8.13.2014

BAMALAMADINGDONG


This month, the Sewcialists are paying tribute to Everyone Who Is Awesome. AND THAT'S A LOTTA Y'ALL.  To be honest, ninety percent of what I make is inspired by what I see on your sewing tables.  And sometimes, it's inspired by surprises from "strangers" who, in truth, know me better than some IRL civilian friends.  Shhhhhhhhhh, don't tell.


Sarah from Grey's Fabric was charged with sending me a little somethin' somethin' for which to test a pattern by, and when I found out, I didn't hesitate to give her carte blanche.  In fact, my reply to her query: What are you interested in? went exactly like this:

"OOOOO SARAH SARAH SARAH!!!!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!! i am so excited!!!! THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the world is your oyster, girl… surprise me!!"


AND SURPRISE ME SHE DID.  LOOKIT THAT SPRAY CAN. LOOKIT IT!!!!!!

The pattern testing morphed, and turned out to be not perfectly suited to this Crazeballs Kablooey Awesomeness... so it remained folded.  And waited.  And quietly screamed at me.  Daily.  Then I was introduced to some Instagram eye candy, in the form of Tweak Boutique, and HELLO STRANGER, I devoured her feed and immediately had to cut into my spraycans.  The lovely Caroline comes up with not only the most vivid, fun, eyepopping ensembles, she crafts her own jewelry to go with them. I found this out halfway into the bodice, when she asked if I might like a few pieces of bling. She crafted the real Dendrobium orchid ring you see perched on my finger, which is the perfect mate to this dress inspired by her feed!



Oh, Anna. You make me feel so tall. Even in flats! If you haven't deciphered the silhouette, this is indeed another By Hand London Anna. This makes 5 (a few are yet to be blogged).  At this point, I know the pattern so well, I just barrel forward with a smugness borne of previous success.

We all know what goes before a fall.



I was super careful to place a can directed at my face, because, THAT'S AWESOME, but a bit willy nilly on the rest of it. Had some truly upsetting twinning goin' on with the two back panels, which required some flipping and some serious reattaching of limbs. The twinning mistake added about 4 hours of work in a smug free zone. You can spot the extra limb in the shot above, where side meets back.


But the surgery was worth it because, UM.  THERE ARE MIRRORED SPRAY CANS RADIATING DOWN MY BUTT!!!


HAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Entire outfit: supplied, and inspired by, Friends I've Yet To Meet.  OH WAIT!  Did I say yet to meet? I LIE! YOU SIMPLY CANNOT TRUST ME! There's one more gal in there, Miss Lladybird Lauren, who gave me the contrasting vintage zipper yeeeears ago, before we had the fortune to meet IRL (repeatedly:).   I waited all this time to find the perfect mate.

This outfit literally would not have happened without three fantastic women.  And I feel pretty freaking lucky about it. Like I should play the lotto. Thankya, lovely, lovely ladies. I'll be rolling out ensembles inspired by Alla Y'all Amazing People all this month, and linking up to the sources of inspiration... and, as always, looking forward to seeing what you're cranking out! Inspiration Train, departing on the minute!

The Enablers And Inspirators:

Sarah from Grey's Fabric | Instagram | Blog
Caroline from Tweak Boutique | Instagram

98 comments:

  1. That dress is awesome! I need to add some Oona exclamation points!!!!!!!!! Even though it's not my thingggggg!!!!!! That fabric! Marc Jacobs would be charging 4-figures for that dress, and it wouldn't fit. Exclamation point!

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  2. Oh, this is such a fun outfit and the perfect spray cans down the back are perfect. You really thought about the placement and it is perfect in every way. Love the fabric and the vintage zipper. I hear the song, "I get by with a little help from my friends" for this dress.

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    1. thankya lori. a good tune to swing around in this dress by.

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  3. Oh, my I just reread my comment - can I say perfect one more time - sheesh!

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  4. Those mirrored spray cans are truly incredible.

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  5. there are deffinitely not enough exclamation points.. what a dress! and what a fabric!

