Custom Rhinestone Shirts Are a Big Hit!

I had a feeling when I decided to start creating and selling custom rhinestone t-shirts that they would be very popular and so far I haven't been disappointed.  Oh, I haven't been selling so many of them that I can't keep up but I am definitely keeping busy.  I think a lot of people see the freedom being able to create your very own message brings, they know that rhinestones are extremely popular right now, and the value is pretty awesome. So I am getting a lot of messages about pricing and quite a few orders.  It's definitely changed the way I view my shop.  I've always said I make tutus and other little girl's accessories but most of my shirts have been for women and I'm starting to sell about as many of them as I do tutus.  Maybe it's not a tutu shop anymore, maybe it's finally just a boutique. . . .

Making a custom order is pretty time consuming.  I have to make sure I have all of the supplies that I need, including the right color of rhinestones.  If I don't have enough of the right color and size of rhinestones, it can be a big problem because it takes a couple of weeks for the rhinestones to arrive once they've been ordered. I also have to make sure I have the right size t-shirt in the right color.  So far I haven't had to worry about not having enough transfer tape but that's another consideration.
Once I have the order, I enter the design phase.  I want to make sure the shirt is exactly what the customer wants so I ask a lot of questions. I need to know what font the customer likes, what color of stones, what size, how many lines, how thick, if they want a picture or scattered rhinestones, if they want it centered on the shirt--so many things!  I haven't had any problems yet with asking too many questions, most customers don't mind because they want it to be perfect, too.

A template I designed for a customer last weekend. Not sure what it means but it turned out super cute!

Next, I make a template.  I usually make it in Microsoft Paint because it's the easiest to manipulate.  I usually draw up a few versions and send that to the customer.  Once the design is approved, I print it out and turn it into a pattern for the rhinestones.  This can be really tricky if it's a complicated pattern. Once I've laid down all of the rhinestones, I usually send another picture to the customer for his or her approval before I actually apply the rhinestones. Once the customer has approved the rhinestones, actually applying the rhinestones is the easiest part. Then, I package it up and ship it off!  The whole process can take anywhere from 3 hours to 20, depending upon how complicated the design is.  Laying the rhinestones is tedious and difficult.  It's hard to get them all in the exact right place,especially if they are touching or if they are the smaller size rhinestones.  But it's also extremely rewarding. It's like putting a puzzle together or completing a work of art.  I know it's easier for big rhinestone companies to create templates because of the tools they have but I don't think they can get people exactly what they want as quickly as I can.  I also don't think many of them will apply the transfer for you.  With all of the shirts I've done I've only ever had one complaint and that was that the shirt was too small--even though it was the size I said it was when I posted it--and I'm very proud of that because it's a very complicated process and I pour a lot of heart, soul, time, and energy in to it so I want people to absolutely love the completed product.

Before I apply the rhinestones, I get the customer's approval.  Another interesting saying!

Very popular shirt recently

Tis the season for the luck of the Irish!

I'm watching the Daytona 500 as I'm watching this and I think I'm going to have to make myself a bling t-shirt with the number 5 on it. I'm pretty certain that I could sell a few 88's and 10's too.  Danica is the first female to ever start on the pole of the most popular race in motorsports. Pink bling for Ms. Patrick?  I think so!
(And Kasey just wrecked--grrr!)
The possibilities are endless and I can't wait to see what interesting ideas customers bring me. They are always more creative than I am!

