Le Boutique's Studio

Holiday Hair Goodies

2010-12-02T11:27:00.000-08:00

As you may already imagine...I absolutely love hair accessories and in the holiday spirit I went on a search for awesome accessory pictures and holiday looks not only on google, but of course on Etsy. Here are some of my favorites:

This first one is actually from an article I found on Marie Claire http://www.marieclaire.com/hair-beauty/trends/articles/hair-bling.

This next one I like simply because it's simple, but so elegant (found on Glam Chic http://blogs.glam.com/glamchic/2008/12/09/jennifer-behr-winter-hair-accessories/)

One more found on google search is worn by Drew Barrymore (http://www.splendora.com/blog/accessories/trend_report_vintage_hair_pins )

On to my favorite Etsy finds:

Can be purchased at http://www.landlockedmermaids.etsy.com/

$22 US dollars

They currently have a holiday sale as well

Items can be purchased at http://www.deedsandpetunia.etsy.com/

Headband: $ 15; Bobbies: $6.50

Can be purchased at http://www.peachparlor.etsy.com/

Headband: $16

She also has some wonderful Christmas lace trees!

Can be purchased at http://www.no144.etsy.com/

$33 and has free shipping

So those are some of my faves... there are a ton more, but I'll save them for another post. Enjoy!

Holiday Time

2010-12-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas is here! And it is my favorite time of the year just like it is for so many others =) I will be this weekend, Saturday, December 4, 10 from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Escondido Humane Society. In support to raise money they hold several bazaars/fairs through out the year and this will be the first of many I support. Everyone is welcome to join us and you can also bring your pets as they will be taking pictures with Santa!

Address:
3450 E. Valley Parkway
-Turn left at Beven Drive, then right at Volunteer Lane. They are located just behind the Mayflower Dog Park.

Great Weekend

2010-08-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

I really dread Monday's sorry to start out a bit negative. I have to say though that I had a great weekend. I took a mini road trip to Oxnard and Ventura to visit some cousins. I regret not taking my camera since it's gorgeous up there... it was a last minute crazyness. So for sure next time I'll have to take my cam.

A little update on my shop: I am going through inventory and looking to see what I have so that I can start creating some new items. In the next weeks I will be working on several for lil girlies since I have had several requests for them. I'm excited because I can now use my lil nieces as the models since they are now back in the states :)

A lil something to take a look at... Fall Trends... I know that this summer it hasn't truly been a summer, but you won't hear me complain because although my birtday is in summer... I don't like summer at all! I love wearing scarfs, boots, layered clothing... sad thing is I live in San Diego!! Doesn't get too cold here.

Here is a report I found for Fall. I won't be able to wear all of them, but there are a few I totally like. http://www.style.com/trendsshopping/trendreport/072610_Trend_Reports/UnderWraps/

xoxo!

Finally ReOpening Shop

2010-07-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Dears!!

Just want to let you know that I have finally reopened my shop :) stop on by and spread the word. Hopefully I can also start blogging again!

As for now, I have started reading Eat Pray Love.

Tweeting!!

2010-05-19T16:06:00.000-07:00

Hello dears!!!

I know it's been a while, but I want to let you know that I am now on Twitter so you can follow me there until I can get back on track with my blogging!! Look for me by "Carmen Verduzco". See ya around!!

xoxo,
Carmen

It's Friday!

2010-03-19T07:11:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday!

I have been struggling with keeping my blog updated and fun, but soon very soon it will all change :)

In the next couple of weeks I will be moving and hopefully getting a new computer! Since my computer hasn't been working for a while...I have come to realize how dependent I have become of technology. A good thing a bad thing? I honestly don't know! But I'm going to say.... Good! Since my Esty shop is an online shop lol

I have been working on some little side projects and new items, but can't figure out how to post them throguh my BB on here.... The good thing though is that I did find a better way to make new posts :)

Do you like FREE goodies? I do! So here is my plan....I want more fans on Facebook! This is what I have decided to do. For every 10 of your friends that becomes a fan you will receive a FREE goody from my Etsy shop!!! All you have to do is email me, convo me through Etsy, contact me through here, or through Facebook with their names and your goody will be on its way to you. :)

Till next time!

