The Little Blog . Little Bugs Boutique

Servers are Back!

2011-12-20T11:26:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much for your patience! Our email servers are working properly now (thank you tech geeks). Email away!

Our Email is Temporarily Down

2011-12-19T13:43:00.000-05:00

Little Bugs Boutique is getting a make-over and as such our email is temporarily down as we are switching servers. Please bear with us as we make this change over. If you have any questions in the meantime, please call us at 888.619.8880.

Bitty Block | Early Summer NEW Releases

2011-05-13T14:27:00.000-04:00

We are proud to introduce 43 new designs!
Below is a sneak peek at the newest designs. And if you are a retailer, we have a fantastic new promotion running now through June 30th. Contact Us for more details and new line sheets.

Thanks so much for your continued support! Happy Spring!

Spring Break at Little Bugs Boutique | April 13 - 21

2011-04-05T09:44:00.000-04:00

It's time for Spring Break!

The Little Bugs Boutique studio will be closed April 13th through April 21st. Any orders placed after April 5th at noon will be processed AFTER the 21st in the order they were received. Please remember to allow 7-10 days for production AFTER the 21st for these orders. All orders placed BEFORE NOON on April 5th will ship prior to April 13th.

Thanks so much for your continued support! Stay Tuned!

We have some exciting new products that will be released in Early May!

Little Bugs Boutique at the Dallas Market Center This Week!

2011-01-18T18:45:00.002-05:00

See Y'all in Dallas!

Thomas & Moore Showroom

#2953

January 19th - 25th

Hello ... Our New Toll Free Number & Sale!

2010-11-15T08:12:00.002-05:00

We now have a new toll-free number!

888-619-8880

Of course you can still reach us at our local number if you'd like

610-444.8944

To celebrate, we are having a little promotion! Now through December 1st, save 20% on your ENTIRE order using coupon code FREECALL. {retail orders only}

Holiday Ordering Cut-Offs:

December 13th at noon for all Retail Orders with First Class Shipping

December 15th at noon for all Retail Orders with Priority Shipping.

December 2nd at noon for all Wholesale Orders.

Red 2 Green Promotion

2010-08-03T22:39:00.000-04:00

Now through September 15th, receive 3 FREE pendants and coordinating neck cords with any $200 order or more. Click on image below for more details. Promo code RED2GREEN must appear on your order.

Promotion valid on wholesale orders only.

Product Overview

2010-07-18T12:54:00.001-04:00

Watch the video below for a quick overview of our products!

It's Show Time!

2010-07-11T12:39:00.000-04:00

Going to market? Make sure you stop by and visit us!

Visit Us at the Kathleen Milne Company Showroom in the LA Mart

Tuesday, July 13th through Monday, July 19th

Suite 867

Visit Us at the Gib Carson Showroom at the Atalanta Mart

Wednesday, July 14th through Wednesday, July 1st

Suite 1319

Dallas Total Home & Gift Market

2010-06-22T13:47:00.000-04:00

Join Us this week at Dallas Total Home & Gift Market. You can find Bitty Block and the entire Little Bugs Boutique line at the Thomas & Moore Showroom at booth 2953 in the Dallas Market Center. Show runs June 23rd through the 29th.

Can't make the show, no problem. Little Bugs Boutique Studio has permanent home in the showroom so you can visit anytime. Happy shopping!

Women, Kids and Everyone in beTWEEN

2010-06-21T18:24:00.004-04:00

Let's face it, women love to accessorize. Nothing is cuter than a toddler playing dress up. Girls start young and we never tire of finding that perfect little add-on to compliment an outfit. I'll admit it, I've designed an entire outfit around a pair of shoes before (more than once). According to Earnshaw's latest issue, women of all ages LOVE to shop for accessories, but children's retailers are finding this category to be the fastest growing category!

Here at Little Bugs Boutique, we've always known that those little divas are all searching for ways to ways to express their individual style. Bitty Block and Bitty Caps are the perfect fit in the Tween category for any store.

With price points under $20, these handcrafted pendants fit so many gift-giving budgets and offer a wide appeal for women of all ages. There are over 1000 designs in the collection, many with a Tween focus. And a large selection of necklace cords and chains too!

Read the Hidden Gems article of Earnshaw's current issue and get inspired! And don't miss page 42 for a case study in the buying habits the 7-14 crowd. Tweens know what's hot!

2010 Mid-Year Supplement: Product Preview

2010-06-07T20:51:00.002-04:00

Our Mid-Year Supplement is out to press and expected to arrive by mid-month. But why wait? Here is a sneak peek at some of the new styles. And don't forget, all Bitty Block designs are available as Trinkets too!

There are over 75 new products included in this supplement and we've lowered the price on our two most popular accessories (suede necklaces & 3-strand organza cotton cord necklaces). The stainless stell ball chain necklaces are now available in 16" length and we are introducing a NEW silicone necklace cord that is super strong and stretchy.

Be sure to ask your sales rep about our NEW Storyboards too! A super quick and easy way to get started with our product lines.

Congratulations Longwood Performing Arts Dancers

2010-05-29T18:16:00.002-04:00

Congratulations LPA on another amazing year!

Meet the Little Bugs

2010-05-05T09:49:00.003-04:00

We thought is was about time that you met our Little Bugs. Our 3 fantastic girls are the inspiration behind everything we do here at Little Bugs Boutique Studio. They are becoming quite the fashionistas being around all this jewelry! They have lots of fun in their studio clubhouse, but also jump in and help around the studio too (well, not that little one, she just comes for the lollipops).

Click Here to read more about each of them and find out what their favorite products are!

photos by Beth Erisman Photography

Refreshing: Think Green, Save Green

2010-04-12T19:22:00.000-04:00

It's Spring and everything is coming up GREEN!

Aaah, Spring! It always inspires me for a little clean up! We have refreshed our website and blog and to celebrate, we are offering 25% off your entire purchase for 1 week only. Enter coupon code "REFRESH" during checkout. So go ahead . . . Think Green & Save Green! Wholesale orders excluded.

Tell Us! What is your preference? Bitty Blocks, Bitty Caps or Trinkets. Let us know, we'd love to hear from you.

Totally Charming

2009-08-30T21:07:00.003-04:00

Here you can create your very own necklace and that's what makes it TOTALLY CHARMING! Since gifting jewelry is personal, meaningful and from the heart, we wanted to allow you to design a special creation geared specifically for the recipient.

Includes 2 charms and 1 crystal. Additional crystals can be added.