Not to Swag--For Now

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about Swag Bags and if anyone had ever participated in a Celebrity Swag Bag event before.  I was asked to participate in an event for the Oscar's.  I really wanted to participate and sent in my intent to do so. However, through no fault of my own or any intentional fault of the company I was working with there were some missed connections and I felt a little rushed as we closed in on the deadline so I've decided not to participate this time around. Instead, I will be submitting my items for a celebrity event for the Emmy's in September.  I will be working with the same company and I'm very excited that I have the opportunity to be involved in something like this.  I am a big television/movie buff and I just love the thought of some of my favorites potentially dressing their little ones in my designs.  In the meantime, I'm going to be working on promoting some of my tutus and other items with the same publicity company and I'm hoping to build up some more clientele through our efforts. I run a pretty small business right now and I don't foresee being able to quit my day job any time soon (not that I want to--I love my day job!) but eventually I would like to open a brick-and-mortar boutique and so I'm looking for more opportunities to build brand awareness and establishing myself as a leader in Princess-Making, if you will.
I know there are a lot of tutu shops on Etsy and other online markets.  I don't see a lot of different designs coming out of them so I think that's one area where I can say I'm different.  I'm constantly trying new things, creating new looks, such as my boas, my boa-bodice tutus, and the new tulle circle tutus.  I also think I have strengths in my customer service, the short amount of time it takes for me to complete and ship orders--even custom orders--and a solid price point.  These are the highlights of what I feel separates Glitter and Tulle Boutique from the other tutu shops. I also know that there are not a lot of other shops that sell rhinestone t-shirts and very, very few that will allow a customer to design their own t-shirt and then create it and ship to them within two weeks.  The tutu and rhinestone bling outfits I have recently put together are also a rarity and I hope that this provides customers with some new options when it comes to choosing outfits for special occasions.
I know many of you also have Etsy shops.  What sets you apart?  What are your strengths.  Where are you looking to grow?  Those of you who do not have shops, what are you looking for when it comes to choosing a shop that specializes in handmade items? How do you choose one product or item over another?
Please forgive me for going off on a bit of a tangent but this is all related because it ties in to my attempt to grow my business. If any of you have ever participated in a swag event or worked with a celebrity gifting company, I would really love to hear from you!
Yesterday, I used my new wire mannequin to photograph several of my new tutus.  She was such a breeze to work with!  She stood still, she let me change her without chasing her around, and none of her pictures are blurry!  Again, this is not the Spring line, kind of a precursor, but I am really happy with how the tutus and shirts I made this weekend turned out.  I think this one is my new fav! I wasn't sure how the mossy green would look with the fuchsia but it turned out very unique and pretty.  What do you think?

Fuchsia and mossy green tutu?  Yes, please!

Indian Princess Tutu Dress Has Been Adopted!

It's funny how we become attached to certain items that we make.  Shortly after I opened my Etsy store, I realized that there were a ton of tutu shops similar to mine and I needed to find a way to make mine stand out. Affordable prices, friendly customer service, quick shipping--these were all ways I knew I could find some loyal customers.  But I thought I needed something to make my designs stand out as well. After much thought, I created my first woven-bodice tutu dress.  I didn't like how so many tutu dresses had a practically see through bodice and I wanted to create a way for little girls to look gorgeous without having to worry about letting it all hang out.  It was fall, the leaves were changing.  Naturally, I began to think in terms of fall colors. I came up with the Indian Princess Tutu Dress one night around 2:00 AM when I just couldn't sleep. I was using crotchet-elastic waistbands in my tutus. It seemed fairly simple to weave the tulle through the top and make the bodice solid.  I also thought braiding the tulle and ribbon would add an extra layer or texture and make the tutu more unique. I considered sewing the braids together but I decided that would make the tutu less stretchy and therefore limit the size of the girl who could wear it.  So I decided to leave the braids loose.  It took hours upon hours to create the braids, weave the tulle through the bodice, and tie the layers and layers of tulle onto the crotchet elastic waistband.  Once the tutu was complete, I went back and secured everything by stitching it together. Then I had to create the belt and headband which also took a lot of thought and consideration. I didn't want them to be ordinary either.  After a few weeks of contemplation  work, more contemplation, and a lot more work, the Indian Princess Tutu was complete.
This tutu became even more special to me when I decided to try and do the photo shoot on my own. My husband was away that weekend and I really wanted to get the photo posted on Etsy before it was too late in the season.  My five year old has special needs and I wasn't sure if I would be able to handle the photo shoot on my own but I wanted to give it a try.  With a lot of bribery and coaxing, I was able to get my girl into the dress (the headband was about enough to make me throw in the towel!) and get her outside. I was afraid to take her too far from the house because, if she had a meltdown, I wanted to be able to get her back inside without hurting her or the tutu.  But it didn't matter.  She had so much fun walking in the leaves with no shoes on, she was a perfect little Indian Angel.  We didn't spend a lot of time and I only took about six shots, but it was enough.  I was particularly happy with a gorgeous shot of my girl smiling. It didn't show the dress very well but it showed the headband--and who could resist taking a second look at such a beautiful little face?

One of my favorite pictures of Imma!

The back of the Autumn Indian Princess Tutu

The shadow may be distracting to some people, but all I see is my beautiful girl!

