4.24.2015

page turner

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | burdastyle bustier dress

The moment we climb into bed, I suddenly find ALL OF MY ENERGY and talk nonstop. Last night the subject was books. I used to collect them, reading favorites two or three times over, displaying little carefully chosen piles of them around the house. Ruggy called them my trophies.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | burdastyle bustier dress

I yammered at my sleepy eyed man: I USED TO LOVE BOOKS!!! I'd get so excited to get into bed and read, then I'd get so excited to wake up and find out what was happening next, then before I'd know it the book was done and I'd get SO EXCITED TO START ANOTHER!!!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | burdastyle bustier dress

And now I get so excited to get to my desk and sew, and I get so excited to see what happens next, and when it's done I get SO EXCITED TO START ANOTHER

Bonus: unlike a poorly chosen title, when you're making the rules, every garment is a page turner, a choose your own adventure story. At the moment, this silk burdastyle bustier dress is capturing my attention. I underlined the fabric with muslin instead of organza! How will that change the drape? Will those convex and concave curves fit?! SHOULD I HAVE NEON ORCHID OR SAFETY CONE ORANGE NEAR MY FACE? DID I GET THE PIVOT POINT RIGHT?!!! I WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL I TURN THE PAGE!!!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | burdastyle bustier dress

(The Center Bodice and Bust Cup did meet up at The Pivot Point. I'm so glad those two found love.)

It's all consuming, I barely crack a book open anymore. Ruggy deemed my sewing-for-reading substitution A Most Excellent Realization. I mean, it's great to be so passionate about something that you honestly can't wait to see what happens next, right? But I miss reading, I really do. I even tried to get back into it on a six hour bus ride, bringing along one of my all time favorites, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. (Heads up, I plain old linked to it, and then was like um, duh, it's one of your top three reads, that's Amazon linkworthy.) Still, even at number two on my hitlist, couldn't get further than twenty pages. There was a floral cotton dress waiting for more hand embroidery in my bus bag of tricks, it was staring at me, and it won. I thought I would get bored, but no, it was like watching a story unfold.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | burdastyle bustier dress

And then there are those times, those nerve wracking times when you're pretty sure things are going swimmingly for all the characters in your garment, but you feel something might be lurking around the corner, and you won't be totally sure till you turn the page...

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | burdastyle bustier dress

UPPER RIGHT BODICE CUP!!! BEHIND YOU!!! AN UNHOLY APPARITION!! LOOK OOOOOOOUUUUUUUTTTTT!!!

The plot thickens. I spent a full day carefully choosing the print placement on this, I could've read like twenty chapters in that time, I even cut Upper Right Bodice Cup out twice, and my brain still didn't see that angular ghost of a giant white flower coming. Yes, I have more fabric, but I refuse to do a rewrite! IT WILL BE SO MUCH MORE FUN TO DEVISE A PLAN. I'm thinking a combo of fabric paint & markers. And a very hot iron. 

I love a good cliffhanger.

54 comments:

  1. Girl, I feel ya - I used to be a voracious reader and a lot of that went the wayside as soon as my sewing hobby because a super obsession. I still read when I was in the car, and then I learned how to knit... so reading because even more of a "I never do this but I still mostly enjoy it" hobby, because knitting totally took over car-time. Then I learned how to read WHILE KNITTING. The world can't stop me now.

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  2. I have a Masters in English Lit and I shamefully do not read at all anymore. :/ Sewing is all consuming for me and I have no commute time now to do any reading like I did before. I'd love to read again, but....sewing! That bodice looks amazing.

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  3. I also miss reading, I used to read a LOT. But life is different now that we are makers, and we chose to make over anything else because somehow it's what defines us.

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  4. Oh, great post! In years past, I would easily devour several books each month, whereas now I read only one or two. I blame the Internet more than my sewing passion. sigh. I actually gave myself a little talking to not long ago because I really do love getting lost in a favourite read. I'm happy to say that I am once again beginning to read more. Because drinking and eating is impossible for me while I'm sewing, I enjoy reading when I take a tea break or lunch break. But I always see Madeleine, my dress form, out of the corner of my eye, beckoning me with her come hither....oh wait, she doesn't even have a head, let along eyes.

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    1. Oh...I totally forgot to mention....Do not do anything with that white spot until your garment is complete and you've got a photo of yourself wearing it. I think it will look fine!

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    2. Haha, I did snap a pic of it on...it is a glaring goof!!

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  5. I love the bombshell dress! Can't wait to see what your finished one looks like, love that fabric! I am so bummed the class was pulled from Craftsy before I could buy it :(

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  6. Love the Sparrow, although I read it only once a very long time ago. I listen to books while I sew, does that count as reading?

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    1. Completely counts, in fact I think you get bonus points.

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  7. *LOL* That white flower is truely wonderful! :) And I'm another voracious reader - I really need to get a library card, as I tend to pick up books at Value Village (thrift store), read them, then re-donate them to find more. Oh well, the money goes to a good cause, I guess...

