A Boutique Buyers Blog

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-05-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Today's feature is this trendy sailor theme set from Adorable*Duds. Perfect for the 4th, or any trip to the Beach!

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2009-05-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the favorites that were posted in the group:

SanguinettiClothingCo

Gorillabear*Boutique

Little*Moonkey

Who's At The Top...$$$

2009-04-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

1. Monalisa*Boutique ~ "Let The Magic" ~ AnthologyInc

2. BowzNStuff_Boutique ~ "My Sweet Garden Fairy" ~ Sugar3, ATeam

3. WildByDesign ~ "You've Got Character" ~ No Group

4. Bellabebeco ~ "Euro Mermaid" ~ Polkadotz, ATeam

5. Bayoubabe5 ~ "Sea Princess" ~ Polkadotz, ATeam

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2009-04-20T12:23:00.003-07:00

Here are the favorites that were posted in the group:

Fairy*Sweet

Designed*By*Dena

HalfPintCreations

Gigglez-N-Grinz

SmallSomething

Little*Moonkey & ParadinAround

Francoise*Studio

Creme*De*La*Gems

Fairy*Sweet

*Blowin*Bubbles*Boutique*

Sweet*Magnolia*Boutique

Mya*Bella*Designs

Emerson*Rose

BowzNStuff_Boutique

StyleDesignStudio

Pixie-Dust-Studio

DandelionAvenue

Birthday Giveaway

2009-04-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Click Here to check out this awesome giveaway from MimisGirls. Last day to enter is April 21st, so hurry over and leave a comment so you have a chance at a prize!

Polkadotz Launch With Splash Theme

2009-04-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

Need some beach attire? Here are some of the designs you will find in the Polkadotz launch currently taking place on eBay:

DandelionAvenue

MyLittleFairytales

Ella*Monde

Mya*Bella*Designs

BayouBabe5

MiaBambinaCo

This*Lil*Piggy

Who's At The Top...$$$

2009-04-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

1. BowzNStuff_Boutique ~ "Tink" ~ Sugar3

2. WildByDesign ~ "Zoo Overalls" ~ No Group

3. Bellabebeco ~ "Tink Fairy" ~ Polkadotz, ATeam

4. Rejhero ~ "Mickey's Clubhouse" ~ No Group

5. Picolinnes4Kids ~ "Disney's Surf" ~ Boy Nation

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-04-13T12:11:00.001-07:00

Today's feature is this cute Sea themed boys set from Debbie of PolkadotsAndPigtails. Would be great for the beach or going to an aquarium.

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-04-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

Today's feature is this gorgeous set from Eva of FreshAndVintage. I love the soft colors!

Kandy Kisses "Maggie" Spring Line

2009-04-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

Kandy Kisses has a New Spring Collection that will be available on their website April 16th! "Maggie" will be a 15-20 piece mix and match collection of sweet everyday boutique pieces with prices ranging from $9.99 to $65! To view the collection go to http://www.kandykissesboutique.com/. She is also doing a fun skirt set giveaway on her blog. Click Here to check it out.

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2009-04-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the favorites that were posted in the group:

Brecki*Girl

Maddie*Kate & Tip.Top.Applesauce

Pickles*And*Co

The*Pink*Azalea

Who's At The Top...$$$

2009-04-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

1. BayouBabe5 ~ "Free2Be Fancy" ~ Polkadotz

2. Key*West*Kids ~ "Animal Safari" ~ ATeam, Max

3. WildByDesign ~ "Animal Safari Jumper" ~ No Group

4. Sweet_Chilli_Designs ~ "Frogger" ~ LemonLime, Boy Nation

5. BowzNStuff_Boutique ~ "Tink" ~ Sugar3

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-04-03T12:51:00.001-07:00

Check out this comfy knit set from Shelly of Phoebes*Landing. Perfect for a day at the Beach!

Guest Writer ~ Princess*Picasso

2009-04-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

“It was about five years ago that I first stumbled upon eBay boutique. My husband was deployed with the Army, we had an 18-month-old daughter and a son on the way, and I’d been looking for a hobby to occupy my time. While surfing the web one day, I came across some adorable boutique bracelets on eBay and thought, "I could make those!" So I found some jewelry-making tutorials, picked up the proper supplies, and began creating. A few months later I started selling my jewelry on eBay. Around that time I also discovered there was an entire community of buyers and sellers there! I joined one of the large community groups, and just loved getting to know people who shared so many common interests with me.

While I love making jewelry, it was the amazing boutique clothes that kept beckoning me. Sadly, I didn’t know how to sew a stitch. My one experience sewing was 7th grade home-ec, where merely threading the machine seemed impossible, and one of my friends sewed through her thumb during class. Intimidating to say the least. But, with encouragement from some of the wonderful friends I’ve made here, I got a sewing machine. For several months I practiced and studied the processes of sewing, soaking in everything I could. Once I was confident in my skills, I listed and sold my first outfit. That was in January '07, and I’ve been hooked since! I still do jewelry as well, but mostly on a custom basis, or to match my own outfits.

I’ve had so much fun over these past few years. The friendships I’ve made and the support of my LimeVine ladies has made this an incredibly rich and enjoyable experience. I thoroughly enjoy the process of creating something that’s cute and fun and youthful—I love childhood!! And then there are my wonderful customers…when I hear how much a customer or her little one is enjoying my creation, or receive a picture…that is really the icing on the cake!”

Click Here to visit Princess*Picasso's Etsy Store

Click Here to visit Princess*Picasso on Ebay

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-03-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

Today's feature is this gorgeous set from my friend Clara of *MimiKattini*. It is our collaboration for the Angels launch, so please check it out, and if you like it, place a bid :)

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-03-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Funky and fun set from Gumdrop*Shop. I just love those pants!

Contest From VendeMia

2009-03-26T21:22:00.000-07:00

Adagio Bleu Spring Break Launch On Etsy

2009-03-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

The designers at Adagio Bleu are having a Spring Break launch/sale on Etsy right now. Every designer either has something discounted, is offering free shipping, or is doing some sort of promotion. To see all the listings on Etsy CLICK HERE. You can also find out more about this sale by going to the groups blog by clicking HERE. Below are just some of the things you will find on Etsy from these talented designers:

Tip.Top.Applesauce

KeetaCollection

TyeDyeDiva

DolceBaci

RoseyThreads

BoutiqueNrfNY

GrantziePantz

The Polkadotz Do A "Sweet" Launch On eBay

2009-03-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

In the mood for some yummy designs??? Check out the Polkadotz launch going on right now on eBay. I'm sure you will find something to satisfy your sweet tooth :) Below are some of the current listings, but CLICK HERE to see all the designs available.

Gigglez-N-Grinz

SweetImaginations

Jogees*Purls

DandelionAvenue

Silly*Jilly

Mya*Bella*Designs

This*Lil*Piggy

And The Winner Is...

2009-03-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Ivylane contest for a pair of ruffle pants from Debbie of PolkadotsAndPigtails, and an appliqued tee from Susan of DollieDimplesBoutique is...NurseGodwin. If you are NurseGodwin then leave a message with your email here so Debbie and Susan can get a hold of you. Thanks, and Congrats!

Boutique Angels Launch For C.T.F.

2009-03-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

All this week on eBay, the Boutique Angels are going to be listing their new designs. Please take a second to look at what is available in this launch because 100% of the proceeds go to the Children's Tumor Foundation. What a great way to donate to a worthy cause, and get a boutique goodie too! Below are just some of the items available right now. Click Here to go to all the auctions...and remember to check back because they will be listing all week!