Xoxo,
Carmen

Don't forget to check out my shop for some new items :)

Ideas Please???

2010-02-12T10:39:00.001-08:00

It has been a while since I have made a giveaway... but I need your ideas :) what would you like to see as the giveaway? Go on to http://www.leboutique.etsy.com/ to see your options and let me know :) Have a great weekend!!!

Office Decor?

2010-02-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

So here are a couple of updates...

I have finished my awesome little pillow cases, but haven’t had a chance to upload the pictures… so I will do so as soon as I get a chance.

I also have tons of new hair goodies that I will share soon… I just need to get my camera and schedule a little photo shoot.

But for now… do you have an office? Better yet, do you have some bulletin boards or cork boards that need some cuties?

Check these out (all can be purchased at my shop www.LeBoutique.Etsy.com):

Also, here are some pictures I found with Google of some adorable little offices:

New Items - For the little ones!

2010-01-28T14:43:00.000-08:00

As promised :) here are a few of the new items that can now be found on my store http://www.leboutique.etsy.com/.

The Scenery Route

2010-01-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last blog... I have recently have had to commute longer to work because I am now stationed at 2 locations instead of one. Both locations VERY different yet beautiful in their own way and yes both in San Diego! Here are some pictures of the beautiful views I enjoy on my way to one of these offices. On some you can see the mountains have a little snow. I have learned that it usually snows up here during the month of February... so we will see how it goes for me! I have recently purchased some UGGs... finally! I have to say... my feet are actually warm!! They really do work lol

So here are some of the pictures. I took them from my car... maybe I'll retake some getting off my car :) Enjoy!

These next two pictures are of a little creek I have to cross on my way to work. I have heard it gets really flooded sometimes and that it runs pretty fast (it can actually take your car!), but luckily right now the water is very low.... it's adorable!

This last picture is actually the view from my office window :)

Update and Other things

2010-01-25T10:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I haven't posted in a while, but there have been many many changes going on. For those of you who don't know the office in where I used to work at closed and I was moved over to work at two other locations (same company). Both locations VERY different from each other. One is 2 blocks from the beach and the other is in the middle of the mountains. Change has been hard because both locations take me an hour to get there (good thing I enjoy driving!), but the cold up in the mountains! wow! I had never experienced, but overall the views are amaaaazing! I can actually see the snow in the mountain next to us :) truly beautiful! I will be taking some pics so you can see.

I still don't have a working computer, but soon I promise soon :)

As for now, here is a little something I'd like to share. For a while I have been wanting to make some pillow cases for my very plain black IKEA throw pillows. I kind of know what I want, but haven't gotten around to it. This will be my goal for this week (besides taking pictures of some new goodies for my Etsy shop http://www.leboutique.etsy.com/). I will take some pictures and share how my project turns out. Today when I checked my email there was an email from Martha :) and it was about handmade pillows! Here are a couple of my favorites :)

xoxo,

Carmen

After Christmas SALE

2009-12-25T20:15:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!!!

I hope you all had a great Christmas!

I just want to let you know that tomorrow my after Christmas Sale will begin. Check it out and spread the word. In an effort to make room for new items I need to clear out some other items and passing on a great deal for you! Many items on sale! Enjoy!

xoxo,
Carmen

In the Snood...

