8.30.2012

in a blue mood and loving it


ooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOH!!!  I AM SO HAPPY WITH THIS DRESS!!!


I'm not lying to you when I say I sang songs to this dress. I cooed and petted it. Diane Reeves and I serenaded it many an evening. The three of us harmonize quite well together, if I do say so myself.



When she is quiet (or, at least, as quiet as this print can be) she looks like this. But when she gets frisky...


PEEP SHOW YO!


I adore this panel print. She is silk. She is Anna Sui. She is from Mood, los angeles locale, I haven't been able to find her online, but she's still available there. I defy you to stand in front of the Anna Sui section there and not choose something. DEFY.


I first spied this delicacy rolled up in the remnants box. Misha (my mood LA muse) happily unrolled it for me, then, upon seeing my dismay at the lone panel, pointed me to the actual bolt. I walked out with 4 yards (16 dollas a yard!) and another 6 yards of feathers.

Yes, feathers. The feathers did not make it to their final destination of le hem. I was vehemently voted down, several times. More on that to come.


And she is completely draped!  had 4 yards.  hat equaled 4 panels.  My remnant amputee panel was lonely, so after a good swig of courage (whiskey), I sliced the remaining 3 panels into separate squares, then box pleated each square once to hide the smaller design. The middle of each pleat became center front, side seams, and center back zipper (a slash zipper insertion right down the middle of the box pleat). I sewed the 4 pleats down to about mid hip level. Each panel was then reattached, making pretty much a large tube, which I then took in until I had the shape I wanted. Makadesense? No? I could whip up some drawings if you desire...


the side seams open and close at will as well.


And the panels ended up to be just right for my desired length. Well, I mean, there were supposed to be 5 inch long feathers which would have made it floor length...  but apparently that would have made the dress "tacky". Again, evidence and arguments to come.  However, I could not be stopped from using a leatherish bias tape along the neckline (which you can see in the first shot).  

I don't know how to end this post. All I can think to do is holler THIS DRESS ROCKS AND I AM A GOLDEN GOD but somehow that has an air of pomposity to it. That said, this dress rocks and I am a golden god. 'kbye!

this creation was made using my monthly fabric "allowance" as part of the Mood Sewing Network.

182 comments:

  1. You ARE a golden god! There is nothing pompous about stating true facts, girl!!

    Also, whoever talked you out of the feathers for fear of being tacky clearly has no taste. I think feathers at the hem sound amaaazing, gah.

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    Replies
    1. i snapped a pic of the feathers pinned to the hem... i should put it up to a bloggers' vote!

      Delete
  2. WOW, WOW, WOW is all I can say for that most amazing dress. I have not seen anything this fantastic in a long time. It was hard not to take my eyes off of it and read what you wrote.

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    Replies
    1. thank you! that's probably a good thing, as i couldn't seem to write a coherent sentence for this post...

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  3. Oh my goodness, that is possibly one of the most amazing dresses I have ever seen! Simply stunning!!!

    In my opinion it definitely does not need the feathers (sorry!)

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    Replies
    1. i think i'm starting to agree, plus! i have some new fabric that seems made for those feathers :)

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  4. This dress is rockin' The pleats add so much to the dress. The smaller details of the print "pop" out when you twirl! Amazing, do you feel me? I'm glad the feathers didn't make it onto the dress. I think they would have been tacky.

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    Replies
    1. I FEEL YOU GIRL. and ruggy (the main naysayer of feathers) applauds your taste.

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  5. oona this is absolutely beautiful!

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  6. You are a freaking golden god!! That fabric is amazing with its peep-show abilities! I love it!

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    Replies
    1. sallie oh in the house.... let's meet up for drinks in some silk...

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  7. I absolutely LOVE this. The dress, the fabric. WOW!!

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  8. This dress is amazing, and it doesn't need feathers to fly ;) Incredible design Oona!!