Maddie*Kate

Painted*Patooties

PolkadotsAndPigtails (and myself :)

Key*West*Kids

WildByDesign

Kdetle254 ~ Painted By Kate

Who's At The Top...$$$

2009-03-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

1. Key*West*Kids ~ "Monsters" ~ Max, ATeam

2. Bellabebeco ~ "Goodship Lollipop" ~ Polkadotz, ATeam

3. Itty*Bitty*Whimsy ~ "Olivia Pig" ~ Sugar3, ATeam

4. Mya*Bella*Designs ~ "Pinkalicious" ~ Polkadotz, ATeam

5. Janea04 ~ "Princess Dress" ~ Polkadotz

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2009-03-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here are the faves this week:

SmallSomething

Cocoloka*Boutique

2TatteredTulips

PreciousPatterns

Maddie*Kate

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-03-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a cute one by *Katies*3*Clothesline*. It is also part of the BijouCo contest!

Design Group Interview With Ivylane..And A Contest Too!

2009-03-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

Who is the leader of the group, and are there any Mods?
We have 2 co-leaders (Kirsten oli*beli and Jennifer *pouty*princess*) and 2 moderators (Erin thevintagepearl, Jenn little*red*wagon). We all work together to help make sure the group runs smoothly and everything gets done.

How long has your group has been around?
IvyLane has been a group for 3 years this past February.

What are the requirements of getting in over there?
When we look at new applicants we look at each person’s creativity, skill, presentation and reputation. We ask applicants to submit photos of their work and a letter of interest. If there is interest in adding the applicant to the group we vote. It’s pretty simple.

How many members do you have?
We have 16 members.

Are you going to be launching regularly? Are there going to be set dates
for the year?
We are going to try to launch every 5-6 weeks, but in our group family and life come first, so if we need to postpone or skip one it is fine.

How are you going to come up with your launch ideas?
We come up with them the same as most groups I think. We toss out ideas and decide as a group what we would like to focus on.

How would you define the group’s style? Do you like to have a range of
designers that specialize in different areas, or does everyone have a
similar style?
We have a wide range of design styles in our group but if we had to narrow it down we would call it sweet and whimsical. We have some designers that focus on more vintage inspired designs while others focus on smocking and painting.

Once a designer is invited in to the group, are there any requirements for
them to continue to be a member?
There are no requirements for them to continue to be a member, we just ask that each designer bring their enthusiasm, energy and fun attitude to the group, and work to promote us as a group. But as with all busy moms sometimes we have to take an extended break to take care of home matters and that is completely fine with us. We want everyone to have a wonderful happy home life with no outside pressure from Ivy.

Are you currently accepting applications from new designers to join?
Yes we are accepting applications, but do not have “spots to fill” currently. We are very happy with our group dynamic at the moment but wouldn’t pass up a great opportunity from a great designer. Our group email address can be found at out blog http://boutiqueivylane.blogspot.com/

Do you inspect other designer's work before inviting them into the group?
We just look at photos of their work mostly. In the 3 years of IvyLane we have never asked a designer to submit work for inspection. As we said before, we try to look at each designers presentation and reputation ( feedback etc..) before inviting them to join the group. This method seems to serve us well.

How would you handle a group-mate when she has upset her customers?
Each member’s business is their own, so we would trust that designer to handle the “problem” quietly in privet.

Where do you plan Ivylane to be in 2 years?
We would love to continue on our path, winding though it may be, it is the journey and the friendships made that make it fun and worth all the effort.

How long have your members been selling on eBay?
We have all been selling for different amounts of time. I think our longest selling member has been at it about 6 years.

Do they plan to list and launch on Etsy?
Many of our group members do list on etsy, and we have thought about having a launch over there but don’t have any solid plans to do so at this time.

What do you think goes in to making a group successful?
Without a doubt it’s the energy and enthusiasm of the members. When you have a group of excited, energized. talented designers there is nothing you can’t do. Good communication is essential, as is honesty, trust and hard work.

What can we look forward to seeing from Ivylane in the future?
We will be offering some great Spring and Summer listings starting with our "In the Garden" mini launch that starts March 12th 2009. Also the IvyLane kids will be welcoming a new sweetie in a couple weeks.. ;) Everyone will have to look out for baby Zoe pretty soon.

Can you give us a list of the designers in the group?

*Pouty*Princess*

Oli*Beli

The_Vintage_Pearl

Little*Red*Wagon

**jjbb**

MomosClothes

PolkadotsAndPigtails

TadaCreations

Missy*Lulu

*Lula*Bee*Boutique*

TheBowVine

Emerson*Rose

Painted_With_Grace

My*Hearts*Delight

Bella*Tessa

DollieDimplesBoutique

How many of the original members are still with IvyLane?
If by original members you mean members who have been with IvyLane since it’s very first day three years ago, then we have 2, Kirsten (oli*beli) and Jennifer (*pouty*princess*)

How do you meet the challenges of group rebuilding after membership changes? What has IvyLane learned from these changes? I would like to give the current members a BIG CONGRATS for having such a cute launch going on now. Oh, love their graphic art too.
Every great organization experiences changes during it’s lifetime. We look at these changes as opportunities to grow and learn. Every time we have been faced with the challenge of growing our little family we have always been rewarded with the luck of the Irish by finding amazing designers ready to jump in with both feet and have some fun. We have learned that change can at first look like and uphill struggle but it often is a blessing in disguise because it’s that change that can sometimes be exactly what the doctor ordered. And we wanted to say thank you for the sweet words on our current launch and our darling graphics.

Are there any new directions for the "new" Ivylane?
The “new” IvyLane is all about fun and friendships, new and old. We all firmly believe that family life comes first, IvyLane is happy to take a backseat. We will be focusing on striving to give the buyers what they want while maintaining a NO stress environment for our members. We will continue to offer the creative, quality products we are known for while we will still push to present those products in a beautiful and graceful manor. Expect great things from IvyLane now and in the future, we won’t let you down!

***Contest Time***

The girls over at Ivylane would like to offer a contest at all you faithful readers. All you have to do is search Ivylane listings from now until Tuesday, March 24th. Then come back here and leave a comment saying which is your favorite listing. The generous prize will be a pair of ruffle pants from Debbie of PolkadotsAndPigtails, and an appliqued tee from Susan of DollieDimplesBoutique. The lucky winner will be randomly drawn on Tuesday, so check back to see if it is you! Have fun searching those gorgeous listings!

CLICK HERE to go to all of Ivylane's current designs on eBay

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2009-03-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Here are the favorites that were posted in the group for the week:

Little*Moonkey

MomosClothes

Creme*De*La*Gems

TravelinLight

BugNBelle

Giraffikiki*Kidz

CalicoFlamingo

PrincessTomato

The_Vintage_Pearl

Pixie-Dust-Studio

*Lula*Bee*Boutique*

Mamapatrice

MissyLuluBoutique

Lollipopz Debut On eBay...Plus A Contest

2009-03-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

The Lollipopz Gals will be hosting a Grand Debut Contest that is TOO Sweet to Miss!! Collect points to win some AMAZING prizes!

Points will be rewarded in the following manner:

~1 Point for a bid on a Lollipopz Debut listing

~5 Points for the winning bidder of any Lollipopz Debut listing.

~3 Points if you add a link for the Lollipopz Blog onto your blog.