2009-12-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

The return of the snood! I love it especially beacuse I am about to finish making mine :) I'll post pics when I am done. This article can be found on Style.com

December 7, 2009

In the Snood
Here’s something we never thought we’d get excited about: the return of the snood. After appearances of this accessory at Burberry and Missoni, we’ve been dreaming of bundling up in one of these big circular scarves for winter. Our hearts and our wallets lucked out when we found this cozy layered version for less than $35. Now there’s a treat to warm you up on a chilly day. - Laura Wasson

The Many Ways To Wrap Yourself

2009-12-09T14:31:00.000-08:00

On Elle Girl a wonderful slide show on the different ways to wear a scarf :) enjoy!!!

SLIP KNOT

Easy as 1, 2, 3. First fold your scarf in half, then wrap around your neck and pull the loose ends through the looped end. Voila, the super chic no-fail approach to tying scarves.

Ashlee Simpson wearing a Love Quotes scarf, $85, luvcharlie.com

BOW TIE
A feminine take on a typically boys-only look. Wrap around your neck and tie a bow (just like your shoelaces) at the front.

Porter Grey scarf $125, shopbop.com

REVERSE WRAP-A-ROUND
Messy dressing never looked so chic. Start by wrapping your scarf around your neck and towards your back (tips should hang down your back), then pull each end over the opposite shoulder. Let the lengths do their thing—this isn't about symmetry.

THE STRAIGHT HANG

No instructions needed!

Free People scarf, $48, freepeople.com

THE COWBOY COLLAR

Fold a square scarf on the diagonal. Knot in the front for an instant collar.

Juicy Couture scarf, $56, Neimanmarcus.com

NECK WARMER

Keep wrapping…that's right, keep wrapping until you can't anymore.

Tolani scarf, $85, luvcharlie.com

TWIST'N'TIE

Take a longer scarf and twist tightly until it coils into a Twizzler-like shape, then loop around your neck and knot.

DRAG THE FLOOR

Make a statement without saying a word with a super long scarf.

Lindsay Lohan

SHOULDER TIE

Tie it in a large knot at the nape of your neck

Arden B. scarf, $24, ardenb.com

SIDE NOTE

Let one end hang and tuck the other out of sight.

Free People scarf, $68, Freepeople.com

LOOP-D-LOOP

There's no rhyme or reason to this style. Just weave your scarf in and out and around your neck for an "Oh this old thing?" look.

REVERSE KNOT

Start by wrapping your scarf around your neck — the ends should hang down your back — then pull each side over its opposite shoulder and tie a knot.

Urban Outfitters scarf, $24, urbanoutfitters.com

THE KERCHIEF

Fold a square scarf on the diagonal, then knot in the back for a cowgirl-meets-punk look.

2009-12-09T13:53:00.001-08:00

Ok friends.... Since my computer isn't working I think I finally figured out how to blog from my bb :)

Craft Fair Pictures - Dec. 5 @ Burbank

2009-12-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

Ok girls!

Here are pics of the craft fair I participated in this week. It was so much fun and soooo many great items were being sold by great crafters! Enjoy! and feel free to leave back feedback. I did my shop's banner myself! It was so much fun and I absolutely loooooove it! :)

Style Republic Magazine.Com: Fashion - B is for Betsey Johnson.

2009-12-07T13:03:00.000-08:00

Style Republic Magazine.Com: Fashion - B is for Betsey Johnson.

Treasury Time

2009-12-04T14:59:00.000-08:00

Check it out :)

Become a Fan!!!

2009-12-01T13:17:00.001-08:00

Become a fan on Facebook of http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chula-Vista-CA/Le-Boutique/211511068687?v=photos&ref=sgm#/pages/Chula-Vista-CA/Le-Boutique/211511068687?v=wall&viewas=0&ref=sgm and receive 10% off on your next order :)

Craft Shows for the Holiday Shopping

2009-11-25T14:07:00.000-08:00

Places where you can find me during the holidays:

- Nov. 27, 2009 - Horton Plaza Mall (near First St. and on the 2nd level; 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM)

- Dec. 3, 2009 - Horton Plaza Mall (near First St. and on the 2nd level; 11 - 4 PM)

- Dec. 5, 2009 - Hip Handmaids Craft Fair (The Little White Chapel, 1711 N. Avon St., Burbank, CA 91505; Time: 9 - 5 PM)

- Dec. 10, 2009 - Horton Plaza Mall (near First St. and on the 2nd level; 11 - 4 PM)
- Dec. 17, 2009 - Horton Plaza Mall (near First St. and on the 2nd level; 11 - 4 PM)
- Dec. 24, 2009 - Horton Plaza Mall (near First St. and on the 2nd level; 11 - 4 PM)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday!!!!

