7.23.2015

painting party

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | painting party

The fabrics that come home with me are not treated delicately. Even when they are a digitally printed silk crepe de chine direct from Italy. Maybe this is because I began my sewing career with 2 dollar a yard mystery fabric, and had zero fear in ruining yardage that could be so cheaply replaced. Maybe this is because I am like a bull in a china shop no matter what the price.

Either way, I've been slapping paint on my birthday dress.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | painting party

This beauty from Mood Fabrics has been driving me wild for about two months (found in store, one leeeeetle bolt with barely 5 yards on it. Although I left 3 yards behind, I think it lasted 5 minutes). The colors!! The texture!!! THE GINORMOUS REPEATING WHITE ROSE THAT WREAKS HAVOC ON PRINT PLACEMENT! 

Here is the offending bud, before. The dress had been hanging out on my Wolfie at a dinner party, and all ladies present agreed that the watermelon sized ghost flower in the middle of the skirt had to go. I pinned a little plastic baggie underneath the fabric, directly on the form, and put a base of Jacquard textile paint on...

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | painting party

Then got to stippling with my beloved Zig markers.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | painting party

Occasionally I'd goof, shrug my shoulders, and throw some more color over the goofs. This dress is made to party, yo. There's no stress in partying! And with a fabric like this, there were plenty of colors that could join in and correct any party fouls.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | painting party

I heat set the colors with a silk organza pressing cloth on top, and cotton muslin underneath, to be sure none of the color came away during pressing. No one left the shindig!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | painting party

She's painted in several places, actually-- here, there's some oona artwork in the left side of the shot, bust cup and below the waist. That bust cup was the first guest at this painting party.

I love fabric! I love knowing more about the world of beautiful yardage, and how to treat to properly, but man, I still love to beat it up. 

Are you a rough mistress, or a cautious lover? 

25 comments:

  1. What! That's genius! Eep...I'm actually speechless, LOL!

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  2. I love that you just go for it!!

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  3. Love how you duffed up your fabric! I need a lesson in facing fabric fear and I think you'd make the best teach evs!! :-)

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  4. LOVE your fearlessness! There's no reason not to make fabric bend to your will, if it's not quite right in its natural state. I am in love with dyeing. I recently ombre-dyed some silk charmeuse on my stove and it was definitely a learning experience, but oh man! The results are to DIE for. Piney-green ombre charmeuse that will become a wrap dress. It's delicious! I want to do more. And ice-dyeing. Have you TRIED ice dyeing??! It's AMAZEBALLS. I do not use that term usually. But it's appropriate for ice dyeing. It's so low-key too. You don't need a boiling cauldron of weirdly colored liquid. Just dye powder, ice, a container and fabric. So, I'm not sure whether that makes me 'rough' or 'gentle'. Maybe just manipulative. I'm ok with that. Once I get my real-life sewing blog (not the costuming one) back up and running, I'll be blogging about dyeing adventures. So much fun!

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    1. ICE DYEING?! yes please! my one experience with stovetop dyeing was no bueno. i'd love to read about your adventures!

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  5. I almost bought a duvet cover that was missing a color that it would need to match my bedroom with the thought I could color it in (with fabric markers). Only because of seeing what you were doing on Instagram.

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    1. what stopped you?! it's like a giant fabric coloring book!

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  6. So creative! Saw your pic in the Summer issue of Burda US... Best Bloggers.

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  7. Great idea! I really beat up on my fabrics since I buy most really inexpensively at the LA fabric jobbers or estate sales.

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  8. OH, I feel so cowardly by contrast. Held captive by the colouring-habits of fabric manufacturers. This must end! I needs to get me some of these markers.

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  9. I love following brave people. Beautiful fabric! Happy early birthday Oona.

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  10. So smart! Never would have thought to color in the fabric, but I love how it worked out!

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  11. This is amazing!! You're a genius!

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  12. Somewhere in between, depending on my mood and how many glasses of wine... Well done, you! I never would have thought to do this.

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  13. I'm hella cautious with fabric. Especially a pricey, kick-ass print (like yours, OMG, girl!!). I'm all brave about getting in my shopping cart, but once it's time to cut into it, I will sometimes write myself a don't-eff-it-up-and-if-you-do list of things to prepare the yardage properly or rescue it if necessary.

    Stellar paint job. I SERIOUS crush on your right brain right now.

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    1. i must admit, it's easier to be reckless when there's a monthly fabric allowance involved. although, i'd just be seeking out mystery fabric to wreck if not!

      i love your IN CASE OF EMERGENCY list. that's super freaking prepared, lady.

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  14. Such a clever idea. I think I might be stealing this one day!

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  15. Being bold with fabric is my new goal...I have so much fabric (and other things, to be honest!) and my new goal this last year is TO USE IT! Why on earth do I have these things if they are just sitting there?? So while I have not forayed into the dyeing/painting part I am all about just going for it. And everything gets machine-washed. I will do perm press or gentle cycle but I am not about to hand wash! Lol I may have to try this painting thing...and ice-dyeing??? I am loving that idea...

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    1. oh, i'm all about machine washing, too! but i'm not against spot hand washing-- i've got a thing against dry cleaning. HATE IT.

      i know, that ice dyeing is intriguing!

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    2. oh my gah: http://www.dharmatrading.com/home/learn-how-to-ice-dye.html

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    3. HOLY FREAKING COW. Let's do this!

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  16. AMAZING. COURAGEOUS. Me? I'm a total coward :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!