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Getting back to real life soon…

Uncategorized January 12, 2012
Life is slowly returning to normal. We still have not unpacked and are having to find our way around tools and saw dust, but lots has happened.

In the Bathroom we re-tiled over the 1970’s green tile. We can’t afford to replace the Harvest Gold Bathtub or “rose print” tiles quite yet, so we tried to think of a colour scheme that will work. We chose black stick tiles, and a sunny yellow for the walls. We are now on the search for some white, grey and yellow fabric for a shower curtain. This weekend we are going to try removing the rest of the tracking for the shower doors. Last night we replaced the fittings for the tub hot and cold handles and the spout. Dan sprayed water everywhere, a traditional plumbing initiation practice in these parts.
We painted our cupboards and laid laminate floor down over the old tile floor in the kitchen and foyer. First we put up jack posts in the basement to support the staircase which has a serious slope. Everything got painted, cleaned, and we got our appliances. Looks like a very messy, but very fancy kitchen now. I can hardly believe I’m still allowed to live here! We kept some of the quirky things, like the funny railing along the top of the cupboards and the wood panelling on the walls.
My dad and my uncle have rewired part of our basement and much of our main floor. We knew the house had some knob and tube wiring, but we didn’t realize how poorly the house was wired… so I feel much safer now.
This lovely, rotted old piece of wood was what was supposed to be supporting our stair case. It’s no wonder the stairs were a little slanty… and bouncy!

Our washer and dryer are coming on Saturday, which is great because I am starting to smell bad. We are going to hopefully be picking up a few more pieces of furniture on Sunday at an auction sale, and at that point, we will really be ready to unpack and get back to normal… Which I am very much looking forward to.

Happy Thanksgiving

Uncategorized October 10, 2011
This weekend was Thanksgiving weekend, one of my favourite holidays of the year. Despite my annoying (and at times, painful) cold, we fit a lot into our weekend. I finished this custom order for a customer…

On Saturday evening we went to an outdoor art show, and met up with a few friends we don’t get to see very often. We didn’t stay long, I was sick and delirious on cold medicine, but it was pretty fun. On Sunday we had dinner at my parents house. It was so nice, we ate outside and enjoyed a bon fire later in the evening (the second bon fire of the weekend!). Today we had Thanksgiving lunch with Dan’s family. We had a great time, chatting and eating too much pumpkin pie…
In between family visits, I tried to get some sewing in. I have 2 stores I am trying to get stock prepared for, as well as Christmas stock for Etsy, and finishing up the few orders I have. I am also preparing for a give away very soon, and will post more information on Wednesday!
In the mean time, here is a sneak peak of a few new ruffle bloomers and bustle panties. I also have been trying to come up with ways to use all my bits and pieces of fabric… I contemplated a quilt, but I just don’t have the patience for that kind of undertaking, so… I decided to sew together strips of fabric, log-cabin quilt style, and use that to make undies. I think they turned out pretty cute… They remind me of the sensibility of the ’30’s.
I hate throwing out fabric. What do you do with your left over scraps?


Experiments with weaving, braids and bows

Uncategorized October 2, 2011
I’ve been braiding fabric, trying to figure out a way to incorporate braids into my clothing… I tried cutting long strips of fabric, braiding them, and applying the braid with a long straight stitch, but I always found the braid to be too bulky for any thing other than a neckline.
So, I took my standard bikini panties pattern, added about 6″ down the centre front, and made it into a two-piece pattern, as opposed to a “cut on fold.” I staggered slices horizontally down the pattern, following the curve of the leg opening. I then started folding and weaving and pinning on to my dressform until I would up with a large “braid” down the front. I trimmed off the excess, and basted the loose ends. I am in love with how it turned out. When on, it is a very low cut panties that follows the curves of the body. The lose weaving adds additional stretch to the bias cut woven cotton. I am obsessed with this now and am going excited to be trying different slashing techniques.

I used a plain elastic along the waist and legs, because I didnt’ want to detract from the weaving detail in the front. I have plans on using this technique along the back of a thong style panty…

Before the wedding I bought a few yards of black and white printed lace that I was going to use to make clutches… that was a passing fancy and now I have tons of the fabric. I started this cropped cami and long-line panties set yesterday. They were so plain and…. “modern” so I added a million bows. I have yet to find anything that a million bows can’t make better.
Tonight we are off to my cousins house for nearly a week of house & child sitting. We will be looking after two of the funniest little boys until Thursday, and enjoying my cousins beautiful house. I am very excited to make use of their bath tub, as I only have a coffin-sized stand up shower in my apartment.
In response to my last, frustrated post. I broke the bank and bought a new camera and tripod. The tripod is amazing, and I have no idea how I functioned without it. Hurray!

