2.25.2015

The Fabric Of The Universe

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | fabric of the universe | free people

I'm finding it hard to remember the last time I put Actual Garment Fabric under my sewing machine. It probably wasn't that long ago...maybe a little over a week...but I think a day in sewing is something akin to dog years. IT'S BEEN ROUGHLY 56 YEARS SINCE I'VE STITCHED CLOTH. 

I'm also the girl that woke up on Sunday knowing it was Monday till my IG feed proved otherwise. The rules of Time are optional around here.

But everyone in the world should wake up on a Sunday knowing it's a Monday! WHAT A DELIGHT WHEN YOU FIND OUT OTHERWISE! (Preferably, before you're on your commute to work.) It was like I bent time to my will and graced myself with ANOTHER FULL DAY OF WEEKEND! I AM OONA, RULER OF THE UNIVERSE!

(We had an in-house screening of Flash Gordon on Saturday night. So.)

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | fabric of the universe | free people

Settled in my sewing queendom that Super Sunday, I contemplated my subjects like Ming the Merciless. Stretch Velvet from the Planet Velvaxus (so dubbed by Ruggy, my right hand Klytus) tried to tempt me with its lustrous ways, but no dice. Minions from the Silkworm Moon presented floral lengths, I was severely displeased. Let's face it, we might as well be living on Frigia, I have no time for your summer silks! 

No fabric could charm me. No, lately, my toy of choice has been rope. Don't know why. I've been cutting and stitching the stuff with no real plan, but Empresses don't need a plan. I was ravenous for more thread and texture. Suddenly, I needed to weave! I needed to weave a medallion, yo! A SYMBOL OF MY ULTIMATE RULE! 

BLAST IT ALL, I thought, shaking my fist at the heavens, I NEED MORE ROPE! AND I NEED IT TO APPEAR BEFORE ME RIGHT NOW!

My ruthless eyes fell upon the subjects of the Planet Boucle. Excellent. I started harvesting organs from every scrap I could find.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | fabric of the universe | free people

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | fabric of the universe | free people

As the day lingered (and it did linger gracefully, ending in a phantasmagoric meal that I am still wistful for), I would occasionally bellow to the room, THIS IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER MADE. Really? my friend queried. Well, pretty much any new thing I'm working on is THE BEST THING I'VE EVER MADE until I'm working on something else. 

The look on his face said that this was a rule he was keen to adopt.

I used this tutorial from Free People to get me going (HA! DELICIOUS IRONY! There are no Free People in my Queendom, only subjects who bend to my will!) and a cardboard box for a loom. (I would have preferred something a bit more blingy, in fact I almost wrapped the board in washi tape before I embarked.)

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | fabric of the universe | free people

So far the ideas for this medallion are: 1. Back of a cropped jeans jacket, 2. Train on a dress with added peacock feathers, 3. Hat.*

*Because of the whole Frigia thing, dontcha know. I'm working on obliterating that planet with my awesome powers this weekend.

47 comments:

  1. My eyes are whooping YESSSSSSSSSSS!!! My brain is WHAAAAAAAAAATTTT!!!!! This is so freakin' brilliant!!!! It's like the best of summer camp, and Project Runway, and YOU all woven together! You are a SCHTAR in your universe Oona! Yep! I'm your campaign leader....Oona for Camp President!

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    1. hahahaha!!!!! i never could spend a night at camp, i was too shy and too picked on!!!

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  2. Not only is your incredible weaving the Fabric of the Universe, it appears to be a universe unto itself. It truly reminds me of planets circling the sun. I love what you are doing, and cannot wait to see your medallion installed on a jeans jacket, or wherever else you decide. Personally, I LOVE the jacket idea best, because most of us (and probably you, also) have more occasion to wear a casual jacket, than a train, and your universe needs to be seen!.

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    1. i love that argument! i've been eyeing jeans jackets for a proper fit...

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  3. I'm still voting a conical bra, a la Madonna. But if that fails, a jacket would be AWESOME.

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    1. HAHAHA. now that would be one hairshirt of a bra. still... intriguing...

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  4. Back of a cropped jean jacket sounds marvelous!

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  5. Back of a cropped jean jacket sounds marvelous!

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  6. I'm going to be the contrary voice who thinks the jean jacket idea will be a tad too arts'n'crafty, thinking this would make a pretty fantastic strapless bodice (or any other part of a fancy dress) though. Love your creativity as always!

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    1. WHOAH. there are so any great ideas here, i think i may need to get started on more circles...

