Sample Sale Time!

I cleaned out my studio a while ago and found TWO big bags of samples... some are original pieces... some are things I sewed to test-wash... other are things I made and didn't like enough to put into a collection... and a few are things that I made, mailed, sent half way around the globe never making it to the customer, only to come back to me months later (There is a mail-wormhole in Russia, I swear)... So, I've acquired a lot of stuff over the year! It's going to take me a while to post it all, but I've been plugging away each night, so keep on the look-out for something special! I've got a variety of sizes, but most are Smalls and Mediums. You can see what I've posted so far HERE

Sample Sale!

Works in Progress

Our house is an ongoing work in progress.  We haven't done much around here over the last few months, besides clear out some old junk and finally decorated the living room (it looks just the way I want it!).  I am pretty happy with the look and feel of our main floor (besides our foyer and dining room which need work), so now I'd like to tackle our bedroom (which currently looks like a college dorm room, full of mix and match furniture), and our horrendous harvest gold bathroom.  I had put off doing much decorating, and kept making excuses like "*sigh* money" or "I don't know how long we'll stay in this house" (I'm a mover), and "*sigh* time," but over the last few months I've come to the very important realization that I need to do those things that make me happy.  And a pretty house makes me happy.  And I need projects, because when I sit still for too long, I go crazy...

So, I've come up with a look I like for both rooms.  The Bathroom will be the trickier of the two.  It is currently completely tiled in white and harvest gold floral tiles. There's a large, water damaged, vanity which we will replace, and a harvest gold bath tub and ivory shower surround, which although ugly, is actually in pretty decent shape so I don't plan on changing it quite yet... I would like to tear down the tile and replace it with nice white bead board.  Our bathroom doesn't get very wet or steamy so I am hoping this will be ok...  We will retile the floor (right now it's just the cheapest stick-on vinyl tile), and install a new vanity.  I am thinking about painting the walls a very dark blue.  Our bathroom is pretty large, considering the size of our house, and it's rather bright.  I hope that combined with the white beadboard and the light coloured tile I would like to install, that it won't come off too dark... but I would like it to be dramatic! I have never really painted a room in a dark dramatic colour, so I'm a little nervous! I'm really looking forward to having a nice bathroom.  I love bubble baths... I have one every day, so it will be nice to relax in beautiful surroundings.  Harvest Gold Sponge Painted Roses are not conducive to relaxation.

Left to Right: Dark blue bathroom on Apartment Therapy,  Bathroom with rustic vanity via Pinterest, Painting by  John Atikinson Grimshaw (Moonlight Wharfdeale), Shelving & wainscotting via Pinterest 

Our bedroom will be much easier... just a matter of paint, a headboard, and some new furniture.  Right now we have a falling-apart Ikea dresser, and a bed with no headboard.  Our room is very small, so that is also a challenge, but we're lucky to have a good size closet.  We will get a new dresser, one that actually fits all of my clothes... and I'd like to make a headboard out of old barn board.  Funnily enough, we have been talking about taking down our garage, and the wood that it is made of would be perfect for the project... I want to pair it with shades of dark brownish grey, gauzy linen curtains, and a little crystal chandelier. I am really, really, really looking forward to getting our bedroom done.

Left to Right: The Smallest Oceans by Girl and Parrot on Etsy , Antler No. 6896 Art Print by Kari Herer on Etsy, Salvaged headboard via Design Sponge, Barn board wall & Chandelier via Pinterest , Gauzy Drapes via Pinterest 

I have previously found decorating slight stressful because Dan and  I would often have a hard time seeing eye-to-eye on certain decisions.  It always frustrated me because Dan would never approach me with ideas about how to decorate, but when I started making suggestions, he seemed to have a problem with all of them. I was really surprised how much we would argue about decorating! We both definitely had pretty strong feelings about it... Anyway, I'm not sure if he just decided to stand down (I am very convincing!), or if I am being more compromising, but lately we have agreed on nearly everything which is amazing! We recently bought a new couch for our living room and both automatically agreed on the same one, and even the same upholstery. It was a Christmas miracle.

There are still so many things to do to this house, but because I'm not 100% sure how long we will stay here, I'm hesitant to work on the things that are more labour intensive, like tearing down all of the panelling in the foyer, stairwell and hallway and replacing it with drywall...  When we first bought the house, we were pretty excited about all of the DIY home improvement things we'd get to do, but what I've learned over the last couple of years of living here is that Dan and I do not have the time to do most of them! We have time to do painting, and some aesthetic things, but we just don't have time for larger projects.  We both work very long hours, and rarely even get two days off over the weekend... So, the next house will hopefully be more updated than this one.

Brand Spanking New

So... I opened a pattern shop!

Over the last few months I've been working on 12 new patterns - 3 bras, 2 garter belts, 1 camisole, and 6 panties.  I have sewed soooooo many samples of the last several weeks.  I don't even want to see another scrap of muslin again (for a week or two!).  My new shop, Ohhh Lulu Sewing Patterns & Supplies is now where you will find all of my patterns, and soon where you will be able to find some harder to find supplies, like elastics, garter straps, hook and eye tape, bra backs, small quantities of fabrics... and eventually kits! I still have quite a bit of work to do before I get supplies ready, but that is the plan!

Ohhh Lulu Sewing Patterns & Supplies

Over the next few days I hope to organize a give away (or two, or three) and I'm having a Grand Opening Sale! Use coupon code HappySewing2014 in my Pattern Shop and get 10% off your entire order.  Offer Expires on Monday, January 13, 2014.

The Anna Bralette - my personal favourite.

Greta High Waist 6-Strap Garter Belt