    I agree totally with Sue up above - it's so much easier (physically and morally) to eat while reading! When I read, everything gets tuned out - much to my Mum's annoyance when she's trying to get my attention. *lol* Than again, why is she so annoying to have the gall to try and speak to me while I'm reading?? That's like interrupting church to belch out the next hymn...ok, not that bad, but still... ;)

    As far as sewing - I use reading to calm down after making yet another monumental error during sewing. With my temper, trust me, it's just better that way - unless you really want to see if I can get my Mum's 1960's - 1970's Brother (plus the desk-like cabinet it's married to) to fly through the air with the greatest of ease... get it?? Ease? Sewing? Anyone...? :)

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  8. audio books! i'm finally competent enough while sewing that i can listen to books and sew AT THE SAME TIME! so i set myself up with an audible subscription and pick super long books to listen to. it is not the same as reading, and took some mental practice. but now i am loving it!

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    1. *smacks forehead* Of course, why didn't I think of that?! Excellent suggestion, if you don't mind me butting in and commenting on your comment... :)

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  9. What a great post! Love "The Sparrow," my husband recommended it to me when we were dating...

    You always pick the BEST FABRICS! It's going to look amazing on you. As for the white flower, I'm sure you'll make it amazing as you always do. Can't wait to see more!

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    1. Thank you! Yes, isn't that book so beautiful? It was supposed to be a trilogy, I think-- the second book is gorgeous too.

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  10. I miss reading too - I used to read non-stop when I was a child/teenage (10 books in a two week holiday was standard), but mine stopped when I went to uni, and there was a never ending list of university work related books/articles that I should be reading - I could never justify picking up a book for fun when there was other stuff that I *should* be reading. I go through phases of getting back into it for a bit, and then fall out of it again. On a different note, that fabric is AMAZING, I can't wait to see the finished dress.

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  11. I don't know Oona...I may have to adjust when I look for your latest. This one had me hollar'en so loud in my office, people came runnin' looking to see if I was alright....and in my hand was a mug'o coffee with a bit a Disaronno I was not trying to draw attention to AT ALL....and then you do this......SMH....

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    1. HAHAHAAAAA I'll put a warning up: body design, put the spiked coffe down! No, actually, I can't, spiked coffee is too lovely to put down.

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  12. Hahahaha! OMG, yeah, I feel your pain on the print placement! I have no doubt that you will be victorious and find an awesome solution! Otherwise, the story seems to be coming along marvelously!

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  13. Oh man, I used to read all the time, too! I even had a blog about books! But all that is gone gone gone now that I'm so into sewing and knitting. I've done audiobooks in the past when I worked at the workshop, but I can't listen to them at home unless I'm doing something really boring because I space off and realize I haven't been paying attention to the story at all!

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  14. So with you on this! The books sit in my basement, novels I've read ten times begging me to pick them up again and go for number eleven! But I sew. I read new pattern instructions in bed and scan pinterest for new ideas. I did read a book last week (Hyperbole and a Half), but that was really half graphic novel...

    I tried the Sharpie fabric markers recently, and they work super well while giving a lot of control. I tried them on cotton though, so not 100% sure what silk would do. Can't wait to see the end garment.

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    1. Ooo I might try those out on a scrap! And in my opinion graphic novels count. Some of them are better than books!

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  15. Oh yes, the voracious reading. I used to have a 45 minute bus ride to work every day, and got through several books PER WEEK. Not so much now, but I do still love to read before I fall asleep. 'The Sparrow' is one of my faves too: the sequel, 'Children of God' is also amazing, but a harrowing ride. My fix is to have an audiobook on the go while I sew. Perfect.

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    1. And she was supposed to write a third! Children of God might have been harrowing for her too, I guess....

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  16. I used to sneak some reading time in while I was waiting for my kiddo at the school every day. Now, if I am reading while sitting there, I am either reading a sewing magazine or sewing book. As late though, I have been sitting there cutting out patterns. I managed to get 4 patterns cut out this week sitting there! Sewing is all consuming, but I think some of us are the type that we do things with wild amounts of passion. This isn't the first hobby that I have given my all to, this one just seems to keep giving back!

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  17. I have had a short period of not reading much, and that was during my studies... There was simply no time to read anything apart from the graphic novels related to my work! But since then I've dived straight in again, and found it's the perfect way to unwind before sleeping. I also love it during breaks at work, to just focus on being alone for a bit and ease my mind!

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  18. love your words, sis :)
    sewing and knitting took over my reading time too.. but every now and then i do manage to peel myself aways from sewing machine, and spend day or two reading..
    can't wait to see how this dress of yours ends

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    1. The first book I read in a long time was reached through a winding path started by one of your recommendations! Sadly, it was a short (ish) story and I was so sad it ended, i didn't get to the other stories in the book...

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  19. The Sparrow is one of my all-time favorite books! Great to find someone else that loved it as much.