2009-11-24T16:09:00.000-08:00

SALE SALE SALE SALE

Just to let you know I will have FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE and on EVERYTHING. Black Friday through Cyber Monday. PLease note that I am working hard on changing all of the shipping costs, BUT if you do have to pay shipping please rest assured that you will be reinburse the shipping cost. Happy Shopping!!!

Special Announcement

2009-11-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

Hello!!!

I just wanted to announce that I have opened a new Etsy store that will feature only vintage items. Please feel free to stop on by and leave any feedback on what you think here :) here is the site Le Vintage Finds

xoxo!

A true treasure!

2009-10-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

My blog has been so abandoned :( I currently have no internet at home because there is something wrong with our computer and I am trying to figure out if I can blog through my blackberry.

I do want to share though that I have uploaded the most amazing treasure to my Etsy store for you to purchase! Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32662491

Congratulations....

2009-09-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

Thank you all very much for entering! and thanks to Random.org we have our winner!

Drum roll please...............Entry #3 has won!!!

Congratulations mismatched michelle!!! You are the winner! Please email me at krmn_v@hotmail.com with your address and also please let me know what you would like as your prize =)

again congratulations!!!

PS. I have new items in my shop ;)

Last chance...

2009-09-24T16:40:00.001-07:00

This is your last chance to enter the giveaway and let your friends know about it =) The winner will be announced tomorrow by 12 PM Cali time =)

Hip Handmaids - You NEED To Check It Out

2009-09-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Ok... so in an earlier post I think I mentioned I am preparing for a craft fair coming up on December 5th! So if you are in the area or love driving you have to check it out! Here are the details:

Location: The Little White Chapel, 1711 N. Avon Street, Burbank, CA 91505
Date: Dec. 5, 2009
Time: 9 - 5 PM

So like I said before giveaways are the perfect way to start getting ready for Christmas. Especially with this economy. Well, the wonderful thing about Hip Handmaids is that they are holding giveaways from now until the show!!!! This week it's a giveaway from my shop, but it changes! So! I totally encourage you to go follow the blog and enter the giveaways!!! Go! Go! Go! HipHandmaids

Good luck!!

Halloween Fun!!! A Great Little Craft

2009-09-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

Ok so my friend Happy Find has this awesome little tutorial on making these adorable little ghosts... nothing scary about these =) just adorability... is this a word? lol

Check the tutorial out:
Flying Ghosts

Here is her Etsy store:
HappyFind

Another Giveaway!!!

2009-09-16T15:23:00.001-07:00

Want to enter another awesome giveaway??? I love giveaways! Especially when the holidays are fastly approaching =)

Here is the link to my awesome friends giveaway: http://mermaidscloset.blogspot.com/2009/09/original-illustration-giveaway.html?showComment=1253139757579#c2783122385101343868

Giveaway Reminder...

2009-09-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to do a little reminder to those who are already following my blog to enter the giveaway. All you have to do is go to my Etsy shop and post the item you like to be entered!!

I love Fall!

2009-09-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

I am so excited that Fall is so around the corner! I love boots, scarves, and drinking hot chocolate and apple cider =) today is my first day of enjoying the awesome smell and taste of warm apples cider. yum!