I posted the dress in late October and knew if it didn't sell pretty quickly, it would probably be here for a while.  When it hadn't sold by Thanksgiving, I packed it up.  I reduced the price, too, because I thought I would rather have it in the hands of a little girl who loved it than sitting in my closet.  But it continued to sit in it's own plastic bin in the closet for December, January, and half of February. Until a few days ago when I got a conversation alert from Etsy.  Someone was interested in the Indian Princess Tutu!  I couldn't believe it!  After all, it was almost Valentine's Day.  But this wonderful mommy was planning a photo shoot and thinking about pageants, etc. so it was perfect for what she needed.  There's just one hitch, she needed it quickly, and she didn't live in the same country as me!  I never realized how costly it was to ship internationally until I started selling items on Etsy.  We were able to work it out and she was so kind and sweet that I just had to send her little girl another one of my favorite tutus, the Sky blue tutu I posted a few weeks ago.  Through the process of selling this tutu, I got to know a wonderful family with a super talented little princess and make a new friend.  This is the second time I feel I've really connected with a family through Etsy and I am still amazed that something as simple as selling a dress can bring people together so quickly and naturally.

The Sky Blue tutu, one of my favorites, on it's way through customs!

As for the Indian Princess tutu, I have no doubt it will be well loved and taken care of. I know it sounds like I've place a puppy or kitten in a new home but when you invest so much time, thought, and energy into creating something so meaningful, you end up connecting in a way that is almost inexplainable. This is why I love designing and creating so much. It's like taking a little piece of yourself, turning into something tangible, and then waiting for the perfect person to come along and say, "Oh, that's what I've been missing!" What could be more rewarding than that?
I will always have the memories of the photo shoot with my princess and hopefully I'll always have the pictures as well.  Now a new family has the opportunity to make some wonderful memories with the same tutu.  I hope I have the opportunity to share those photos with them as well but even if I don't I know my dress is in the perfect hands.

New Design Featuring Tulle Circles

You know those nifty little tulle circles people sometimes use for gifts, or to put the rice in at weddings? Well, for months I've been thinking about a way I could incorporate them into a tutu design.  I finally came up with something yesterday. Here it is!

Circle tulle tutu with rhinestone trim

I love this emerald color of rhinestones!

What do you think?  I sewed them on in layers and then hid the stitches--sort of--with rhinestones.  This one is a size newborn and I think it would look so sweet on a little bitty baby with a big flower headband.  The circles come in just about every color and I think I'm going to try making some more tutus with them. I think they could be turned into leaves pretty easily, too, so a flower skirt would be really cute. And just in time for spring! It would look really cute over a more traditional tutu or as an apron.  My new model is a little too wide at the waist for such a little tutu to lay just right, but I thought it would look better on her than on the table.
Speaking of my new wire mannequin friend,  I think she needs a name.  Any suggestions?

To Infinity and Beyond

The last two days I've been trying to finish up an infinity scarf that I was really hoping to have done in time to list for Valentine's Day--clearly that isn't going to happen!  But I still think it's really pretty so I'll finish it up and list it in time for spring.  I really love this light pink color and the yarn is very soft and fluffy.
When I make infinity scarves I always struggle with the length and the width.  I am always afraid I'm going to make it too short to loop around your neck twice or too long to loop it so that it looks good.  And then I'm afraid it'll be too wide for it to be looped multiple times or too thin. . . . so many problems with the infinity scarf! I hope I can figure out the exact length and width that is perfect for what I'm trying to do and then just replicate it.
This one may be a little long but it isn't too wide--yet!  I will list it at $10 when it's done. I don't do any fancy stitches with my infinity scarves so I don't price them as high as some other people who can do a lot more interesting things than I can.  But it's pretty and it'll keep you warm!

The infinity scarf, in progess

Like a pink marshmallow cloud!

Crafter, Crafters, Everywhere!