~1 Point if you join the Lollipopz Grand Debut Event on Facebook!

Prizes will include:

1st Place

Applique Halter top by *mimisgirls*

Strip work skirt by belles_n_beaus

Personalized Hand-Painted Summer Tote by sew-busy-boutique (the name will be added next to the umbrella)

A Lia Sophia Ladybug necklace and matching bracelet that is new with the tags & a matching hair gem, all donated by glass*slipper*boutique

Lidia dress by littlesugarbritches

Jumper dress by vanessa*and*company

Lounge pants by babybluebonnets

Coordinating shirt by mamigirl

2nd Place

Twirl skirt by gumdrop*shop

Coordinating initial shirt by taylor*tots*designs

Bracelet by Madkatdesigns

Necklace by punky*doodle*bowtique

3rd Place

Key Fob by *ladesigns*

Small purse by boutiquenutmegdesigns

Here is just a peek at some of the wonderful designs that will be offered by the Lollipopz gals!

Collaboration by belles_n_Beaus, *mimisgirls* & glass*slipper*boutique

Madkatdesigns

mamigirl

*ladesigns*

taylor*tots*designs

boutiqueprincessnbows

sew-busy-boutique

colettoscloset

vanessa*and*company

2009-03-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

BijouCo's Next "Piggy" Launch And Contest

2009-03-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

Get ready...BijouCo's next launch begins on Tuesday, March 17th. The theme will be "Meet This Little Piggy...Piper". This has me very curious and I can't wait to see what they will be designing! My kids just love piggies! AND, during this launch they will be running a contest for an amazing basket of hair goodies from The*Ladybug*Bowtique. Below are the contest details, and the exact basket that is up for grabs. Good luck, it is gorgeous!

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-03-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

Ahoy Mate! Check out this design...perfect for your little sailor, by Gumdrop*Shop.

BerriPop's Debut Launch!

2009-03-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

Check out BerriPop, a new amazing group! They are a group of experienced designers who have come together to create this new exciting group!! Search BerriPop to find their listings on eBay and Etsy. You can also visit their blog at http://berripop.blogspot.com/

Calicoflamingo

SouthernSassCouture

Sweet_Chilli_Designs

GirlyGirlOriginals

Lil*Miss*Priss*Bowtique

KidzKlozetz

Ritchie*Rags

Barefoot*Divas

JustCindy68

Brecki*Girl

MeggieBugs

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2009-03-09T22:17:00.000-07:00

Here are the favorites that were posted in the group this week:

Bayoubabe5

DoodlesBowtique

Caterpillar*Creations

SmallSomething

ParadinAround

BowzNStuff_Boutique

Pickles*And*Co

Creme*De*La*Gems

Janea04

The*Ladybug*Boutique

Designer Interview With Ewers*Truly...And A GIVEAWAY

2009-03-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

Where were you born and raised? Where do you live now?

Missouri

How many children do you have? Names and ages?

I have three sons: Ben (7) - he’s real sensitive, artistic and musical; Drew (5) - a super sweet junk-food-junkie - and my best model; and baby Jack (2) - my little barrel-chested, Thomas the train crazy bully!

What are your hobbies (besides designing and sewing)?

I collect old Barbie dolls. I love photography and PhotoShop. Digital scrapbooking (making books and keepsakes on the computer). A traditional scrapbook would never work for me. I’m a real packrat; I save everything, and I want it all in my baby books and vacation journals! I worked in magazine editing and design before staying home with my boys, and so, I still do that because I enjoy it and my former coworkers so much. I am a contributing writer for a couple local parenting magazines. And, I also write for Country Lines Magazine. You can read some of my stories here: http://www.countrylines.com/column/tams-place/. I’m also writing a children’s book based on my little dog!

What is your eBay ID?

ewers*truly

How did you come up with your ID, is there a story behind it?

Well ... my first name is actually Tameria (which means palm tree). My maiden name meant big. So, I grew up being a "big palm tree" ... which I always thought was unfair since my little brother, Shane, was a "big gift from God." Then, I married my high school sweetheart, a Ewers (which means "a vessel for holding water"). We’re a perfect match! Creative Designs by Ewers Truly is also the name I used when I did free-lance graphic design and custom greeting cards/invitations/announcements from my home.

Do You Have An Etsy Store?

No, I only sell on eBay, but I do have a few small things for sale on seamscrazy.com.

Are you a member of a design group? How long have you been a member of that group?

I’m a rather new member of MAX, Ateam and M2Minc (I joined them all in October of 08). Before that, I was a member of BellaLuna, which has since dissolved. I met some great ladies there, though, that I still enjoy working with today. I’ve been a member of Planet Boy the longest (since April of 08).

How long have you been selling your designs on eBay?

About a year and a half, I guess. Before that, I didn’t know how to sew a button! My boys would routinely go next door to my neighbor’s house for sewing lessons. She’s forever taught sewing and embroidery, and her entire downstairs is an enormous sewing workshop. Oh ... and don’t even get me started on her fabric stash! Anyway ... my boys would go to her house and come home beaming with pride over the pillows and other projects that they’d made. I always wanted to take lessons from her but could never get out of the house for very long without interruption. So ... she gave me an old Bernina 802 for my birthday and told me to go make friends with it! The Bernina and I have been best friends since! And, we’ve added a new friend, a Babylock Imagine. Next ... I want an embroidery machine! I learn best by just jumping in feet first and doing. And, as luck would have it, I took to sewing like a fish to water!

What got you started?

A major addiction to buying customs got me started! First, I have boys ... three great boys. That being said, I also wanted a little girl with all my heart. I always will. And it was depressing for me to walk into stores and see 3/4 of the room filled with gorgeous little girl’s clothing ... and the other 1/4 of the store plain, miniature man clothing with no real appeal. Then ... I discovered customs ... and found that dressing little boy clothes can be fun, too! But, sometimes I would need a custom in a hurry and wouldn’t be able to find a designer to get it done for me ... or it would be way out of my price range (especially if I wanted three that matched). And, more than once, I asked designers to do something specific for me, I drew my designs out on paper for them, and then watched them bring my ideas to life and sell them for big bucks on eBay.

Do you remember the first set you sold on eBay? How much did it sell for?

My first real set sold for just at $100, I think. It was a sock monkey set for BellaLuna’s Moda fabric launch! But from that, the off-eBay orders started rolling in and I started to work regularly for certain clients. That is still one of my favorite sets. Before that, I did several other sets that were just never seen or offered. I’ll attach a photo of the first thing I ever did (which is actually how I learned to sew a button). I didn’t make the outfit itself. It was a custom that I bought on eBay, but I added several buttons all over it to it to form a jack-o-lantern face on the leg. I also added buttons to the hat and appliqued a matching initial shirt. Since this was the first thing I ever did, it has a lot of sentimental value to me and I’ll never sell it.

Have you noticed a change in your designs from when you first started?

Oh yes. I have gotten extremely detailed in my applique. I love going way over the top. My customs are much more involved.

What is your inspiration for your designs?

It comes from all sorts of sources! But, basically, I sew for my boys. I sew what they are into, what they want. I don’t part with my samples because the boys and I grow attached to them. And, as a buyer, I also know what I want ... and that’s detail, quality and durability.

You do so many detailed applique sets. How long is the design process for you from start to finish?

