Wednesday, March 30, 2011



Yesterday my mind was in a total jumble. I couldn't make a decision about anything. I cut out and sewed most of my orders, went to the fabric store where I turned in circles and couldn't decide on anything, came home and took a bunch of fabric out of my cabinet and made a big mess... but made no panties! I didn't bake, I cleaned but then made a mess again, I didn't do much of anything, but felt exhausted by the end of the day.

I did finish a romper and I photographed my new ruffle bloomers (which you can see more of on my Etsy). I also found out that there will be a big sale at my local fabric store, so I am waiting to purchase fabric to do my whack-load of ready made stuff.

Then, to distract me further, The UPS guy arrived with my package from Lush! Oh happy day! I slathered myself in their new mud body scrub, soaped up with their sandstone soap (I felt like I was at the beach), cleansed with some Herbalism, put on a face mask, then rubbed my body down with the Each Peach massage bar. My skin is so soft and glowing, and I smell like a yummy fruit cocktail. I was really surprised how little of the mud-scrub I had to use. It comes in a small cube, about 1 1/2" x 1 1/2", I figured it would be a one use deal, but there is a lot left, and I really like the smell.

I also bought the guest book for our wedding! I can't wait to get it, I absolutely love it! She is going to switch up the red ribbon for a magenta ribbon to match our colour scheme. I'm still waiting on my custom made stamp to start making my bird seed bags. I mentioned my bird-seed instead of confetti idea to my Mom.... who I forgot, is terrified of birds. Needless to say, she will not be partaking in the birdseed tossing...

Dan got the go-ahead to write his test to become a fully certified, licensed, automotive service technician (mechanic). I am so incredibly proud! He has worked so hard at it and really deserves all the benefits of being licensed... I just hope his employer recognizes it as much as I do!

Twitter and Facebook Pages

Monday, March 28, 2011

Who has twitter? I have a Twitter Account for Ohhh Lulu. I'm not sure I really get Twitter, even though I've been using it for months now. But if you have a twitter account, I'd love to follow your tweets! Anyone else out there have Facebook Fan or Business Pages? I do! And I'd love to "like" yours too! I am desperatly trying to find ways to pass the time here at work. Anyone know any great websites? Funny websites? Interesting, thought provoking websites? I'm going crazy with boredom... To be honest, I'm not even sure why I'm employed here. I don't really do anything!

Sunday night depression...

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Ah, back to work tomorrow after a lovely day off. I do love my Sundays.

This morning I managed to sew a new take on my ruffled bloomers. I'll have pictures to post later on in the week (the battery in my camera is dead!). My goal for this week is to sew a whole whack of ready-made ruffle bloomers to list on Etsy. I'm also going to try my luck at Sense of Fashion - as Marie at A Sewing Odyssey commented, "Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained" - This is something I need to live by more! I am also going to try to get more into some stores around this area. I live in a small town with a very vibrant summer-time waterfront, and a lot of cottagers. I have a feeling my items would really fit in with that niche. I am definitely going to try to take more chances over the next few months.

Lastly, I got a great little mention on Hopeless Lingerie's Facebook Page. That sure was a surprise! Such a nice thing to find at the end of my Sunday. I've always loved their stuff.

Well... I suppose I should be off. I'm so sad to see this Sunday come to an end... It really was a great one; running in circles in the parking lot with Oliver, shopping with my Mom, sewing in front of a sun-filled window, a whole-whack load of great treasuries (I even made two) and now to curl up on the couch...


Ready to Ship!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

I finished all but 1 outstanding orders today, packaged them up and shipped them out. Aren't they pretty? I try to make the package as cute as what's in it.

I feel a lot better now that I am caught up, I can try to relax a little... And think about new things to make. I really want to do a batch of ruffle bloomers to list post. I also stumbled upon a site called Sense of Fashion, which apparently is a new marketplace for independant designers and boutique owners. I signed up but haven't listed anything yet. I think I would only do Ready Made over there. Anyone ever heard of this site? I'd love to hear more about it. I'd like more venues than Etsy to sell.

I've been thinking a lot about Ohhh Lulu and how happy I am with how its doing, with very little promotion, besides this blog and a twitter account. It made me think... what would happen if I advertised? Or maybe rented a booth in the local (and bustling) farmers market? Maybe the dreams of quitting my day job might become a reality?

Day job is becoming increasingly frustrating. I tried to give it a go, and start some new procedures, but everything is just backfiring. I am giving up, quite grumpily so. Dan's apprenticeship completion is going slower than we expected, which means his raise keeps getting put off... which is frustrating us both. He so deserves it after all of his hard work!

In the good news department, I placed another gigantic order at Lush. I bought a bunch of stuff I've never tried before, including one of their face cleansers, masks, and scrubs. I highly recommend to anyone with dry, itchy skin to try their Body Butters and Massage Bars. I bought the Manage Too bar last time, and it is so rich and creamy and absorbs fast. My skin is so soft, and I smell good enough to eat! I highly, highly recommend the stuff. I can't wait until my order arrives! It can never come fast enough.