Today on an average trip to an average super store, I met a not so average cashier and I really hope she take my advice!
I used to give my mom a hard time because she would start talking to just about anyone who would listen--and these were usually people who had no choice because they could not run away, such as cashiers, people  who man toll booths, coma patients, basically people who can't physically flee, or make an excuse, though I wouldn't be too surprised if one of those coma patients didn't reach over and pull his or her own plug halfway through one of my mom's stories.
I'm kidding! (Mostly.)
At any rate, I felt a little like my Dear Ol'Mom this afternoon at my local superstore when I struck up a conversation with the cashier.  We started talking about my daughter who was with me, which lead to the topic of blogging, which lead to the topic of this blog and my tutus, which caused her to mention that she also crafts.  My question was, of course, "What do you make?"  It turns out she makes absolutely gorgeous cloth flowers. She showed me some pictures of them on her phone and, I'm telling you, they are stunning.  She is extremely talented! I mean, I've seen some similar products but this woman takes it well beyond your average decorative flower!
She said she'd been thinking about opening an Etsy store and I told her she absolutely must.  I also told her that, when she does, she should contact me because having friends on Etsy is a very good thing! I didn't have my card with me so I wrote my shop name down for her (the guy behind me was loving this, by the way, as you can imagine--roll eyes, look at watch---so I tried to hurry!) on a scrap piece of paper.  I really hope she opens a shop because I think people will really love he work.  I can even see purchasing some of her flowers and incorporating them into my work.
I'm always happy to find new creative people. It makes me feel better about the world, better about our futures.  It's nice to know that, even with all of the technology we have and all the options for entertaining, many people just prefer to make something with their hands.  There's not a much better feeling than completing a project that turns out exactly how you'd envisioned it, or better.
I think I made my last Valentine's Day tutu and headband for the season today. If you still want to order and you live very close by (in Texas) I can probably get you something in time if I get the order today. A wonderful customer in Missouri placed her third order today and I'm super excited about how the headband turned out in particular.

Final Valentine's tutu for 2013?

With matching headband

Just the right amount of poof!

Yet another reminder that I am giving away a tutu this evening at 9:00 Central time (2/10/2013.)  It's a custom tutu--whatever you want!  To enter follow this blog (5 entries) like me on Facebook or Twitter (1 entry each) and share my Facebook post about the givewawy (2 entries.) One of my sweet friends already has 8 entries so she's gonna be tough to beat!!

If I find the "flower lady" I will link you up to her. She's amazing!!

Thinking Spring

It's time for me to start really designing my spring line.  I've been playing around with some ideas for the last several weeks but I think I've finally got my ideas centered around a theme.  I've also decided on a reveal date--March 16th, the Saturday before Spring!  I will have all of my tutus completed, photos taken, items ready to list by then.  If you happen to live nearby and you have a little girl who would be interested in participating in the spring line photo shoot, please message or email me. I'd like to add a little more variety to my listing pics.
Okay, so here's your clue for the inspiration of the line--may seem obvious and simple, but pay attention to the colors, too! More to come!
 

Valentine's Day is Quickly Approaching!

Ah, it's February First--the first official day of the Valentine's Season.  Okay, I know that's not at thing, but maybe it should be! Some of us have been preparing for Valentine's Day before Christmas was even over but others are just now starting to get into the spirit of all things hearts, cupids and L-O-V-E.  And, how do I know so many people are beginning to think about Valentine's Day today?  The ginormous amount of traffic my Valentine's Day tutus have seen today is one indicator!  Holy cow, is that Pixie tutu popular!  I'm just thrilled that so many people love it!

Pixie tutu, very popular today, no exaggeration!

Normally, I don't stress at all about getting orders out within one to two days. However, I just found out today that I've been asked to go to a conference in Austin next week--pretty much all of next week--so that won't leave me oodles of time to get tutus out before Valentine's Day. Hence, if you are considering ordering one of my tutus for Valentine's Day, if you can possibly order this weekend, that would be totally awesome! That isn't to say that if you order next week I won't get it to you in time--I most certainly will, if I have to stay up all night to get it done--I would just like to get as much done before I leave!
Today I had an Etsy conversation with a new customer who was very complimentary of my shop.  She said she'd been looking for an affordable tutu for her baby for a while and she was happy to have finally found my Pixie tutu.  I absolutely love connecting with people through Etsy and whenever a customer says something so kind, I often feel the need to go above and beyond my normal above and beyond and add something extra to their order.  So, this sweet little princess will also be getting the headband pictured to match her tutu.  This is the third headband I've made like this one and I think it's super cute and unique.  I'm thinking of calling it the "Tulle Pom-Pom" headband.  What would y'all call it? It's made much the same way as my boas, with lots of little pieces of tulle tied around a ribbon, attached to a crotchet-elastic headband, and then I sew or glue a button or something cute in the center.

New headband

Love this little pink flower!