It just depends on the set and its details. Sometimes the design comes easily; I can clearly picture the finished design before I ever start it ... and sometimes it doesn’t work at first, and I have to walk away from the sewing room for a while and come back (maybe days later) before it can come together. I keep a design journal and idea file so ideas don’t slip my mind, and I try to work on new designs and custom orders a few hours each day ... in between dropping off and picking up three little boys from different schools and preschools ... at different times ... and on different days.

Since your outfits are so detailed...how often does you list?

I list as often as there are launches. I never like to miss a group launch. But, I don’t have a lot of time in between them (with four groups and off eBay orders from regular customers) to list any more regularly.

Is all the applique work overwhelming, or is it something that you love doing?

I really love doing it! But, there are times when I’ve had enough of a particular outfit or set. For example, I spent many, many hours on a couple custom t-shirts for a buyer. These t-shirts were hand-made and each had 50 individual applique pieces on the front alone (some which I did twice/applied backing to so they wouldn’t be see-through) and several buttons for detail. Then, they got lost in the mail, with delivery confirmation! So, I remade them both. By the time I was done, I was ready to do a cartwheel. And, though my sewing room is a great stress relief and creative outlet for me, I do feel guilty spending too much time in there -when I could be playing with my kids. They grow so fast; I don’t want to miss a minute. Right now, for example, I’m typing these answers at midnight so it doesn’t cut into my boy time tomorrow. I’m never alone; each day I have at least one boy home with me at all times. Basically, the creating is the fun part for me. Recreating the same set a handful of times ... not so much fun. And, I’m not a huge fan of sewing on buttons ... or mending my husband’s things. Funny, I don’t mind mending injured stuffed animals. But, when buyers send me photos of their boys wearing my clothing ... that’s the best!

Do you hand-draw your appliques?

I do hand-draw my own appliques. I do have my embroidery done professionally - but don’t misunderstand ... that’s only after I’ve personally scanned all my appliques into my computer, drawn the details I want for each of them (typically in PhotoShop) and then printed them out for exact placement at the embroidery shop. Setting up the embroidery I have done is very time consuming in itself - and it has to be done over again with each set, even if they are "identical" to ensure precise placement on the garment.

Have you ever had any complaints or concerns about your 6-8 week completion time? Or do your customers just realize you do intricate work and expect that length of time?

The work I do is not quick by any means. I sew slowly and precisely. But, I don’t always have a 6-8 week wait. I’m usually much faster. But, sometimes, life gets in the way. Recently, I had surgery on my left wrist to remove a painful cyst at my joint. This didn’t stop me, but it certainly slowed me down a bit. So, I gave myself a little extra time cushion due to my recovery. But, my wait time will also vary depending on what customs I already have down on my calendar. Probably for every eBay sale I get, I get two more off eBay sales for the same item.

Are there any other designers you admire?

Where do I start? I couldn’t possibly name just one! I’m kind of a collector of the top designers’ art work. My favorite designers are everyone’s favorites (and many are in my great design groups!). I’m lucky to be a part of such talented groups of ladies. If I had to count, I’m sure I’d find more Little*Blue*Duck customs than anything else the the boys’ closets, followed by pbandj*creations. But, I’ve got several customs by Gorillabear*boutique, wildbydesign, sew.cute.on.you!, key*west*kids, bayoubabe5, whimsykids1, bananable, serendipity*sweethearts, kippydoodles, zootz, boyz*in*style. See, told you I had an addiction! Of these gals, though, I was most inspired by Kary of Gorrillabear - who told me that a couple years ago, she didn’t know how to turn a sewing machine on ... and she’s amazing.

What is your favorite design you have created?

I love the Graveyard Dugout (my sample is actually on display right now at our city’s art gallery!). And, I did some Thomas the train costume contest overalls for my son (which were never offered at auction). But, my most recent design - curious monkey - is my overall favorite. When I was little, I had a dress that held one of my cloth dolls in the pocket. That was this set’s inspiration. So, this one just melts my heart. But, I had to fight the design on this one. For the longest time I couldn’t figure out a way to bring it all together with monkeys everywhere. Then, one morning at about 3 am the idea of questions children ask came to me. In the end, this set had 12 different embroidery applications - the most embroidery I’ve ever put on a set.

Is there still a demand for appliqued overalls? Or more for pant/tee sets?

I guess it’s a personal preference, but I sell many more overalls than 2-piece sets for little boys.

Who is your favorite fabric designer?

I really don’t have a favorite fabric designer. I love unusual knits, and I can’t find them locally. I also love vintage fabrics.

What is your favorite custom auction on eBay right now?

Oh, I couldn’t say! I’m watching 87 eBay items! I’m a sucker for sets that have matching hats! I love hats!

If you could max out your credit card at one store, what store would that be?

I don’t shop for myself. And, I love flea markets, antique shops, garage sales and thrift stores. But, I could spend a fortune on eBay on boy’s customs, for sure. Since I can make my own sets, I’m kind of a tight wad and prefer to buy reasonable resells. I might be able to max out a card at Pottery Barn Kids. Mini Boden for sure ... or Toys R Us!

What can we expect from you in the future?

Applique overload! Creativity! Detail, detail, detail! I want to impress, show you things you haven’t seen before. And, I stand behind my work. If a set of mine ever needs a repair, I’ll gladly do that for my buyers. And, I’ve got some great ideas for future customs! I have never made a girl set ... but I’d like to!

Giveaway Time...All you have to do to enter is bid on Tam's current Monkey auction she has on eBay right now. Then leave a message here that you bid, with your eBay ID. One lucky bidder will get a curious little gift package for their child. Check back to see if you have won!

To Go To The Auction CLICK HERE.

Featured Auction March 6th

2009-03-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a cute one from *Katies*3*Clothesline*. Click Here to view the auction.

Featured Auction March 5, 2009

2009-03-05T17:03:00.000-08:00

This feliz by lilyandebony is gorgeous!!!!

Featured Auction for March 3, 2009

2009-03-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

sooooo CUTE! by jennaclaireboutique

Who's At The Top...$$$

2009-03-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

1. BowzNStuff_Boutique ~ "Fabrications" ~ Sugar3

2. WildByDesign ~ "Under The Sea" ~ No Group

3. JennaClaireBoutique ~ "Sweetie Rella" ~ Sugar3, ATeam

4. Ewers*Truly ~ "Curious Monkey" ~ ATeam, Max, M2MInc, Planet Boy

5. WildByDesign ~ "Hippity Hop" ~ No Group

BiJouCo's Newest Launch

2009-03-02T20:02:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for Spring? Check out these Springy designs offered in the BiJouCo launch that starts Tuesday, March 3rd. Below are just a few sneak peeks, but Click Here to go to all the fabulous listings.

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2009-03-02T15:10:00.000-08:00

Here are our members favorites this week:

Miniwhimzy

My*Hearts*Delight

SmallSomething

The_Vintage_Pearl

TadaCreations

Bayoubabe5

Pink*Polkadot*Originals

Gorillabear*Boutique

*Lula*Bee*Boutique*

BowzNStuff_Boutique

Maddie*Kate

Featured auction for March 2, 2009

2009-03-02T14:53:00.000-08:00

I love all the bright colors in this set by euro*girls!

Featured Auction March 1, 2009

2009-03-01T17:58:00.000-08:00

Check out this cute set by trendykiddz!

Rave Reviews

2009-02-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the customs the members in our group photographed last month. These are designers that we have had positive experiences with, and we would recommend them to other buyers.