I am currently working on new items. Since the holidays are around the corner I have decided to start stocking up. I also will be participating in my very first craft show... it will be a bit of a drive for me, but I am extremely excited. I don't have a clue of where to begin as far as getting things together to display my items on, but I will be looking at all the links and articles I have saved (and a blog I had posted here a while back) in order to get a good idea and be ready for the fair. You can get info for this fair by clicking on the Hip Handmaids logo on the right side of my blog.

I also owe you postings on my Etsy... I know! So sorry about that! But I will work on it this week. Some things to be posted: awesome vintage shoes, a great set of vintage jars, new hair accessories, and Christmas Gift Tags.

REMINDER: My first giveaway is going on right now so don't forget to enter it!!!

xoxo!

My First Giveaway!!!

2009-09-11T15:33:00.001-07:00

Yay! I am doing my very first giveaway and it's super easy too! The only rule is that it has to be under $10. What a great way to start getting gifts for Christmas time =)

Here is what you need to do:
- First, make sure you are a follower
- Second, go to my Etsy store http://LeBoutique.Etsy.com
- Third, paste on here the link for the item you totally love

Isn't that easy?!?!? Already good luck to you all =)

Winner will be announced on Friday, September 25th! Feel free to pass the word of this giveaway =)

Conquering the World...

2009-09-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Ok so I always see these maps of where people have traveled and think they are super cool...one day I will post one of all the places that I have traveled (not many now, but one day) so I thought I'd make one for the places I have shipped to and according to this I have shipped to 29 states which is about 12.8% of the world. Pretty cool! Especially when I have never really traveled =) I'll try to repost in a couple of months and see how many more states are added.

Create'>http://douweosinga.com/projects/visited?region=world">Create your own visited map of The World or Like this? try: Google Share

Great Hairstyles

2009-08-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

I received this really great email from Real Simple with some awesome hair styles. Here are a few which I think would look great with some awesome bobby pins =) Here is the link if you want to read on how to get these hair styles. http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/tools-techniques/easy-hairstyles-pictures-00000000019396/index.html

This Week Only!!!

2009-08-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

Only THIS week (ends Fri. Aug. 21st) FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING AND EVERYWHERE!!!! Help me spread the word =)

Oh! and keep an eye for some awesome vintage stuff I found!! Hopefully posted by the weekend =) shoes, purse, and some awesome mushroom 1977 Sears jars!!!

New In Shop

2009-08-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

As you can tell I will be busy posting today. These have been made for a while, but taking pics, editing pics, and then posting takes me so long.... I wish there was an easier faster way... until then I'll try to get faster at the process =) You can find all of these items in my store by the end of today.

Cute Kawaii Owl Barrettes $9

Cute Kawaii Owl Turquoise Adjustable Ring $5
Pink Studs for Your Hair $7

Yellow Studs for Your Hair $7

Fabric Covered Button Ponytail Holder - Princess $5

Fabric Covered Button Ponytail Holder - Vintage Garden $5

Fabric Covered Button Ponytail Holder - Pink Garden $5

Fabric Covered Button Ponytail Holder - Yellow Flower $5

Fabric Covered Button Bobby Pins - Pink Garden $5

Fabric Covered Button Bobby Pin - Kawaii Strawberries $5

I love FREE stuff!

2009-08-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

Ok so my birthday is coming up and I have to say that although I am getting old.... I love it lol all of a sudden I am getting all of these emails with happy birthday wishes lol with a looooot of free stuff! Ok some examples Ruby's dinner is giving me one of their shakes for free, Rubio's is giving me a meal for free or covering up to $7, one of the casino's sent me a voucher for me to play $10 on them, Anthropology sent me a discount and these are just the begining lol since my birthday is next week =) gotta say I love the attention =)

So... I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do on that day... the hubby keeps asking and I keep saying I don't know lol it gets tougher once you are getting old. For sure though I will be taking the day off work, getting a my hair cut and styled, going shopping.... but what else?!?!? lol

In the spirit of the birthday... I went on to google and did a search for images "happy birthday to me" wow! the things that come up... here are a few I found and liked.... I gotta say that searches can truly bring up JUNK! anyways here are some awesome cakes =)

I'm not turning 30... at least not yet... lol but thought this was pretty cool =)

Hair Bows...