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  9. Fabulous! I too would be singing if I'd made this dress. And the choice of the blue wall for a background is genius.

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    Replies
    1. that was the back of my pilates studio in LA... well, mine in the sense that i went to six classes.

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  10. That dress needs it's own movie! You're a brave woman to cut into $16 a yard fabric but you're a genius to make it into that beautiful dress!

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  11. that pleating is pure genius! love this soooo much!

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  12. That fabric is so incredibly scrumptious that it compelled me to come out from my lurking status and comment for the first time ever! PLEASE let us know if you ever see that fabric sold online somewhere - 2000 miles is a little far for me to travel for my fabric fetish. Even a hoarder girl has her limits. ;)

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    Replies
    1. you know, if you emailed mood LA with one of these pictures, i bet they could take care of you. i haven't seen it in the online store, but i know they check stock via email.

      happy to see you out of the shadows!

      Delete
  13. Yes, you are a golden god! This dress is stunning!

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  14. You and this dress are Frakin Fantastic.

    Were you singing in the 4th photo? It looks like you are about to belt out some vocals.

    How is the Wet City treating you?

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    1. i wouldn't put it past me, i'm always howling.

      LOVE. SEATTLE!!! it is absolutely glorious here!

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    2. Let me know when you start recording yourself singing, I would love a copy. I am dead serious.

      Isn't Seattle breath-taking? It's at the top of my list to relocate.

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  15. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

    I WANT THIS DRESS. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DRAPED IT YOURSELF AND I KINDA FEEL LIKE YOU MARRIED THE MAN OF MY DREAMS AND GAVE ME THE FINGER FROM THE ALTAR.

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    1. okay, so i was sitting at work, and i was on a semi break, everyone else working. i laughed so hard i think i almost got fired.

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  16. This is five kinds of amazing! Draped and dangerous! I lerv the print and you werqed it for all its worth. Great photography by the way.

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    1. thank you! i had a great time talking myself into ignoring the people across the alleyway staring out their windows at the crazy lady with her tripod:)

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  17. This dress is absolutely amazing! AMAZING!!! AND SO ARE YOU!! How are you so creative? Oh right, you're a golden god, that's why. :D

    And also, so is that wall. BLUE EVERYWHERE!!

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    Replies
    1. that blue, man. there must be research on that shade of blue, it's the color of a pilates studio and i swear, that blue kept me going in the few classes i dragged myself to...

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  18. That fabric is amazing! Gorgeous dress!

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  19. This dress ROCKS, yo! And so do you!! The box pleats, panel placement, so genius!!! :D UH-MAY-ZING!!!! :D

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  20. I am very much in love with your dress. Such a beautiful fabric and you designed it to be shown off brilliantly. I am a more is more kind of person, too, but I am glad you left this fabric to stand on its own.

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  21. I am in awe of the most amazingest dress ever. So awesome!

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  22. you are a golden goddess, lovely oona! i want to sing to it too :)

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    Replies
    1. then we shall be golden together, and drink gold tequila, and sing to our silks...

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  23. Stunning! It looks wonderful on you and looks like it should have cost a fortune.

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  24. WOW!!! We are loving this dress so much here at Mood! You have done our fabric proud, Miss Oonaballoona! I'm gonna print out a photo of you wearing this right now and put it up on my bulletin board. Keep up the great work!

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    Replies
    1. i screamed a little when i read this. i screamed a LOT when i read your next comment!!

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  25. OMG!!!! What a beautiful dress, tu es sublime dedans!!!!
    Never find a fabric like this in France ;)

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    1. mais non!!! please tell me this isn't true... then i must get to france as quickly as possible, in this dress. for the sake of the country.

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  26. Holy smokes, your dress is amazing! I reckon I'd be pretty pleased with myself too if that was my handiwork :)

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  27. That's one of the best uses of a patterned fabric I've seen in a long time, it looks amazing! I think it's fine without the feathers, that probably would have made it impossible to wash.

