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Refreshing…

Uncategorized May 6, 2013
I am no longer allowed to complain about the weather… at least until it starts getting too hot.  We had unseasonably warm weather last weekend, which was great because we went out of town for a wedding, which happened to be outdoors.  It was absolutely beautiful, one of the nicest weddings I’ve ever been to, so full of love and personal touches.  The groom was an old friend of Dan’s who I hadn’t met yet, and I’d only had the pleasure of emailing back and forth with the Bride.  The ceremony & vows were so sweet it actually brought a tear to my eye! It was wonderful.  Totally made me want to have another wedding.
The location was pretty far, about a 3 hour drive for us, so Saturday was a pretty long day, considering Dan worked in the morning.  We left the wedding around midnight, crashed at our Motel.  I couldn’t sleep, which isn’t unusual.

We woke up really early on Sunday, packed our bags, and headed into town for breakfast.  I thought Orillia was small.  Goderich, which is on the edge of Lake Huron, is very, very small, and pretty remote! It’s a beautiful town though.  Staring off over Lake Huron feels like you’re looking over the ocean, it is so vast.

We took a very long, very winding way home, up around the lake.  I think it took us about 5 hours in total to get home… Along the way I saw a sign for “Eugenia Falls.” I remembered a few years back, my parents, brother and I decided to head out for a family road trip and went to “Eugenia Falls.”  We quickly took the turn up an old, desolate county road and followed the signs.  It was just as awesome as I remember.  The area is fairly hilly, though not nearly as rocky as the area just north of us, so the landscape is really unexpected. The other side of this canyon is a sheer drop off, just one flat rock wall.  In the picture below, you can see a tree leaning dangerously over the ledge…

The coolest part of Eugenia Falls is this abandoned shell of what I think is an old mill (?).  I have to admit, there was a sign, but I didn’t read it.  A few years ago, Dan’s mom gave Dan a framed print of a photo she had taken of some graffiti.  It turns out that she had taken the photo here, because we recognized the exact piece. The building is very cool, but has started to crumble a bit since I was there last.

As we got closer to Collingwood, the views from the hills were amazing.  We were surprised to see snow still on the ski hills, considering it was 28 degrees Celsius! We pulled over at an Entry Point to the Bruce Trail, and took a bit of a walk. The view was amazing! I love driving across Ontario because the landscape changes so drastically.  It is such an amazing large province.

Our weekend away was exactly what we needed.  Everything was just perfect.  I think it gave me a little perspective over my life, and the importance of work/life balance, which I’m still trying to get a grasp over. 
This week will be busy. I am pretty caught up on my orders, just two stragglers to catch up with this week, but I am also preparing for a photoshoot at the end of the month.  I am meeting with someone from a local fundraising group this morning, hoping I can get involved in a local Bra Decorating event, which I am looking forward to.  I am also looking forward to hopefully another weekend of great weather, because Dan and I are planning our first camping trip of the season!  I think this might be the year that we try backcountry camping.  

Around the Web

Uncategorized April 29, 2013
As I mentioned yesterday, I’m taking a week off from Giveaways because there are actually two great Give Aways ending this week!
Give Away on Farmhouse Garden!
Abby from Farmhouse Garden is giving away a pattern of the winners choice.  Check out the cute jersey lounge bra she made! I love the rosette!  I have been following her blog for a long time and love seeing her creations!  Click HERE to access the Give Away.
I love seeing your creations!

Marie also has a Give Away open this week! When I first started my blog, I think she was the first person I followed.  I am so happy to be helping host give aways on both of these blogs! So, there are lots of ways to get your hands on one of my new patterns this week for FREE!  You can check out Marie’s Give Away HERE.

Give Away on A Stitching Odyssey

There’s been lots of exciting activity on the web lately.  Anna is finishing up her French Knicker’s Sew Along.  Today she posted about adding lace to the leg openings, and will soon be adding an embroidered monogram to the side.  I love that idea!

I’ve also been following Tilly’s blog posts about the Great British Sewing Bee.  Have you bee watching and following along? I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, but I plan to find it online and am excited to see Tilly on TV!

