Browsing Tag

Ohhh Lulu

Wedgewood Blue.

Uncategorized July 18, 2011

It felt good to finally sew something new this weekend! It’s been so long since I’ve sewn something new!
I went shopping with my mom for her dress for the wedding on Saturday, then spent some time in lovely downtown Orillia, antique shopping. I found some lovely antique doilies, and a vintage book for Dan.
This morning while I was picking up fabric for custom orders, I came across this wedgewood blue, silk-cotton voile. It’s so light and airy. I inset the doily into the back, for a little peek a boo, and added satin ties. The crochet elastic ribbon matches the doily perfectly!
Dan and I also made 2 chalk boards for the wedding which I will write and post pictures about some other time.
Tomorrow will be a busy day. The weather is ridiculously hot, and I’m jumping in a cold shower every few hours for relief.
I might have some exciting news at the end of the month. So stay tuned!

Mourning.

Uncategorized July 5, 2011

I’ve Finally gotten on top of all of my Heartsy orders. Something I learned over that whole process is that 50 orders on top of a full time job, plus wedding and life was a little too much. But I did it, and despite a postal strike, most of my orders got out on time and met any necessary deadlines.
Now, that the house is out of the picture and I’ll be sitting tight in our apartment in the middle of the parking lot for the rest of the summer, I can focus on new goodies, instead of gardening, and painting… I started photograph my “Design Your Own” collection a week or so ago and am now getting around to editing the photos. Which reminds me, I really need a better camera.
I’m still really sad about the house, even though I know we’ll find another just as nice. I’m mostly angry about the position and how Dan was let go without remorse, feeling, or an “I’m sorry, I know it’s a bad time.” The worst part is that what happened is completely legal. It’s hard to fire someone with cause, so in reality, you can be let go with very little notice for no reason whatsoever! I find this particularly funny because you cannot be approved for a mortgage in the probationary period of a job because you can be let go at any time. Well, you can be let go at any time, all you need is a week per full year in notice. That meant for Dan, who was there just under 3 years, only 2 weeks notice. Two weeks when you have hundreds of tens of thousands of dollars hanging over your head is nothing.
My favourite thing about living in a small town, especially living in a small town with a big family who knows everyone, is that I know karmic justice will be served via word of mouth. And that’s all I can hope for. I will continue to live a right and just life, and speak only the truth. Dan and I will be sitting pretty on our high horses, and good things will come to us…
They’ve got to eventually, right?

Coming Soon! And the postal strike…

Uncategorized June 20, 2011

I have been working like a dog lately, but we made some time to fit in a camping trip this weekend. We stayed up past midnight, talking around the camp fire then snuggled down in our sleeping bags, zipped together. It was so relaxing and wonderful, I wish I could have stayed another night.
There is currently a Postal Strike in the Great White North; while there have been labour disruptions for 2 weeks now, postal workers were locked out of the job last week. So, I have a dozen packages sitting here, waiting to be shipped, and three sitting at the post office, having been dropped off the day before the strike.
I am ALMOST caught up with all of my heartsy orders, and only have 8 more orders left to fill. Pretty soon I’m going to be posting some NEW items, plus a couple Design Your Own ruffle bloomer listings. I am going to offer a choice of 3-4 fabrics for your base, 3-4 fabrics for your ruffles, the option of self bows, ribbon bow, or buttons, and elastic options as well. It will allow you to have completely customized, one-of-a-kind just for your bloomers! I am excited to start working on the listing and spent a good chunk of time today in my local fabric store..

Busy Bee Back to the Day Job

Uncategorized June 14, 2011

I’m not sure how much I would have to accomplish to make myself feel like I had been productive enough…
I sewed, in three days, 3 rompers, 3 bras, 4 panties, 1 chemise, made 10 handmade thank you cards. And I still wish I had done more!
I met our caterer this morning; he is nice and gave me a lot of helpful pointers. I need all the help I can get! I’ve only ever been to 3 or 4 weddings in my life; I feel pretty clueless.

At what point do you decide to take your business full time?

Uncategorized May 30, 2011

On Saturday, I hardly sewed a thing… I replaced a zipper in a garment for my cousin and finished a few odds and ends, but mostly I spent my time at a birthday party, walking Oliver through a Side Walk Sale down town, at the movies with Dan, then sleeping 12 hours straight. I have been so exhausted and busy lately!

This morning we met with our officiant for the first time and decided on our vows. Our ceremony will only be about 20 minutes long, which is just perfect. Not too long, not too short.
After wards, we did some running around, and I finished some orders. I have been working on 2 sets for a customer, with two pairs of panties each. I really love the jersey and lace set, I think it is one of my favourites, and has been a pretty popular set. I love it with the matching thong.
I am so happy to have so many orders on the go. I haven’t relisted a single thing since I ran my heartsy deal and business is still good.
I keep asking myself, “At what point do you consider your business successful enough to go at it full time?” I would love to hear your input.
Lastly, I finally made the switch to smartphones and will be BlackBerry accessible on Monday… Dan and I have a few road trips scheduled, so now I can be connected wherever I go. I am also itching to move… I love our apartment but Ohhh Lulu needs its own room, desperately.

