BijouCo Decades

Christmas Around the World

Some of you might be noticing some holiday displays up in the stores already, and many of us have uttered, "and it's only September!" But in the boutique world, the Christmas frenzy is already in full swing.

This week, my friends at Bijou & Company are offering beautiful Christmas customs, and I've had the honor of making bows for several of the sets.

There are many holiday traditions around the world -- but all celebrate in the spirit of giving. That is why the designers at Bijou & Co. are most excited to announce our newest launch, Christmas Around the World. Reaching across countries, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the International Children's Hospital. So you know that your bid goes beyond the custom -- it's helping to heal a child. And, after all, what better Christmas gift can you give, than the gift of hope? Bid early. Bid often. Make a difference.

Beginning on September 9th, search BijouCo on eBay! Here is just a small peek at the many festive outfits and accessories that you will find as we journey to Christmas Around the World!

And they're off...

The summer seemed long and short at the same time. We squeezed so much in this year- a spontaneous road trip to St. Louis, with a two-night stop at Niagara Falls over the Fourth of July, and so much more. In St. Louis we had a VIP tour of the famous St. Louis Zoo, with a private viewing of their amazingly trained Sea Lions, and special exhibit viewings--all because Mark is working on some campaign material for them. What a treat. Oh, and look what we found inside the St. Louis Zoo! How fun!

On the other hand, we camped through some awful storms in central NH, and left just days before a tornado hit. We finished off our summer with our regular trip to a family cabin in Maine, just north of Camden. We spent a couple extra nights this year, watching the kids enjoy time with their cousins. The kids paddled around the pond by themselves this year, and swam to the float a gazillion times, and were quite proud of it! Here are Sara and Julia (front and back) paddling their cousins around. Adam was in the kayak with Dad.

And here we are at the beginning of the school year again. The girls are in first and second grade in the same school, so they are on and off the bus together. Adam is in his last year of preschool.

So we're back into our routine again. Well, sort of. Mark has left the office environment and is working from home now, so things will change a little. I'll have a clean kitchen each day (courtesy of him!) and a stocked kitchen. Lucky for me, he loves to cook, and he doesn't mind the grocery store! And I won't worry so much when I have a doctor's appointment and have to get home in time for the bus. He'll be around to help with the little things. Life is good.

My little slugger...

If you look closely, Julia's eyes are closed as she's swinging at this softball...but wouldn't you know, she nails it!

Julia and Sara have begged me for "their own website" so I finally agreed and helped them open their very own Etsy Shop. It's called JaydeeMayDesigns, named for both of them. Julia has always been called JaydeeBug (JD for her initials) and Sara's middle name is May- we call her May a little more than we call her by her first name. So JaydeeMayDesigns is born. Julia has worn her fingers out making button ponytail holders over the last day or so, and Sara put together some simple Czech glass earrings today. They've inherited the crafty gene. Take a peek, and add them to your favorites- they get silly when they see that others like their things.

We're sensing an end to the summer. Swim lessons end this week, and we leave next week for our last vacation- to our family cabin in Maine. Enjoy the last lazy days of summer!

BiJou & Co Back to School Launch

Each school year thousands of memories are created. Some of them are saved in a folder, journal or scrapbook. But one of the most important memories you will look back on in the years to come will be your child’s school picture. You of course will want everything to be perfect. Bijou & Co. can help you create the perfect memory that will last a lifetime.

Bijou & Co presents Create Your Own School Picture. From July 24 – 31, our talented group of designers will be listing amazing back to school outfits. Perfect for the first day or school, or school picture day! Not only will you receive a one-of-a-kind boutique outfit, but you will also receive an original 11x17 artist portrait of your child wearing her custom boutique design.

What could be better?! The perfect outfit and the perfect photo. Two memories rolled into one. After all a picture is worth a thousand words and in this case a thousand memories.

To see the amazing designs and portraits, go to ebay and enter search term BijouCo Pictures. You can also read about the latest launch news by visiting our blog at http://bijouandco.blogspot.com/

It pays off...

Last week I was invited to join Adagio Bleu, the great group of designers that I joined for a guest launch in May. Adagio Bleu is a wonderful collaborative group that I'm going to have lots of fun with! Here's my first listing as a 'regular' in ABSD. The bows and clip match the beautiful dress by Annie of Pretty Baby Boutique. The dress is made with Moda's Fresh Squeezed line of fabrics, and the bows pull in the bright citrus colors of summer. Take a peek, and see if your mouth waters, just as mine did!

Multitasking!