2009-07-31T15:25:00.000-07:00

So in an effort to clean out some of the pieces of fabric I have laying around I decided to make some cute small hair bows =) I will be making them into bobby pins and ponytail holders =) I am excited! Here is my first one:

hmmm... now that I think of it... I do have a lot of ribbon I can clear out as well... We'll see I might make some ribbon ones as well =)

Treasury and New Items!!!

2009-07-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

Yay! go check it out at http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=62898

Here are also some of the new items you can find at my store as of today:

"Ivory Stud Earrings" - $6

"Kawaii Cupcake Bobby Pin Set" - $10

"Kawaii Kitty Button Ponytail Holder" - $5

"Strawberry Fields Bobby Pins" - $5 And don't forget that there is a SALE going on right now!!! Buy ONE and get ONE FREE!!!!

Offer ends August 3rd!

God's Cake...

2009-07-29T15:22:00.001-07:00

Here is forward I received in my email today and thought it was wonderful...

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?' Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says,

"Absolutely Mom, I love your cakes."
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the mother replies: "Yes , all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!"

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. If you like this, send this on to the people you really care about. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

SALE SALE SALE

2009-07-27T10:42:00.001-07:00

Ok! So I was thinking today and realized I haven't had a sale in my shop in quite some time! So this week only... July 27th - August 3rd.... I am having a great sale!

Buy ONE and GET ONE FREE!!! (of equal or lesser value)!!! Spread the news and enjoy shopping this week with this awesome SALE =)

xoxo!!!

Forgotten...

2009-07-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

Actually my blog hasn't been forgotten by me... I have just been busy AND my router died on us at home so until we get one no internet at home. Anyways, my mom's party turned out great and I just have to bug my brother for the pics so that I can post them here and you can see =)

I have created several things, but haven't taken pics of them. I plan on starting today though. Some of the things you can look forward to:

a half apron. It is totally adorable... I actually made this for my sis and we loved it some much that I will share it (I don't have too much of the fabric so only about 2 more will come out). Fabric is an awesome cotton print that is red with white and black polka dots. I think I actually posted it in one of my older blogs... it looks like a watermelon
finally you will see the cupcake bobby collection
several other ponytail holders and bobbies
I have also been working on knitting some scarfs for the winter =) my new addiction lol

Until then... let me share my most recent family additions lol =) one of course! will be shoes lol and the other an adorable vintage belt I found on Etsy (this is the shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5229057http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5229057 http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5229057)

and the shoes... I can't wait to get them YAY! lol

A little invitation...

2009-06-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

So I have been super busy and haven't had a chance to blog or even update anything in my Etsy shop... I know! So not good! But! I have a reason =) my mom's 50th birthday is in 2 weeks... and my brothers and sister are throwing her a surprise birthday party! (Good thing she doesn't use a computer lol). Our colors are aqua, red and pink. I will take pics of the actual event. I have been working on decorations and all of the organizing...

here is a pic of the cake we are having:

the invitations I made:

The party will take place at this really cute park.. the tables fit perfectly under a big tree and these will be the decorations... varying sizes and in all 3 colors:

The table cloths are going to be white and red checkered... we will be wrapping the center pieces in aqua paper and the flowers will be red flowers....

A few treasuries...

2009-06-20T09:15:00.001-07:00

A few treasuries my items made it in:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=65644

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=57900

Yummy Creations

2009-06-19T09:41:00.001-07:00

Just a little sneak peak of what I will be posting soon =)

Giveaway!!!

2009-06-09T11:44:00.001-07:00

Hello! Ok so go to this blog if you want to participate in a $10 giveaway from my shop =) http://www.thebobbypin.com/

A collage of a day!