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    1. I am too! Have you read Evidence of Things Unseen (wiggins)? That's my number 1!

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  20. I must be a bit of an oddity here-- I actually still read quite a bit. It probably helps that I've always read fast, and I am the type who will gladly carry a book or my Kindle around so I can read in those little moments while I'm waiting for a student to show up for her lesson or things like that. And I did do a lot of reading back in the fall when I was feeling too sick to sew and was only up to laying in bed and either reading or watching tv. I just loaded up my Kindle with some new books to help me survive late night baby feedings, too. But the struggle between reading and sewing time is definitely real. And that dress is going to be stunning when it's done. The fabric is great!

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    1. I think if I could get into a kindle that would help. But oddly enough although I read tons of blogs on a computer screen, I just can't get into reading a book that way!

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  21. Oona, you've done it again. That is the best sewing analogy I've ever read. Sewing is exactly like a choose your adventure book!

    I'm still a HUGE reader and devour between 2-3 books a week. My hubby bought me an e-reader for Christmas and I use it all the time.

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  22. I'm still reading on my work commute, but more and more of the books are about sewing and dressmaking - including fictions. Yesterday I was sick on the lounge and read 'dressing marilyn'. ( I rallied in the evening and cut out a shirt. Weekend! I'm gonna get up and sew it!)

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  23. I have spent many a sleepless night puzzling over the instructions of vintage patterns. Kind of like hieroglyphics...

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  24. Oh yes, you are telling my story. I used to read EVERY night, excited to finish, excited for more. Until I had kids. Then I just needed sleep. Then sewing took over, and I would stumble into bed, eyes half closed already because I'd already spent way to long sewing that night....exactly as you say, wanting to get to the next page. That's where I get stuck with 'couture' sewing too, because I start with the best of intentions, but then get more and more amped up as the project proceeds, until I'm literally skipping around the room and skimming words to get to the last page...

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  25. Can't wait to see how this story ends! White flower and all ;)

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  26. I agree. I used to love reading a good Stephen King novel. Now I have one on my nightstand that I only read when at the doctors office so I am only a few chapters in.

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  27. Isn't it lovely you have multiple great loves in your life?

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    1. When you put it that way, yes! One of my lovers is just feeling a bit neglected ;)

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  28. My word, I wish I had your energy. Even before kids, coming home from work meant as little talking as possible and low lights. I WAS a teacher, so the no talking thing probably had a fair origin... Still, you seem boundless!

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    1. Haha! Sometimes I am! I never liked bedtime, so part of me is probably trying to stall actual lights out :). But if I were a teacher I do think I'd relish some quiet time!

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  29. Ah, reading. I spend at least two hours every week day on the train (you know, if they're running on time, which is never), so I get through a lot of books. I'm trying to slim down my bookshelf at the moment, but obviously whenever I forget a book in the morning I have to go and buy one at lunchtime, so it's not really going anywhere.

    Sewing is something I have to be in the mood for, so the two hobbies don't really collide very often.

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  30. I read in the bath, no opportunity for sewing or knitting there!

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  31. Whenever I think about how long it has been since I read a book, I realize this must be how they kept women okay with being illiterate.
    That being said, I can't figure out how some of you are such prolific sewists. Between keeping the house clean, making dinner, making sure the dogs are exercised so they don't drive us bonkers while we're sleeping dogs, going to the gym so I can fit into what I've sewn, and regular life stuff like finances, I can barely find sewing time. And I don't even work right now or have children and gave up the veg garden this year. AND I don't live near any of my friends so I'm definitely not losing out having fun that way.

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    1. HAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!! That is too funny!!

      No kids, garden, or walkable pets here, so that definitely adds to my sewing time. Perhaps your house is too clean??

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  32. Ha! You won't know the meaning of the flower motif until the end!!! Are you the kind who flips ahead and reads the ending first? I'm thinking that, rather than risk the Sharpie bleed, some combination of applique/embroidery/beads/sequins might be fun. But I'm not as bold as you are. You could always leave the dress as is, wear it to a party, and loudly ask people "Don't you LOVE my white flower?"

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    1. I could stick a real flower smack bang in the middle of it!

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  33. Aww same here! I was an avid reader. After having my daughter and falling in love with sewing, it's taken a backseat, but I've been able to get in some "Reading" time with audiobooks. I get them free through my library and they're great on a commute. When I'm not listening to music or a podcast while I'm sewing, I turn on an audiobook. If you haven't heard of Goodreads, you should check it out! I have found soooo many great reads there.

    Beautiful construction, by the way! Isn't it an amazing feeling (an big exhale!) when we find our seams meet properly after doing some complicated construction! I can't wait to see the finished product!

    http://www.StyleSewMe.com

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  34. So few projects have made me feel this way, but that BurdaStyle bustier dress was definitely one of them - that whole thing from start to finish was a joyful adventure I have super fond memories of still :)

    Kind of funny that stark white boob patch - could you bedazzle it with some sweet sweet beadwork? That would be awesome :D

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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!