I also purchased a custom made stamp off Etsy for the wedding. Dan and I are planning on sewing a million muslin bags for birdseed to toss at the wedding. We are going to stamp each one with our name and date of wedding. We'll likely also use it on our favours (jars of marmalade!), and programs. We have the cutest picture that Dan's niece drew of us "marrying" which we also hope to incorporate into the program. I am getting so many fun, DIY ideas for the wedding! Gotta get the glue guns going soon!

Wednesdays sew-a-thon

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

So, I didn't finish up everything that I wanted to get done today, as always, but I did make a really pretty pair of panties.

I really love a good floral, and this one is quite nice... soft pink with rose and purple, looks great with black. I just happened to have some pink and black lace in my stash that I've been hoarding for years, not knowing what to do with it. It was wide lace, so I cut it in half, lengthwise, and ruffled it. I also added it in as a in-set appliqué.


I made another pair for my "everyday" collection, similar to my other Lace and Cotton Everyday Panties, but with slightly-gathered lace over the hips and two small bows. These ones are my testers!


And lastly, another ruffle bloomer, with ruffled crochet cotton lace and three grey, plastic vintage buttons. My camera was dying and the photo didn't turn out so good...

I went to the park this morning with my cousin and her two little ones. I am so happy the weather is getting nicer. It was so fun to push the kids on the swings and to walk along the boardwalk...

Cookies and Hair Colour...

Yesterday was a busy day... I haven't even sat down in front of my sewing machine in about a week. Today I will try to finish up all of my orders (they come in bunches!).

However, I got alot of "at home" stuff done. I made 2 loaves of bread, 2 dozen of my Grandmas cookies (check out her chicken scratch writing - makes cooking from her recipe cards like
cryptography), cleaned out my closet and donated a ton of stuff to Goodwill, took Oliver for a nice walk along the ice-covered lake, then took him to the vet in the afternoon.


The cookie recipe is a recipe that has been passed down through 3 generations! My grandma made them, my Mom made them, and now I am making them (however, with much less sugar!). Does anyone else have any recipes that have been passed down like that? They are so yummy, and the perfect cookie to make when you can't decide what kind of cookie you want. They have peanut butter, coconut, chocolate chips, oats, and they should have rice crispies, but I was all out.
As for Oliver, I must say, I am so happy with the vet I found here, she is the first vet that I have had that seems to really care about the animals and our attachments to them. Oliver got his nails trimmed, his yearly vaccinations, a quick check up and some medicine for an on-going ear problem he has been having.


While we were there I noticed 2 very solemn faced guys in the waiting room who left without a dog... they either were having to put an animal down or had a dog that was pretty sick. I've been so lucky to have a very healthy Oliver, and I can't even think about the day that I might have to make a decision like that. Oliver is such a huge part of my life, he sleeps all snuggled up to me at night, sits by me on the couch, on my lap in the car, by my feet as I cook, and right now is sleeping with his head on my laptop as I type. I'm not sure what I'd do without my monster, 32lbs pug.


In other news, exciting news. I changed my hair colour. I've been blonde for years, for far too many years. My hair was getting pretty brittle and dry and flat and paired with my pale skin, it just wasn't doing anything for me. So, I dyed it back to my natural colour and I love it! I might actually go a tad more red....

Two in a week... I must have done something good...

Saturday, March 12, 2011

This week several great things have happened to me. Let me first start of by saying that Thursday was a terrible, stressful day, but my dear Dan showed his true colours by pulling through honourably as always. We ended a terrible day with a feat of good Samaritan-ship and now the universe is paying back with all kinds of good fortune.

1. I lost a very important key the day my dad had his heart attack... my key ring was loose and keys flew everywhere in my haste to get home... Yesterday Dan found it sitting in a melting snow bank.

2. A treasury I made was on the front page this morning!



3. My item was featured on the front page.

4. I no longer need to wear a ratty uniform shirt to work and am now free to choose my OWN clothes like a grown up!

So, as a whole, it has been a fantastic couple of days, after some very, very stressful times.

I work a short shift today, then am looking forward to a day off with Dan. We finished up our registry on Wednesday and got some fantastic stuff. This weekend I might try to start crafting some decorations... or just play video games, not sure which way I'll go yet!

GOAL!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

My Goal for the next 3 months was to make it onto Etsy's front page, and it looks like I just achieved my goal!



Now what?

Etsy...

I have been featured in so many wonderful Treasuries lately! I love all of the unique, creative curation! Treasuries are such a great way to learn about interesting artisans. Please take a look, click, comment and share!



1960's Blouse

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

I bought the pattern for this blouse ages ago and have made several versions of it! I made this one yesterday out of the same fabric I made my bra out of.

I really love this pattern. The front is bias cut and it doesn't require a zipper. I did a single button closure on the back for a little extra room to slide it over my head!

I have also made the version with the cowl in the back, which I think is so sweet and unexpected. It is such a quick, easy sew, and easy to wear with a pair of jeans and a cardigan. I have a feeling I will get a lot of wear out of this one!



Bras, Bras, Bras...