Click Here to view our entire collection of sterling charms.

Click Here to view our crystal color chart.

Order Now!

Easter Fun Facts & Jokes

2009-04-02T21:27:00.003-04:00

Here are a few Easter Fun Facts to share with your friends & family.

Easter Fun Facts
1. The name Easter comes from Eostre, an ancient Anglo-Saxon goddess, originally of the dawn. In pagan times an annual spring festival was held in her honour.

2. Easter is now celebrated (in the words of the Book of Common Prayer) on the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on or after March 21, the Spring Equinox. Therefore it can occur on any Sunday from March 22nd through to April 25th. This year it’s on Sunday, April 12th.

3. In medieval times a festival of egg throwing was held in church, during which the priest would throw a hard-boiled egg to one of the choirboys. It was then tossed from one choirboy to the next and whoever held the egg when the clock struck 12 was the winner and retained the egg.

4. Easter Bonnets are a throw back to the days when the people denied themselves the pleasure of wearing finery for the duration of Lent. By tradition, it was obligatory (or at least lucky) for churchgoers to wear some bright new piece of clothing - at least an Easter bonnet, if not a complete new outfit.

5. The traditional act of painting eggs is called Pysanka.

6. The custom of giving eggs at Easter time has been traced back to Egyptians, Persians, Gauls, Greeks and Romans, to whom the egg was a symbol of life.

7. The most famous decorated Easter eggs were those made by the well-known goldsmith, Peter Carl Faberge. In 1883 the Russian Czar, Alexander, commissioned Faberge to make a special Easter gift for his wife, the Empress Marie. The first Faberge egg was an egg within an egg. It had an outside shell of platinum and enameled white which opened to reveal a smaller gold egg. The smaller egg, in turn, opened to display a golden chicken and a jeweled replica of the Imperial crown. This special Faberge egg so delighted the Czarina that the Czar promptly ordered the Faberge firm to design further eggs to be delivered every Easter. In later years Nicholas II, Alexander's son, continued the custom. Fifty-seven eggs were made in all.

8. In 1878 President Hayes and his wife Lucy officially opened the White House grounds to the children of the area for egg rolling on Easter Monday. The event has been held on the South Lawn ever since, except during World War I and World War II. During the war years the Easter Egg Roll was held at the National Zoo, and other Washington locations.

9. The Guinness Book of Records holder for the largest Easter egg ever made is the Belgian chocolate producer Guylian who made the chocolate egg with at least 50.000 bars on behalf of the city of St. Niklaas. The egg measured 8.32 metres high . Twenty-six craftsman worked altogether 525 hours to build the egg. They needed 1950 kg of chocolates.

Easter Jokes
1. What is the difference between a crazy bunny and a counterfeit banknote?

One is bad money and the other is a mad bunny!

2. Why did the Easter egg hide?

He was a little chicken!

3. What do you get when you cross a bunny with an onion?

A bunion 4.

4. What did the bunny want to do when he grew up?

Join the Hare Force.

5. What does a bunny use when it goes swimming?

A hare-net.

6. What did the grey rabbit say to the blue rabbit?

Cheer up!

7. What do you get when you pour hot water down a rabbit hole?

A hot cross bunny.

8. How does the Easter Bunny say Happy Easter?

Hoppy Easter

text ©Alison Berry 2006

2009-01-29T15:58:00.001-05:00

This August, the U.S. Congress enacted the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act 2008 (CPSIA), one of the most comprehensive transformations of consumer-product safety regulations since the 1970s. The Act expands the role of the Consumer Product Safety Commission in ensuring the safety of consumer products, especially those designed for children.

Little Bugs Boutique currently conforms to safety standards of California (Cal Prop 65). This law adopted in 2006, established limits for lead in metals and several other components. Significantly, in recognition of the limited risk of availability of lead from crystal, the settlement agreement standards as incorporated under California AB 1681 allows the continued use of crystal without limitation in jewelry not intended for children. However, the new CPSIA legislation overrides the Cal Prop 65 law in regards to children's jewelry (up to 1 gram of crystal allowed per piece) and goes into effect on February 10th, 2009.

We have developed a reasonable testing program to ensure that the children's products you purchase from us comply with the aspects of the law that pertain to our products. However, as of today, we have not been able to source any lead-free crystals. Although many suppliers offer what they claim to be "lead-free" crystals (such as Celestial Crystal), none have been able to provide us with any type of certification that these crystals are indeed "lead-free". Furthermore, we have been told that cat's eye beads (used in so many of our designs) may also contain lead. We are working diligently to identify and quantify the total lead content in these components, but until further notice will no longer be able to market or make any product that contains crystals and/or cat's eye beads for children under the age of 12.

We are in the process of removing the children's sizes option from our website and urge you to make whatever changes you must in your shop and/or website. The Bitty Block collection will continue as designed, as it was never designed, intended or marketed toward children. Our entire collection will continue to be available in adult sizes. Again, any of our products that contain crystal and/or cat's eye components can ONLY be sold for children ages 13 and over. Additionally, we are in the process of designing some new items that will be CPSIA compliant using sterling silver and natural gemstones.

Another requirement of the CPSIA is that General Certificates of Compliance (GCC) be created for all children's products. Therefore, we will be creating General Certificates of Conformity for our products when ordered for children under the age of 12 based on "reasonable testing" of component parts. It is our hope that the CPSC will amend the law to accept component testing in lieu of the required third-party testing come August 14, 2009.

We have been corresponding with other small handcrafted "manufacturers" of children's products, like us, and many of us small business owners have been on a campaign to lobby Congress refine this law, and it seems that the legislators are listening! Below is a link which will take you to a letter dated January 21, 2009 from two representatives urging a hearing be held to discuss the legislation.

http://republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/Media/File/News/1.21.09_CPSIA_Letter_to_Henry_%20Waxman.pdf

You can refer to our Jewelry Safety page on our website to keep informed of updates in government legislation and how it relates to handcrafted jewelry.

Learn More about the CPSIA:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/101faq.html#leadcontentcertifications
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/faq.html

Win the Whispering Flowers Scrabble Tile Pendant

2008-09-22T11:52:00.002-04:00

A big thanks to Irene at Irene Design. She has been kind enough to host a giveaway for my Whispering Flowers Scrabble Tile Pendant on her blog. Stop by and leave a comment to enter.

While you are there, be sure to visit IreneDesign's Etsy Shop full of custom pieces for the home which are functional and beautiful.

