2.18.2014

‪ménage à‬ shoes...

oona by marcy harriell oonaballoona

YES YES Y'ALL AN YOU DON'T STOP GOT STREP DON'T CARE IF I FEEL HOT

scusi, been listening to de la soul 24/7 and there it is.  my brain, hip hopped up on tunes and natural remedies.  

CAUSE THIS SHIZZ IS VIRAL, YO.

oona by marcy harriell oonaballoona

i'm actually feeling mui better now, but man, last week?  during the stitching of this?  WAS A DOOZY.  this was another case of a challenge i tried to prepare ahead for, with not one, but two outfits inspired by my sky high wedges... and another week where my left brain disagreed with my right and went merrily off in its own stubborn, woozy direction.

oona by marcy harriell oonaballoona

during what was certainly the height of my strep, i made the lace bolero/shrug out of guipere trim.  the lovely carolyn gifted it to me months, maybe even a year ago, and it was glaring at me.  i wanted to use this competition to push myself to be a better sewist, and hand piecing lace fit the bill.  see that triptych at the bottom?  lacey didn't come like that.  after draping the front sections to my liking, i held my infectious breath, cut into the lace...

oona by marcy harriell oonaballoona

and dove in.  once the cut was made at the shoulders, i pieced the back section together (unfortunately, my stylist did not catch the one little dangling blossom stuck in my dress, MEH INVISIBLE STYLIST).  tack on eight more hours of playing jigsaw with carefully dissected bits and bobs, reattaching them by hand to the lace to create shapes and seams: triangles at bottom front, waves round the underarms, the armhole, the shoulder & sleeve seams....and you have my sickly saturday. 

do me a solid and scroll back on up and see if you can find the sleeve seam.  I CAN'T YO.  

oona by marcy harriell oonaballoona

but let's talk about the kicks!  the inspiration for le challenge!  i don't know if you've noticed, but i don't like to be matchy matchy.  ruggy has certainly noticed.  babe, he said,  i like your outfit.  

really?  i'm really worried about this one!  REALLY REALLY!  (we've been saying everything twice like the olympics sports announcers.  "that was tremendously tremendous!")

no babe, it's great.

so you like the shoes?  you get it?

no.  but i never like your shoes.


oona by marcy harriell oonaballoona

MEH.  WHAT A THING TO TELL A SICK GIRL.

the pairing makes perfect sense to me, but then again i'm a bit nonsensical.  i love print mixing, and i love print matching...what can i say, imma mixed chick.  these shoes provided the opportunity for all kinds of interfabic harmony!

oona by marcy harriell oonaballoona

lookit the care they took in wrapping those cottony babies!  the shoes are perfect examples of print placement.  i wanted to put the same thought into this mexican cotton from hancock's, and man. SO MANY CHOICES.  i draped and redraped the skirt meself, being careful to match the more pronounced stripes up with the princess seams of the top, till i came up with the right stripey combo. pockets are a wonderful thing, i gots em. and these ones are big enough for a pint.

to play with the outlandish proportions of the supertall shoes, i went with midi skirt and teeny top.  i horsehaired the hem, can't seem to get enough of the stuff, and ironed it at the pleat edges on the bottom, creating a permanent crimp so the skirt would balloon out a bit without the help of a crinoline.

oona by marcy harriell oonaballoona

PLEATS TO THE LEFT OF ME, CHEVRONS TO THE RIGHT!  COTTON, AND YARN BOMBED EARRINGS!

i highly recommend yarn bombing some earrings.

the green and purple bits took center stage to contrast the tone of the shoes.  and heya heya... guess who used a facing.  YEP.  that little V in simplicity 1803 needed something, and it wasn't gonna be a full lining as i'd like to wear this medium weight cotton dress come summer.  (y'all remember summer?) much as i hate me a facing, the insides are PRETTY.  turquoise overlocked seams and magenta bias enclosed armholes!  i'll have some gutsy shots for you later in the week, along with some lacy operation bits...

and wouldja like to see the outfit that didn't make the cut?  mebbe i'll show ya?  it's PANTS!  I WAS HELLBENT ON SHOWING YOU I COULD MAKE PANTS!  at one point on saturday i said to ruggy i could hack this skirt off and make it into culottes.  ruggy gaped.  No.  No  One  Likes  Culottes.

oona by marcy harriell oonaballoona

french lace, mexican cotton, and ikat shoes... or are they more native american?  tribal?  either way, that's my threesome, my ‪ménage à‬ shoes for week the third, and i've got my fingers and toes crossed y'all like it enough to throw a vote my way.... EEEEEEK!   or as the olympic announcers say, EEK EEK!  week three is here, head on over to project sewn and make yer choice!

101 comments:

  1. I'm so in love right now. This is my favorite from you!! So unique, creative, crazy, it all works, girl how do you do it?!

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    1. aaah, thank you shanni! i was worried it was a little too out there but then i decided to stick to my technicolor guns :)

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  2. This might be my favorite project sewn yet! This outfit is just so SO you. The lace bolero is such a beautiful, airy, feminine touch with all the print explosion going on... and MAN! I need to get myself some Mexican cotton!! That stuff is swoony. Swoony swoony.