I used shimmer tulle to add some extra shine

Alrighty!  It's been a busy day and I foresee a busy weekend.  If you have any questions about my Valentine's Day tutus (pictured below) please email me, message me here, or convo me through Etsy.  Have a Super-Duper Saturday!

So Many T-Shirts, So Little Time

When I first opened my boutique on Etsy, I told my mom--ever the bargain shopper--to be on the look-out for good deals on quality items I could use.  I had her looking for ribbon, beads, headbands, t-shirts, basically anything I could use to create my tutus, hair accessories, dresses, wreaths, and bling t-shirts.  Well, when you ask my mom to shop, you better be prepared to add on an extra room to store everything in.  The box I got today had 20 t-shirts, a ton of ribbon, and some buttons in it.  I offer to pay her back but she always says to just give her stock options once my business goes public.  I always tell her not to hold her breath but I know that's just her way of being involved and helping me to be successful.  If there's one thing my mom is good at, it's finding good deals. If there's a second thing she's good at, it's passing the things she buys on to other people.

This is one shipment of t-shirts from my mother!

People ask me sometimes how I can afford to sell my rhinestone t-shirts at such a low price.  Sometimes they even ask if there is something wrong with the ones I have priced at $10 while other people are selling similar products at twice as much or more.  No, there's nothing wrong with them!  I just don't have to charge as much because I hardly ever buy my own t-shirts.  I charge more for t-shirts I do buy myself, ones with more expensive rhinestone transfers, and the ones I custom design myself. If it's a shirt my mom bought, I usually charge for the cost of the rhinestones, shipping, and just a teeny weeny bit for the time it takes me to apply the transfer.  I don't believe in over charging people just because you think you can or because other people charge more.  I also know some tutu and wreath artisans who pay a lot more for their supplies than I do.  I understand that these people have to charge more for their products to make a profit. Artists who buy their supplies through retail stores, like Michael's or Hobby Lobby are likely going to have to charge more because they are paying more for the items they need to make their products. I buy my supplies wholesale, in bulk, through reputable companies on-line so I get a much better price and I still get a quality product.
If you are looking for specific supplies and you'd like some help finding the best prices, message me and I'll tell you who I use.

I hand placed all of these rhinestones, so this t-shirt costs more than ones that I use pre-set transfers to create.

This t-shirt was a pre-set transfer so the labor cost is minimal!

The Making of a Monster: On the "Set" of the Zombie Photo Shoot

Yesterday I posted pics of my new tween/teen line, including the new Zombie tutu, which totally fits the needs of the Undead and those who love to hunt them.  Today, I would like to give you an inside view of what happened during the photo shoot for this new line, just to allow you a little insight into how my small, one-"man"-band operates.

The very first shot of the photo shoot.  I had to crop out her shoes!

I started toying with the idea of making a zombie tutu a few months ago when my youngest sister Braidi's boyfriend started playing a zombie hunting game on his university campus. Real kids, running around pretending to assassinate each other and/or eat their opponent's brains. While I'm not necessarily into the whole zombie/vampire/werewolf thing myself, I understand it's popularity and I wanted to incorporate what I do into what these kids may want to wear--while they are running around pretending to eat each other's brains.
The concept behind the zombie tutu is a girl has been bitten by a zombie and she is starting the transformation. One side of the tutu shows what she was wearing before the change began, the other shows what she will eventually turn into.  The normal side is white, transitioning down to shocking pink.  The top layers are longer than the bottom so that the tutu has an extra poof to it.  The zombie side is black transitioning to red--blood red.  Again, top layers are longer than bottom layers.

