Happy New Year Coupon!

Happy New Year to my wonderful customers. My ribbon room is sorted and organized and I am ready to go! (That will last about 1/2 a day, and then it will look as though a bomb went off, once again!)

Here's a coupon to use through New Year's Day. It will expire at midnight EST on Friday night. Save 20% on your order of $20.00 or more. Regular shipping rates apply. This code does not apply to any special/custom orders. It includes website purchases only (special invoices and Etsy orders are not included.) Enter this code at checkout.

HNY20

Have a happy and safe holiday!
Kristen

The year is winding down...

I can't believe it has been almost two months since I've blogged. I admittedly got very burnt out right around the first of October and took a huge mental break. My orders were very plentiful, thank you to my wonderful customers! But it got to the point where it was taking four to five weeks for some orders to go out. As blessed as I am to have a popular website, it does take a toll on my home and my family.

The break was well worth it for me and gave me new energy! My faithful followers will be pleased to know I am reopening on January 1!

The design group I am part of (DillyDally) is getting ready to launch around the third week of January. Exciting things are happening!

For now, here's a new listing on Etsy. A bow bouquet stuffed with goodies for a little wild child!

A Magic Kingdom

Search Boutique AMK all this week for the much anticipated A Magic Kingdom launch. There will be so much to see. I'll post my listings soon!

It's a Holiday Parade!

Today is parade day! Sugar3 invited all of the ladies from DillyDally to decorate a float. Our float theme is "Holiday Movie Madness" and we have some great listings to share! Search Sugar3 Parade starting today!

Warm Colors for Cool Weather

Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a fall weather person. I love that time of year. Mark and I picked our wedding to be around Columbus Day weekend in October for the color and scenery that New England has to offer, but also for the crisp, cool air. So here it is in mid-August, hotter than I would like- so my thoughts are turning to fall. Here's a set made with rich autumn colors, including some flowers and butterflies. They are finished and ready to ship, offered at a great price!

Halloween Cuties

Here are more fun Halloween/Fall bows listed for the Lil Peas and Guests go Batty launch. The first bow will match the Mickey Vida Dress by Terri of pink*freckled*frogs. If you're taking a trip to Disney in the fall, this dress would be perfect!

And next is a pair of bows with painted owl centers to match dress by Stephanie of Room*6. I found some little wooden owls so I painted them to match the owl applique on the front of her dress. The 5-pieces can be worn as a set, or take the owls out and wear them separately. So many options!

If you're kids are starting school this week, best wishes for a great start! We still have a full week of summer left here, plus a few days. We start back on August 26.

Sis BOOM!

It's always fun collaborating with Carrie of PunkyFaeDesigns. Her daughter Jordan is so cute. I've been able to see her grow during the last year or so that I've known her (in pictures, of course...even though she lives just a few hours away!) Take a look at this cute owl vida dress made with Jennifer Paganelli's beautiful Sis Boom fabrics. The hair set includes six mix-and-match pieces.

Thanks to Haute Couture...

Thanks for featuring me on your blog today!

Doll Baby

Here's another fun collaboration for the DillyDally All Stacked Up launch. I had the pleasure of making bows to match this adorable set by Amy of SewSweetStudio. Look how cute her little girl is!

DillyDally is All Stacked Up!

DillyDally's All Stacked Up launch is here! Browse through the listings and see all of the wonderful creations by some amazing designers!

I have several sets of bows finished for the launch and will be listing them over the next day or so. My favorite contribution for the launch is this painted ladybug tote with a set of matching nesting dolls. I was excited to see it featured on This Is Boutique!

It has been a great launch, and a fun way for our group to debut our new DillyDally name. Thanks for taking a peek at our listings!

What? Halloween? Seriously.

That's what I heard today when I was spotted by my family, taking pictures of some fall bows. I know. It's crazy. Who could possibly be thinking of Halloween at this time of year? If you're part of the boutique world, you've already got your eye on that perfect custom outfit. Or you scroll through the newly listed sets on eBay hoping to find the perfect one for this year's Halloween parties. Here are a few sets I have to offer to wet your whistle...

Ready to ship!

Here are two new listings on Etsy, both ready to ship! And since I don't want to hold on to anything too long, they're both listed at incredible prices- grab them now, even if you have to tuck them away for a rainy day for a little girl in your life! Click on the pictures to see more.

Do you Facebook?

Join the Ladybug Bowtique Fan Page on Facebook to be eligible for some fun prizes, coming soon!

And the nomination goes to....

I was thrilled to discover that I have been nominated for Designer of the Year in Haute Couture for Kids! I was nominated for my bird tote that I listed during the HC 3rd Annual Runway Launch. What an honor. My friend Kerstin of BambiniDreams was nominated as well. I would love to see her win- if it weren't for her beautiful Sweet Tweets design, my first painted tote would never have come about. So hats off to Kerstin, and thank you to Lynne and Rebekah again for such a fun collaboration!

BijouCo is changing!

On July 29, BijouCo will become DillyDally! We will debut our new name with a fun guest launch called "All Stacked Up." I can't wait to see all of the designs that are made with matryoshka doll fabric, or inspired by a set of nesting dolls. Come see our listings by searching DillyDally starting July 29!

The last week of school...

Yes, we're still in school this week in Massachusetts, thanks to that lovely ice storm that kept us out of school from December 12 through Christmas break. The last day is this Thursday. Thankfully it's not hot this week.

My daughter Julia and I were browsing through Michael's a few weeks ago, and she came upon a little pamphlet for these cute little pots made with chalkboard paint. We thought they would make fun teacher's gifts to give out this week during their last week of school. We try to remember everyone, right down to the bus driver. So we set out to make a bunch of these, and here's the end result. They are stuffed with green paper grass, an eraser and chalk.