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  7. That is amazing! I've been wondering what you've been up to (from the IG photos), but I like it even more now that I know it was sans plan. It will tell you where it wants to live. :)

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  8. OMG, we are witnessing the formation of a whole new galaxy! No...a whole new Oonaverse!

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    1. WHAT?!!! OONAVERSE!!!! YOU WIN EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  9. It's that padded jacket, you have Sci-FI-Villainitis!!! (Why does the computer put a red squiggle line under that title? Does it now know about these things??)

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    1. It is trying to keep such knowledge from us puny humans...shhhh...i think it's listening...

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  10. OOOOOHHHHHH You should remove the lower half of the jean jacket, like between the yoke and the waistband, and then jimmy the woven piece into that space!

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    1. The lower BACK of the jacket. Jeez

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    2. WHOAH. that's like carpentry level shit! dammit, too many good ideas, i need more circles!!

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  11. i bow before you, o empress of the universe :-)

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  12. hat, Hat, HAT!! We here in Frigia (aka Wales) are pretty big on hats. And after all, the Universe should revolve around it's Empresses head, non?!

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    1. hahahahaaa yes it SHOULD! this universe will have to expand in order to fit this noggin!

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  13. Weaving is addictive! Your love of color and texture combinations means weaving IS right up your alley! And you will soon search out a more substantial loom. Upright floor looms can be pushed up against walls when not in use.

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    1. Saori weaving may be of interest to you.

      http://www.sakaiseiki.com/Default.aspx?alias=www.sakaiseiki.com/eng

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    2. Gaa! That first link is to Saori looms... this one is to Saori weaving.

      http://www.saorinomori.com/eng/en_saori.html

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    3. oh, that is gorgeous! you had me down a rabbithole and i almost bought a cheapo plastic loom, but man i really want a substantial loom. i've not been able to get into fabric printing, but weaving the fabric to create it is thrilling!

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  14. And Ravelry members have praised this DIY 4 shaft PVC loom!
    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/building-a-4-shaft-pvc-loom-dave-holly/1105699934?ean=9781257223282

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  15. It actually looks like a tiny solar system. It makes the science half of my brain happy. :)

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    1. THOSE LITTLE SPARKS DO LOOK LIKE STARS, RIGHT? whoops, sorry, had the caps lock on, hazard of being an evil empress and all.

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  16. The solar system created by the one and only Oona ;) Beautiful!

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  17. I'm dazzled by it...it looks too cheerful for this weather!

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  18. Weeeee!!! What fun!! And I just love that 'I've gotta make this thing NOW and I don't care why' attitude! It looks crazy excellent. Whatever you decide to do with it I know you will give it the fabulous showcase it deserves!

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  19. This just looks fun!!!

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  20. Another idea: VEST! A shawl colored one. Take crochet hook and start going around your circled fabric. Skip stitches but keep chaining for two armholes. Just wing the armholes, Pick up stitches in second row, try on every once in a while to see how wide you want that shawl collar. I would use softest yarn in your collection or from your circle fabric because it's going to be right up against your neck. Vest could work...if your circle fabric isn't too heavy. And it'll look so RTW (like Free People or Anthropologie gone crazy).

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    1. ooh, okay, i'm loving the vest idea, but guess who has two thumbs and can't crochet worth a damn! i'm imagining the top of the circle as a kind or curving back collar tho, and i can see the free people vibe for sure!

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  21. Simply amaze balls- fantastic- magical! I can not wait to see what beauty this becomes! I love the idea of a jean jacket. Your creativity is wonderful!!

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  22. Freakin Awesome! My vote if you're asking for opinions...back of a cropped sleeveless jean jacket.

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    1. i was *this close* to buying a cropped jeans vest from TJ maxx, then i felt i would be cheating....but man. i really don't want to make a jeans jacket!

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  23. Ok, since crochet vest tanked as idea no. 100....I'm with the cropped sleeveless jean jacket.

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  24. How about the back of a coat with a long train? A coat with a high collar and a big train made of scraps sewn together and the circle right on the back of the bodice!

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  25. This is great - but you definitely need to make another - they MUST be a bra/bodice/bustier-type contraption, non? I think so. And on the subject of time, I once held a particularly wild summer party on Saturday night (all night), had a looong sleep late Sunday afternoon, and got up to go to work on Monday. But I couldn't get in, and stood shaking the locked doors like I'd escaped from somewhere. What? It's 9.10am, why can't I get in? Turned out it was Sunday night - and 9.10pm. Well, DUH. Alcohol. The Devil's Work...

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  26. This says "handbag" to me!

    -uncannyannie

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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!