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  6. This dress is beyond amazing! You never fail to inspire!

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  7. I just have to post even though I never do and love to lurk. Wow. 'An I have to agree what a dress, what fabric ,and what a gal to pull it off. Bravo!

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  8. the mirrored spray cans are so perfect! never would have though to pair this fabric with this pattern, but WOW! i love it!

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  9. You are an inspiration as well! Your wardrobe is festival and fun. This dress is bright, the print screams fun, and is certainly a conversational piece.

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    1. i'm not sure half the people who compliment me IRL even realize what i'm wearing :)

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  10. HOLY COW I LOVE THIS DRESS!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!

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  11. Walk away!!! No, seriously! WALK. AWAY. Your rear view is just too cute! The spray cans! And that super cool zipper! GAH!!!! What a great piece of walking POP art! And....not sure whether to thank you or curse you....I've just spent way too much time over at Tweak Boutique...it has been happy time, so thanks it is!

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  12. Amazing!! It's so you! I love this community!

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  13. Ah! BEST DRESS EVER!!!! Why wasn't this around when I was trying to design a production of Hairspray!?

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  14. Love love love love LOVE this. Love the showstopping colours! Love the spray can flowers, and especially love that flower bauble on your hand. Awesome!

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  15. I think this needs to go into the Oonapallooza round up, Miss Marce!

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  16. Just Fabulous! I love the bold print and the color is fantastic on you! Love it!

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  17. LOVE! A Warhol painting come to life. This is perfection.

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  18. This is amazing!! YOU are amazing!! I wish I had spray cans radiating down my butt, but(t) I gess I'll have to settle for at least being a piece of the dress-pie :)

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  19. It's amazing! I love it!!

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  20. This just makes me happy! Bought some spray cans myself. :)

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  21. Yayayay! I knew that fabric was destined for glory. I have enough of the blue version for a Charlotte. Wish I could find more!

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  22. You. Are. KILLING ME!!! This is just too good!! I'm feeling EXTREMELY limited in expressing all my emotions via this blog comment. Just imagine hearts radiating out of my eyes, my tongue lolling out, hair yanking and finally making a run through the nearest wall!

    You're my hero.

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    1. hahahaha sallie i think you said it perfectly-- in fact, when i love something, i usually think *what would sallie say, her words always jump gleefully off the screen*. for real.

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  23. I love this!! That print is just amazing, and you did it justice!

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  24. Personally I like the matching spray cans parading down your backside...so you...truly!

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  25. KABLAOW! (that was the sound of my head exploding from all the awesome contained in this dress.)

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  26. This dress. Wow. It's just so insanely awesome, I can barely stand it. Like, If you come up to the Bronx in this thing, they will throw a parade in your honor.

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  27. Wow! Wow! Wow! This is amazing, so utterly insanely awesome!

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  28. Mmmmmm! This dress is do yummy! The bright colours are great and the style is stunning. I love the back details and the front slit. The spray cans are perfectly placed.

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    1. thank you sharon! now if only i had placed the cans PRIOR to cutting :)

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  29. I've got no words. Just !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  30. Girl, as always, freakin' amazing!!! I mean, seriously - spray cans??!? So perfect!!!

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  31. Girl, you're on fire! The front is amazing, the back fabulous...just plain awesome!

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  32. Wowza! Gown of amazingness!!!!!!

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  33. I once made a skirt which gave me Jesus arms butt. Henceforth known as the Jesus arms butt skirt. I think you can google that. Wish I'd had spray cans though. So. Much. Cooler.

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  34. I think the dress is fantastic - wow! It's just so much fun!

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  35. Perfect fabric for you, brilliant placement--you're on fire!

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  36. You are too cute with spray cans coming out your...

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  37. This dress is so amazing I almost forgot about your world conquering hair. You rock lady!!

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  38. This is GORGEOUS! I have this lovely African print fabric I have been dying to sew but didn't find the appropriate style....until now. Not that mine will come anywhere near yours of course, but sew I shall and in the next couple days too. Wish me luck.