Julia and Sara are writing personal notes on the back of theirs. Adam went for a simpler "Thank you" version on his pots. It was fun making these. Julia now has this craft written down in her "idea book" that she keeps for when we move and she gets to redecorate her bedroom. She wants to make colorful chalkboard pots to keep on a shelf, labeled with fun words, and stuffed with all of her goodies.

Even ladybugs are patriotic!

Look at this adorable patriotic pony-o by Katie of theres*only*one*of*me on eBay. It has little ladybug beads in it- Katie finds the cutest beads and works them into FABULOUS creations!

I just love her. Okay, yes- I do know her personally. Our kids go to school together.

Find it here.

Sweet Little Tweet

The Haute Couture 3rd Annual Runway Launch is here! I was delighted to be asked to make bows to match the birdie outfit by Kerstin of Bambini Dreams. The little bird clip is made by Rebekah of ScrappinDesign...look how cute! I loved the outfit so much, and it inspired my first painted tote. I know I posted about it ages ago, but here it is in action. Lynne from Magical Moments Photography took the great pictures, with her daughter Kayla modeling.

I can't say thank you enough to these wonderful ladies. The collaboration came together so nicely! Find the outfit, bird clip, tote and bows here.

Mermaid, Part Two

I made another Mermaid tote, this time with some additional accessories- an orange crab (I love this, with the silly eyes!) a starfish, a seahorse, a clam shell and a green fish, all to match Gymboree's Mermaid Magic line. This will be fun to watch, starting at 99 cents with no reserve. Check it out, and watch it with me!

3 Tweets...

Another peek at the collaboration with Bambini Dreams and Scrappindesign. Lynne Marie Pisano of Magical Moments Photography took the beautiful pictures. This will be listed for the Haute Couture Runway Launch at the end of May.

Little ladies...

The girls went to their Father-Daughter dance tonight with Mark. What a fun time it was to get ready. It seemed easy this year. I found dresses on the clearance rack at JC Penney after Easter for $20.00 each, and they included the little doll dresses to match. So we put the dolls into the pictures, of course!

I still giggle when I think of how I agonized over what shoes they would wear, until they found the pink and purple jelly shoes at Walmart for $7.50! The girls insisted on getting them after I said no...they were not appropriate for a dressy dance...but they were thrilled when I threw my arms up in defeat and let them. I think they ended up looking very nice with the dresses!

Such ladies, showing off their elbow cuts...

And their shin bruises...

And the jelly shoes! Priceless!

More Magical Sets...

Here are two more sets listed for BijouCo's Pirates and Princesses Launch. The little girls are too cute for words! Too bad they're not included. Happy Mother's Day!

Mermaid Magic

I love making these. This tote matches Gymboree's new Mermaid Magic line. I added in some Gymboree Ric Rac clips to the handle- they can be removed to wear in the hair. This is offered at .99 with no reserve!

Fairy Pretty

This was a fun mix-and-match set to go with the Tinkerbell set by Cassi of SugarBritchesBoutiqueOnline. It can be worn in so many ways. Clip the flower or the Tinkerbell clip into the weave of the headband and wear them together, or wear the flowers over pigtails. Find the set here, and while you're looking, check out some of the new BijouCo listings that have popped up this week!

BijouCo Pirates & Princesses Launch

Launch day is here! Here's my first contribution, and I'll have a couple sets of princess bows posted in the next day or so.

This is the tote I gave a sneak peak of the other day. I'm in love with it, and my girls adore it. It will be hard to part with it. The reserve is set at $79.99. This took hours and hours...enough to take up about a week of my life. It is one-of-a-kind and includes all six dolls. Take a peek, even if it's to just look at the pictures in the auction and dream of being young again...

Show me the bows, Kristen!

The most common email I get from my regular customers goes something like this...

Hey Kristen,

I know you're busy. When do you think you'll make bows for the new line? I need a pair for the new Gymbo line. Like yesterday.

Love,
Me

Okay, so lots of you know you've sent an email to me like this. Except you don't say "like yesterday" even though I know you want to say it. :) And you don't say "love" at the end. I added that in because I feel the love. Ahem...in daily emails. Especially when a new line comes out. For those of you who have been ordering your M2M bows from me for the last few years (wow, did I say that?) you know that I was always on top of the new lines, getting to the store to match, and coming home to make a sample of every bow style possible to match the line. And a pretty little collage showcasing all of those designs.

I've decided to change the way I do this, though. The website is so busy that some new lines don't get touched for weeks. And you sit so patiently waiting, and sometimes they never get added to the site. Now you can order your bow(s) right away as soon as a new line comes out. Just visit the *Custom* section in each M2M area and you can order the bow and style you need- just let me know which outfit you have. Now you're not left waiting until I get around to it.

This makes it easier for you, and easier for me, too! And yes- once I make up your bows, I'll add them as a regular item for everyone else to see. For my regular customers, I hope this helps you place your order with ease, and I hope you'll enjoy receiving your new line bows sooner.


Happy May! And thank you for your continued orders!

I can't wait...

I seriously can't wait until Tuesday to list my latest project. I've been working on this one for hours upon hours...early hours, wee hours, all hours. The laundry is left undone. The house is a wreck. The kids are dirty. (Okay, not really.) The husband is feeling neglected. (Really.) This is a tiny sneak. Come see me on Tuesday, my friends. Hint: the colors in the large beads of the handle might give you a hint. There are 6 of them.