SmallSomething

Buckeye-Mom26

Sydney ~ Bug*N*Belle - Mason ~ TicTacTogs

PolkadotsAndPigtails

SmallSomething

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2009-02-25T16:40:00.000-08:00

Here are the favorites that were posted in our group this week.

MoppetsClosets

PrincessPicasso

Komodokat

Nanabobana!

PaintedButterflyStudio

Itty*Bitty*Whimsy

Zoe_Diva_Designs

Emerson*Rose

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-02-25T13:05:00.001-08:00

Will you look at the "Twirl Factor" in this adorable skirt set! Wow! Perfect for Spring and Summer too. Click Here to go to this auction by Melissa of Gumdrop*Shop.

Ivylane Sweets Shoppe

2009-02-19T22:02:00.000-08:00

Winners Of The Coffee Cozy And Necklace

2009-02-19T16:04:00.000-08:00

If you are "The Hutson Family", you have won a coffee cozy from Torri of Southern Traditions.

If you are "Celeste", you have won a necklace from Torri.

Leave a message here so Torri can contact you, and congrats to the winners!!!

Design Group Interview ~ Polkadotz Shoppe

2009-02-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

Who is the leader of the group, and are there any Mods?
Each and every one of our members is a leader. While we do have an appointed "lead" person should we need them, our group truly is a team effort.

What is your group name and how did you come up with it?
Our group name is the Polkadotz Shoppe. We brainstormed for over a week, tossed out dozens and dozens of names and finally put them up for a vote. This was the name that won! :o)

Has your new group debuted yet? If so, when did you debut, and if not, when
are you going to?
The Polkadotz Shoppe debuted on Feb. 3rd. However we are going to have sort of a grand opening guest launch on February 24th.

Did you debut with a launch, and if so what was the theme?
The debut launch theme was none other than "Love Me Some Polkadots!"

How long has your group has been around?
Polkadotz is a brand new group. Together as a group, we've only existed for a few weeks. However each member has been selling on ebay for several years now and many of us have been in groups together before.

What makes this group different then other groups?
I would think the unique combination of designers, the friendly atmosphere and fun graphics help to make our group stand out.

What are the requirements of getting in over there?
Right now , we require designers to fill out an application. Once we receive an application, a poll is opened and a 100% yes vote is required from all members.

How many members do you have?
We currently have 15 members.

Are you going to be launching regularly? Are there going to be set dates
for the year?

Yes, we will have monthly launches.

How are you going to come up with your launch ideas?

We have some very talented graphic artists in the group who constantly inspire us with their work. We also have a lot of fun just tossing around ideas.

How would you define the groups style? Do you like to have a range of
designers that specialize in different areas, or does everyone have a
similar style?

We have a vary wide range of styles in our group. We have everything from Euro and funky to timeless and traditional. In addition to clothing, we have designers who offer a variety of accessories and mommy items too.

Once a designer is invited in to the group, are there any requirements for
them to continue to be a member?

Yes. We like for members to check in several times a week so they can stay current with what is going on in the group. We require that members make 9 out of 11 launches and list on the opening day of the launch.

Are you currently accepting applications from new designers to join?

Yes

Do you inspect other designer's work before inviting them into the group?

We ask for photographs. We look at closed auctions. You can also tell a lot from a designer's feedback.

How would you handle a group-mate when she has upset her customers?

We would definitely ask for our group-mates side of the story and allow her to defend herself. Most of the time, it is just a simple misunderstanding. We have enough faith in our groupmates that we are sure she could come to a reasonable solution to the problem with the customer.

Where do you plan the Polkadotz to be in 2 years?

We plan to still be happy, motivated and listing.........as long as the CPSIA lets us!!

How long have your members been selling on eBay?

Most of our members have been selling on ebay in some form or another for at least 3 years. Some as many as 9 years.

Do they plan to list and launch on Etsy?

A lot of our designers do currently sell on Etsy, however no launches have been planned for that website yet.

What do you think goes in to making a group successful?

A group takes a lot of hard work. The most important thing is to have good communication where everyone's opinion is important. Discusss any problems or concerns openly, be fair and do not tolerate any gossip or negativeness about other designers. You have to keep a group fun and motivating!!

What can we look forward to seeing from the Polkadotz in the future?

You can look forward to more high quality items and more fun launches, contests and giveaways! Please be sure to bookmark our blog and check it weekly formore information! http://www.polkadotzshoppe.blogspot.com/

Can you give us a list of the designers in the group?

Amy ~ priddy*creations ~ specializes in handbags, camera accessories

Angel ~ bayoubabe5 ~ specializes in boys and girls appliquéd clothes

Angela ~ dandelionavenue ~ specializes in hand smocked and hand embroidered girls clothes

Angie ~ doodlesbowtique ~ specializes in hairbows and hair accessories

Ann ~ caterpillar*creations ~ specializes in sweet and appliquéd girl’s clothing

Aurora ~ miabambinaco ~ specializes in a variety of fun girl’s clothing

Cynthia ~ bellabebeco ~ specializes in a variety of Euro and fresh and funky clothes

Dawn ~ ella*monde ~ specializes in variety of sweet styles of girls clothes, and little doll beds

Gaby ~ janea04 ~ our German friend who specializes in Euro girl's designs and is a wonderful graphic artist

Jodie ~ kjncm ~ specializes in ribbon trim sets and other cute girl’s styles

Leslie ~ gigglez-n-grinz ~ specializes in a variety of Euro and sweet clothes

Sandy ~ mya*bella*designs ~ specializes in girl’s euro and appliqué designs

Stacey ~ eliza*pink ~ specializes in painted shoes, totes and sometimes girl's clothing too

Susan ~ sweetimaginations ~ specializes in paintings, sweet little dolls and is another wonderful graphic artist

Tricia ~ carolinesclosetboutique ~ specializes in classic girl's clothing

***Here are the members past designs***

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-02-12T12:45:00.000-08:00

Get ready for Spring with this adorable animal Vida dress. Perfect for a trip to the Zoo! Click Here to go to this auction by emerald_door.

Win A Coffee Cozy Or Necklace

2009-02-11T08:33:00.000-08:00

My friend Torri is generous enough to donate one of her scrabble tile necklaces, and a yummy coffee cozy to TWO of our readers. All you have to do to enter this contest is go to her Etsy shop by Clicking Here, and browse through her gorgeous products, then come back here and post which item is your favorite. Simple as that, and you could win either a coffee cozy or a tile necklace. We will choose two winners on Wednesday February 18th, and post them on this blog, so check back to see if your name was drawn. Good Luck!

PoppySt Launch

2009-02-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

Watch for this new PoppySt launch coming to eBay on Tuesday, February 10th. Below are some sneaks for you to enjoy. Click Here to go directly to their listings.

The Votes Are In...

2009-02-03T16:37:00.001-08:00

Before I get to the winners of the "Best Of '08" contest, I wanted to say thank you to all the voters for taking the time to support these amazing designers! I wish I could give a reward to all of them, because all the designs are truly beautiful creations. I wish I had half their talent!!! So, without further ado...Here it is...

Favorite Girls Design Winner ~ Maddie*Kate

Favorite Boys Design Winner ~ WildByDesign

Favorite Accessories Winner ~ The_Vintage_Pearl

And the winning voter that receives a free appliqued tee from Natalee of SmallSomething is...

Two Little Lambs

If this is you then please leave your email so Natalee can contact you. Thanks...and Congrats to all the winning designers!!