Post Camping Bliss

Uncategorized July 12, 2011

Dan and I went on an over night camping trip this weekend to Arrowhead Provincial Park, with my aunt, two cousins, and 2 little ones. We had such a nice time, and went on a nice long walk through the bush to the most beautiful water fall on Sunday afternoon. I absolutely love camping.
We’ve decided that because finances are a little tricky right now due to our work situation, we are going to forego a traditional honeymoon, and instead, just pack up the car and head north and camp in random places for the week, or however long we feel like staying.
I’ve gotten so much done the last few days. This morning I woke up at 5:30 and worked for 3 hours before heading to my day job… I’m now at work taking a little breather, preparing to go home in a few hours, print my last 6 wedding invitations, and spend some time with my cuddley pug.
I also wanted to thank everyone who commiserated with me on my last few blog posts. It’s nice to feel like I’ve got people “on my side” in tough times, and I really appreciate the comments. I can’t wait until the day when I look back on this time of my life and smile at how we got through it…
Just like I smile and think fondly of my life when I was in college – living in that cockroach and bedbug infested apartment in Toronto… the one that I learned, the first night I moved in, that was beside a very noisy and frequently used train. The one with the Rastafarian next door neighbor. I ate nothing but dollar store Sidekicks pasta for nearly 2 years! And I feel like a better person for having done it.
I’d love to know your stories… is there a situation that you persevered through and now look back upon fondly?

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.

Saturday

Uncategorized April 9, 2011

So, I am at work… I can’t remember the last time I had a Saturday off! I miss my 9-5! Ohhh Lulu has been crazy busy lately. I’ve got a pile of things to get sewing, plus my brain is swimming with new ideas… scallops, rhinestones, slinky silks and laces… The more and more I think of it, the more and more I want to give Ohhh Lulu more of my time. It’s such a scary venture, going into business alone, but with hardly any advertising or promotion I am already doing way better than I ever dreamed. I keep thinking, if I were to focus on advertising, production, getting into more stores, I could really do this! Such a scary, exciting thought! My dream coming true… This morning, while at work, I ordered new clothing labels and some custom printed ribbon, as well as some beaded applique’s to make hair pieces for my bridesmaids. My mom stopped by my work this morning and surprised me with a coffee and a my Grandmothers wedding band, which I will cherish! I had an email about another great blog this morning. If you have a chance, please stop by and have a visit to FemmePetal’s blog! In my morning Etsy surfing, I stumbled upon this Ring by DEVINEsweetness :
And I think I’m in love. She also has the cutest coffee cup and croissant bobby pins that would just look too cute in my hair! I am desperatly trying to resist the temption to just buy them right now, since I have recently purchased tickets to see The Vinyl Cafe, and want to buy a serger and a new camera!

Goodness is in the air!

Uncategorized February 5, 2011

The funeral was as good as a funeral could be, the eulogy was lovely (preformed by my aunt, who I was named after). I broke down a bit at the end and was feeling really quite low yesterday evening, but today it is sunny, relatively warm for winter in Canada, and I woke up to a lovely email with a link to this really lovely write up about Ohhh Lulu. I was so happy to see that other people are recognizing what I am trying to do with my lingerie, and appreciating it! It really set me off on the right foot. I also found this great write up in the Washingtonian. I am so excited!

I am at work today, but I only have 7 hours left to go and am really feeling positive about things now. This is the first time in a while I don’t really have too much to stress about, and in doing all of the remembering of my Grandmother, I feel very inspired – inspired to be a better person, more positive, in dependant, a business owner, just like my Gram. Thinking back, I think almost all of my Grandma’s business ventures were pretty independently run – I guess if you can’t find work, you’ve got to make your own!

I’ve been spending a lot of time worrying over the elusive question: “what am I going to do with my life?” I am 27, and have recently left a good job in the biggest city in Canada (see bio) for a much more simple life, but I am having a hard time separating what I do from who I am and dealing the pressure to have a “real” job.” I recently started reading Possum Living (which I highly recommend) which has really been inspiring me to cut out the conventional and go-it alone.

More sad news and wedding progress…

Uncategorized January 30, 2011

I received, what I hope is, the last of the bad news I will hear in a while. Yesterday morning we lost my Grandmother. It shouldn’t have come as a shock, as she has been slipping away for a while now, but I certainly wasn’t expecting that phone call. We already miss her smile and her warmth. She really was one of those people who made this world a little nicer to be a part of. We will get to say our final “Goodbye’s” on Friday, but she will live on forever in the books she published, such as Outhouses and Apple Pies, in her detailed ink drawings, and in the lives of the many people she touched.