Dan and I went to register, unsuccessfully, on Sunday. We have to go back today to finish up. I've had a terribly unproductive couple of days of (for Ohhh Lulu), but managed to get some sewing done for myself, as well as a really yummy French Onion Soup and two loaves of bread.

I actually think I am going to use these as samples and list them on Etsy... These samples, however, are for me, me me!


I'm really happy with how they turned out... they are simple under-wired, unpadded bras. I had been making these out of jersey, but I like them even better out of woven cotton, they are more supportive. They make really cute every day lingerie, paired with the lace panties I made last week.

This whole wedding registry has been way less fun than I thought it would be. We went to the Bay, spent two hours there, and registered for maybe 7 items. We couldn't agree on anything, and the selection just was not so great... So we are going to Home Outfitters today, hopefully with more success! I am not really a big shopper so this part is not so fun. I am also struggling trying to think of things I need. I am a practical girl and am used to putting need before want... the whole registry seems kind of frivolous and consumer-driven...

I think I am thinking too much about this whole thing!

Sunday, my favourite day of the week!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Yesterday I was surprised to find a comment from Cecili (and her wonderful blog Sewing and So On). She was passing on some love with the Stylish Blogger Award! How exciting. I've got to say, I love her sewing, and her style, and was so excited.

So, the rule goes that I now have to say 7 things about myself and pass it on to 7 others. Here we go.

1. I am a huge loner by choice. I have a few close friends, but mostly I like it to be just me. I find it is often hard to explain to people that I would rather just hang out by myself then be around a bunch of people. I wonder if many other people are like this?

2. I love music, real music. I play guitar and piano, took clarinet in high school, and studied voice for a year. I have a secret desire to start a folk band.

3. I was a hardcore Goth for years. I've learned how hard Black hair dye is to get out of blonde hair. I will always have a place in my heart from Trent Reznor and Robert Smith.

4. I studied Latin in university and I forget most of it now. Veritas.

5. I am a Geek. For years, I was a geek in denial. I tried to hide it, to fit in. Now, I just let it all hang out. I play video games (well, Final Fantasy), I'd rather spend a night playing board games or (don't laugh) D&D or sitting in front of my sewing machine than out at a club or party...

6. I am outright obsessed with Lush . I could easily spend most of a pay cheque there. Right now my current product obsessions are Godiva shampoo bar, Buffy body butter, and Manage Too Massage Bar (smells like chocolate and honey!). I am contemplating placing another order today... I want, NO, NEED some Marilyn Hair Treatment and more Porridge soap!!!

7. I am currently in the process of watching every "Oscars Best Picture" winner, chronologically, with my fiancé, Dan! We are stuck on The Godfather II. Although I really liked the first one, I'm procrastinating on watching the second one. We choose no to have

I would like to pass this along to some of my favourite blogs!


Well, that was fun!

Today Dan and I are going to go Register for Gifts for our Wedding. I can hardly believe it is only six months away! We are also going to look at some suits while we are "in town". I can't wait to see Dan in a suit!

Vintage Vogue

Wednesday, March 2, 2011


I made this plaid blouse several weeks ago but have just had a chance to take some pictures. I wear this top all of the time, and it is so cozy in the cold weather I've even worn it to bed! I made it of super soft, brushed cotton, and trimmed it in eyelet lace.

I was really excited about this project, since it had a lot of "tricky" sewing, including the placket and the most unusual yoke-sleeve contraption I've ever seen in my life!

I added a ribbon tie to the waist to make it a little more feminine. I often find sash-style belts kind of uncomfortable, so stretch and zig-zag stitched some wide elastic into the centre of the sash to add a little stretch to it.

My two days off are no coming to a close. I feel extra sad to have my days over today, I'm not sure why. I'm so tired of my day job... I'm finding it harder and harder every day to feel grateful for this job, even though I know I should be. Has anyone else had a job that they really disliked? If I lived in any other city, I'd just look for another job, but after almost a year of looking for work here, I've given up on that hope in that regard! So now I'm just trying to find ways to make the job I have (and hate) a little more bearable...

Sick, sick, SICK of winter!


Today is March 2nd, as I'm sure you all know, and I am SICK of winter! I woke up this morning to snows qualls, it is freezing outside, and there is a 20-some-odd car pile up on the highway south of here. I am really ready to be warm. Right now.

I want to wear pretty skirts and flow-y tops and cute shoes... I am so tired of boots and puffy coats, and woollen hats... This is just getting down right depressing...


So, I made some spring-y panties for my Etsy Shop. They are everyday panties, by which I mean, you can wear them under anything! I made myself a few pairs and they are really comfortable, and unlike a lot of my other styles, which have ruffles, you can wear them under pants.

Speaking of pants, I am in the midst of a pant sewing spree. I can't find the right pants for me to save my life. I am very petite, but have thick thighs, wide hips and a relatively itty bitty waist. I am constantly busting through the thighs of pants yet having to yank them up all the time because they will be too big for my waist! I am going to post a pattern review shortly... Ta Ta for now!




Blog Design by Nudge Media Design | Powered by Blogger