Contest ends on Friday, September 26th.

Don't Miss Another Sale!

2008-07-17T22:40:00.007-04:00

Have you joined to our Email Mailing List yet?

From time to time, we send out email-only promotions. This is the promotion that was sent out today announcing our Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale. You can sign up to receive alerts to specials and promotions like these using our sign-up form in the right hand column.

While you are at it, why not subscribe to this blog as well?

Scrabble Tile Pendants at Wholesale Prices

2008-07-13T19:52:00.004-04:00

I am running a WHOLESALE SPECIAL in my Bitty Block etsy shop.

Buy 2 Scrabble Tile Pendants and get a 3rd Pendant FREE!

Now is your chance to buy like a wholesaler. Stock up for gifts or yourself.

Personalized, dangle & photo pendants are excluded from this offer.
See shop profile for more details.

Recycled Envelopes

2008-07-03T19:42:00.005-04:00

These are my Itty-Bitty Eco-Friendly Recycled Envelopes.

They are featured in a fun little Treasury on Etsy right now.

Mess Free Painting

2008-06-20T08:48:00.005-04:00

I came across this idea recently and decided to try it for myself. My girls thought it was fun and I loved how easy it was to clean up after their lasting painting project.

Take a muffin pan and line it with cupcake liners. I used the silver ones so that the paint didn't seep through the paper. You don't have to use the liners at all, but it does make things easier. All I had to do was lift out the liners and wash it down a bit. Sometimes we use those styrofoam liners that come under fruits or meats, but the paints all run together. So, if you don't have a fancy paint tray, this is the way to go!

I need a name!

2008-06-19T10:15:00.003-04:00

Help! I cannot come up with a name for this pendant. Any Suggestions?

The Comeback Queen

2008-06-12T09:51:00.004-04:00

This is my oldest bug, Maggie! She looks perfectly fine right? Well you'd never know from looking at this photo that she was puking her guts up less than 12 hours previous to this shot. We woke up Wednesday morning at 2:00am to a very sick little girl. She threw up everything in her stomach and kept at it every hour until about 9:00am. What is it about these things? The timing is NEVER good!

Wednesday was to be a big day for us. We had to take my youngest to a long anticipated allergist appointment (more on that later) and my husband and I both needed to be there to present her history. So what were we to do with Maggie? She couldn't come with us. Luckily, my very dear friend offered to look after her since she was "working" from home. But that is not the worst of it. Maggie had her "End of Year Extravaganza" that evening and just couldn't miss it! She had been working very hard learning and teaching her friends the dances for the show. She would be devastated if she missed it and I would be paying for years of therapy later. Luckily, her stomach settled down and she was able to keep some soup down. I pumped her up with pedialyte, the miracle drink, too. A dose of tylenol and another bowl of soup and she felt well enough to do some dancing!

So this is a picture of her after the Extravaganza! She managed to pull all of her energy to do "The Cotton Eyed Joe" (thus the cowgirl outfit) and she was so very proud of herself. Not half as proud as I was. I am so glad she was able to participate with her class and I must say, it was priceless! Now, she did take another day off and is here at home with me recooperating because she doesn't want to miss Field Day on Friday.

Priorities.

Create a Little Magic

2008-06-09T10:56:00.003-04:00

Everyone could use a little more magic in their day. Here is a little something special, to keep a smile on your face. Pixie Dust Necklaces give you that tiny splash of sparkle, to keep your day as bright and happy as your spirit. So perfect you can't keep them to yourself! You'll have to get a few and share the magic!

This antique silver enchanting Fairy Charm is paired with a handwrapped genuine sparkling Swarovski Crystal with sterling silver daisy spacer beads and placed on a sterling silver beaded chain.

Like fairy dust, just a bit of sparkle to enchant and inspire.

Double Vision

2008-06-06T14:29:00.006-04:00

It's finally here! This is my new Double Custom Photo Tile Pendant.

Now you can showcase even more of your little bugs all on one necklace. The letter side of the tiles are still be visible as shown, so for that extra special touch, why not choose the letter tile to represent the photo?

Let ME Eat Cake!

2008-06-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

A BIG shout out to Puncazilla for including me is this scrumptious Etsy treasury! That's my Birthday Cake Dangle Pendant. And what a great coincidence as it is my oldest daughter's birthday today!

Tickled by Flickr

2008-05-30T09:12:00.008-04:00

It has been on my To Do list now for quite some time, but I finally got around to setting up my Flickr account yesterday. And I must say, that I am just tickled. How fun! What a great way to organize your photos and share them with others. At first I thought I would use it strictly for my business, as a marketing tool, but the more I think about it, it is a fantastic way to share personal photos with friends and family too!

It's only been one day, but I already have lots of new contacts and even started two new groups. Sassy Kids & Sassy Baby, where members can post photos of all things SASSY! I plan on reviewing the photo pools from time to time for things to feature right here on this blog.

Checkout my photostream at Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlebugsboutique/

Join one of my groups!
Sassy Kids
Sassy Baby

Kokeshi Dolls are not from China

2008-05-29T08:20:00.009-04:00

My daughter brought home a Kokeshi Doll yesterday that she made in art class. She told me it was a doll in China that you give to someone who has done something nice. Now, keep in mind that she is just in First Grade and some of that "explanation" may have been diluted throughout the day. So, I decided to find out more about these dolls.

The one on the left is my daughter's doll, the one on the right is a Kokeshi doll I found on Etsy by Zing. Is the resemblence just striking? But I will have to ask my daughter why her doll's hair is pink. Maybe it is a punk Kokeshi? A Punk Kokeshi in a Field of Flowers. By the way, there are 10 pages of Kokeshi items on Etsy!

As for the origins of these little dolls, here is what I found:
First off, and most importantly, I learned that these beautiful wooden dolls come from Japan, not China. Like most things, some are made in China, but traditionally they are a Japanese Doll. I really should have a talk with that Art teacher.

Little is known of the early history of Kokeshi Japanese Wooden Dolls. One school of thought believes that Kokeshi dolls have their origins in the practice of spiritualist religion. Wooden dolls were thought to contain the spiritual essence of the dead and were often made for honorary remembrance.

The modern history of Japanese Kokeshi dolls began in the latter part of the Edo Era (1603-1867). Originating in the Tohiku region of northern Japan, famous for it's hot springs and rejuvenating spa waters, Kokeshi Dolls acted as an important source of extra income for local artisans known as Kijiya (which means woodworker in Japanese), who specialized in wood work and the production of household utensils such as trays and wooden bowls. In severe winters these Kijiya craftsmen began making "Kokeshi Dolls" to sell as souvenirs to visitors who frequented the local hot springs. The dolls acted not only as souvenirs but also as massage tools used by the bathers to tap their shoulders whilst enjoying the warming benefits of the hot springs.