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    1. i gasped when i saw it at hancocks, i think i took everything left on the bolt!

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  3. That dress is absolutely beautiful! You kill me with these gorgeous prints.

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    1. death by print... i guess there are worse ways to go... thank you laura! by the way, you hammering out that vogue yet ?

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    2. Ohhh, not yet. I'm struggling to find any fabric which I like. Tomorrow, I am going shopping with my mum and auntie. They'll bully me into choosing something, I'm sure.

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    3. best kind of bullies. i hope they strongarmed you into some silk.

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    4. If by silk you mean 'cerise jersey with flecks of silver/grey', then you are right. You are exactly right.

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  4. This is so, so fabulous! I was really hoping these would be your inspiration shoes!!!!! Love this so much, and I can't believe you were able to put this together while you were sick!

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    1. haHA you remember these?? definitely not running shoes!!!

      fortunately the NEVERENDING SNOW meant it was a slow week anyways, but jeez. that was a marathon.

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  5. I LOVE LOVE THIS DRESS!!! I agree with Sallie that it is SO SO you!! Perfect, perfect accessories, too.

    And you look gorgeous in these pictures, btw! I love your hair like that!

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  6. Love love it! I need some mexican cotton in my life now. (And some mexican weather to go with it).

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  7. Definitely voted - I've been blogstalking you for a while and I'm A LITTLE BIT IN LOVE. (But no fear, I'm in England... you're pretty safe).

    LACE GUTS PLEASE.

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    1. well thankya! I LIKE LOVE. lace guts coming tomorrow, your wish is my command.

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  8. I am seriously in love with this ENTIRE outfit! Yarn bombed earnings and all!

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  9. O.M.G. I am drooling in admiration and awe over this dress. You have outdone yourself! Seriously. No idea if my Hancock's has any left, but I'm heading over when it opens and look. Probably not, but I'll try.

    Now, Ms. Oonaballoona - what is the secret of getting those chevrons to match up so freakin' perfectly? I'm swooning. I swear I've never had stripes match up so exactly, even with a walking foot. You MUST give us peons something to strive for! LOL!!! I'm begging for some words of wisdom....

    I'm waiting for the close-up shots later this week....

    Sigh.... girl crush here......

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    1. I'm with Angela - HOW did you match those strips so perfectly? I am amazed.

      BTW, nice outfit. It's, it's, ... I don't have words. Perfection.

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    2. Y'ALL. firstly thank you!! second-- there was a lot of time spent tracing the strips on the pattern pieces and fighting the slightly dyslexic half of my brain... but no walking foot! if you find this cotton, grab it! i'll try & dish more in tomorrow's post.

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    3. So sad... I went to my Hancock's here, and the salesperson said she had never seen such a thing at this store. sniff.......

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  10. Awesome dress and the shrug is absolutely beautiful. And no, I can't see the seam at all!
    Culottes??? Oh my gosh, no! (Although you are the only one who could look good in them.)

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    1. hehee. i like culottes. i may just have to prove ruggy wrong.

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  11. Wow-- the stripe matching on that is incredible!

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  12. Mad, mad MAD sewing skilllzzz!!!

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  13. I love everything you make! You never compromise you, i love it. Can't wait to see the insides.. that's my favorite part lol

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    1. oh my god trisha, thank you for noticing-- sometimes i'm like OONA that handstitching doesn't have to be perfect WHY ARE YOU RIPPING IT OUT-- but i can't stop myself.

      guts coming!

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  14. Love the lace bolero! I really wish I could learn to mix prints even a tenth of how you do.

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    1. thankya annette! just start pairing up things on hangers in your closet...it helps if you have a shot of something lovely...

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  15. You are the only sewing blog when everytime I log onto your page, I SCREAM with excitement!!! You are so imaginative, you keep pushing the word "originality" to new heights xx

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    1. mwah david!! and ruggy said the same thing (partly)-- altho he didn't get it, he applauded my originality :))) i think originality is what i strive for.

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  16. You totes need some yarn bombed maracas!

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  17. Yeppers, I'm usually audibly squealing with delight as I scroll down your page. If I'm quiet, it means my jaw is on the keyboard, and I'm all agog in awe! David has said it right...you keep pushing the word originality to new heights! And inspiration? Wow, there is so much giving giving going on here, I want to run straight to my sewing machine and put the pedal to the metal! And, of course, there's the technical genius evident in both the lace and the chevron stripes. Gah! Simply can't be beat! Hope, you are well and truly feeling better Oona!

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    1. sue, i do hope you DID race away and put pedal to medal, because you churn out EYE CANDY.

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  18. You made room for the french, the mexicans... can you squeeze in a little irish in there? Maybe infuse it with some red hair? Red horse hair?

    I'm with Ruggy. No one likes culottes. No. one.

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    1. ha! got some irish right up in my very own bod. you should see peeps faces on st patty's day when i wear my kissmei'mirish shirt. but red horse hair would've been killer.