Into the trees…

Uncategorized April 29, 2013
So, this has been a wonderful weekend. The weather was warm, it was sunny, it was glorious. 
Flowers, finally flowers!
Yesterday morning, I got my hair done.  Getting my hair done is something I now do.  I thought I hated getting my hair done, but for the first time in my life I have a stylist who just does what she wants with the little direction I give her, and also for the first time in my life, I can actually afford to get my hair done.  It is really nice.  My hair is very long, all the way to my waist, and very, very full so my hair appointment basically took all morning… But it was nice and relaxing.
Afterwards, Dan and I had lunch downtown then went to a seminar on Art & Copyright Law.  This may not sound like the most exciting way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but it was so informative, and we got to pick the brains of a couple lawyers.  I left feeling more empowered, as someone who creates.  Artists/authors/designers/creators need to stick up for their work! In a world where copying flourishes, creativity gets snuffed out… I don’t want to live in that world.  While I don’t feel like I left the seminar as an expert in copyright law, I do feel much more assured in my rights as a creator.  I think that with the advent of the internet, general knowledge of your intellectual property rights as an artist is so incredibly important. I think the seminar actually deserves it’s own post….
Oliver, a true Outdoorsman
At the end of the day we picked up Oliver at the house and strolled along the boardwalk and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the lake.  I really love living here, we have so many beautiful places to see.
The Sun & The Trees
Today, Dan and I went on a 90 minute hike.  We ventured off the trails and followed a small stream.  We hopped along rocks, and balanced over fallen trees.  We came to one river-crossing that consisted of just one fallen pine.  I crossed carefully, then urged Oliver over.  He worked up some courage and balanced his way along! I was so proud, and he looked so proud of himself  it brought a tear to my eye.  Ugh… I just love this dog so much.

Everything is drenched after a late spring thaw.
This afternoon, we went to my nephew’s (actually my cousins son, but my cousin is like a sister, and her boys call me “Auntie Sarah”) 5th Birthday Party.  We didn’t stay too long, but watched the kids ride bikes, dressed up like Ninja Turtles, and be generally adorable.  We ended our evening at my parents house, with roast beef dinner.  In between all of that, I fit in a little sewing here and there.  A day just wouldn’t be complete without the whir of the sewing machine…
A river runs through it…

I hope everyone else has had a nice weekend as well.  I also wanted to mention that I am taking a one week hiatus from the 5 weeks of Give Aways, but there are some other things happening this week that I will let you know about on Monday.

Tuesday…

Uncategorized April 23, 2013
Monday went by really fast… I walked down to the Post Office first thing yesterday morning, and brought Oliver along with me.  Normally, it takes me about 10 minutes to get down there.  Yesterday, it took 20.  Oliver sniffed everything.  And then of course, we had to stop and sit on a bench for a while because he was tired… so it ended up being quite the adventure.
When I came back, I got to work sewing that dress for the wedding.  I scored some aubergine coloured jersey for $1.80 on the weekend, and it turned out awesome! I can’t wait to show you some pictures.  In fact, I want to make a second dress, I like it so much.
I finished it up around lunch time, ate some soup, then sat in my studio for an hour staring at my sewing machine.  After an hour had passed I realized I hadn’t given myself a day off in about 3 weeks, so I closed my lap top, shut off my machines, turned off the lights, and headed out for a walk.  I did a little shopping, them came home and napped until Dan came home.  It was nice to have an improptu day off.  I am still not feeling very well, so it was really very needed.
Today I will work on cutting out orders, which always takes me much longer than it should because I get distracted in the process.  However, I am getting more and more caught up, and more and more efficient… but still easily distractable!  
I am really looking forward to the wedding that is coming up.  I have even booked a hair appointment that morning and am getting my highlights touched up this weekend.  It is really fun to get dressed up… I don’t get the opportunity very often.
In closing, I wanted to share this photo that I love, of Emily from Emilystudios.com, modeling a new blue floral & lace set that I have just listed on etsy.

CLOSED 5 Weeks of Give Aways! Week 2: The Grace Panties

Uncategorized April 21, 2013

Congratulations to Anna Maria, you are the winner of the first week of giveaways! Thank you to all of you who entered! My inbox was bombarded with messages the moment the giveaway was posted, it was just great!