The Kokeshi dolls were very simple in design, originally made on hand-powered lathes. Traditional Kokeshi dolls had common characteristics that consisted of a basic cylindrical limbless body and a round head. Though the first dolls might have been unpainted, today most Kokeshi are painted in bright floral designs, kimonos, and other traditional patterns. Colors used were red, yellow and purple. As all the dolls are hand painted, no two faces are alike. This is perhaps the greatest charm of the Kokeshi. Some dolls are whimsical, happy and smiling, while others are serious.

Soon their popularity spread throughout Japan and they became favoured as wooden toys for those unable to afford porcelain dolls. In addition the simple rounded shapes of the dolls lent themselves as early teething rings for young babies.

Kokeshi dolls traditionally represented young girls and they quickly became popular for their depiction of feminine beauty. In addition their simple charm and association with childhood meant that they were often given as gifts when a child was born, as birthday presents or as symbols of remembrance when a child died. In addition Kokeshi Japanese Wooden Dolls were popular with the children of farmers as it was widely thought that they would promise a good harvest, as it was believed that it would create a positive impression on the gods if children played with the dolls.

The woods used for Kokeshi vary. Cherry is distinguished by its darkness. Mizuko or dogwood is softer and used extensively. Itaya-kaede, a Japanese maple is also used. The wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used to make a doll. Today, Kokeshi is recognized as one of the traditional folk arts of Japan.
Despite their common features two schools of design exist, Traditional Kokeshi and Creative Kokeshi.

Traditional Kokeshi are for the main part still only produced in the six prefectures of the Tohoku region. The twelve schools of design here all exhibit distinctive features that allow experts to tell exactly where they have been produced and often by whom.

Creative Kokeshi do not follow the traditional designs originating from the Tohoku region and instead have an unstructured inspiration which is completely free in terms of shape and painting, the only traditional constraint being their manufacture by means of the lathe. Unlike traditional kokeshi, they do not display any of their distinctive local colour nor the techniques that had been passed down through the generations. They simply represent the creative thought and ability of the craftsman.

Traditional and Creative crafted dolls have become a cause for celebration in Tohoku and across Japan. Every year, in early September, people gather in Naruko Onsen where craftsmen from across the nation gather to honor Kokeshi in a competition where the number one prize is an award from the Prime Minister.

There are many different styles of Kokeshi, but there is one philosophy that all Kokeshi dolls share, and that is the pursuit of beauty and artistry through simplicity. This philosophy is extolled at the website: http://www.dollsofjapan.co.uk/. Ivor Conway has traveled extensively throughout Japan and was charmed by the Japanese art form of Kokeshi. The website is a global resource intended to further knowledge of these simple but elegant works of art.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ivor_Conway

Double Feature

2008-05-20T09:00:00.009-04:00

I am featured on a few sites this week! Two sites are hosting giveaways of my Bitty Block Pendants. Both of these sites are doing their very first giveaways, so I wanted to help spread the word for them.

The first feature is hosted at a fun little blog called DIY Treasure Trove. Kristen has been nice enough to feature my Custom Photo Tile Pendant as the sites very first giveaway. DIY Treasure Trove is a blog that features artists/crafters and their creations. Kristen updates every day, with new treasures, so make sure you check back often! She also has other great content such as Artist of the Month, Interviews, Tutorials, Competitions, etc.

The second feature is on a new blog called Generation Mom or sometimes known at Kblurbs. Two winners will be selected in this contest. Winner has their choice between the It's a Boy or It's a Girl pendant.

And, the site is also hosting an online jewelry party where you can save 10% on your entire order at my website. Check it out

The Art of Craft has also selected me as their Featured Artist this week. This is great blog to learn more about designers and what inspires them.

Whew! It is a busy week here at Little Bugs . . .

Friday, A Day for Website Catch Up

2008-05-16T10:04:00.003-04:00

Marty is making the move! I have officially declared Friday as the day where I catch-up on my website. This is the time when I take all of the new items I listed in my LBB & Bitty Block Etsy shops and add them to my website. I always feel quite accomplished at the end of a Friday. What a nice way to head into the weekend? Today will be a very busy day, as I have so much stuff to load. I must have over 30 new designs of Scrabble Tile Pendants (like Marty) alone!

This week I also cleaned up my Add a Charm section. And I am so happy to now have Charm It! charms now available at Little Bugs Boutique. These fabulous charms can be added to any of our bracelets and necklaces to give it special meaning. With even more great styles to come, your little bugs will just LOVE these enamel & crystal charms by High Intencity.

I will be adding even more High Intencity Jewelry to the site over the next couple of weeks, so keep posted. Since 1993 High IntenCity has been creating fun, fashionable accessories and gifts for girls. Always innovative and of the highest quality, this fashionable merchandise has branded them a leader in the girls' accessory industry.

I guess I should get back to work! Happy Friday everyone!

First Ballet Recital

2008-05-15T09:32:00.005-04:00

On Tuesday my middle daughter had her first Ballet Recital. Following in her big sister's footsteps, she started dancing this year at Longwood Performing Arts. Dare I say, she may be a little better than her older sister was at this age?

She was in Pre-School Ballet this year and the performance was done in-studio, but it was just as exciting for her as it is when my older daughter dances on the big stage. She was absolutely adorable and, in my un-biased opinion, was the star of the show. It was the royal treatment the entire day for her with a trip to the salon in the morning and a celebratory lunch after the recital with family and friends. It was a very nice afternoon.

Congratulations on your very first recital, my little bug! See you on the big stage next year!

Buried Treasury

2008-05-11T09:48:00.004-04:00

What a great Mother's Day this has been so far and it is only 9:45am. I woke up to find that my Bittty Block Etsy Shop has made it to the front page of Buried Treasury. Whoo Hoo! How totally awesome! If you haven't discovered Buried Treasury yet, you must head over there RIGHT NOW!

Buried Treasury is presented by Timothy Adams Design, a extremely talented artist who "brings metal to life" (that's one of his pieces on the left). What a wonderful service he is providing here for his fellow Etsyians. Thanks so much!

Meet Marty

2008-05-08T13:57:00.003-04:00

I would like to introduce Marty, the Black Bird pendant.

