7.02.2015

put a bird on it and call it SUMMER.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | linen rayon summer maxi dress | mood fabrics

Ruggy's back behind the lens, y'all, and wonder of wonders...he covets this insane fabric for himself! I AM FINALLY RUBBING OFF ON HIM!

How glorious is this print?! Everyone, but EVERYONE, at Mood Fabrics thought I'd already snagged this fabric. Maybe the NY staff is creeping into my dreams, because before I stumbled upon this linen rayon blend on the magical top floor, that's where it existed.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | linen rayon summer maxi dress | mood fabrics

I snatched three yards from the delicious Kway, who did a burn test for me on the spot. (I mean…peeps, if your eyes ever need an afternoon pick me up, run on up to the top floor and have Kway do a burn test. You're welcome.) 

He posited that he'd already cut this print for me weeks ago, which led to our usual highly enjoyable banter ("What time of the day was it? Is it possible I'd had a cocktail at lunch?"). On the way down the stairs, three Mood peeps said they were "glad I was getting more of it." Diane greeted me at the counter, wonderful Diane, who loves fabric as much as we do, and she too was certain she'd previously bagged this for me.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | linen rayon summer maxi dress | mood fabrics

Do I have a twin out there? Surely I would remember stomping home with this stuff! It has the most incredible silky hand, but not watery silky, more like windswept hay silky, know what I mean? No? When they invent the app for tactile screens, I'll update the post. Surely, in a world where this fabric can exist, that app is not too far off.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | linen rayon summer maxi dress | mood fabrics

The birds, however. THE BIRDS. The birds were positively Hitchcockian in their efforts to wound me. Kway jokingly deemed them Vultures Of Death, and THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRUTH IN THAT JEST. The fabric repeat made the pleated draped skirt a lesson in insanity. I actually painted a few of those yellow beaked parrots black down center front, under the box pleat, so that the wind wouldn't reveal a glitch in the matrix.

In the end I finally gave myself a pass on the repeat-- for some reason, summer sewing feels more enjoyable, less need for perfection, maybe? 

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | linen rayon summer maxi dress | mood fabrics

However, I went nutso on making perfect piping. Can you spy it round the cups & front waistband? My first crack at making it myself with actual cotton cording, and not whatever crazy neon round elastic I've got on hand. The proper material is more mushy. Fun and slightly dangerous. Self-made piping: Let's sew through a finger together! 

No, let's don't.

I used the reverse of the fabric for the piping, so it's barely noticeable, but I love what it does to the bodice, which is fully lined with fashion fabric-- thankfully so, since it gave me multiple cracks at which feathered breasts would rest on my own.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | linen rayon summer maxi dress | mood fabrics

Some pattern info: I used Burdastyle's Danielle dress, bodice portion only, as a starting point, hacking the pattern until I had what I wanted, then draped the skirt on my dress form. Then, when I went a little too close for comfort on the fit, I abandoned the invisible zip and installed an exposed gold big toothed zipper. 

It's like I've got a mac daddy pimp on my back.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | linen rayon summer maxi dress | mood fabrics

Speaking of mac daddy pimps, photographeur Ruggy got some good close ups, no? Truthfully, this wide angle shot is where he spent most of his time. RUGGY, I pleaded, YOU DO ACTUALLY NEED TO GET THE DRESS.

This is an often repeated cry, usually answered with a grunt and maybe a don't bother me I'm composing a shot. This time he let me in on his madness: But you're going to love this, you can tag the wall with OONA ROCKS.

?!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | linen rayon summer maxi dress | mood fabrics

WELL OKAY THEN.

How bout y'all? Do you loosen up the rules for summer stitching? Letting a bit of perfection go seems easier in the warmer months: relaxation is the rule...

this bird brained frock was made using my monthly fabric "allowance" as part of the mood sewing network. 

53 comments:

  1. I am pretty sure you've already made somethin in that fabric. Check your photos... I vaguely remember something about a bird facing some odd direction. ..

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    1. good memory, but! those were IG shots of the bodice of this dress during the cutting stage, where i was choosing birds facing up vs upside down ;))

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  3. Dead gorgeous. What a great summer dress!

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    1. thank you! i was surprised to find even ruggy likes this shape, i was sure it was a females-only dress ;)

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    1. thank you, i wish you could feel it. is that weird to say?