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    Replies
    1. yes! the washing factor. although, i am never not ever throwing this in the wash. i may just put it in a glass case and worship it.

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  28. All I can at is, "WOW!". Seriously, that dress is so dramatic, but what you did with it makes it suitable for evening wear OR day wear. So beautiful! I must bow down to Oona, queen of the prints!

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    Replies
    1. that was one of ruggy's arguments for no feathers! luckily i am a gentle queen and did not order his head.

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  29. Oh, my god! I mean, OH MY GOLDEN GOD! That dress is absolutely beautiful. You never fail to amaze me with your creative eye and talent. Bravo.

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  30. Oh my, it is unbelievably gorgeous! I want to shop for fabric in L.A. You have every right to jump in to the pool screaming I am a golden god, my dear.

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    Replies
    1. were we still in LA, i just might do it. god knows ruggy did.

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  31. That is one of the best uses of a panel thgat i have ever seen that wasn't designed for it- you and the Sui must really bond more. It is just too much!!!

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  32. omg I adore this. I never know what to do with this kind of print, but you are an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. well, first things first, you have a drink. and then have at.

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  33. Awesome. Well done. Beautiful print.

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  34. Replies
    1. it is so swishy! and the wind was totally cooperating for effect. i was racing to my timer every time it kicked up, i must've looked bananas.

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  35. Oh, Oona. That dress is breathtaking.

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    Replies
    1. ah, my curly haired swearing friend, thank you! hope you're reunited with your machine...

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  36. I absolutely LOVE this! LOVE this on you. I adore your creativity and the dress!

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  37. All hail the Golden Goddess in her most marvellous DRAPED dress!

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  38. THIS DRESS ROCKS AND I AM A GOLDEN GOD is simply a bald statement of the facts.
    facts.
    That fabric is soooooo gorgeous and sewn so beautifully. Oy, silk. And a whole section of a shop for Anna Sui fabrics??!??!!? Careful, Anna sees you in this she's gonna copy you next season!!

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    Replies
    1. an Annaballoona, eh? i can see the court case now: it's cool, judge, i'll just take my settlement in fabric.

      Delete
  39. Me again just to tell you that I am holding up a big photo of you wearing this dress at Mood's staff meeting tomorrow morning, just so everyone can ooh and ah about how fabulous this dress is. I LOVE IT and it's MOOD FABRIC too!

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    Replies
    1. and that's when i screamed OUT LOUD.

      and have screamed it to ruggy every fifteen minutes or so ever since.

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  40. Oona, this is freaking stunning. You win all the prizes.

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  41. This dress is the AWESOMEST DRESS OF THE YEAR!! I LOVE IT!!

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  42. This dress totally rocks! Your whiskey-induced bravery seriously paid off.

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  43. Great dress, Oona!!! You are a print genius!

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  44. Oh my oh my, utterly fabulous. This is the dress this fabric was meant to be!

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  45. Holey Moley, Oona! You ARE a golden goddess, this dress ROCKS and may be the single most spectacular thang you have ever created. It is absoloootely sublime. I love it. I want it. I am so freakin' jealous.

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  46. You are a master! Holy cow I am in love with this dress, I'm a sucker for prints and this one would of grabbed me right away too, sadly I am definitely no where close to a Mood Fabrics, boo hoo.

    I'm truly in awe of your creation, so beautiful, bravo.

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    Replies
    1. thank you bri! i've always been taken by panel prints, but this was the first time i knew what to do with it :)

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  47. Oh, my god, seriously? This dress is OFF THE CHARTS AWESOME!
    -Sandra

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  48. You should holler from the highest of heights! You are a Golden God and that dress ROCKS!!! Beautiful. I am in awe.

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    Replies
    1. i'll tell ya, ruggy might have lost some hearing over the past few days...

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  49. This dress IS amazing and you ARE a Golden God! Also... sneak peak.

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  50. Wow, that is beautiful! And so awesome you draped it yourself!