Marty is the newest member of the Bitty Block family. He made his debut this morning in my Etsy shop and is already got quite a following. Marty is the absolute nicest black bird I have ever met. He likes to hang out on my work table and really doesn't make too much noise (except when he is hungry). You should really have him over for a visit! But please don't bake him in a pie.

I Don't Know Why You Say Goodbye

2008-05-07T16:18:00.006-04:00

I say Hello!

Thanks to Little Tile Gnome for including me is this fun Etsy treasury. That's my green HI pendant there in the middle.

If you happen to be looking for a unique way to say Hello, Hi, Bonjour or Aloha, you'll find some here.

Goodbye for now!

It's a Bitty {Block} Sale!

2008-05-06T17:00:00.006-04:00

Is it just me or does it seem like there is a new Scrabble Tile Pendant maker popping up everyday? I am loving all the variety of patterns and styles that are available out there, but of course, I am still partial to my own brand of pendants, Bitty Block^TM.

And now is a great time to stock up on your favorites. Now through May 15th, when you buy 3 individual Pendants in my Etsy Shop (excluding photo, logo & dangle pendants) you will receive a 4th pendant (of equal value) FREE. Simply enter the code "B3G1" and your Free Pendant selection in the "message to seller" section.

Isn't that just SASSY?

Isn't that Cute?

2008-05-05T16:20:00.003-04:00

I just realized that my Birthday Girl Bracelet was featured on Cuteable while I was on vacation last week. What a nice surprise!

If you haven't discoverd this amazing site yet, check it out! It is a full of all things, well, CUTE.

This bracelet is still available in my Etsy Shop. I think it really is too cute for any little girl's birthday.

We're Back!

2008-05-05T11:19:00.005-04:00

We are all back in full swing this morning after our trip to Disney last week. My girls had a blast and they are still deciding which ride was their favorite. My oldest is just so proud of herself that she got to go on Splash Mountain. Funny, I thought she'd be more excited about getting to go on Expedition Everest. We also went on the newly enhanced (although we couldn't tell what was enchanced) Haunted Mansion and my middle daughter annouced that she "NOT going on that ride ever AGAIN"!

My husband took one more day of vacation today and I am very grateful as he is helping out with getting orders out the door today. There was quite a pile sitting here when we returned!

Here's one of my favorite pics from our trip. I am finding it harder and harder to take pictures of three skirming kids, but I managed to snap this one on our way into the Animal Kingdom one morning.

Hidden Mickey

2008-04-18T15:21:00.004-04:00

I finally finished this pendant, just in time for our trip to Disney next week. I already showed you the great Minnie items my girls are bringing during the trip. Well, this is what I plan on sportin' around my neck. Just 7 days to go!

I plan on playing my own game of "Find the Hidden Mickeys" with my girls on the plane. How many Mickey's can you see?

Look What I Found

2008-04-17T16:02:00.005-04:00

I've have been sitting here all day racking my brain, wondering what to write about today.

So I decided to go shopping! That always gets me inspired. Well I didn't have to go very far to find this TOTALLY AMAZING shop on Etsy. It's called Details. What a perfect name! This shop definately is it's tag line . . . It's all in the Details!

This is just one of the most adorable personalized hair clips I have ever seen in a very long time! I am getting one of these for each of my girls. Love it!

Go check out the Details Shop now. It doesn't just stop with the hair clips.

The Countdown has officially begun!

2008-04-14T17:46:00.004-04:00

Yes, we are all going on a much needed vacation to Walt Disney World very very soon! So I wanted to let you know of some important dates for ordering your Mother's Day gifts.

All orders must be placed by the following dates to ensure Mother's Day delivery:
April 24th with standard shipping*
April 26th with priority shipping*

Custom & Personalized items:
order by 12pm on April 15th with standard shipping*
order by 12pm on April 17th with priority shipping*

*please contact us for orders placed after this date for expedited shipping options.

Please Note: Our Studio will be closed April 25th through May 3rd. We are still accepting orders during this time, but please note that orders will not be processed until May 4th. Orders will be completed in the order they are received. Priority Shipments orders will be completed first.

Here are some of the things my Little Bugs bringing on our trip!

Miss Mouse in Red Bracelet by Little Bugs Boutique.

Custom Minnie Mouse Initial Shirts by Christi Creations Boutique.

Minnie Mouse Tag Binksie by Arriving Angels.

Won't Minnie Mouse think my girls are just too cute?

Sassy Defined

2008-04-11T16:26:00.004-04:00

I just looked up the definition of SASSY.

sas·sy
adj. sas·si·er, sas·si·est
1. Rude and disrespectful; impudent.
2. Lively and spirited; jaunty.
3. Stylish; chic: a sassy little hat.

I had no idea that rude and disrepectful was the number one definition of Sassy. Can you believe it? I am almost embarrassed now to have used Sassy to described my jewelry. I am just going to forget that I ever saw that definition (that's why it's in grey) and go with #2 & #3.

Lively, Spirited, Jaunty, Stylish and Chic.

Yep, that's much better!

Thanks to MamaMay

2008-04-11T10:15:00.005-04:00

I am featured today on a great blog named, Knitterly Things.

Mama May is featuring a different Etsy Shop each week so head on over there and let her know all about you. This photo is one of recycled yarns you can find in her Etsy Shop. I love the color, but I am partial to anything green!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2008-04-10T13:04:00.005-04:00

Just in time for Mother's Day comes the MOM HEART Dangle pendant!

Make this pendant a constant reminder of your loved ones. The crystal dangles can represent your children's birthstones (up to three) or pick your favorite colors. Click Here to view our crystal color charts.

Checkout my website for more great Mother's Day Gift Ideas!

Bitty Block Website

2008-04-10T11:01:00.004-04:00

I am just so excited. I have just set up a new website entirely dedicated to my Bitty Block pendants & charms. I have now finalized on a logo and packaging and I am adding new designs (like this one) almost daily. Check out the new Bitty Block Website and let me know what you think!

Just wanted to say . . .

2008-04-04T16:07:00.002-04:00

Autism Awareness

2008-04-03T12:24:00.005-04:00

April is Autism Awareness Month. The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $0.40 to Autism Speaks for *each time* the video is viewed. The funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure.

When you have a moment, please watch the video below and pass it along to your friends and family.

It is a great, but sad video. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, think we can top it?