I promised a picture of what I made last week- here it is! I haven't taken a picture of Julia's dress yet, but here's a Ginger Blossom halter I made a few nights ago. I had a little bit of the Ginger Blossom fabric left, so I took Sara's measurements and made the dress to fit a size smaller than she is. I'm going to save it and give it to my little niece, Isabella.

Speaking of Etsy, I do list there even though my website keeps me busy enough. Orders placed through my website are all made to order, so I am usually backlogged about 3 weeks. I ship 4 or 5 orders a day, so that gives you an idea of how little sleep I get!

But I do find time each day to make something new, and listing on Etsy is a great creative outlet (as if I need another one) so I list one-of-a-kind items there. I have some fun button bracelets and snap clips there.

Check out the recently listed items on the Etsy home page- it's fun to sit and watch the interesting new things that pop up.

Have a great Father's Day weekend!

Beth O Photoshoot

I received pictures last night from Beth O Photography- I am just amazed at the quality of her photos. The model is striking- her name is Emma. I wouldn't hesitate to have her model for me in the future. Beth was so easy to work with. The bows and outfit are listed this week on eBay. The outfit is by Cassi of Princess Tiger Lily Boutique and is OOAK for a one-of-a-kind spicy girl in a size 4/5/6. The bows were a remake of my original skull/punk style, with some denim ribbon added in to match Cassi's set. Here are my favorite pictures from the photo shoot.

Dusting off...

Life is busy around here as usual. The ABSD Sisboom launch was great fun and I met several designers who have already planned new collaborations with me. I still have a few things up my sleeve for the Etsy portion of the launch on June 12. If you love Sis Boom fabrics as much as I do, check out our launch by searching ABSD Sisboom on Etsy next week.

Mark was away on business this week, and for me it meant very lazy late nights- I love having him home to hang out with to watch our favorite shows and to just "be." But with him away, I stayed up too late in the quietness and (ready?) sewed! I dusted off my machines this week and dove in. I made a dress for Julia with a color pattern that she designed. I've asked to add a few extra touches to the dress, but she insists that it is *her* design and it is not to be messed with. I'll take a few pictures this week to show you.

Since I have a sewing bug now, I'm working on something to list with a guest launch I'm in later in June. I'll have sneak peeks sometime this week. You might wonder why I'm doing this if I have no experience in sewing, but actually, I do! My mom has sewn forever, and she sent me to a sewing class when I was young. I'm sure I hated it then- in fact, I remember hating it. But over the years I've sewn this or that- nothing spectacular, but in the last two years I've made a couple wearable things for Julia and Sara. I wanted to find something different to do this summer on those quiet mornings when the kids are sleeping in. Deep down I really don't hate it! Actually, it gets my motor going and I always look forward to the next project, just like with my hair accessories. So stay tuned!

I just listed this bracelet for the end of the Sisboom launch. I'll make a few more of these, as they are a quick and easy accessory that can be made to match anything with a small swatch of fabric.

School gets out in another week, so my life will be turned upside down for 10 weeks. I'm sure you can all relate!

My Sweet Sara...

Sara turned six a few weeks ago, and I'm noticing a new young lady emerging. She's so girly and feminine, but on the other hand she can dig in the dirt and smoosh bugs right alongside her brother. Her teacher called me this week to tell me she will be placed in an advanced reading session in first grade next year. She reads chapter books like they're nothing, and tosses them aside looking for the next one. She has read the whole series of Junie B. Jones books (and she's picked up Junie's naughty language, too!)

Guest Launch with Adagio Bleu

Here's a fun group that I'm guesting with this week. Sis Boom's Jennifer Paganelli has designed this beautiful line of fabrics- I'm using the newest line called Bell Bottoms in my designs. The designers and guests of Adagio Bleu are using fabrics from her other recent lines too, so it's bound to be a colorful launch. Here are some sneaks. You can find us by searching ABSD SisBoom on eBay from 5/29 to 6/8. I have collaborations with several designers for this launch. It has been so much fun! The little pink fabric clips in the photo are mine, and are just a taste of what I've made for the launch!

There's nothing more fun!

What an exciting week! Weeks like this are what make me tick. I've had so many bows and clips go out in the past weeks for collaborations with various designers that my head spins! But it's all so worth it when I see my bows in action like in these pics...

When the sets come together, I sit and wonder what was more fun- the creative process (seeing fabrics, choosing colors, etc.) or sitting down when the listings go up and just looking, and looking. I'm just in awe at the work that goes into these sets, and I realize that I have the easy part. I hope you enjoy these...look for BijouCo on eBay this week to see these beautiful sets!

Bijou & Company presents "Postcards"

Yet another fun launch for Bijou!

Search BijouCo on eBay starting today for many vacation-inspired designs!

