Not quite a vacation...

I got an order from a pom squad...couldn't turn it down...16 bows due by January 2nd...thrilled at what kind of business this could bring.

My last show was a HUGE success! I made enough to put the money we used for our new ejector and bigger sump pump back into our bank account. Even better than the money were all of my return customers and their referrals! I had women coming up to me telling me that their friend just called them and said they needed to come see me.

After Christmas I will have my Etsy inventory ready and be gearing up for the first shows I plan on doing in 2009 which will begin in March.

New show dates will be listed once they are confirmed.

Thank you all for making my first months of business so successful and I look forward to sharing 2009 with you all.

Happiest and Healthiest of Holidays to you all!

P.S. A few new photos have been posted...

Game Plan

Saturday is my last show of 2008. THANK GOODNESS! Things will hopefully get back to normal at our house and I can work at a slower pace since I won't be back into "show action" until March 2009.

If you read our family blog you will know that I lost all of my November and December pictures on my SD card. SOB! Now you know why I only have 1/100th of my items in my photoalbum.

So, the plan is to wipe out all of my old photos of bows and take pics of what I have left from my last show tomorrow. Hopefully I won't have much left but all will be up for sale, but I will only sell what I have left, no special orders until January 2nd.

Maybe my Etsy store will actually get some items now!

Upcoming Schedule

As much as I do not like to turn down business, I am simply buried right now between shows and special orders. As good as this is for our bank account; my sanity, Tanner's patience, and our house are taking a hit. :o)

If we have not already spoken, as of today I am no longer taking any orders for the remainder of the year. All sales will have to be through my shows these next two weekends and will be limited to what I have on hand.

My next two shows are:

December 6th at Marklund in Geneva and
December 13th at Bolingbrook High School

I will then close shop to spend time with my family and think up new designs from December 14, 2008 through January 1, 2009.

Sorry for the inconvenience but I do not want to compromise the quality of my bows by rushing to make them.

New pics!

Please go check out the picture section to see what I have been up to. I am preparing for an open house on Friday, a craft show on Saturday and ANOTHER craft show the following Saturday all while still accepting special orders.

I am looking forward to two months of down time. :o)

The Small and the Ugly.

The most asked question I get asked is why I started making bows. With everything on my plate, I often ask myself the same question. :o)

My answer is always the same: I was tired of giving other people too much money for bows that weren't worth it. I sell my bows at a price that I would pay for them and make them in a size that I would want and quality that I am proud of.

Here are some examples of the difference between Bootsie Marie Boutique bows and others.

Size difference between my small korker (on the right) and another small korker:


My lined clips verses unlined clips:


And someone who should NOT be making korkers AT ALL!:

Firecracker, Firecracker, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

The latest in our collection! We call this the "Firecracker."


Can be placed on any kind of clip or pony "o" and can also be made smaller for piggies or smaller girls. And as always, I can so any color combo. This measures about 4" in diameter.

Being sold for $4.

Just as a reminder we have the following clips:
Alligator, which are covered and now lined with a non-slip grip.
French Barrette
and our newest:
Snap Clips and
Baby Barrettes (also can be used for bows for your pooch!)

Hair Bow Blitz!

I am in overdrive mode. My first show is on Saturday and I have been internally freaking out and had a minor breakdown yesterday. (Our son was acting up and I told my hubby he hated me for making bows all the time.)

Here are the latest fruits of my labor. Tuxedo Bows on french clips. Perfect for girls growing out their bangs or those with a cute bob cut.

New Pics Up & New Style!

I uploaded some bow pics for your viewing pleasure. PLEASE remember I can do any colors you would like.

There is a new member of the Bootsie Marie Family...Pony Tail Streamers. I need a long hair model though as the pics don't do the bows justice!

New Price List

After going back and forth here it is!


Small Korkers….………………………………………….…$3.00

Medium Korkers……………………………………………..$4.00

Large Korkers…………………………………………….….$5.00

Clippie Set……………………………………………………$3.00

Piggie Sets……………………………………………………$4.00

Flower Bows…………………………………………………$4.00

Stacked Bows…………………………………………………$4.00

Pony Tail Streamers…………………………………………..$4.00

“Trademarked” Bows………………………………………….$6.00

Infant Beanie………………………………….…………...…$4.00

Toddler/Child Beanie………………………………………...$6.00

Headbands……………………………………………………$3.00

Flowers………………………………………………………$2.00

Picture Site...UPDATED!