Best Of '08

2009-01-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

Our group decided it would be fun to do a post highlighting some of our favorite and most memorable designs from 2008. Here is a look back at the items that made our list. We are going to be doing a contest with this...so please VOTE on your favorite from each category. We have Boys Designs, Girls Designs, and Accessories. Both the Boys and Girls categories will win $50 deposited in to their PayPal account, and the winner in the Accessories category will win a $20 Starbucks GC. But wait...that's not all...one lucky VOTER will win an appliqued tee from Natalee of SmallSomething. You can place your vote here, or email me at couture4mycutie@gmail.com. We will draw the winner next Tuesday...February 3rd...so get your votes in now! Thanks for taking the time to support these awesome custom boutique designers!!

Girls Designs

SmallSomething

MyLilPixie

SanguinettiClothing

StaceysStuffClothing

Boutique-Jolie-B

Maddie*Kate

BowzNStuff_Boutique

BowzNStuff_Boutique

DandelionAvenue

SmallSomething

PolkadotsAndPigtails

LolaAndClemetine

CarolinesClosetBoutique

SpendyStyle

Gigglez-N-Grinz

Pickles*And*Co

Bellabebeco

Mya*Bella*Designs

Maddie*Kate

BowzNStuff_Boutique

Gigglez-N-Grinz

Bellabebeco

MyLilPixie

Too_Lovely_Designs

OliBeli

Janea04

Bayoubabe5

Anji.Beane

SmallSomething

Boys Designs

Key*West*Kids

Maddie*Kate

Bayoubabe5

Serendipity*Sweethearts

WildByDesign

Buckeye-Mom26

Accessories

Tazetta*Kids

Pixie-Dust-Studio

Lily*Anna*Kids

Creme*De*La*Gems

The_Vintage_Pearl

TwinkieChan

Featured Item Of The Day

2009-01-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

Would you look at this cute little baby onesie! Perfect for a first B-Day! Check out the other onesies this seller has to offer by clicking here.

ShopSweetSimplicity

And The Winner Is...

2009-01-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Pearl Ring from Erin of The_Vintage_Pearl is...post #25...David And Natalie. If you are David And Natalie then please email me at couture4mycutie@gmail.com, or leave a message here. Thanks, and CONGRATS!

Andalucia Launch On eBay

2009-01-14T13:14:00.000-08:00

One of my all time favorite fabric lines from one of my all time favorite designers! You may know of Patty as the owner/designer behind ModKidBoutique clothing. You now know of Patty as the creator of the Andalucia line of fabrics for Micheal Miller. There currently is a launch on eBay celebrating Patty and her amazing line of fabric. Below are some of the items you can find in this launch. Click Here to check out what else is available.

GocksFrocks ~ Custom Skirt

Sunnybrook*Farm*Designs

SweetImaginations

*LadeSigns*

Mya*Bella*Designs

ModKidBoutique ~ Miss Patty Herself!

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-01-12T16:31:00.000-08:00

I just love this one from Patrice of Mamapatrice. Totally gorgeous and classic style.

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2009-01-12T15:45:00.000-08:00

Here are the favorites that were posted in the group this week. Sometime this month we are planning a "Best Customs Of '08" article, that will highlight some of our favorites from last year, so stay tuned!!

DollieDimplesBoutique

Rococo*Kidz

BowzNStuff_Boutique

Who's At The Top...$$$

2009-01-12T15:34:00.000-08:00

1. BowzNStuff_Boutique ~ "Fairytale Land" ~ Sugar3, Ateam

2. BowzNStuff_Boutique ~ "Fairytale Land Dress" ~ Sugar3, Ateam

3. BowzNStuff_Boutique ~ "Fairytale Land Pants" ~ Sugar3, Ateam

4. Gorillabear*Boutique ~ "Bullseye" ~ LemonLime, Boy Nation, OP&CO, En.Core

5. Janeao4 ~ "Colors Of The World" ~ Ivylane

Guest Writer ~ The_Vintage_Pearl

2009-01-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

I feel so blessed to have a job that allows me to work from home and also provides me with a much needed creative outlet. I'm a wahm of 4 little ones, ages 7, 5, 4 and 6 months, and I love being a Mom. I began selling on eBay a few years ago as a way to bring in a few extra dollars- my sister in law started making custom clothes and I, since I couldn't sew a stitch, started playing around with making jewelry to match her outfits. I really enjoyed it, which was somewhat surprising since at the time I didn't wear much jewelry besides my wedding rings and an occasional pair of earrings!

I think the hardest thing about my job is finding a "balance" between work and family. I have 4 kids, a husband, lots of laundry and a house to keep up with as well as jewelry orders and daily emails to answer. Trying to stay on top of everything can be overwhelming and I have found that most of the time I'm either caught up on jewelry orders and emails, but my house is messy and we're eating out alot, or my house is clean with hot meals on the table but the business has fallen behind.

It can become quite challenging, especially with the baby who doesn't understand "give Mommy just 3 more minutes"! I try to plan ahead and schedule out the day and I work alot in the evenings when my husband is home. I'm thankful for a supportive husband who does what he can to help, like taking the kids away from the house so I can have some uninterrupted time.

Most days I get the boys up and ready for school and Ryan drives them. I grab some coffee and sit down to answer emails until the girls are awake and ready for breakfast- some days I may have an hour, some days I may have 2 minutes! I try to get emails answered and make a list of orders and then I work off and on throughout the day. We play and/or run errands in the morning and then while they rest after lunch I check emails again and work on the orders list. I pick up the boys from school at 3 and don't even try to work again until after dinner (except for checking emails- if I don't keep checking then they can really pile up!) Evening work depends on what's going on with the family- we are a typically busy family with basketball, soccer or football practices as well as church and school functions- and I try really hard not to cut into family time.

One thing that has really helped me is several months ago I moved all of my supplies down to the kitchen cupboards and I stamp on the kitchen counter! Now I can work with the kids in eyesight anytime I need to :) The only downside is that I have to clean it all up when I'm done or else we have no kitchen counter!!!

I love being a wahm and am so thankful to all of my supportive family, friend and customers!

Erin would like to do a giveaway for the blog readers. All you have to do is leave her a comment and you will be entered to win the beautiful ring pictured below. It is a "Pearl Nest Ring", made with a large Swarovski pearl wrapped in Sterling Silver, and you can chose between a size 7 or 8.

***Check back next Thursday to see who the winner is!***

Rave Reviews For December

2009-01-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Below are some of the sets that the members in our group photographed last month. These designers are people we would recommend to other buyers. We also wanted to thank these wonderful women for all their hard work in making these custom creations for our children!

WildByDesign ~ Boy Tee & Bellabebeco ~ Twirl Skirt Set

Finnjax*Designs ~ Boy Tee & Bellabebeco ~ Twirl Skirt Set

Little*Red*Wagon

Bella*Tessa

Gigglez-N-Grinz ~ Dress & BugNBelle ~ Fur Cuff Tee

Couture*4*My*Cutie (That's Me!) ~ Blanket

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-01-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

Today's feature is this adorable Valentine theme twirl skirt set by Gumdrop*Shop. So cute for V-Day and beyond!

Ivylane "Peace" Launch Starts Today!

2009-01-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

The talented designers from Ivylane are doing a "Peace" theme launch on eBay, and it starts today...January 6th. I am in LOVE with so many things already!!! Get a start on your Spring wardrobe, and check out this amazing launch! Click Here to start shopping. Below are some of the designs being offered. Click on the deigners name to go to that auction. I also wanted to mention that this group is doing a giveaway on their blog. You can win the beautiful hair clips below from Jen of *Pouty*Princess*. All you have to do is march on over to their blog and post which Ivylane "Peace" auction is your favorite. Simple as that, and you are entered in to the random drawing for the clippies. Click Here to go to their blog and enter to win!!