The Zombie side

The Human side

It didn't take a huge amount of convincing to get Braidi to agree to this photo shoot. She's pretty cooperative! I considered the possibility of putting at least half of her face in full zombie make-up but I decided not to do that.  I thought, real girls don't walk around wearing full zombie make-up, probably not even when they are playing this game, so why would she have that on her face when she's wearing the tutu?  I don't think she would. I wanted it to look like a normal girl wearing the tutu in a typical situation.  I don't think the tutu screams, "Help! I'm turning in to a zombie!" But it is extremely interesting and people would certainly ask what the story is and then "get" what's going on with the tutu as soon as she says, "It's zombie inspired."  Oh, yes, of course it is! That isn't to say that a girl couldn't wear it in partial or full zombie make-up.  It would be PERFECT for any kind of a zombie/monster/Halloween party, too.  But it's also (in my opinion!) a gorgeous skirt that has a lot of unique features, is fun to wear, and looks great, regardless of what one is doing while wearing it.
We live in a partially developed subdivision in a rural part of Texas so there are lots or interesting locations to photograph my "models."  I chose the gate house in front of our subdivision for a couple of reasons.  First of all, it has interesting architecture.  I love the columns and the Travertine.  Secondly, it was within walking distance of our house so that was convenient.  Finally, it's falling apart.  Our subdivision was foreclosed on last year and the building has been in disrepair for some time.  I thought it went along with the Zombie Apocalypse idea that the building was a little dilapidated.
Normally, I don't photograph the "models" myself.  My husband usually does that while I direct the shoot--and if you've seen who my models usually are, you'll know why I use the term "direct" loosely. My daughters are not usually very cooperative.  Yesterday, however, I decided to go ahead and take the photos myself.  Braidi's boyfriend, Cristian, came along to make her feel less nervous and to carry all of the stuff we needed.
Braidi isn't used to being photographed in a modely situation so she was a little nervous, but she didn't need to be.  She did just great. Cristian was doing everything he could to make her laugh, including putting a tutu on his head, which I wish I would have taken a picture of just in case I ever need to black mail him. I told her I wanted her to look natural and I think the best shots happened when she was either laughing at Cristian or trying not to laugh at him because she wasn't thinking about the camera.

Braidi trying not to laugh at Cristian

We photographed four tutus yesterday in various locations in my subdivision.  I'm lucky that I live in a place where there is both interesting architecture and plenty of beautiful landscapes.  We have towering evergreens, lots of groves of trees, views of the lake, and several ponds to choose from.  There is an old barn on my neighbor's property I think I would like to use someday and my own house is a French Chateau style so there are some interesting features to use at home as well. I'm always thinking about how the setting  can enhance my designs and help tell the story of my tutu's inspiration and where girls could wear them.
I'm also always looking for tips on amateur photography.   I love taking pictures and I have a pretty good camera but I also always worry that things aren't going to be quite the quality I hoped for.  There were a few shots yesterday were the shadow was in the shot.  If I had a professional photographer or some lighting, I could have avoided this.  I also had to constantly think about whether or not Braidi was going to be looking into the sun.  I didn't want her squinting.  Sometimes this meant changing locations, which wasn't ideal, but we made it work.
Overall, I'm really happy with how the photo shoot went and with how the pictures turned out. I think we did a pretty good job of showing off the tutus and leaving the impression that, even though these designs are inspired by specific themes, they are not costumes and you don't have to be going to a party or dressing up as someone to make them work in your life. They are gorgeous, flirty, fabulous,  and perhaps most of all, they are a whole lot of fun to wear.  I don't think there should be an age limit on wearing something fun that makes you happy!
As much as I love using my own daughters in my photo shoots, it was really nice to use someone else. My children tend to be uncooperative in these types of situations and Braidi was anything but. Of course, she's a lot older and that probably makes a huge difference, but I am also not her mother!  I would definitely like to find some other models in my area that would be willing to model my tutus.  And by models, again, I mean people who will wear them and stand in the location I ask them to and attempt to pose how I envision they should--not actual professional models. While that would be nice, the tutu business is not that profitable!

 

I like to use nature in my photographs and models that aren't "modely."

I hope this provided some insight into both the creative process I go through in designing and creating my tutus and into the process of taking the photos I use to market, advertise, and sell my products.  I would love to know the process other's use! If you are a designer, crafter, photographer, or model, please leave a comment! I'm sure we'd all like to hear your perspective!

To Swag or Not to Swag??

So, I've got a decision to make and I'd like some advice--particularly if you have any experience with this--but even if you're just good at making decisions, I want to hear from you!
I got an invitation to participate in one of the Swag Suites for the Oscar's.  It's not THE gift bag that the nominees get but it is a gift bag that celebrities get.  I have the opportunity to go to Hollywood, meet some celebs, and introduce them to my products.  Of course, it costs money. It's through an advertising company and they want--and deserve--compensation for such an opportunity.  I think this could be a really great opportunity, but I also think it would be a lot of fun! I've never been to California, I love the Oscar's, and it is possible that it could get my business some exposure.  But it's also a hefty investment.
So, what do y'all think? To swag or not to swag, that is the question!

Valentine's Gowns Coming Soon!

