Sewing Around The World – Marcy / New York

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Although Germany is haunted in many parts by torrential rain, I know there will be the moment when June will break through the clouds and also send some sun beams to us.

If you look at the photos of Marcy, our 5th guest blogger for our monthly Sewing Around The World project, then it seems that in New York June already found its way through the clouds: Marcy is presenting her contribution with T-shirts and almost blinded by the sun.

So for this Sewing Around The World station we are crossing the big pond and traveling from London, England where Rachel from House of Pinheiro presented her version of the Silvia Coatigan to Big Apple and jump right into the the wonderful and colorful world of Marcy’s blog Oonaballoona.

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With Marcy again we could win somebody over as guestblogger who creates with incredible creativity and sews and sews and sews and sews …. By her special choice of sewing patterns and the fabrics she is using, with her fancy photos and with her very special writing style Marcys blog is very unique and brings a lot of fun and is a great source of inspiration.

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We were very excited about Marcys choice for Sewing Around The World – the Rachel Overall – and about her idea of using a colorful, wild-patterned Wax Print Fabric she finally found at Metrotextile in the very heart of Manhattan’s Garment Center. If only there were such stores in Germany ….

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Source: Instagram – Oonaballoona

We think the result is great – note even the flow of the fabrics pattern – and this Rachel Overall is just so … oonaballoona!  For all of you who would like to know more about Marcy we asked her a few questions. The interview can be found right here in the appendix.

Once again a big THANK YOU to Marcy for the great contribution and happy sewing to all of you.

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Present yourself a little bit…
My real name is Marcy Harriell, but my sewing alter ego is oonaballoona, which is also the name of my blog. It was one of the many nicknames given to me by my parents, and now just as many people call me oona as Marcy! I answer happily to both. I live in New York with my husband, known on the blog as Ruggy, known IRL as Rob. We’re both actors.

When did you start to sew and why? How did you learn to sew?
I took up sewing during a stay in Los Angeles, teaching myself to sew through Burdastyle, blogs, and vintage sewing books I’d find at estate sales. Sewing was a way to keep myself sane in a very crazy town.

What are your favourite clothes? Do you have a fable for something?
When it comes to wearing clothing, I love so many styles! But if I’m sewing it myself, I tend towards bohemian 7Os, New Look 50s, and modern clothing with a colorful, wacky vibe.

What is the sewing project you like the most?
Honestly, the project I’m working on at the moment is the one I like the most, usually right until I can see the finish line—then I have to keep myself from rushing through it to get to the next project!

Do you only sew for you or also for other people (husband, children, …)?
I’m notoriously bad at this, but I’m getting better…I realized that one of the things I hated about sewing for others is the lack of COLOR. For example, my husband tends towards neutral separates, and if the fabric doesn’t make my eyes happy, the project almost always ends up sewn poorly. Now we compromise on more vibrant choices.

From where do you get your ideas? Do you buy patterns or do you invent your own ones?
The endless parade of fashion in New York and in sewing blogs is a constant source of inspiration. I buy patterns carefully, looking for interesting style lines (the Rachel overalls, for example!). I’m not as interested anymore in simpler patterns that I could design myself. That said, there is definitely an important place for those designs, and I have several tried & true simpler patterns for when I want a quick sew–but most of the time, I go for a challenge in construction. I also drape a good portion of my garments, which is great fun–but I’m constantly reminded that I need twice the yardage when draping!

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