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  19. Hey Oona-
    I appreciate the care you took not only to make the outfit but the pictures that show off the perfect placement and thought of each piece...especially during sickness....BRAVO!!!
    That was the standout point for me. ;-)

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    1. :) i labored over that placement and really wanted to show the fruits of that, so truly, thank you for noticing!!

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  20. I think this is my favorite! You are a mad mixologist of the stripes and prints! This will be an awesome summer dress. And those shoes, better than black pumps!

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    1. i STILL don't have black pumps!! i may just wear this out in protest of winter.

      this is an area where i suddenly love the word mixologist :)

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    2. or might you prefer mixmaster? I don''t much like the word mixologist either, but my man is learning to make his own bitters so..NOT a mixologist he will become! I will send you some when he perfects the recipe!

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  21. OHMYGODYESSS!!!!!! Best Project Sewn outfit TO DATE!!!!! Want want want want...

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  22. I love everything about this outfit. The lace bolero is so pretty and the dress fabric and style is lovely and also very wearable. And, in my fave colour, purple!

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  23. Your pattern placement is AMAZING. This dress may just be my favorite thing you have EVER made, and I think it's your divine use of color and pattern that win my heart. You're just the best.

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  24. That is fabulously fabulous!!! You knocked this one out of the park, chica. I'm in love with that dress. I've always checked out those "tribal" fabrics at Hancock but never bought any. They seem to be a higher quality. This is gorgeous. Gorgeously gorgeous!

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    1. i seriously recommend it, didn't even know there was a tribal section! i get kind of crazyeyed and neglect the signage. would loooove to see what you'd do with this.

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  25. I concur with everyone else, this is Fabulous!! You are a genius x

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    1. thank you jenni! ruggy's going to have to be careful, i'm gonna take this genius stuff seriously :)

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  26. Stop being so fabulous! You're making us all feel bad about ourselves!

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  27. Oona, you gorgeous minx!!! Love it!

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  28. Stop it with all that line matching! Fabulous from every direction.

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    1. I CAN'T. i don't know what's up with me these days but i wanna match ERRRRTHANG.

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  29. Oona I found your secret lair!!
    I didn't know you live in Harvard Square!
    http://instagram.com/p/kk-3w6L0Ao/

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    1. um, if i could've quintuple liked that, i totally would have.

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  30. FABULOUS!!!! How you get seemingly opposing colours, shapes and textures to agree with each other is simply genius. Well done!! Voted and so looking forward to more from you.

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  31. Great ensemble -- the yarn-bombed earrings are the perfect finishing touch.

    I too took advantage of the free De La download. Funny how 1989 doesn't seem so very long ago.

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    1. cannot believe that was 1989. also was shocked to hear cee lo rocking with them!

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  32. Fab-U-lous, once again you hit a home run. I love all of this and your pictures are always perfection, you are always so comfortable in front of the camera.

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    1. heheheh, comes from years in front of dance class mirrors, i guess :)

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  33. Oh my, your outfit is fantabulous! You are the chevron queen and those shoes are wowza!

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    1. thank you norie! those chevrons were a technicolor HEADACHE.

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  34. Shut the front door. That dress is too fricking perfect. What's that Oona curves? You'd like some amazing chevrons to make all the other curves jealous? DONE.

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  35. Oh, chica, SO close between you and Ms. Pinheiro but your SHOES just slay me!! That tribal black and white thing....oh oh oh....you never cease to amuse and amaze : )

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    1. it's terrible fun isn't it?!! i swear this competition has made me just want to be creative nonstop. i'm loving it!

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  36. You are a genius! I'm inspired! Wow!

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  37. You kill it every week. The lace bolero it's genius... Show the pants

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  38. Another inspired outfit! I couldn't manage this kind of stripey magic on a healthy day so I'm baffled/ seriously impressed at your sickbed efforts! Looking fabulous as always :)

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    1. i think maybe the fever helped. maybe a healthy person would see the folly of attempting this in a week :))!

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  39. I love that dress - and the detailing is wonderful. Killer pattern matching! Couldn't find the seam on the lace either. Love it.

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    1. thank you! i'll have some close ups of the seam tomorrow, we'll see if we can find her...

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  40. OMG love it! This is totes making me want burritos and a marachi band out on the terrace in the best possible way. As always loving your work xxx

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  41. One of the Best Evvvv-ah. Five Stars.

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  42. I love your bodice..ok, that sounded a bit weird :-) but those chevrons are wonderfully wonderful!

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  43. You look amazing!!! The matching of the chevrons is ace!! As always, LOVE THE SHOES!

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  44. I cannot stop looking at those stripes/chevrons/!!!!! DAMN! Matched to perfection... Yarn bomb earrings, seriously awesome wedges..stop. You are a celebrity. That's all.

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  45. The print matching on this dress is EPIC. That is all ^__^

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  46. I wish I could here you say this stuff in real life...

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  47. I so admire your skills, what a beautiful dress you've made - that bodice! that chevron matching! Great!

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  48. This. Dress. Is. Stunning! Give. It. To. Me. Now. (And the shoes, of course) Dat neckline dude. I think I just drooled on my laptop.

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  49. I have a fabric buying ban in place but I am about to break it because OMG THAT FABRIC!!!

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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!