I'll be listing this Mouse-Inspired Bow Bouquet starting at 99 cents with no reserve!

Search BijouCo all this week!

A Beautiful Solution

My house is a bow explosion. One would think that a bowmaker would have a fancy solution to bow storage, but to be honest, we have bows coming out of every crevice in our house. The main "hub" for our bows is a wooden cabinet- the girls take their bows out and throw them into a basket on top of this cabinet. Once in a while, we'll go through the basket and sort everything into color-coordinated plastic drawers inside the cabinet. It's definitely not fancy, and it's terribly frustrating trying to find things when we're rushing out the door to meet the school bus.

If your house is bow explosion too, check out Bambina Ballerina. Trisha makes these gorgeous bow holders with flowing ribbon and tulle. You can have one custom made to match her bedroom decor.

They make beautiful gifts, too. Imagine giving one to a little girl on her first birthday, or for an expectant mom who's having her first little girl.

Visit http://www.bambinaballerina.com/ to see her wonderful work!

Creative Bursts

Once in a while I close my website to catch up, and it spurs some extra creativity that I typically can't get to when I'm bogged down with orders. I get refreshed this way and I can jump back into my website sales with a clearer head. This week I made this fabric headband set for a Bijou & Company member to match a dress. I've seen the dress, but I can't wait to see the total ensemble in pictures next week.





I have three other sets made for my Bijou friends, too- so I'll post a link here next week when the items are all launched. Bijou is celebrating their one-year anniversary with a launch called "Sentiments." There are some fabulous designers involved, and it will be exciting to see everything next week.

Thank you for the emails asking about new Gymbo line bows. I'll have Cherry Baby items made up for my reopening next week!

I've joined Bijou & Company!

I've been invited to become a member of BijouCo...Bijou & Company. This is a new adventure for me! Bijou & Co. is a design group, with some fabulous designers. Top notch. I'm so excited about this. I've had a chance to work with one of the designers (Danielle and her sweet model-daughter Samantha) and I'm working on something for an upcoming launch with LaNae of 2tatteredtulips. I'm thrilled to be a member of Bijou...search BijouCo on eBay and Etsy for some stunning items!

All About Ladybug Bowtique...and me!

Okay, I've figured out the silly little details of posting, so here's my first official one.

I'm Kristen, mom to Julia, Sara and Adam, wife to Mark, and owner of http://www.ladybugbowtique.com/.

I'll explain things in order of importance, or so I see it.

Mark and I have been married for ten years. It will be eleven years this October. He's my best friend, and good thing- because he had no idea ten years ago that I'd have the absolute disaster of a mess in my bow space downstairs that I have today. I've never asked him if he would change his mind, knowing now what he didn't know then. I think I'll save that question for when I've cleaned up my ribbon scraps.


And then there are the kids. Julia is 7. Sara is 6. Adam is 4. I'll save a whole page of bragging, but I'll tell you that they're all very sweet, and they're great kids. They do have love/hate relationships with each other, which makes our household quite unbearable at times. We didn't plan to have 3 children in 3 years. But it happened that way, and we consider ourselves quite blessed, since Julia was a gift through IVF, and Sara and Adam surprised us naturally after that.


We live in a quiet area of northern Massachusetts. Quiet- meaning I have to travel 45 minutes to most everything. Yes, we have a Walmart, gas station and bowling alley, but not much more.

My daily routine includes getting the girls off to school, and Adam to preschool and back. I'm a Daisy Girl Scout leader and I help with the Brownie troop as well. I find a little time to clean up the kitchen sink each day while they're all in school, but most of my day is filled with ribbon.

Ladybug Bowtique
I started out selling on eBay about six years ago, when I was pregnant with Sara. At the time, I was a bank officer, and managed a local bank branch. When Sara was due, I decided to stay home with both girls. I started selling on eBay. When they were a bit older, I started making bows for them, and listed a few on eBay. I was surprised at how well they did, and after three years and over a thousand bow sales, I decided it was time to venture out and open my website. I had no idea at the time where this would bring me. My website has been so fun and exciting, and exhausting at the same time.

I make mostly made-to-match (M2M) Gymboree and Janie and Jack bows & accessories, but also fit in some GAP, Hanna, Naartjie, Boden and some others. I make bows, clips, headbands, necklaces, and so much more.

So, that's me.

Here's my first attempt at adding important info about me. We'll see if it works.

My website:

http://www.ladybugbowtique.com/

My Logo

And this is me!

Wow, I might actually do okay with this blog-thing!

Welcome!

Welcome to my Blog! Let me get settled in, and I'll start posting soon!
www.ladybugbowtique.com