Prize From *Pouty*Princess*

Current Auctions

DandelionAvenue

The_Vintage_Pearl

Gigglez-N-Grinz

TakeABowCreations

Jam*Clothing*Co ~ Appliqued Jeans

Featured Auction Of The Day

2009-01-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for Spring? Here is an adorable 4 piece set by StyleDesignStudio to get your daughters wardrobe started. Great mix-and-match opportunities!

Featured Item Of The Day

2008-12-29T13:56:00.000-08:00

Todays feature is this adorable Snow White theme set from TaylorTotsDesigns. It is listed in her Etsy store, and would be great for a Disney vacation, or a themed party. Click on the designers name to go straight to this listing. She also has other themed sets available!

Rave Reviews For November

2008-12-15T21:35:00.001-08:00

Here are some of the sets that the buyers in our group photographed last month. We are applauding these designers for their great work and awesome customer service. All of these designers are people we would recommend to other buyers.

Peppermints*And*Petticoats

PhoebesLanding ~ Scarfs

PhoebesLanding ~ Matching Sister Sets

*BratleyBoutique*

LolaAndClementine

BlueBottleDesigns

BowzNStuff_Boutique

Who's At The Top...$$$

2008-12-15T13:35:00.000-08:00

1. 3SweetPs*Boutique ~ "Valentine Custom" ~ LemonLime

2. **Cutie**Pie** ~ "Love Stinks" ~ LemonLime

3. **Cutie**Pie** ~ "Wubbzy" ~ LemonLime

4. Bullfrongs*N*Fireflies ~ "Love Stinks" ~ Sandbox Couture

5. Maddie*Kate ~ "Be Mine" ~ No Group

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2008-12-15T06:51:00.000-08:00

Here are the favorites that were posted by our members in the group

Bayoubabe5

PolkadotsAndPigtails

DuckSoupOriginals

Gigglez-N-Grinz

Creme*De*La*Gems

HapaGirlBoutique

Ivylane Blog Giveaway...

2008-12-11T14:05:00.000-08:00

The girls at Ivylane are giving away a gorgeous necklace made by Erin of The_Vintage_Pearl on their blog. All you have to do is search Ivylane auctions, and leave a comment telling them what your favorite auction is. They will be drawing a winner on Saturday morning. You also get extra entries for blogging about it. Get on over and check it out! Click Here to go to the Ivylane blog.

Favorite Auctions Of The Week

2008-12-08T15:53:00.000-08:00

Here are this weeks favorites that were posted in our group:

Pixie-Dust-Studio

MiabambinaCo

Pickles*And*Co

TadpolesAndTutus

PhoebesLanding

Design Group Interview With MemoryLane

2008-12-03T15:49:00.000-08:00

Who is the leader of the group, and are there any Mods?

The Leader of Memorylane is Kathy of angel*designs, and the co-leader is Lisa of Casedi*Boutique. There are also 2 mods: Tina of sew*unique*girly*boutique and Kelly of piatillys

How long has your group has been around?

Our group was formed Oct. 7^th, 2007 and started taking applications that day. We had our Debut Launch in Nov. ‘07. We just celebrated our First Birthday this year.

I know you are switching search terms...why?

To use a shorter search term in our listings title just to make it easier for everyone; both the designers and the buyers. Now all you have to do is simply type in the search bar ~ mlane.

What is your new search term going to be?

MLane Boutique

How are you going to be sure your buyers know of this switch?

Through the group newsletter. We have also announced it in many of the boutique chat groups on ebay.

Where did your group come up with the name MemoryLane?

There are a few of us girls that were in another design group together and we left that group due to too much drama over there. We started a chat group just for us to stay connected, then after deciding to do the group thing again, I came up with the name MemoryLane, just from all the memories we had from being in a group together before.

What are the requirements of getting in over there?

You just need to apply for an application, which can be found on our blog, http://www.memorylaneboutique.blogspot.com. Your application will then be reviewed by everyone in the group and each member will cast their vote.

How long has your oldest member been with the group? your newest?

Lisa (casedi*boutique) is our oldest member, having been with the group since the very beginning. And our newest member is Kelly (piatillys).

Are you currently accepting applications from new designers to join?

Yes, we are currently accepting applications for possible new members.

How do you come up with your launch ideas?

We start a thread within the group and all our members throw out their thoughts and ideas. Then we put up a poll and vote on the theme and theme name.

How often do you launch, and do you have set launch dates for the year?

We usually launch once a month, the first Tuesday of every month.

How long does it take to pick a launch theme, make the items for the launch including the templates, and then get the listings up?

We usually start deciding on a launch a couple months in advance, templates are usually done within 2 weeks before the launch date.

How would you define the groups style? Do you like to have a range of designers that specialize in different areas, or does everyone have a similar style?

Each of us has our own unique design style ~ which keeps the group in a whole unique, fun and interesting!

Your group name reminds me of vintage or heirloom designers. Is this the case?

No:), I know it does sound vintage, but I just came to the name by memories from another group and all the fun we did have as a group at one time, until too much drama set in.

Once a designer is invited in to the group, are there any requirements for them to continue to be a member?

We ask that they stay active within the group and try to participate in group launches, but as we all know life does happen. And we expect them to respect their fellow designers.

Do you inspect other designer's work before inviting them into the group?

Yes we do. We have them send a few pictures of their latest designs, and we also check out their me pages. And for the clothing designers, we also require close-ups of their seams and topstitching.

How do you handle a group-mate when a designer in the group has upset her customers?

I would hope that the designer can handle that in a proper manner to take care of the matter.

What would you do if you knew one of your fellow group-mates was shilling?

First I would make sure that is the issue, then I would bring it up to them that shill bidding is not permitted within our group. If it didn't stop I would remove that member from our group.

How would you handle a copy cat?

I would certainly hope that with our talented group of designers, we would never have to encounter that problem!

What is in the future for MemoryLane?

We are a small close knit group of designers that are really like a family. We all support each other tremendously, and there is no drama in the group. We want to continue that, but also continue to grow as a group in whole.

***The ladies at MemoryLane are going to be having a contest. The winner will receive a custom twirl set from angel*designs and matching bracelet from *pretty*me*designs*. All you have to do to enter is match the designers name with their design pictured. Below is a list of the designers, and their names are clickable to their "Me" pages for help. The photos are labeled by number, so for number one, you would tell me who you think designed that, and so on. You can either list your guess on this topic, or email them to me directly at couture4mycutie@gmail.com. The person with the most correct guesses wins! Thanks for playing!***

annabella*designs

noelle*lawrence*collection

sew*unique*girly*boutique

banana*shoe*boutique

Designer #1

Designer #2

Designer #3

Designer #4

Designer #5

Designer #6

Designer #7

Designer #8

Designer #9

Designer #10

Favorite Auctions of the Week!!