Because I cannot figureout how to make my posts all pretty when I add a picture, and because I have so many pictures, I have added a link to my photo site to the left or go to: www.flickr.com/photos/bootsiemarie/

Sorry folks, there are no pics of our cutey-cute kids on this one. :o) For those you can go to www.tannerandjosie.blogspot.com

P.S. Thank you Alison for catching my mistake!!! :o)

Upcoming Shows

Come and see me in person! Not that I am that exciting. :o)

November 8, 2008
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Bolingbrook Park District
201 Recreation Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60440

December 6, 2008
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Marklund Hyde Center
1 South 450 Wyatt Drive
Geneva, IL 60134
(I can thank Scotty for this one! Can you believe he researches craft shows now? HA!)

What do you get when you cross a korker with a flower bow?

What do you get when all you do is make bows at night after your kids go to bed?










This is just a small sampling but you get the idea. :o)

Come meet me at the Bolingbrook Holiday Craft Show on November 8th!

Tami's Special Order

I had a nice, big, special order to work on this weekend along with some other little ones. Here is the fruit of my labor for Tami.

Tami, thank you for giving me this opportunity even though I said nasty words under my breath while making the Packers Korker! :o)

Any bows that were a duplicate I didn't post a picture of and hopefully the colors come across as gorgeous as they are in person!

Bootsie Marie's Latest Additions.

Please help me welcome the ”Flower” Bow and a new style of interchangeable headband!

The Flower Bow will be selling for $5 and in the headband will be $3. Like all of the other bows and headbands, you can get these in any color.

You may notice my Etsy shop is weak, it is going to be weak until after my first Craft Show. Come see me in Bolingbrook on November 8th! Yes, I am insane as it is the day before Tanner’s birthday party and Josie’s Baptism.

In the mean time I am busy, busy, busy trying to make an inventory of 100 bows and and 40 headbands.

Another new hair accessory will be introduced early next week. Stay Tuned!

New Products!

I CANNOT WAIT to show you the new items I am working on! TOO EXCITING!

A new style of interchangeable headband and a new type of bow!

Pics to come soon!

Can you guess what I have been doing???

New bows!

A few new bows will be listed on Etsy tonight, but remember you can always buy directly from me and I love custom orders! :o)

Here is a sneaky peek at the latest additions. Thank you to Trish for allowing Carlee to model. While Tanner is cute, I don't think he would have been an appropriate toddler model.

Any bow you see can be modified to fit an infant also!

A new member of the Tice Family.

 

No, it is not another child or Golden Retriever. :o)  

Welcome to Bootsie Marie Boutique!  

*DEEP BREATH!* So here I am, feeling fairly vulnerable. 

I have only made a few things that I have sold but as vulnerable as I feel I am also excited to bring some great "boutique" items to you without the boutique price.

Boostie Marie Boutique was born after I realized how much I was spending on Josie's hairbows and headbands.  As nice as they were I knew I could make them nicer and cheaper!  

I began to make a few and hand them out to friends as testers.  After hearing from everyone how I needed to sell them, here I am!  Well, I am here after coming up with a company name...Bootsie Marie is Josie's nickname and since she is the reason I came up with this idea, it fit!

As of now, I am offering korker bows and spirit or cheer bows, and baby beanies with your choice of a korker or flower clip.  I am hoping to add some fun, new items each month and would never sell anything I wouldn't put on my own children.

A little info about my bows:

1.  All bows are handmade by me.  :o)

2.  All bows are heat sealed so they do not fray.

3.  All bows come from a clean, smoke-free, Golden Retriever home.

4.  I LOVE custom orders.  

5.  I love bulk orders even more!  :o)

6.  I do ship, $1.50 for the first bow, $.25 for each additional.

7.  Buy a headband that is interchangeable!  The possibilities are ENDLESS!

Price List:

Toddler/Child Korker: $5

Infant Korker: $3

Lycra Interchangeable Headbands: $3 

Baby Beanies with Korker or Flower Clip: $8

Custom korkers please add $2.

Please email me with any questions!  

You can order directly from me or please check out my Etsy store: bootsiemarie.etsy.com

P.S.  I promise all of my posts won't be this "dry."  :o)