View Video Now >>

Ashland Nature Center: A Field TRIP

2008-04-02T15:16:00.008-04:00

I went on a field trip today with my daughter's first grade class to The Ashland Nature Center in Delaware. The day started off great, but TRIP is definately the operative word for this Field Trip, but more about that later. We learned a lot about amphibians and even saw some real life animals up close, like this Australian Tree Frog.

Then, we went off into the woods to search for salamanders. Of course, the kids were WAY too loud and moved WAY too fast, so we didn't find any. But, we were excited to move on to the "marsh" to see what we could find there.

We had much better luck here finding tadpoles and frogs and even a newt. The kids were excited. Almost a little to excited because, that's when I had to single-handedly (literally, because I had my camera in the other hand) rescue a boy out of the muddy marsh! This is where the word TRIP comes into play. Now I am not positive that he tripped. In fact, I am not sure how he would up face first in the mud, but that's where I found him. Funny how fast these things can happen. He was right next to me on the dock one second and then SPLAT . . . the next.

I felt so bad for him. But I also felt like a super hero until the teacher came by with a big bag of wipes and got him all cleaned up. In the end, it was the little boy himself that would up looking like the super hero, running around in the teacher's maroon coat flapping behind him like a cape.

a Little Croup came to visit

2008-03-31T11:39:00.006-04:00

So we have a little SICK bug around here today.

I am off to a very late start this morning. My 16 month old has a severe case of Croup. Of course it was misdiagnosed on Saturday by our pediatrician, so we ended up in the Emergency Room last night. They gave her some medicine (not a steriod) through a breathing treatment which definately calmed things down a lot. She is doing a bit better this morning, but still a bit needy. Here's a picture of her on her Croup Re-Coup. Aaaaaah, finally, a little rest.

It's been one thing after another with this little one. We think that she's has some food allergies too, (i suspect strawberries) as we've been battling an ongoing eczema-ish type rash for about a month. The rash is just about gone now. But, we are off to get some blood tests done now!

I will be posting the winners of the WhimsiClip Giveaway and a new little giveaway later on

today.

Little Etsy Shops

2008-03-28T11:29:00.011-04:00

I am so excited to present these fabulous ETSY shops to you. See them over there in the right hand column - little etsy shops? It is like my own personal treasury. How fun!

I hope to be able to bring you two new shops each day, but we will see. No matter what, you can be sure that the main focus of these shops will be on Children (of all ages)!

For those of you who don't know about ETSY, it is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade. Their mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers.

How to Critique Your Own ETSY Shop

2008-03-27T08:40:00.007-04:00

Are you your own worst Critic? You should be, and here's how! Eleanor of Egilpatr was kind enough to let me post her great tips on self critiquing your own Etsy Shop. Have you seen Eleanor's shop yet? She has certainly done her own Self Critique, as her shop is amazing!Eleanor is a professional fine art painter. Infatuated with the way the world looks, she calls herself a "realist painter", and believes her greatest strengths are my use of color and composition.Eleanor never sell prints; you always get an original. She has had quite an impressive resume as a professor and author, but her first love is painting.

But back to business, YOU CAN CRITIQUE YOUR OWN SHOP!
I especially found Eleanor's tips on improving your images quite helpful. I hope you find Eleanor's tips useful. I did! Here's what she has to say:

Avatar
Look at your avatar. Is it an attractive piece from the shop? Is the color bright? Is the Image easy to make out? Is the image cropped enough so nothing is wasted on background?

Banner
Look at your banner. Is it color coordinated with the avatar? If there are words, are they useful; easy to read? Does the banner suggest the products sold or contain some of them? Even the avatar.

Images
Look at your images of the items being sold. Are the thumbnails bright, easy to make out, and is the color good? The thumbnail is the first thing the viewer sees.

Is the main image the best one of the item? Do all the other ones add information?

Here is advice on how to deal with the problem of thumbnails that do not show off the actual image well because the thumbnail is a square crop. It comes up in two situations.

First, an artist does not always paint or draw square pictures, but would like the thumbnail to show the whole painting or drawing. Second, for people who have photographed crafted items for sale and want an image that will have an attractive thumbnail (which means cropping away unneeded background), but the original image will not crop square and still show the whole item.

a. Be sure to crop the original image to make it as square and tight as possible first, because if there is too much background to start, that issue will not be solved, and a close look at the item is lost. (This does not apply to images of 2-D art that are usually cropped to the exact image of the piece; no background.)

b. Take the original image (or the cropped image). If it is not square, go to Photoshop Elements or a similar program and open the image. Click on RESIZE IMAGE, and then click CANVAS SIZE. That opens a page where the width and height is given. Make them both the same size, always using the higher number (or else the image is cut).

c. Then go back to RESIZE IMAGE and select IMAGE SIZE. Make it 1000 x 1000. (The resolution can be up to 300.)

d. The result will be a thumbnail with the entire image, and white where the program filled in to make the image square.

Descriptions
Look at your item descriptions. Do they fully describe the item in terms of materials, dimensions, and any special information?

Section Names
Look at your section names. Do they reflect what you sell in language that anyonecould understand? Do they include sections for anything special that you might want to show together?Do they cover everything? Remember that an item can go into only one section.

Featured Items
Are you using the option to have three items featured on your home page? They get to appear twice, and give you a chance to represent pieces that are seasonal, or best, or represent three of your sections.

Shop Announcement, Bio & Shipping Profile
Look at your Shop Announcement, Bio, and Shipping Profile (found at the bottom of each item). I suggest you reorganize these so that the followingis covered in the Shop Announcement and the Bio. in roughly the order below.

Read through to see where there is repetition, defensiveness, too much intimate information, or any self-deprecation. Edit to remove these, without making the parts read as totally impersonal.

SUGGESTED SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT
Say hello and/or welcome the reader into the shop. Use the first person I or we if there is more than one person. Tell the reader what is for sale and if there is anything special in the way you make it, or what it is for, or what it is made of---that makes it stand out--say that right away. Here is where to stress hand-made as a special characteristic, and whether made in a smoke free, or pet free environment.

Do not say the shop is new, unless you want to revise when it is not so new. How long are you able to claim you are new, anyway? Same goes for naming holidays.

You can say you hope they enjoy the shop or like what they see.

Make a statement about whether you take requests or customize the items and perhaps encourage the viewer to convo with you to get them just what they want.

IF YOU HAVE FREE SHIPPING, LIST THIS IN THE SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT--PROMINENTLY. Otherwise wait to get to the BIO for shipping issues.

