I love my dog so much. He is the most precious thing in the world to me. I love how his ears flap when he runs – this picture captures it perfectly!
Watching my dog play fetch is watching 100% Pure Joy in action.
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I am so so so excited! Anna, from A Few Threads Loose, came to me with a great idea – a co-sew along! If you haven’t seen Anna’s Etsy shop yet, she sells the best selection of vintage patterns and pdfs.
So, what will we be sewing? Lingerie, of course!
We have decided to start by tackling this amazing French Corset Garter Belt. Anna and I will both be posting instructions on our blogs and will be focusing on different techniques and embellishments you can use to make your garter belt truly unique!
To start off our Sew Along, Anna is giving away a pdf of the pattern above AND this beautiful bra pattern that we are hoping to Sew Along next! Head on over to A Few Threads Loose for a chance to win both patterns! Anna is also offering 15% off using coupon code “OOHLALA”.
Once you get your pattern – choose from either the single Pattern, or the Sew Along Kit (which comes with both patterns, and a vintage lingerie sewing booklet pdf) – there are a few things you will need:
1. Garter Clips – you can find these easily online, or in larger fabric shops
2. Eyelets and Eyelet punch, or 1/2 yard of hook and eye tape
3. Boning (optional)
4. 2 1/2 yards of fabric will do your corset & bra
5. 3 yards of bias binding OR 1 yard of contrast fabric for contrasting bone channels and bias binding
6. 2 yards of ribbon or cord for lacing (eyelet version only)
7. 1/2 yard of ribbon or elastic for attaching garter clips
8. Lace, Bows, Appliqués and embellishments of your choice (optional)
Anna will be working with a vintage peach satin for her garter belt. I will be using a blue & white cotton with pink satin accents, and white lace ruffles. I will demonstrate how to add contrasting bone channels, and how to reinforce your eyelet lacing to prevent any “scrunching” in the back. The laced garter belt will require some extra boning and a small piece of interfacing.
I am so excited to see what everyone comes up with!!!
I’m feeling rather “blah” this Valentines Day. To be completely honest, I had totally forgotten it was Valentines day until I checked Facebook.
I’ve been working on a few pieces lately, but am feeling kind of uninspired! How do you stay inspired or get out of a creative rut?
Ooohhh… Look at my Valentines Day Present! Isn’t it pretty? I got this today at an auction sale, along with some other goodies (a lamp and a table). I’ve been trying to research this well-loved sewing machine all afternoon.
This sewing machine has no obvious identifying marks. I can see where there once was a name plate of some soft, but it has long fallen off… There is a number, “131693” stamped into a metal piece on the front of the machine. I can tell this sewing machine got a lot of use, as the gold detail is worn off where fabric would have passed over it, over & over again. An inlaid mother-of-pearl flower has also “Disappeared.”
It seems to be in working order, and came with one wound bobbin, in the shuttle already in the machine. I haven’t threaded it yet, but have oiled it up and all of the parts move as they should.
The case it came in is beautiful on it’s own – inlaid along the top, and with a beautiful silver handle.
I’ve scoured the bottom of the machine, underneath the machine, inside the case, everywhere – to see who made this machine so I could try to date it, but nothing! I am told it is a German make, and it does resemble the Frister and Rossmann or Herman Kohler machines. I think it looks to be anywhere from 1880 to 1910. What do you think?
I just love old sewing machines… I can’t help but daydream about the woman who had used it before me… what she might have sewed, and for who… what her life was like. I am so excited to get this machine threaded up, and bring it back to life again!
We also picked up this rather unusual lamp… It’s only about 5′ high and has a long tassel pull on it. I think we are going to paint it white. It has made it’s home (for now) next to a lovely old wing-back we got from Dan’s Grandma, which she had upholstered in beautiful grey cut velvet damask.
As you maybe could tell… I am off from work today, which means I am fully back to swing on my other job, Ohhh Lulu! I spent all morning photographing, and editing photos for my Sample Sale (with the help of my pug Oliver)! I still have lots more to do, but an taking a quick break for a little peanut butter on toast and a big glass of water.
Last month I was so excited to be on Craft Corner’s Best of the Web, along with some other great bloggers – including Krafty Kat! This blog has a great run down of DIY ideas from around the web. Check it out!