2008-12-01T10:18:00.000-08:00

Here are our members' favorites this week!!

pixie-dust-studio

bowznstuff_boutique

lilyandebony

geelizzie

southernsasscouture

littlepinkposies

alexisprincesswear

myonlyprincess

2redheadsdesigns

gocksfrocks

bayoubabe5

poshplushies

candyclothingco

emiliefriday

aureliaandannalise

ennadesignshop

joojoo

zoewoods

lemonsandlollis

Ending in less than 24 hours

2008-11-26T15:40:00.001-08:00

Baby Go Retro

Designers Questions...Answered

2008-11-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

This was wrote in as a designer question, but we all discussed it in the group:

Has the economic downturn markedly impacted the boutique industry for designers and buyers?

Everyone, designers and buyers, said yes, we have all been impacted in some way by the economy. The buyers in our group simply don't have as much "fun" money as we used to. If we are still buying, we aren't buying big ticket items. Most of the designers have noticed a slow down as well. Their Christmas items/sets seem to be doing good, but after that Season they are not sure what sales are going to be like. And many of them seem to be doing better on Etsy then on eBay right now. We have also noticed a big price change in custom boutique. A year ago when you searched highest to lowest, you would mostly find $300+ single sets. Now when you do the same search, it is $500+ for a custom set a month for 6 months, or these similar auctions. Another thing to mention is that as a buyer, I personally have slowed down buying because most the money I spend on custom boutique, I can justify in the resell price. Yeah, I may spend $200 for a set, but might get back $150. Now, when I go to resell my kids custom outfits that I bought last year, I doubt I will even get 1/4 of what I paid. It gets very discouraging, and now I have a dollar amount that I won't go over.

***If you have a question for a team of experienced designers or buyers, please send it in using the link on the right***

Featured Auction Of The Day

2008-11-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

Today's feature is this adorable "Jingle Bell Rock" appliqued set from Sara_Joe. Thanks for checking it out!

Guest Writer ~ Maddie*Kate ~ Teamwork

2008-11-25T14:48:00.001-08:00

For this months Guest Writer, we asked the dynamic duo of Maddie*Kate to join us and do a piece for the blog. It has been such a pleasure getting to know these lovely ladies better. Below is their article...partially written by Kandy, the other part by Kacey, and one part they did together. Enjoy!

Kandy:

I have been sewing for as long as I can remember. I used to sit and watch my mother sew by the hour when I was very young. It just fascinated me to watch her sew and make such beautiful things for my sister and I. When I was in 7th grade I made my first real wearable item. It was a pair of shorts and even had a zipper! I was so proud of those shorts! I didn't sew for myself throughout junior high and high school, nor did I allow my mother to, as the word "home made" was frowned upon. But eventually I took it up after high school and fell in love with sewing all over again. My first part-time job after high school was working for a fabric store called Cloth World. I did a little sewing for my two girls when they were small but once they got a little older, they too wanted nothing to do with "home made" or girly things. Neither of my two girls showed any real interest in sewing so my sewing machine sat idle for quite a few years. I sewed a little bit for my oldest granddaughter, Morgan, when she was young, but she soon too didn't want anything "home made". When Mallory came along, out came the sewing machine once again! Kacey expressed an interest in learning to sew almost 3 years ago. I had the joy of teaching her a little and watching her bloom into a fabulous designer and seamstress. I now have another little granddaughter Sydney who is just 2 months old. I figure she ought to be ready for some twirly-girly things about the time Mallory starts turning her nose up to them :)

Kacey:

I just started sewing about 2 1/2 years ago, right before Mallory's big 2-year old birthday party. I wanted to make some cute party favors that were themed around a pool party. I went to the store and bought 22 (yes,22) towels and rummaged through my mom's fabrics for cute boys and girls prints to make each child a towel with their name sewn on it. I had never really sewn anything, with the exception of pillow back when I was 8 or 9. It took me about 2 weeks to get through all the towels. I can't say that the appliqué work was top-notch, but everyone loved them. I had 2 small children at home and wanted to have some extra "fun" money for us to go do things during the day with, as my husband was the only one bringing in a paycheck at the time. My mom had just recently stopped working, so we decided to give eBay a try.

TEAMWORK:

When we made the decision to start selling our designs on eBay, we knew that we couldn't do it without each other. Other designers will write to us periodically and ask us how we are able to list so many things consistently, so here's our answer. We have made hundreds of trips to the fabric stores together. We walk up and down the aisles with our shopping carts full of fabrics talking about what other fabrics we have at home that would look good with this or that and mentally see the design come together in our heads. Since we only live about a block away from each other, we are always at each other's houses bouncing ideas off each other or asking for opinions about which pattern to use, fabric combinations or appliqué designs. There are at least 2 or 3 trips back and forth between houses when we are both sewing, looking for patterns, trims, threads or buttons for the project we are working on. Once an outfit is complete, it is DEFINITELY a team effort to get Mallory to just try it on to make sure it fits, get her hair just right and her shoes on. There always has to be some sort of "special treat" in the house for bribes! Our neighbors must get a good chuckle if they happen to be looking out the window when we are taking pictures out in the front yard. Just picture this, it's the middle of August, 98 degrees outside, Mallory is wearing a long-sleeved outfit with a huge Santa on it, tights and boots.Kacey is chasing her around with the camera; Kandy is trying to make Mallory smile, making sure her outfit and hair look right, while keeping Jack from getting in the pictures!! While Kacey is editing the pictures, Kandy will usually watch the kids to make the process go a little faster. Kacey designs the templates, and Kandy writes the descriptions of the outfits. Once the items sells, we both work with the customers to make sure all the measurements are correct and get out the door in a timely fashion. Whew!! This truly is an amazing hobby that we share together. Knowing that we are not only creating memories for our own children/grandchildren by designing them a special outfit for an occasion, we are creating memories for other people as well. We can't imagine doing it without one another, heck, I don't think we could!

Here are some of Maddie*Kate's past designs:

Featured Auction Of The Day

2008-11-24T20:32:00.001-08:00

Today we have two matching sets from Trendy*Babies*Boutique. These are Valentine themed, but can be worn beyond that. I love the fun colors! Check them out when you get a chance!!

Girls Set

Boys Set

The Winner Of The Sugar3 Ebay GC Is...

2008-11-24T20:23:00.000-08:00

Awhile back you may remember the interview we did with the new design group Sugar3. As a promotion, they were doing a drawing for a $50 eBay gift certificate, to be used toward a Sugar3 purchase, or any purchase! All you had to do to be entered in the drawing was bid on their items during that week. Well, we have a winner of the gift certificate, and it is Sherry of Laughhunn123. Congrats Sherry, and have fun spending your money!!

Favorite Auctions of the Week!

2008-11-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

Here are our members' favorites this week!!

anji.beane

2munkeez

miabambinaco

dressme

key*west*kids

my*unbirthday

bridgetandco

sweetie*dumplings

sanguinetticlothingco

dandelionavenue

sweet*girl*boutique

missy*lulu

gigglez-n-grinz

wildbydesign

Who's At The Top $$$

2008-11-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

1. WildByDesign "Valentine Fun (Girls)" No Group

2. Gigglez-N-Grinz "Euro Red Riding Hood" Ivylane

3. WildByDesign "Valentine Fun (Boys) " No Group

4. Sweet_Chilli_Designs "Euro Minnie Knit" LemonLime

5. Sweet_Chilli_Designs "Euro Strawberry Shortcake" LemonLime

And The Winner Is...

2008-11-21T12:40:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to all the participants of our Halloween Costume Contest. We voted for a winner in our group, and we chose...

Karley And Kinsey As Thing 1 And Thing 2
Made By littlebears*crochet*den

Congrats to the winners!! I will be contacting you so I can mail your $25 Starbucks Gift Card!