The second give away is for my low-rise hipster style panties.  These are great because you can use a combination of woven and stretch fabrics, which means you can use cute printed cotton for the front and back portion, with jersey, stretch mesh, stretch lace, or other stretch fabrics on the sides.

The rules are the same as before.  You can enter the give away, or purchase the pattern on Etsy or Craftsy.
The giveaway starts right now, and will close on Sunday, April 28 at  9am.

Here’s how to enter:
  1.  Leave 1 comment with your email address, and let me know what fabric you would use to sew your Bambi Bra in.
  2. For a BONUS entry, ‘like’ Ohhh Lulu on Facebook and leave a 2nd comment letting me know you have done so.
  3. For a BONUS BONUS entry, pin your favourite item from my shop to Pinterest , and leave me a 3rd comment letting me know you’ve done so.
  4. For a triple BONUS entry, tweet about the giveaway, and leave me a 4th comment letting me know you have done so.  Use the hashtag #ohhhlulu

Good luck! 🙂

The week that was…

Uncategorized April 21, 2013

Last week was not a great week.  Dan came down with a cold the week before, which I had picked up by Sunday night. A week  later, and I am still congested… but feeling a million times better.  This is my 3rd cold of the year and it is leaving me feeling generally run down and tired…

I have woken up to snow on the ground the last two days.  That is terribly depressing.  I think this time last year, we were out doing yard work.

So, being sick has left me a little behind.  While I stupidly did not take any time ‘off’, I was sewing at a much slower, more sniffley rate.  I did finish up about 5 orders yesterday evening, and will finish up that emerald green set I had mentioned the other day.

I am really itching to sew some new items for Summer, as well as a few things for myself.  We are attending a wedding in May, and I would like to sew myself one of those infinity dresses.  I used to have one of the infinity dresses from American Apparel, and I loved it, I wore it all the time.  This time I would like to make  a long version, with a lace cardigan to wear overtop. I like the infinity dress because it is stretchy, comfortable, and I will wear it over and over.  I love wearing long dresses.  They are so much more comfortable than wearing pants, for me.

Speaking of pants, I had the most frustrating pants-shopping experience yesterday.  My mom and I took an impromptu trip to the nearest mall, which is about 30 mins away.  We were both in need of jeans… I looked all over, and finally ended up at H&M. I was in search of dark, skinny jeans, with a regular rise waist.  I tried on 3 pairs at H&M, a 28″, 29″ and 30″.  The 30/32 was too tight in the hips/thighs.  The 28/30 came no where close to doing up.  The 29/30 fit pretty good, gaped at the waist in the back.  How the heck is that even possible? Especially when I walked into the mall wearing a pair of 29/30’s that were falling off me (of a different brand)!? I am so sick of pants. All of the jeans I own are either falling off and need to be belted, or so tight/low waisted that when I sit my butt completely pops out of them. I don’t consider myself to have an especially strange body.  I am pretty curvy for a girl of my stature, but nothing extreme… From now on, it’s leggings or dresses for this girl.  While the idea of making myself some jeans is appealing, finding the time to do so seems unlikely…

Afternoon break

Uncategorized April 15, 2013
We are finally having some nice weather.  Although there is still some snow in the forecast, I am happy to look out my window and see sunshine and buds on the trees.  It still doesn’t really feel like winter has left us though. It’s still chilly outside, and Dan and I are both sick with a nasty cold.  Dan has been home sick since Friday and hopefully will be back to work tomorrow.  Me? I’m working through it, but taking breaks now and then to sit and rest…
Spring is a nice time of year.  “Newness” is in the air! I am working on so much wedding lingerie right now, it’s one of my favourite things to design.  I’m embarrassed to admit that I totally forgot to do anything about wedding lingerie for my own wedding (pathetic, huh?), so I feel like I get to live vicariously through the brides I get to work with 🙂
One thing I am not enjoying about Spring is income tax deadline… This year is particularly confusing for me because my business has taken off so much.  In Design School we didn’t really touch on business basics very much… I am lucky that through my various jobs, I have picked up on how to use Quickbooks.  So, I finally invested in the program for myself and have been busily entering receipts and importing information.  Nerdy as it is, I actually kind of like that kind of work.  It’s nice to have a break from the sewing machine…
As for today, I am busy cutting out my orders for the week.  I am particularly excited about an emerald green satin set I am working on.  I’ll post pictures later in the week…

CLOSED 5 Weeks of Give Aways! Week 1: The Bambi Bra Pattern

Uncategorized April 15, 2013

Here it is, the first of 5 give aways! I am starting with pattern 1301, the Bambi Soft Bra, which seems to be the most popular of the patterns. 
The giveaway starts right now, and will close on Sunday, April 21 at  9am.

