8.20.2020

Finding Happy

Finding Happy | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

Though the joy in these pics is 100% real, I’ll be honest with you, I started this week out plain DONE. Sad, angry, ugly crying, DONE. I don't have to tell you why, the great big bulk of us is experiencing this on the regular, for any number of well known reasons. Just keepin it real.

At the moment, however, I am whatever is the opposite of "done." I don't know what that qualifier would be; I'm sure there's some new term for it that would make me slightly queasy, but I'm hanging on to it when I get it (as I'm also sure the great big bulk of us is doing). 

Finding Happy | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

Those little bows from my last post started the shift back to happy. I had planned on making full on barrettes, but four stores and no dice proved that there's been a pandemic run on...plain metal barrettes? Interesting. I have no idea what people are doing with barrettes, but there it is. I decided to forge ahead anyways and use the humble bobby pin, which gave me such immense satisfaction when it proved to be the perfect solution, I couldn't even be mad at the aforementioned fruitless search.  

I didn't want to usurp that post with any amount of frustration, just as much as I don't want to usurp this blazingly happy pink print with general world shock. For now, I think it's better to say again, and as always, creating is a cure, and I'm grateful to have the means to continue to do it. We'll get into all the rest for sure, because it has to be talked about. But HOW BOUT WE HANG ONTO THIS HAPPY FEELING FOR A MINUTE AND TALK ABOUT CREATING.

Finding Happy | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

This dress is the first garment from my Birthday Fabric Haul, and the print hails from House of Mami Wata. It's a riff on one of my self drafted patterns, but quite simply: if you have a princess seamed bodice in your pattern stash, you can get here. I'll do a little video on it, if you'd like to see how!

With six yards in a cut of wax print, there's really no excuse for poor print placement. And yet, as you can see, those angles don't match up under the bodice....

...and those curves at center front are serving you Georgia O'Keefe.

Always, always strive to have a manufacture's emblem down center back. Though with this print and social distancing WHO'S NOTICING

Plus the emblems don't start till below my butt anyways.

I have an EXCELLENT excuse for any dodgy print placement: Rob wants Jams out of this print. JAMS! I HAVE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF THIS!!! 

Do y'all remember Jams? For those that don't, they are the most fabulous shorts in existence. Knee length, wild prints, with about twelve candy colored hues in every glorious pair. My Dad used to wear them on summer weekends, when he'd grill up a bunch of goodness on his speck of time off, on a deck he hammered together over more of those weekends. I loved helping him on those weekends! Once I helped by dropping an entire plate of barbecued chicken. Aside from that, I was an excellent beer-getter and plate-holder. 

That memory of my Dad's weekend uniform is one of my earliest inspirations to get to my current technicolor closet. 

So yeah. When Rob asked for Jams, I decided to re-prioritize print placement.

However I'm pretty thrilled with the side view at the bustline (cuz I cut the bodice twice, dontcha know).

And really. When have I ever shied away from highlighting reproductive organs, anyways?

Alrighty y'all, we're almost at the weekend! May you have Jams to wear, and a plate fulled of something grilled. And if you're at a "done" place... may you find a little time to create.

36 comments:

  1. If y’all are still in Arkansas, check to see if Sally Beauty Supply has the barrettes you’re looking for. Love your dress!

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    1. After 4 tries, I might have abandoned the search for barrettes 😂. But Sally’s probably would have produced results!

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  2. Oona, oh Oona,

    It's all coming to a head, a crash, and a place where all the players meet.

    You were told, in rhyme, about the pitchforks and torches getting heavy - here's to hoping in the next week the weight begets a watershed.

    As for you, our gift is your lift - and you always brighten and illuminate.

    To vibrant fabrics, loved ones, and every chance to share the sparkle.

    Testosterone

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    1. ❤️all eyes and hearts over here are hoping for that shift in balance...it’s been off for too long. Hope you’re well, my friend!

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  3. Yay! For barrettes with bobby pins, Georgia O’Keefe homage, and JAMS!! I love this make...I think the stars on the tiers is a gorgeous design feature, as is the organ empowerment in pink! You sparkle, sew sister! And you inspire with your truth. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you so much! (And I’m rabid to get those jams made...)

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  4. Judy Chicago inspired dress. I love it!

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  5. gorgeous - love it and the Georgia O Keefe references perfect!

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    1. 😁😁😁and you know, I even told myself to flip the curves when cutting.

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  6. Lovely, Beautiful, and the dress is nice too. Frankly I would not be worried about the design in the center front. If the design had been placed a bit higher or the fabric moved down a little you might find it a little problematic. I do not see the problem in the bodice, nor can I see the manufactures logo in the back. Hold a minute, I'll look again. ............I do see them, but they aren't very big. Pin some little matching bows on them.

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    1. Thank you! Yes, I thought that too...just a couple more inches and it REALLY would have been a portal. I’m thinking about taking my fabric markers to those emblems.

      (I deleted your “oops” for you! And thank you for the birthday wishes 💗)

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  7. Have a Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday.

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  8. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the colorful dress!

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  9. Showcase those organs, bahahaha. That smile is all I need. Much lov

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    1. I will always point out the humor 😅 love to you as well!

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  10. You are amazing. Your blog is filled with fun,color and humor.Hope you are enjoying AR.

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  11. Your posts make me happy! I love your overwhelming enthusiasm for everything you do, even the bad stuff. You and your style express my inner "me" even though our outer presentations don't match at all. I am a firm believer that every crisis presents an opportunity and 2020 has given us a wealth of opportunities to remake our world, our society, into something much better, much stronger.

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    1. This made me so happy, thank you. I’m hoping we Six Million Dollar Man this world...though maybe we need to increase that budget...

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  12. Love the dress on you, AND your spunky way of expressing yourself!

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  13. This too will pass Oona. I'm sure your mom or grandma has told you this, as I have told my son, but it always bears repeating. Peace and love to you.

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    1. My MIL told me once, it’s important to remember that ‘This too shall pass’ applies to the good times too—sounds depressing, but so that we remember how special the good times are. I’m looking forward to the upswing ❤️❤️❤️

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  14. Didn't notice the Georgia O'Keefe-ness until you mentioned it. Between that and the jams throw back, thanks for making me laugh today!

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  15. It's a lovely totally wonderful Marcy dress! Enjoy the joy of it!

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  16. You are stunning!  The dress is too, of course.  As for the barrettes, I think that is how everyone who can't get a haircut is keeping hair off their face in the summer heat.  My MIL (who has had short hair for the last 35 years) is singlehandedly responsible for any barrette shortage in the southeast.

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  17. I just discovered you and your delightful posts! Your creations are soooo beautiful and you radiate in them. Truly stunning. Many blessings to you. I pray your heart will be comforted during this difficult time.

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  18. Love the dress. And the backdrop. Seems like people were using barrettes to hold the masks or something like that. Funny how there’s a run on everything. I have had a hard time finding oatmeal.

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  19. I love these big bold print dresses! I love them so much I was inspired to finally purchase a 6 yard batch from Mami Wata myself! Excited to work with it soon!

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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!