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    Replies
    1. thank you lisa! i was pretty stoked when my scheme worked out :)

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  51. Oh my word! Gorgeous like always. You make fabrics show off their details so damn well. Simply gorgeous!

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  52. Wow! This dress is a masterpiece- so unique, stylish, hot couture! And it fits you so well- if you are looking for a name: I would call it Joy of life!
    Best regards
    Claudia

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  53. Oh goodness gracious me. What a creation, you brilliant minx. That fabric makes my insides dosey-do - love that you waved your Oona wand and made something so magic sans pattern (I love your beautiful pleated secrets). Wants one. Re: leatherish bias tape... Did you buy it or make it? I want to use something similar on a coat but didn't really feel like trying to press vinyl.

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    Replies
    1. um, OONA WAND?! yes please!!!

      i made the bias tape, and pressed it by throwing a towel over it. it still didn't crease, so i just folded as i went. and i sewed it with a fat strip of tissue paper under the pleather so it would glide. worked like a charm!

      Delete
  54. The dress is amazing and you are beautiful too lady!

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  55. This dress is so inspiring I dreamt about box pleats all night. Go Oona!

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  56. This dress is genius. Clothes are not always this conceptually rich!

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  57. What a dress!! One word - beautiful!!

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  58. Replies
    1. Wow lady! I am lacking superlatives for the awesomeness that is dress.

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    2. thank you connie and lisa!

      excellent use of the word superlative, by the way, which in and of itself makes up for any lack of.

      Delete
  59. Wow. This is amaze balls. I LOVE it. Really, truly, love it. Bravo.

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    Replies
    1. thank you! now i need a pair of your hot shorts, and my closet will be complete....

      Delete
  60. Go you Golden Goddess. I say take those feathers and some more of the leather and make an amazing necklace or belt. You can have your feathers and take them off when such "tackiness" won't do. LOVE this dress and that fabric. Sigh!

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    Replies
    1. thank you roxy!

      i'm seriously thinking of going the purse route with those feathers....

      Delete
  61. Why, hello, GORGEOUS! I was talking to you AND the dress!! It's mavehlous, darling! I love how the pleats hide and then reveal the inner pattern! And that bias binding is the perfect touch!

    Lest this comment turn into a love-fest, I'm gon go ahead and agree with the person that vetoed the feathers.

    k. thanx. bai. :p

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  62. Wowza. I am searching for some more erudite comment, but that's all I got. If prints like this threw themselves in front of me... well, I'd be a lot poorer, but proably still nowhere near as cool as Oona. /sigh.

    Awesome. :)

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    Replies
    1. a print may just be throwing itself at you come this fall....

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  63. A dress more than worthy of the delicious print it's made from. I had a recent splurge in Mood LA myself, but I was flummoxed by the panel prints. I'm delighted you were the opposite of flummoxed!

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    1. seriously, this was the first time i knew what to do with a panel print! is that flowy batiky fabric from your mood haul? i LOVE it.

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    2. No it's from the downtown Fabric Planet for almost no money - you want some?

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  64. That fabric is out of this world!!! And I don't think 5" feathers would've been tacky at all... Maybe make a detachable hemline addition?


    Also, just wanted to let you know that I've nominated you for some of those inter-bloggy awards over at my work blog: http://byhandlondon.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/thanking-you-kindly/

    PS. That dress rocks and you are a Golden God!

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    Replies
    1. thank you for the love and the award! and what a delicious blog you have!

      Delete
  65. That dress rocks and you are a golden Baloona. Sorry, not going into the god area here!
    I love those peeping pleated panels. I wanted to do more of an alliteration with that, but could not come up with a suitable P adjective to describe its awesomeness... all I can think of is "preposterous", and that's certainly not what I mean. :-)

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    Replies
    1. a golden balloona. EGADS! A GOLDEN CALF!!!

      i think peeping pleated panels is perfect. in fact, i'm peeved i didn't proffer it myself.