Tell the viewer to click on your profile (the link on the right) to read more about you and to see your store policies. Thank them again for coming by; if you add new things often, tell that, and encourage the viewer to come by again to see new things.

If you have a website, blog, or other store, give the links here,but not to sites where you sell outside of Etsy.

SUGGESTED BIO
Here you can be more personal about what you do, what led you to do it, how you feel about the work, or how you make it. I do not advise telling how your spouse or sister is an inspiration or details on your pets or children. What do you want to know from a seller when you buy?

STORE POLICIES
What Payment Is Accepted?

What does shipping cost?

Where do you ship to?

Who do you use for shipping?

Put in the prices found at the bottom of your item descriptions. That includes multiple item prices.

You can offer alternative, faster shipping and prices.You can mention insurance and make a disclaimer about responsibility for damage in transit.

Add anything about International orders. This might be where you indicate you ship customs, checking "other."(People ask for "Gift" but this IS a purchase.).

You can give information on when you ship. I suggest you use this, adjusted for what payment you accept.

I ship within ___ days after I have been notified of receipt of payment by Paypal or when the check or money order has been cleared and deposited into my account.

You can say how items are packaged and how you send gifts, if you wish.

State your policy on acceptable reasons for returns, how they are treated, who pays for shipping, and anything on repair or exchange, as appropriate. Invite the reader to contact you with ANY questions.

That's all she wrote! Now get to work!

Alpha Bitty Cell Phone Charm

2008-03-26T12:01:00.005-04:00

The newest addition to the Bitty Block Collection is the Alpha Bitty Cell Phone Charm. You choose from any letter in the ALPHA-bet and any Swarovski crystal color.

Made using a reclaimed Scrabble Tile, each ALPHA Bitty Charm is approximately 3/4" square and features a genuine sparkling Swarovski Bicone Crystal & 2 .925 Bali Silver Daisy spacers on a sterling silver head pin. The charm, along with a 6mm Swarovski Crystal dangle charm have been placed on a 2" Black Cell Phone Strap to embellish YOUR cell phone (or anything your heart desires)!

Our Bitty Block Charms also look great on any any neck chain or satin cord necklace.

Visit my ETSY Shop to see the entire collection! There are a few other options on my website as well!

It should be called Bad Friday

2008-03-21T16:49:00.004-04:00

This is what my 6 year old told me this morning when I told her it was Good Friday.

"What is Good Friday again?"

I explained that it was the day that Jesus died on the cross.

"Then why is it called GOOD Friday? It should be called BAD Friday."

I have to admit, she's got a point. I spun it in a GOOD way for her. I am still amazed at how quickly I can think on my feet sometimes.

Happy GOOD Friday!

Monkey Business

2008-03-20T18:28:00.002-04:00

My Funky Monkey bracelet is featured in an awesome Sock Monkey Treasury on Etsy right now! The treasury is filled with all things Sock Monkey. What is it about this vintage monkey that makes us all swoon?

Giveaway Rules

2008-03-16T15:13:00.008-04:00

Don't sweat it, there are only a couple of rules. It wouldn't be contest if there weren't any.

- You must enter a comment on the Giveaway Post to enter the Giveaway Contest. Now please make sure your comment either contains an email address. If you are on blogger, please do not assume that I can find you. Yes, Blogger comments will link to your profile, but if you do not share your profile, then I cannot contact you. Anonymous comments will only be accepted if you include an email address in your comment.

- Winners will be contacted via email.

- One entry per person.

- Check the entire giveaway post for other applicable rules or guidelines.

LBB is not responsible for:
- Faulty product information.
- Companies that don't follow through with a promised product (though please tell me if this happens so we can shoot them dirty looks through the airewaves).
- Your tax liability created by receipt of a prize, should you win.

Please note that we may not have always "tried out" or have even laid eyes on some of the products showcased here. But if we have, of course, I will tell you.

Host an Online Jewelry Party

2008-03-12T08:48:00.024-04:00

Host an online jewelry party with Little Bugs Boutique and EARN FREE MERCHANDISE! Hosting an online party is simple. Just invite your friends and family with internet access to browse our selections online. Invited guests will recieve 10% off their entire order and you will receive special Host Rewards for throwing the party. No in home demonstrations, no mess to clean up afterwards. Your guests can sit back, relax and shop at their convenience.

Host Rewards
-15% of your party sales awarded in "Little Bucks" good toward any of our products.
-Additional $20 in "Little Bucks" awarded for parties that exceed $300.
-25% off one item of choice when one of your party guests books from your party.

How it Works
Send us an email with ONLINE PARTY in the subject line and the following information:

Name
Address
E-mail Address
Requested Party Start Date

We will send you a return e-mail with your online party coupon code and an e-mail invitation for your party (PDF format). All you have to do is forward the invitation to all your friends, family and other party invites. Each of your contacts may pass your invitation on to their friends, and so on!

Your online party will run for 2 weeks. The opening and closing date of the party will be listed in your e-mail and in the invitations.

Your guests may visit our website at any time during your party prior to the closing date and make their purchases. Your guests MUST use the coupon code supplied in the invitation to recieve 10% off their purchase. Orders will be mailed directly to the person who placed the order.

IMPORTANT... remind your guests to include your coupon code during checkout, so that we may properly credit you and your party with their purchases. Only orders with the coupon code will be credited.

Once your party closing date has passed, we will e-mail you with the amount of credit you have earned.

It's that simple!
Online Parties will be limited to one party, per host, per 90 day period.

Bracelet Sizing Guidelines

2008-03-11T11:28:00.004-04:00

Measuring Your Wrist Size

You can get an approximate measurement of your wrist by using a soft seamstress-style measuring tape or take a piece of loose string/ribbon and place around the wrist area. Align string/ribbon alongside a ruler or measuring tape to get wrist measurement. For children, add 1/2" to wrist measurement to get proper sizing and for adults, add 1" to the actual wrist measurement. Example: If my child's actual wrist measures 5", I would add 1/2" to get her bracelet size, which would measure 5.5".

Standard Size Chart

We highly recommend obtaining your own wrist measurement to ensure a proper fit, but we know that it is sometimes just not practical. Below is a standard size chart that may be used when you are not able to get an actual wrist measurement. The majority of infants and children fall within these ranges.

0-3 months 3.5"
3-6 months 4.0"
6-12 months 4.5"
12-24 months 5.0"
2-4 years 5.5"
5-7 years 6.0"
8-12 years 6.5"

Adult Small 7.0"
Adult Average 7.5"
Adult Large 8.0"
Adult X-Large 8.5"

Advertise on Little Bugs Boutique

2008-03-06T10:00:00.007-05:00

There are two ways to advertise at Little Bugs Boutique {the Blog}.

