love how hackable BHL patterns are. I'm thinking about an Anna/Flora match up right now....

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    1. yes, where betty was sweet, this one did have a bit more bam. good point. i'll be ready next time.

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  14. I just have to stop and wonder...who needs soup 3 times a day?

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  15. How could he be anything but sweet to you in this outfit. You are a vision. And where did you get this lovely jersey?

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    1. mood!! but, sadly, last year. it's a betsey johnson print. they had some in janky store for awhile too.

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  16. Eh-eh, loved the little story...the whole thing is gorgeous and full of fun. You're ready for spring girl!

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  17. crotch rocket // delivering soup // a dozen races between you // chainsaw in resting mode.
    Im going to be honest & say I dont comment on your me-mades anymore coz u do no wrong....I come just for the laughs now :-)

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  18. love this look, especially in jersey! totally drooling over that fabric.

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    1. this fabric is just heaven-- and not a lick of pilling in the wash!

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  19. No one tells a story like you and no one does a peplum like you! Love it and just love love the neon fabric. If the revving starts up again it's because that guy is probably HOPING you come back to drop a little bit more sugar his way!! Love the BHL hack. Inspired x

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  20. I love that these are separates. That peplum top would look casual awesome with a pair of jeans. And I know all about that brand of sugar. I do live in the south ;)

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    1. yes, girl. bless his heart. and 'm working on those jeans :)

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  21. I feel SO old. My students had to explain what 'throwing shade' was to me. The funny thing is, I have a student who is older (by ten years) than the rest. He races neon crotch rockets for fun and also had no idea what 'throwing shade' was. This whole post was funny for so many reasons.

    I like your dress, too. =)

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    1. hahahaaa! also same as "side eye." throw that one at them!

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  22. LOVE IT! So much colour!!! So much like SPRING :)

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  23. Hi ! my comment has nothing to do with the outfit (lovely, as usual, the colors are soo bright !). I just I keep coming on your blog because of your smile ! I mean, why fashion models/fashion bloggers/sewing bloggers never smile in photos? your smile inspires me as much as the outfits you make. Thanks a lot !

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    1. well thankya! i would say i have no idea why they don't smile... but i DO... it's to prevent wrinkles in photos. they tell actors to keep the smile at a minimum in photos. terrible, right? and aren't you always so happy when someone full on smiles?

      (and wrinkles are what photoshop is for. MWUAAAHAHAAAAA)

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  24. loved the original dress, but love the new version even more!

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    1. thanks sis! i got the idea in the middle of the night and sat bolt upright.

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  25. Need, want, love this whole outfit. Now that it is getting warmer ALL the colors have come out in my wardrobe and fabric stash :D
    P.S. - Where are you getting horse hair? I have a new Betty Draper dress to make with GIANT cabbage roses in puky green and it will require some.

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    1. oh girl, pacific trimmings has it in like 12 colors. and from 1/4 inch to something crazy, maybe 6 inches!

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  26. you look alien, so so so pretty!
    it seems you have a rainbow that shines through you.
    ** *
    lovely

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  27. Fabulous outfit! Love the peplum and the fabric is WOW!

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  28. What a bril idea to remake the dress into a peplum top, the whole outfit is just fantastic

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  29. Ooh, the Charlotte skirt in a stretch knit - bloody genius! Love it.

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  30. Love it! The fabric is gorgeous and I love peplums though I haven't done one myself in a while.

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  31. Fun print. The dress is superb. You look marvelous!

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  32. You look the bees knees in this floral delight. Say hi to Ed for me :-p

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  33. I can't remember if I commented already or not because I've read this post twice. I will probably read it a third, and fourth time because I freaking love this outfit!!!!!!

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  34. He's probably doing circles around the block trying to catch a glimpse of you shooting your latest outfit - you heartbreaker you ;)

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  35. amazzing ;) beautiful woman !!

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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!