      Delete
  66. $16 a yard? That is dirt cheap! You can barely get good plain jersey for that here! And for designer stuf-forgetaboutit! Jeez I envy your fabric-store-access. Also, cool dress!

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    Replies
    1. you know what's crazy? i thought it was dirt cheap too. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME.

      Delete
  67. Ahmahzing! The fabric is so scrumptious, and I love the hidden panels! And silk! *faints*

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  68. a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!!!!!

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  69. Holy fabric batman! This dress is delicious!

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    Replies
    1. i want to say "thank you bobbin robin" but there's just no way you're a sidekick...

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  70. Replies
    1. KAZZ! you were in my head the whole time telling me to go for the feathers!

      Delete
  71. I am drooling. DROOLING! I want sketches, I want the fabric, and I want to know who thought the feathers would be tacky.

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    Replies
    1. yes ma'am. i'm pretty sure if i drew you a post it you could make a pattern. and take a wild guess on le feathers.

      Delete
  72. What a dress. Seriously. Your creativity is so inspiring. Wish I could have seen it in person in Seattle.

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    Replies
    1. third time has GOT to be the charm. we'll have to choose each other's outfits :)

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  73. Color me impressed! (Is the color of impressed-ness blue?) I am really loving your fabric choice and those secret pleats. Can't believe you just winged the most awesome dress of the year!

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    Replies
    1. hmm, i think the color of sore muscles is blueness, as that was my gym. thanks girl!

      Delete
  74. You are a golden god indeed! This dress is divine and you were absolutely right with the construction of it and the placement of the panels. Fantastic!

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    Replies
    1. thank you so much! i ought to put up the pics of me swinging the dress around on my form, looking for the right pleat placement...

      Delete
  75. I only have half an idea of what all your sewing terms mean but the dress looks fantastic. Can't wait to see what you do with those feathers!

    -Desiree, Pop-o-matic Deluxe

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    Replies
    1. tell you the truth, i only have a vague idea what half the things i'm saying mean too...

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  76. Fantastic! Hope the weather in Seattle stays sunny so you can wear it :)

    -Sara, Road to the Heart

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  77. STUNNING. Just stunning. I am always amazed by the awesomeness that you create, but this one truly takes the cake and leaps to the #1 spot of favorite things you have made :) LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

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    Replies
    1. THANKS GIRL! wouldn't it just look awesome out on the town with your peacock prom dress, and le men in tuxes????

      Delete
  78. Yes you are a golden god, and that dress certainly rocks. Great work draping, love the hidden surprise inside the pleats! Amazing all around, you deserve more whiskey!

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  79. This dress is drop dead gorgeous! I love how you used the print and how it moves. Very, very, cool.

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  80. So beautiful, so beautiful. The dress and the fabric--what a perfect combination. This has to be my favorite dress of yours (it was the silk chiffon layer-y green goddess dress till now). It'd be fun to see a video of this moving.

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  81. To my amateur sewing self, you are a Sewing Goddess for just whipping this up from your brain. The pleats are my favorite part.

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  82. *Bows to the sewing goddess that is Oona* THIS IS AMAZINGAWESOMESAUCENOWORDSTODESCRIBEITSBEAUTY!

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  83. This is truly beautiful, I am mesmerised! Also, while I stopped to comment, thank you for all the inspiration on your blog - I am blown away by your use of colour and choice in fits/styles. Bravo!
    Louise

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  84. Even Robert Plant would bow to this dress.

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  85. The pleat on this could be fun on that longish drop sleeve buttonless dream that didn't want to have dropped shoulders. I like the surprise of the hidden smaller print and the way you made it was more like magic. The only thing about the feathers would be how to wash them? I guess birds get wet so maybe I'm overthinking that. Thanks for making Covid land a bit more fun and bright!
    I have had SO MUCH FUN looking at your blog and listening to your YouTubes--started with the mask which I will definitely try.

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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!