In just a few short days, Christmas will be over.  We'll be taking down the trees, packing up the dancing Santa's, picking tinsel out of the carpet (okay, that one will last a few months, weeks) and looking around wondering what we are going to do with all of this free time (ha!) and what we need to plan next.
Well, your little girl is gonna need to look amazing for Valentine's Day, whether she is old enough to go to a school dance, or a Daddy Daughter Dance, or just likes to spin around the room with her one-true-love, Mickey Mouse. Luckily, I've got you covered. I am working hard (no, not hardly working!) on my new Valentine's Day gowns and they will be revealed shortly.  I've got some new designs you are gonna love! Stay tuned because you're gonna want to see this!
Sneak peak:  New Year's Eve, December 31st
Reveal: Thursday, January 3rd (because what else do you have to do on a Thursday?)
You know,  my tutus are not like everyone else's tutus!  I have designs you cannot find anywhere else, such as this adorable woven-bodice Christmas dress, which incidentally would also work for Valentine's Day and is available for immediate ship.  Just sayin'!

The Design: From Idea to Reality

One of the things that is most satisfying to me about crafting is seeing my ideas become a reality. By the time I actually begin working on a new design, I've been thinking about it for weeks, sometimes months. I think about all of the intricate details, the materials, how to assembly each tiny part. I think about colors, in some cases fabric though right now I am using tulle for the majority of my designs, length, layers, accents, all of those components come together to create a new, hopefully fabulous! design.

This dress is one of my favorites dresses. The inspiration is probably obvious to anyone under the age of 10 or anyone who spends much time with little girls. Of course, it is based on the dress Cinderella wore to the ball, wear she met Prince Charming, fell in love, and had all of her dreams come true! My wish is the same for the little girls who wear it.

This was one of the first dresses I made with the woven bodice. I had seen a lot of pictures posted on etsy and other sites of beautiful, full dresses, and a crotchet-elastic bodice that was practically see-through. No offense to anyone who makes or wears those kind of dresses, but I am a very modest person myself and I wouldn't want to wear that! Why would I ask my daughter to? Other designs try to cover up with fake flowers. That doesn't work for me either. I don't sew on a machine and, quite frankly, can't follow a sewing pattern very well. So I had to come up with a way to create a top without having to sew. After nights of pondering this problem, I invented the woven-bodice top. It's simple, really, though quite tedious. I simple weave the strands of tulle through the holes in the crotchet-elastic top. When finished, the top is no longer see through and we are left with a beautiful dress anyone would be proud to put on her little girl.

I wanted this dress to be very full and elegant. I used light-blue for the majority of the gown but also accented it with silver tulle. I also used light-blue and silver ribbon. There are six layers of tulle and enough ribbon that it almost creates a layer by itself. When I first put it on Lucy, it was very poofy at the top. I thought it looked cute but I also knew it would bother her so half-way through the photo shoot, I decided to tie a ribbon around the waist to keep it down. I absolutely love the way it looks with the ribbon sash.

This particular dress was sold on etsy to a wonderful family in Florida. Coincidentally, we happened to be in Florida, in Cinderella's castle, when I got the notification from etsy that someone wanted to buy it! Since that time, I have gotten to know this amazing woman and her beautiful, incredible daughter and we have become very good friends. It's funny how a dress can bring two families together! Though I don't have this exact dress anymore, I would love to make another one! If your little girl loves Cinderella as much as mine does, let's chat. We can make her the perfect gown as well. Who knows, maybe someday that little boy next door with the skinny legs will turn into her Prince Charming!

Let's Work Some Magic!

Welcome to Glitter and Tulle Boutique! I make tutus--lots and lots of tutus!--and other handmade items to make little girls feel like princesses. Glitter and Tulle Boutique was born out of necessity. My two little girls had too many tutus and not enough closets. In order to continue to fund my crafting addiction, I opened an etsy shop. Little girls all over the country are turning into princesses right before our very eyes! I'm honored to have had the opportunity to get to know so many amazing families and to have created so many special items for incredible little girls. Through this blog, I hope to meet even more wonderful people. I will share my designs and some of my secrets. I'll post photos of my work and talk about how I created it. I also invite readers to become involved. I'd love to hear from you! I'll also be recommending products and other creative people's work. I'll be doing giveaways as well so check back often. Thank you for visiting! Now, let's go create something beautiful!