I’ve been watching too many documentaries

Uncategorized May 16, 2011

We are a no-cable household and I hope to stay that way for many reasons… most importanly, there really isn’t much worth paying for on tv any more. However, I do miss documentaries…

So, we got Netflix last week and I have been watching the documentaries like crazy as I sew. Today was a series on Medieval Life, possibly my most favourite era… I ate it up like candy.
Watching all of these documentaries reminded me how much I love historic clothing, and particularly the picture of Mme du Pompadour pictured above. The clothing of the 18th century was to die for. Ribbons, bows, frills, lace, gathers, rouching… all those things I love!
Watching documentaries while sewing is the best thing ever, in my opinion, right up there with an ice cream cone on a summer day. What do you like to watch or listen to while you sew?

Today I took a break from filling orders to work on a few new things for my shop. I wanted to get some bridal items listed, and prepare for my Heartsy deal to go live… which I think is happening on Tuesday.

So, I finally got around to making a pair of chiffon bloomers, and to using this blue and white charmeuse that I absolutely adore. It is so soft and airy and reminds me of Wedgewood china.
I also finally picked up a proper ironing board today… Embarrassingly, I’ve been using a tiny table top board for the last, oh… 7 years. The new board is lovely, and what a difference it makes!
My back is killing me after sewing all day! Does hunching over a sewing machine cripple anyone else? Or am I just getting old?!

Stuff and Things…

Uncategorized May 15, 2011

The Give Away Panties are finished and ready to ship out to the lucky winner! I made them out of my favourite cotton, it’s got hints of pink, blue and brown all on a lovely creamy base. I added a ruffled layer of lace under a ruffled layer of torn chiffon. The legs and waist are trimmed in satin elastic. I really hope she likes them! I will be offering these up for sale in any size in my Etsy shop soon.

I’ve been playing around a lot with ruffled, torn chiffon. I really like the effect of the frayed edges. So delicate and antique looking.
Yesterday I placed the order for my wedding cake and cupcakes. Dan had to work so the decision was left up to me. I’ve been really lucky to have a fiancé who actually likes to be involved with the whole wedding process and has been really helpful, so I was nervous about making the decision alone. We went with cupcakes for the guests, chocolate and vanilla with cream coloured icing. Some will be done with polka dots in black or raspberry, and some will have bows. The cake is just going to be a 6″ cake to cut, and will also have a bow around it. I was surprised that Dan actually liked this idea! I was really worried it would be too girlie, but I think it’s going to look really nice, and hopefully not too “wedding-y”.
My mom and I also picked up some flowers to start thinking about the table arrangements. We got some carnations, a big white flower that looks like a giant aster, and some filler called wax flower. We stuck them in a mason jar, and voila!
I think I might finally have everything sort of under control.
PS. my heartsy deal may be going on sale on Tuesday!

Exhausted!

Uncategorized May 8, 2011

I am exhausted!
This morning we made a family trip to a local greenhouse for mothers day, where we ended up picking up some beautiful dalias for the wedding. Afterwards, Dan and I spent a bit of time hiking local trails with the dog (who is now passed out cold on the couch and has been since about 2:00 this afternoon). Since we got back I’ve been sewing, sewing sewing… which I also did all day yesterday! Not that I’m complaining.


I finished up a custom order, a romper and panties, a camisole and knickers, and started the top secret give away ruffle bloomers, which you can see a sneak peek of at the top of this post! The set you see here is my peekaboo set, but with a little twist… I added more fullness to the ruffle around the hip and a nicer picot elastic. I made the top a basic bandeau with a clasp at the back and adjustable straps, covered in the chiffon in the front. I finished it of with a couple of fabric covered buttons, and am really happy with how it turned out! I must work with chiffon more. It can be a little tricky to work with, but it is so pretty and feminine.
So it’s back to work tomorrow after my first full weekend off. I’m actually looking forward to getting back to work… what a difference a good day job can make… I feel like I have so much more energy and such a better attitude towards life! I hope I keep liking this job as much as I have enjoyed it this week… as funny as it is to be doing social media marketing for a company that specializes in adult intimacy products, it is so much fun and really interesting! I feel pretty darn lucky to have stumbled upon this opportunity. It’s providing me with a lot of great experience for Ohhh Lulu as well, which I have made a tentative goal of making my full time job in about a years time… finances permitting.

The only single thing I can even think to complain about is that I have had a never ending headache the last few days… To soothe it I’ve been taking some over the counter sinus medication, which seem to help a bit, but really makes me fuzzy and cloudy. I’ve been in a cold-medicine induced haze all weekend… I think I will take the rest of the night off and rest!

CONTEST CLOSED!

Uncategorized May 1, 2011

Congratulations to Justine at Sew Country Chick! You have won a free pair of Ohhh Lulu ruffle bloomers in a surprise fabric combination of my choice!

I am really excited to get a start on these in the next week or so!
So, once again, the contest has closed, and a big Hurray to Justine!