Here’s how to enter:
  1.  Leave 1 comment with your email address, and let me know what fabric you would use to sew your Bambi Bra in.
  2. For a BONUS entry, ‘like’ Ohhh Lulu on Facebook and leave a 2nd comment letting me know you have done so.
  3. For a BONUS BONUS entry, pin your favourite item from my shop to Pinterest , and leave me a 3rd comment letting me know you’ve done so.
  4. For a triple BONUS entry, tweet about the giveaway, and leave me a 4th comment letting me know you have done so.  Use the hashtag #ohhhlulu
So there you have it! Up to 4 ways to enter. Best wishes everyone, and happy sewing!

Five New Patterns!

Uncategorized April 14, 2013
My eyes are about ready to fall out of my head, I have been working on these for days.  But! I am very proud of how these patterns have turned out.  I have learned a lot since the days of “The Betty” Pattern!  I am happy to introduce to you 5 lovely new sew at home patterns!
The first pattern is the Bambi Soft Bra.  I designed this bra to be sewn in woven fabrics, so you can use pretty cotton prints.  It can also be sewn in knits, but you will likely want to size down.  While I recommend this pattern for B-C cups, when you sew your test garment, you will find that you can easily adjust the size by altering the curves of the cup.
Bambi Soft Bra
The Grace Panties are low cut, boy leg style panties which are to be sewn in a combination of woven and stretch / knit fabrics.  
The Grace Panties

The Sophia Pattern is my most ‘advanced’ pattern.  I am looking forward to seeing your interpretations of this pattern. It fits like a bikini cut panty, but with contrast ruching over the hips.

Sophia Panties

The Lola Panties are a great every-day panties.  They have a center back seam, and fit like a Brazilian   These are to be sewn in stretch knits only. I several of these in ribbed knit, jersey, and the ones below in jersey and lace.

Lola Panties

Lastly, I have also included a simple, princess seam bralette – the Jasmine Bralette.  You can line this, or leave it unlined and just overlock your seams.  This is a really versatile pattern.
Jasmine Bralette

The super-duper cool thing about these patterns is that they are all available for instant download via Etsy & Craftsy… so if you are impatient like me, there is no waiting.

So… To kick things off I’m going to hold a give away a week for the next 5 weeks.  I’ll post the first giveaway on Monday.  Stay tuned!

New Patterns Soon

Uncategorized April 12, 2013
The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning, is give my dog a little snuggle, then turn on my phone, check my email and my twitter feed to see what’s happening in the world.  Today, Friday, April 12, 2013, is a snow day across most of the area.  Yep, a snow day in April.  Well, I never….! We received a sprinkling of snow, just enough to cover all the freshly exposed grass, but we also received a healthy dose of freezing rain and everything is just covered in ice.  Unfortunately, I only work upstairs  so I can’t very well justify a snow day myself…  I can, however, cry and whine about how upset I am about this weather.  I am so ready for summer and so very sick of the snow…
Anyway, in less whiny news, last weekend I worked very hard on some new patterns. I have greatly improved my own digitizing skills and I am so very excited to release these sometime next week (I hope).  Through releasing my first two patterns I learned ALOT. So, now I have a few things in the works…  The bra which you can see below, a pair of hipster style panties that can be made out of woven fabrics, a pair of brazilian/bikini combination panties to be made in jersey… and a few other things… I have had a lot of requests for the long-line style bra I have been doing.  I may release that in a single size that you can then grade yourself.  The tricky thing about releasing bra patterns is that there are so many size grades… It ends up being a ton of work.

I also have just re-ordered some more of this blue flannel floral.  I have received so many emails about this set, so I am bringing it back for a limited time.  I just listed 6 on Etsy, so get your orders in!

Pre-Order Now!!!