My Goal for the next 3 months was to make it onto Etsy’s front page, and it looks like I just achieved my goal!
Now what?
Browsing Tag
Ohhh Lulu
Dan and I went to register, unsuccessfully, on Sunday. We have to go back today to finish up. I’ve had a terribly unproductive couple of days of (for Ohhh Lulu), but managed to get some sewing done for myself, as well as a really yummy French Onion Soup and two loaves of bread.
I actually think I am going to use these as samples and list them on Etsy… These samples, however, are for me, me me!
I’m really happy with how they turned out… they are simple under-wired, unpadded bras. I had been making these out of jersey, but I like them even better out of woven cotton, they are more supportive. They make really cute every day lingerie, paired with the lace panties I made last week.
This whole wedding registry has been way less fun than I thought it would be. We went to the Bay, spent two hours there, and registered for maybe 7 items. We couldn’t agree on anything, and the selection just was not so great… So we are going to Home Outfitters today, hopefully with more success! I am not really a big shopper so this part is not so fun. I am also struggling trying to think of things I need. I am a practical girl and am used to putting need before want… the whole registry seems kind of frivolous and consumer-driven…
I think I am thinking too much about this whole thing!
Today is March 2nd, as I’m sure you all know, and I am SICK of winter! I woke up this morning to snows qualls, it is freezing outside, and there is a 20-some-odd car pile up on the highway south of here. I am really ready to be warm. Right now.
I want to wear pretty skirts and flow-y tops and cute shoes… I am so tired of boots and puffy coats, and woollen hats… This is just getting down right depressing…
So, I made some spring-y panties for my Etsy Shop. They are everyday panties, by which I mean, you can wear them under anything! I made myself a few pairs and they are really comfortable, and unlike a lot of my other styles, which have ruffles, you can wear them under pants.
Speaking of pants, I am in the midst of a pant sewing spree. I can’t find the right pants for me to save my life. I am very petite, but have thick thighs, wide hips and a relatively itty bitty waist. I am constantly busting through the thighs of pants yet having to yank them up all the time because they will be too big for my waist! I am going to post a pattern review shortly… Ta Ta for now!
I never get as much done during the day as I intend to… I thought at first that I must be spending too much time “in between tasks” (in other words, slacking). So, I started writing down everything I do during the day to make sure I am making the most of my time! It turns out I waste a lot less time than I thought!
I sewed this romper this morning, which was a quick, easy sew. It is basically a bodice block and pant block with the darts removed and extra fullness added. I lengthened the bodice block a bit for blousing and did some tapering around the bum. The two pieces are then sewn together with a french seam, then a piece of elastic is inserted into the casing, and voila, a super cute retro-styled romper. I added a contrast panel to the front with a little lace, as well as some vintage 1950’s plastic buttons! I think this one is my favourite style romper.While I’m hoping to sell these, this is a pretty simple style to Frankenstein out of patterns I’m sure pretty much any sewist has laying around!
A few days ago I placed an order from Lush, and it came in the mail today! I ordered my favourite Porridge soap, Buffy scrub, a chocolate and honey scented massage bar, some shampoo and a few other things. I cannot say enough how much I LOVE everything from lush, especially their solid shampoos and the body butters. All I want to do is shower and wash my hair all day long….
I have had this idea in my brain for a while… I love big bows, and ruffles and silk fabric flowers, but you can’t exactly throw something like that on under your jeans. I also love clothing that can be worn in different ways… So in attempt to combine those two ideas, I came up with these.
I made a pair of simple cotton panties with three clear, nylon snaps on the back, then made some “Accessories” to snap on and off; a bustle trimmed in silk, silk rosettes and pearl drops, and a gigantic taffeta bow.
I am totally excited with how these turned out. I love making the “accessories” and it really makes a plain-ish pair of panties extra fun.Yesterday I made white bread for the first time. I made two loafs and am going to try to make our bread from now on. I also made some wool dryer balls to use instead of dryer sheets. Unfortunately I am out of dirty laundry and have not had a chance to use them! I scented my dryer balls by putting a bit of fabric softener on the beginning of the yarn as I was winding it into a ball. I used them once to dry some sheets and they still have a lot of scent in them. I am trying to make as much of my own consumables or at least make re-useables. I made myself a circle skirt out of an old sheet I found at Goodwill yesterday; I am currently wearing it, freezing my butt off, but am stubornly refusing to wear winter clothes any longer! I am done with winter and snow and slush… I am so ready for spring!
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.
Between family “stuff” I’ve actually been getting quite a bit of sewing done. I mentioned earlier, a Betsey Johnson pattern I had finished – I got this in a box lot of patterns and fell in love. It is SO Little House on the Prairie Meets Star Trek. The banded cap sleeve makes me giggle, but actually looks very cute on. I want to make a longer version for spring. This is completely the type of dress I could live in in the summer. Ah summer…
This was a very quick sew – as I mentioned in an earlier post, I took extra time to do french seams, a rolled hem, and lined the sleeve bands in broiderie angialise.
I also started on some more “ready made” stuff for My Etsy Shop including this knit “jacquard” set, which reminds me of the coziest pair of long-johns I had as a kid – perfect log cabin wear.
I’ve had this romper on my dress form for a few weeks. I love the print on this satin, it has cute little pink birds and reminds me of the 1920’s. I will make one of these for myself I think…
And last but not least, I sewed a bra before going to the visitation this afternoon. I like the gathered front. I sewed three little yellow buttons down the front and am contemplating a bow…
I am trying to kill some time between going to my Grandmother’s second viewing tonight… I’ve had a headache all week! The Funeral is tomorrow… even though it was an open casket viewing, it still hasn’t really “hit” me yet. My dad looks fantastic, which is good news, but I think he is getting cabin fever from not being able to go to work… or even go for a drive. While my cousin and I were preparing photos for the funeral, we found old wedding pictures of both of our parents. My mom and dad were such a good looking couple! I put one of their wedding photos up on my fridge to inspire…
Earlier this week I worked on a few ready-made goodies for my Etsy shop. I wanted to create some gift pack undies, and decided to pre-wrap them in pretty, paper doilies! Voila! I hope my man gets me something yummy like this!
It has been a snowy, stormy few days here; très Canadien. Our little apartment has been freezing and I feel a little like Susanna Moodie in Roughing It In The Bush. We have literally been burning candles (and once, Dan’s homework) for warmth as we really can’t afford any more $200+ hydro bills. I am assured that one day we will look back on these days with fondness… When I am a famous handmade-lingerie designer, and Dan is Mechanic to the Prime Minister.
A girl can dream… for now I will keep my toque on!