Yesterday, despite the bad news in the morning, my cousin and best friend and my mom and I went out to do some wedding shopping, and purchased my wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses. Somehow it felt right to embark on this venture (for real), to start something new with the passing of my grandmother. I know she would have wanted it and I am so sad I won’t be able to share one of the most important days of my life with her.
Today, Dan and I purchased our invitations, and started (and completed!) one of the many crafty projects I have planned for the wedding:


Our table numbers! We will still need to get a large frame to do the names and numbers on it, but these will sit on each of the tables. I think they are so pretty and they were so fun to do; my fingers are black with ink from our stamp pad.

This whole week has been extremely exhausting. Between the thought of losing my father, actually losing my grandmother, temporarily losing my sewing machine, and maybe getting laid off from my job, I’m not sure how much more bad I can take! I am glad we were able to take time to focus on the wedding to even out all the bad with the good. I even found a photographer who totally gets the look we are going for and is very, very reasonably priced.I am going to work tomorrow, then will need to take the rest of the week off, as I am helping my aunt prepare some things for the funeral… I also just need time to catch up on sewing – I have one more order to fill plus my giveaway, then I will be caught up and hopefully in store for a week of good after this week of bad.

Sewing Marathon before getting back to real life…

Uncategorized January 6, 2011

Well, my two days off flew by, as usual. Back to work tomorrow. I am really hoping my New Years resolution comes to fruition quickly. I’m trying to decide what is worse… being terribly underemployed, or being unemployed… Every month, I cringe with regret when I pay my student loans. Surely I deserve more than to sweep the floor and scrub the toilet! Oh… I miss my old job….

So, I worked my butt off the last two days and sewed 5 (well 6, including the bodysuit) new items for my Etsy Shop.


I’ve been renewing my interest in Victorian Fashion lately… unearthing some old Victorian magazines that I had been collecting. This Chemise and Pantie set remind me of a delicate, Victorian woman’s under-things. Frothy with lace, crisp white.

They photographed nicely on my vintage, turn of the century dress form. I have to thank Dan for that one.


Lately, I’ve had an obsession with sewing contrast bibs onto everything. I suppose I just like any excuse to add a little ruffle and some lace, so I added one to a pair of panties… the fabric I used is so soft and worn-feeling, it feels vintage.


I made myself 2 of these thongs about a month ago, and I have to say they are the most comfortable pair of underwear I own. The fabric is is light and airy, the elastic perfectly stretchy, it feels like you are wearing nothing at all. I can’t stand man-made fibers or too-tight clothing!

I am actually going to keep the sample for this black set for myself to wear under my work uniform. I like to wear something ultra-feminine under my hideous man shirt to remind myself that, yes, indeed I am a woman!

While I was photographing my new items, I flipped through my 1876 Munsey’s Magazine and saw this interesting advertisement for Burnett’s Cocaine For the Hair! Apparently it will cure you of your dandruff…
Dan started back to school on Monday. It’s a 2 hour drive there and then back again. I feel like I have hardly seen him. It’s only Wednesday and I already miss him tons… Luckily the course is only 2 months, and when he finishes he will have his full Mechanics License! I am already so proud and excited for him!

I am looking forward to the Weekend already, even though mine doesn’t start until Saturday Evening. Our plans are to stay in and play some video games and follow up on our Oscar Movie Marathon!

Busy, busy, unproductive week…

Uncategorized November 23, 2010

This has been a busy yet unproductive week.

My Grandma seems to have taken a turn for the worse, though she always seems to pull through these things. My Days off are all different… I am going to a Wine and Cheese tomorrow night to meet and greet with local business women. Should be good, but I will be exhauseted by the end of it. I am already tired. I am in the process of cooking tonights and tomorrows dinner.

Sunday is my “nephew’s” (for lack of a better term!) second birthday – really he is my cousin’s second son but I think of him like a newphew. In typical Sarah-style, I have not yet picked out a gift yet… What do you buy a one year old anyway?

Next weekend is my Fiancee’s side of the family Christmas Celebration… which I suppose we also need to find time to buy or make gifts for.

Every year I hope for a handmade Christmas, and every year I leave it way too late.

I’ve had a few bites from Ohhh Lulu on Etsy … I really want to re-photograph a lot of it but the weather here has been so dreary (and not a bit of snow!), and not at all suitable for photographing.

I hope my business cards from Moo.com get here before the end of the day tomorrow!