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  6. LOVE THIS!!! Wow the tweaks on the bodice are fabulous. I kinda love the minimal coverage up there on you. Super sexy without being a "working girl" vibe. And those straps. Awesome. Nice close-ups Ruggy!

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    1. yeah i totally wanted as little fabric as possible up top! i did get a "um, check your bodice" at a restaurant, tho. whoopsie daisies.

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  7. Gorgeous! I bought 5 yards of that fabric in mid-May, it's getting sewn this weekend. Nothing so fabulous as this, just a dress for work to be worn with a fuschia jacket.

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    1. anything made out of this fabric is going to be uber fabulous. please holler if you happen to have some photos!

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  8. That is one fantastic dress! Looks great on you!

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  9. This maxi is fantastic! Exactly what you should be wearing sipping a margarita on a beach somewhere..
    Summer for sure makes me want to sew quick and easy breezy dresses too! Save pattern matching for indoor winter months!

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    1. yes, pattern matching is an excellent cure for the winter blues. i think i'm gonna go with this trend and sew like 7 dresses this weekend.

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  10. Amazing! I like a reading your posts, you are so funny!

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  11. How that frackity frack do you get a dress like that out of 3 yards? I am sure the extra fabric you already bought snuck in there somewhere...

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    1. HAHA!! nope, i swear, just the three yards! do remember: that bodice, already itty bitty sized, is EXTRA itty bitty. i think i used a half of a quarter yard on it ;)

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  12. Lots of love for this dress! And clever you...making the piping with fashion fabric wrong side out. I can't actually see yours, and I dare not criticize a photographer extraordinaire {the wide angle vistas shots are sublime, after all}....but I'd love a close up on the piping and the straps too! And the zipper! Sweet serendipity how a minor fitting issue turned into a major design detail...I LOVE it!

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    1. methinks i needs a new series on guts & closeups...one cannot, of course, bother le photographeur when he is "composing." but whaddaya think, a weekly details post on something close up worthy??

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  13. Maybe one day, you're gonna run into the other "you" from another dimension, and she'll say you stole her look... Won't that be weird...

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    1. that would be amazing. i hope we don't get into a catfight. over birds.

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  14. Oh your garments and photoshoots are such an inspiration. I have previously mentioned to the other half your post about the dude who told Ruggy to get down on the dirty streets to shoot you taller and last weekend when I tentatively and timidly requested 'can you make me taller?', he sighed and dropped down on one knee in the grass - I was delighted ;o)

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  15. Gah, this makes me want to pull out summer fabrics from my stash and make pretty floaty dresses but it's cold winter down here so I really need to make more warm stuff instead.

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    1. i always, but always, want to be sewing summer dresses, so i feel ya. it's so hard to sew out of season.

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  16. Love this! The exposed zipper is so good. Couldn't imagine it any other way.

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  17. Haha, those creative photographs! Sometimes the boy takes photos and it's no dress, all face. Makes me feel loved and all, but then I have to go outside again for more photos! Adore the fabric, it's totally Oona. I hope you did already buy some and find it under a magazine or something.

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    1. if i find this under a magazine, i'm going to have my eyes checked! love the tale of your boy. with mine sometimes it's all "super cool railing" and me totally out of focus!

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  18. Tell Ruggy I am digging these photos! Especially that first one. Loving this sexy summery maxi, too.

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    1. i just told ruggy you loved the bird dress photos, and he was all "what photos?"

      "the ones you took at lincoln center."

      "oh, the LINCOLN CENETR PHOTOS."

      UM. CLEARLY he does not understand what is the most important element in these shots.

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  19. Oona, this dress is magnificent! It's so dramatic and colorful and fabulously you. That print is to-die-for! Love, love, love it.

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  20. Love the birds frock and your amusing blog.

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  21. Whoa, stunning!!.... and the fabric is nice too! Amazing photos, glorious fabric. That exposed gold zip was meant to be!

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  22. I love this, is there any more left???? The birds, the cording AND the exposed zipper are too good!

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    1. i think it's finally gone the way of the dodo bird...... but you should call and check! it's on the top floor in linens.

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  23. I LOVE IT. The photos and the dress = perfect post :)

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  24. Wow! Can you hear me shrieking?! What a dress!!!

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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!