Sponsor Ads
All sponsor ads are 125 pixels square. You can see them over on the left hand column. Acceptable file types are .jpg and .gif. If you would like for me to design an ad for you, I can do it to compliment your shop design. I can make a .jpg ad for $5. Once I've created your ad, you're welcome to use it where ever you'd like.

Prices for ad spaces will vary with time. The current cost for one ad box is $6 per month or 3 months for $15. Only 12 ad spots are available at any given time. If all ads are currently taken, you can still reserve future space. All ads will be invoiced through PayPal.

Little Etsy Shops
Etsy Shops can feature their Etsy Minis in this section (right hand column). A 2 column, 3 row Etsy Mini will be added of your Etsy Shop. All we need to run your mini is you shop id number.

Prices for running your Etsy Mini advertising is currently $8 per month or 3 months for $20. This is such a wonderful way to get exposure since the items in your MINI are dynamic and constantly updating when you update your shop. All MINI ads will be invoiced through PayPal.

If you're intersted in either of our advertising options, please E-mail me at admin@littlebugsboutique with the subject BLOG Ads.

A Three Column Blog

2008-03-05T14:52:00.003-05:00

I finally figured out how to create a third column here on my blog! I am very excited because it allows me to offer so much more content! To celebrate, I am offering FREE (yes, free) ad spots over there in the left hand column. As our blog becomes more popular I will eventually have to start charging for the space, but for now it's FREE!

Please contact me for details!

I must thank Amanda at BloggerBuster.com for her tutorial on how to achieve this third column. Her tips were dead on and simple to follow. I customized things a bit more beyond her instructions, but it was all up an running in a matter of minutes. Here's the link, happy blogging!

http://www.bloggerbuster.com/2007/07/create-three-column-blogger-template.html

Easter Sale is Almost Over!

2008-03-05T12:02:00.003-05:00

This is an exclusive offer for our blog readers & loyal customers only!

Save 25% on your entire order through March 9th!
use coupon code: "EASTER08" (website only, not etsy)

Why not fill her Easter Basket with Little Bugs?
Hippity Hop to Little Bugs Boutique now!

Bitty Block Pendants

2008-02-23T13:12:00.005-05:00

Teens & Tweens will LOVE these clever pendants that can be personalized with any initial!

Our new Bitty Block Pendants look great on any any neck chain or satin cord necklace. Made using a reclaimed Scrabble Tile, each is approximately 3/4" square and features a genuine sparkling Swarovski Bicone Crystal & 2 .925 Bali Silver Daisy spacers on a sterling silver head pin. It is attached to a sterling split jump ring that can slide easily onto any neck chain. Satin Cord Necklaces & Beaded Chains can be ordered separately!

Handmade in our studio and sealed for durability. Please note that the tiles may vary slightly due to paper variations. Although a sealer has been applied making this pendant water resistant, it is not completely water proof and should be removed before swimming or showering.

Hey, MOMS! You will LOVE our Custom Photo Tile Pendant!

Easter SALE!

2008-02-23T13:01:00.005-05:00

Save 25% on your entire order through March 9th!
coupon code: "EASTER08"

Hippity Hop to Little Bugs Boutique now!

Custom PHOTO Tile Pendants

2008-02-21T12:19:00.008-05:00

Turn any image into an Heirloom!

Showcase the apple of your eye on a Bitty Block PHOTO Pendant. Just send us your digital image and we’ll crop your image, if needed, and create this beautiful one-of-a-kind work of art!

Moms LOVE these clever pendants with photos of their children with corresponding birthstones!

Fill Her Easter Basket with Little Bugs!

2008-02-21T09:52:00.005-05:00

Not real "little bugs" of course! Why not fill her basket this year with some fabulous jewelry handcrafted by Little Bugs Boutique? Need to match her Easter Outfit? We can help!

Save 25% on your entire order through March 9th

coupon code: "EASTER08"

Hippity Hop to Little Bugs Boutique!

Monkey Love

2008-02-08T17:32:00.001-05:00

This FUNKY MONKEY handcrafted boutique bracelet is just one of the many SASSY bracelets you will find on our website & ETSY shop!

How it all began!

2008-02-08T15:29:00.000-05:00

I have always done something creative. As a child I was the one always coloring, drawing and collaging. This love of creativity continued through High School and eventually on to an Interior Design program in college. After many classes of painting, drawing, sculpture and design, I started to develop my own "style". I went out into the working world as a designer at an Architectural firm. My career progressed very nicely and I absolutely loved what I was doing. Still, all the while, I knew I wanted to start using my creative energies in a more personal way. But I was still searching for that perfect . . .thing. I envied people who had found their passion and could just lose all sense of time when they were creating.

Shortly after my first daughter was born in 2001, I began to look for a way to release some creative energy while caring for a newborn. I tried scrapbooking, not for me. I tossed around some ideas of starting my own design business but that was just overwhelming and not personal enough. Then one day I woke up, literally, and thought . . . jewelry! It really was just that simple.
I went out that very afternoon and started poking around some local craft shops. Honestly, I got a little carried away. It feels like I bought the entire store's inventory of beads, gemstones, stringing materials, findings, etc. I found that making jewelry was another form of sculpture, only you could wear it! I then poured myself into learning everything I could and started making my own designs. I'm STILL learning!

I decided that this was a great opportunity to start my own business. I had always wanted to, but never had anything to sell or the time to put into it. At this point in my life I had both. So now it's growing, slowly but surely. Honestly, it never could have happened without the support of my husband. His patience and willingness to help with EVERYTHING has been a true blessing. What can you say about a guy who will get up at crack of dawn on a Saturday morning to haul our stuff 90 miles to a craft show.

Now, here we are 5 years later! A growing jewelry business & an online children's boutique! I wonder what is next?

Where did you find that?

2008-02-08T15:09:00.000-05:00

This is a question I get all the time. Where did you find that? I guess I just have the knack for finding super cute and really useful things. I love to shop! It was only fitting that I am fortunate enough to be blessed with three beautiful little girls to really fuel my shopping addiction. I cannot stop shopping for my "little bugs" and I am ever on a mission to find the next adorable "thing".

So my mission on this blog is to show you all the cool little things that I find in my travels and share them with whoever wants to know, where did you find that?