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    1. oooo much luck! you're gonna have so much fun in this dress :)

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  39. I've been curious to get that pattern and although wouldnt go so bold, I think I might have to get it now, I was just hoping to find a US source for the paper pattern. Seriously that looks great on you.

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  40. KAPOW! Can't wait to get my Kickstarter BHL care package now!

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  41. Wahou, this dress is stunning !!!!
    I love how you placed the spray cans !
    And the back décolleté : amazing !!
    I currently working on two Anna dress in african fabric and while the first one is almost finished, the second is just cut, so, i'll copy you for the back decolleté !
    PS : Great afro !!!

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    1. well thankya for all those lovely words! please holler at me when you've got your beauties done :)

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    2. Hi, Oona, I just post an article on one of my Annas !

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  42. I love love love that dress Oona!!!

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  43. The fabric is great! I wasn't expecting to see spray cans on it. Nice one! I am yet to buy my first BHL pattern and not sure which it should be. I wasn't sold on the Anna because of the bust design but this Anna and your other ones look super!

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    1. oh, i adore the anna bust design-- i find that i can get a snugger look by extending the pleats an inch up. the victoria is also a great first BHL!

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  44. Wowzers that dress is awesome!!!!! I may have to seriously re-consider getting the Anna dress pattern - and maybe even try it in the long version....hmmmm.....

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  45. Never would have thought that a dress that turns you into a cartoon would be a good thing! Amazing dress. My favorite detail is something that may not have been deliberate: at the bottom of the zipper, the spray from the two sides creates a little red triangle, mirroring the triangle zipper pull.

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    1. HAH! yes this is definitely my cartoon dress-- and excellent point on the zipper pull!

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  46. Awesome! Spray can fabric! Who thinks up this wonderful stuff? And the perfect dress for it. I always have trouble figuring out what to do with large prints.

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  47. The dress is awesome and so is that hair!

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  48. OMG, you so rock this dress. And the mirrored bum cans? AWESOME! Love, love, LOVE!

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  49. I love the Anna dress, I love that fabric, I adore that ring! So much good feels in that outfit. :-D Keep rocking that awesome stuff. ;-)

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  50. Ohhhh. em. geeeeeee.... Holy moly, Oona! This is so freakin' fantastic I don't even know what to say. This art teacher needs some of that fabric.

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  51. Firstly, this is rad.
    Secondly, spray can butt. Bwah ha ha! Winning at sewing right there!

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  52. Oona, this might be the ultimate conversation piece dress. Ultimate. You won't be able to go anywhere without people stopping you as you walk down the street. Might be the thing to wear to audition for a commercial involving a spray can. The director would be so impressed (I can't do the all-caps thing), he will hire you on the spot for creativity!

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  53. What awesome fabric! The dress is fabulous in that vibrant colour and dramatic full skirt but those spray cans are something else!

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  54. This is the greatest thing I've ever seen - HOPEFULLY I GET TO SEE IT IN PERSON!!

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  55. So...I think the internet ate my comment so I'm going to try re-post & pretend it's still Saturday. I would LOVE to have a barrel full of smug when approaching a pattern! I tend to exist more in the paranoid mouse zone. And if the fabric's expensive - approaching catatonic. But then I add gin & tonic & forge ahead with tipsy abandon. Success is 50/50! But spray can dress. True genius. It's pretty much the best thing my eyes have seen today and I went to a winery in the forest.

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  56. OMG how frikin cool is this dress, seriously!!! That zipper is to die for, and I can see why you've been hanging on to it for so long. And that ring - a match made in heaven. TOTALLY!!!!!!

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  57. Wow - this my favorite version of the Ana so far. And you've made a beautiful version before. Love it! The attention to detail on the placement of the paint cans definitely pays off. This print is awesome and you did a great job of maximizing the effectiveness of the pattern .... especially in the back. (I love the spray coming toward your face!) BRAVO!!

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  58. second time in a week ive seen this fabric and drooled. any udeas where I can find it? beautiful dress!

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  59. Soooo inspiring!!! You look fantastic!!! my Anna Dress is just now in progress ...

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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!