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Phew… What a day!

Uncategorized October 11, 2011

My productivity impressed myself today.

I woke up at 7. Drank Coffee and read emails until 8. Took Photos until 8:45. Put on mascara and walked to work for 9. Worked my butt off until 12:30. Edited photos for Ohhh Lulu, post Lavender Sugar Bustle Bloomers on Etsy and prepared my Give Away for tomorrow. Drank Soy Milk. Back to work from 1-5. Bought Dog food downtown, got greeted by a parrot, and resisted the temptation to browse make-up at the Pharmacy. Home to post custom listings, and my Sleepy Hollow Inspired Bustle Panties.

Yet to cut and paste sample cards… Am REALLY negotiating my first real wholesale order! All that will happen tomorrow though.
Waiting for Dan to come home so I can cook Dinner… I plan on spending the rest of the night immersed in an X-Files marathon.
I love productive days like this.

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?


Should be in bed…

Uncategorized October 7, 2011

I have a cold and I should be in bed, but instead I got up at 6:30, made a pot of coffee and checked on the Provincial Election results… you might not know this about me, but I am a junkie for politics and news. While my party of choice, the NDP did not win, they did gain 7 seats in the House of Parliament, and we avoided a Conservative government, so I’m pretty satisfied… despite my stuffed up nose.

Dan and I have finished our week of looking after my “nephews” (not technically nephews, as they are my cousins kids, but her and I are kind of like sisters so it’s close enough…). The kids were pretty sweet and cooperative and gave me lots of giggles, like when I asked the oldest boy what he wanted to be when he grew up, and he responded, “A Pumpkin,” and watching Dan painstakingly try to explain the plot of Star Wars to a 3 year old was priceless. So many, “But why… But Why Uncle Dan?”‘s.
It was a busy week, but I was happy to help and get to spend more time with the boys… And I think I have decided that while a house in the country may be pretty and quiet, I am like the convenience of “in town” living. When I say “in town” (which is a term only country people use), I mean Orillia, a town of 30 000 people, most of them over the age of 75.
My wedding photographer is sending me our wedding photos this week. I am so excited to get them! She has been tempting me with photos on her facebook page. I love this shot of the bouquet and Dan’s boutonniere. Dan’s mom did such an amazing job, with so little help from me… I sent her a few pictures, and basically gave her the instructions that I did not want “matchy matchy,” nothing too stuffy, loose and rustic. She did the bouquets absolutely perfectly, mums and sweet peas in burgundy, purple and a little pink…

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!

A case of the Ho-Hums…

Uncategorized September 29, 2011

I feel utterly… hopelessly… despondently… uninspired.

I’ve been taking photos every night this week, since Sunday, trying to get a set that just “works.” A set that is clear, crisp, bright and true to colour. I left work early with a headache yesterday, and instead of laying down to ease the pain, I popped pills, charged my camera battery, washed some dishes, made dinner, then took some photos. I took photos last night too, and the night before.
My current photographical state is deplorable. I have a $90 Olympus camera that I bought 2 years ago prior to our trip to San Francisco. This camera is basic, but it has a macro function & timer, two of the only functions I know how to use. I like to take photographs without a flash, as it is best to capture colour and texture. Taking non-flash photos in slightly less than ideal lighting (ie. my bedroom with all 3 windows wide open at 5 pm) equates to a bunch of blurry photos. I cannot possibly hold my hand still enough, no matter how hard I try and hold my breath and tense every muscle in my body. So, I set up a broom to steady myself, lean on the laundry basket, prop up against a book… and surprisingly… I still ended up with crap photos. I am hoping the internet can pick up on my sarcasm.
I’m feeling incredibly frustrated this morning. I could barely open my mouth to say “good morning” to Dan, and the thought of having to go to my day job brings a small tear to my eye. I have a dozen beautiful items that I want to list, but my photos just don’t do them justice anymore. My camera lens is scratched, I need some decent lighting (it rains here every day lately…). I am supposed to be running an ad in October, which I must remind myself, is in 2 days. I feel another headache coming on…
I want a tripod with a horizontal arm, or at least, bottom mount. I want a new camera – not a fancy camera, just a half-decent camera. I am frustrated because I feel like I should have had everything listed by now, a new ad designed, preparing for a give away, and sitting back and enjoying my morning coffee. Instead, I’m sorting through a hundred blurry, washed out, grainy photos… The joys of DIY business.

Basics and the return of the Ruffle Bloomer

Uncategorized September 26, 2011
What an awesomely productive weekend. I got so many garments cut, and sewed so many samples. One of my goals for my “re-launch” was to have some more basics that could be paired with my over-the-top, frilly bottoms

Today I cut and sewed two camisoles – the Meadow Cami. One is in ivory jersey with nude bias-cut chiffon trim, the other is in black jersey with black mesh trim. They have a draped fit, are silky soft and would be great to wear as an everyday tank top, or as a sleep top. I love clothes that I can roll out of bed in, and still look great.
I also started working on some ruffley bra and panties sets. This is the Raspberry Truffle set – though pieces will be available individually as well.
I paired a creamy floral, in pinks, blues and brows with a chocolate & pink polka dot chiffon. I have to admit… after making the panties I wasn’t so happy with the results, but once I added a bow, and paired it with the bra, I was really happy with the completed garments. Once again, it goes to show that bows fix everything.

I’ve also been working on a few more items in my favourite brushed paid. I’ve sewn one pair of brushed plaid ruffle bloomers, and am working on some thongs to go with. I’m hoping to take a few more pictures over the next couple of days, and then go on a listing spree!
Dan and I took a drive through the country yesterday to look at a house we’ve had our eyes on. It was like a fairy-tale… an absolutely dream come true. A little red farm house, surrounded by forest… a beautiful white picket gate leading up the treed driveway. It almost seems to good to be true!

Hearts

Uncategorized September 25, 2011

I had to share an image of my new “heart” strap sliders. I am in love with these.

Black & White

Uncategorized September 25, 2011
I am SO excited. I finally got to spend some time with my sewing machine and serger. I went to the fabric store on Thursday night and bought some flannel in black and white plaid & polka dots, black stretch mesh, black and white chiffon with little starlings on it, grey/black/red brushed cotton plaid, and some off white eyelet lace. To break up all the black and white, I bought a little floral cotton with a polka dot chiffon coordinate, in chocolate and raspberry. Today I went black and white crazy.
Last winter I made myself some sleep shorts out of my black and red lumberjack plaid… I find them so comfortable, and the husband finds them effortlessly sexy – the perfect piece of lingerie! I pre-washed all of my flannel yesterday, and it has gotten even softer and fuller after the first wash… They are in a french knicker style and could be worn under a fall or winter skirt.
I added a little cut-out lace applique to the polka dot pair, and satin bows to the plaid pair. I’m thinking I will list these individually and as a set.
Last but certainly not least, I made a bias cut camisole out, what I call, the starling chiffon. I picked up a few yards of this amazing stretch mesh which I used to trim the top and the panties. I love wearing bias cut chiffon camisoles, especially under sweaters in the winter… they make my winter uniform feel slightly more pretty.
I am getting so, so, so excited to list these on Etsy. I’m going to try to get a few more photos and a few more items sewn, and re-vamp my shop!