I also received a nice mention on Thin & Curvy, for bras for petite ladies. I spent quite some time browsing this blog, having a 28″ band myself (I am quite diminutive!) I know how hard it is to find nice petite yet cuvry clothes!
I am having a crazy, ridiculous, amazing Sample Sale! Prices start at $9.99! I have Ruffle Bloomers for $20 in a variety of sizes, and rompers for $25-$30 (Regularly $50 and up!). I want to clear out everything before I launch a new line of goodies in the spring.
Lots of items are one of a kind items are going up as well, at insanely low prices because I’m in a great mood, and I’m so grateful for every single item I’ve sold, I’m hoping this will be a nice way to say “THANK YOU!”
I’d love it if you’d help me spread the word – feel free to borrow an image and like to my shop <3
Once again, the first 5 commenters on this post, with a great handmade shop, or diy/fashion/lifestyle blog will get 1 month of FREE ad space on the right hand side of my blog.
What I need from you is to share MY link on YOUR Blog! And one more thing… Help me Promote my SAMPLE SALE! 
Winners will need to submit their Ad by February 29th for their ad to start running March 1st.
EDIT: I always forget this part! Please leave me your email address and I will send you an email with all of the details
Hurray! I got some actual sewing done this weekend. I finished a custom order that (I hate to say) has been lingering on since November, and started a new piece, out of fabric that I purchased back in December. It felt good to do some real drafting and fitting.
I’m trying to source some wholesale fabric suppliers, but am having a hard time finding vendors with small minimums. I find myself too often going back to the fabric store to pick up a specific piece of fabric… only to find it gone!
The new line I am working on is going to be more simple and streamlined than my ruffle bloomer phase. While I don’t plan on retiring the ruffle completely… I am definitely moving it to the side lines. A girl can only sew so many ruffles.
Last night Dan and I went on a date… out for dinner, then to see Underworld in 3D (what a disappointment). Going to the movies is always like culture shock for us. We don’t watch TV, or read magazines, or listen to the radio, besides CBC (which is on all the time at our house and has no ads), so when we go to the movies and see the ads for movies like “Honeys 2″ and are forced to watch 5 minutes of commercials… it’s always quite a shock! My god! Mainstream media sucks!!! I sit there, during the ads with a shocked look on my face, thinking “REALLY? REALLY?!“ It’s no wonder people have such unrealistic expectations of body image, beauty, wealth & status. Everytime I go to the movies, I leave feeling like an old fuddy-duddy… like I’ve totally lost touch with “the times.”
And, I guess I have kind of lost touch… but I am so much happier this way!
I sew on an awesome Pfaff that does more stitches than a girl could ever need. Thing is… the sewing machine is actually my Mom’s…
So, I’ve been looking at sewing machines on and off, and just recently saw the Singer 160.
Looking at the specs, it does what I need. A straight stitch, zigzag, and button hole. However, I don’t want to spend $500 on a sewing machine that is a glorified toy… But it’s SO PRETTY! and So me.
Well, like most things, moving and fixing up our house took longer than expected, and I am sad to have completely missed the Valentines Day rush, treasuries, features, etc, etc… another year, I suppose!
However, we do pretty much have the house up and running. We’ve been living here for a full month now and it’s finally starting to feel like home. Everything is moved in, save for a few things stored at my parents house, curtains have been sewn, and I’m already planning paint colours for the exterior of our little barn-house.
Everyday, I walk down the stairs in utter amazement. I’m so proud of Dan and I, and so thankful for all of the work my Mom & Dad, cousins, uncles & aunts have put into our house over the last week. It felt like an old fashioned barn-raising here with all of my family over to help, everyone hurrying around finishing up projects. I am so grateful to have the family I have.
I’ve got my sewing machines all set up to get back to business this weekend. I am planning on retiring old designs, holding a sample sale, and listing a bunch of new things come spring. In the meantime, I am keeping Ohhh Lulu on vacation until I can get myself better organized. Plus, I’d like to give myself a break. I’ve done a lot over the last several months, between getting married and buying a house!
Though… I say that now, and I’m sure this weekend I’ll sew something up that I won’t be able to resist listing on Etsy!!!