2009-06-06T17:52:00.001-07:00

I have tons of fabric and found also some felt and in order to try and clean out my stash I decided to make them into cute little hair accessories. Some are made of felt and the others are flowers made of tapestry fabric=) adorable! As you can tell they will be bobby pins and soon to be posted on my Etsy shop. They are not completely done, but here is a pic.

Today the hubby and I also went to do some thrift shopping. I found some awesome shoes, scarf, and and vintage D&B drawstring bag!!! I see it's potential =) I just need some leather cleaner and voila! like new =) and last, but certainly not least fabric =)

Taking a break

2009-06-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

I am currently working on a special project... that makes me super excited, but I won't share with you all until the project is done ;) but I decided to take a little break and again I visit Etsy and find these awesome shoes... I want them all, but I am trying my hardest not to spend any money... we'll see how long it lasts lol here ya go:

Found at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6905755
Found at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5361050

Found at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=579470 5
Found at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=601300 8
All 3 of the following found at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6905755

Found at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5951235

hope you enjoyed!!! =)

GUILTY!

2009-05-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

I confess! I just don't know lol whyyyyyyy, but I am an addict to shoes...

Some new additions...

2009-05-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things that I have been working on and will finally be put up on my Etsy. Enjoy!

A few things to be posted soon

2009-05-28T14:22:00.001-07:00

Here are a few of the things that you will be able to see in my shop in the day. Stay tuned because I have tons of new designs that I have worked on, but have not had the time to take pictures of. I even made this adorable headband and comb! I will also be working on some new funky little capes and new bags... oh and taking good pics of the bags I currently have so that you can see how pretty they really are =) Thanks for the support guys!

xoxo,
LeBoutique

A little bazaar to share...

2009-05-28T08:49:00.001-07:00

So I ran into the most adorable little Etsy shop named Mi Bazaar Lation (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5098687). The colors in this shop are amazing. She is located in Southern California. Check out her FLICKR: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mividalatina/ and her BLOG: http://bazaarlatinostudios.blogspot.com/.

Here are some pictures from some items that are listed currently in her shop:

Something for mom...

2009-05-24T22:12:00.001-07:00

So a little over 3 weeks my mom had to have shoulder surgery and it has been hard for her to raise her arm and put her clothes on. All she has been wearing are button up shirts and a little brown cape she had bought a while back, but! it was getting pretty boring and she had nothing else she could put on and I figured I would get out my paper, pencil, muslin and make myself a pattern so that I could take out my sewing machine and make her at least another one and she can feel great and look great =) and even though we live in sunny San Diego, it can get pretty chili in the evenings, especially since she lives closer to the coast.

I ended up drafting my pattern and sewing her 3 in half a day =) I only took a picture of the first one (which wasn't the best since it was my first sewing project in a long while) to share. I gotta say I really liked getting back on the machine and as I went on the second they almost look like a pro made them lol... if I do say so myself LOl. Anyways, here it is =)

Featured =)

2009-05-23T17:23:00.000-07:00

Yay! I gotta say this one is unique and super cute http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=59737.

A New Arrival...

2009-05-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

I received today what I had been waiting for. A dress form I purchased online for a really good price, however.... it's not totally what I was expecting... but I guess the price says it all lol. I will post a picture of it later, but honestly for now it does the job for good pictures lol, but it's totally not something I can really drape with =/ it is disappointing, but it will be great at craft fairs =) and it's my favorite color... black with a french stand.... I will have to save up for a real good one =) so any tips and recomendations are welcomed =)

Are you thinking about wholesale?

2009-05-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a great little post I found in the forums of Etsy world. Again, I haven't done wholesale, but who knows! Maybe I'll get approached by somebody =) Hope it helps.

Here is the link to the post where I found this great response at http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6140713.

A little about bluepiranha and her shop:
Design perspective: "From Simple to Simply Stunning". bluepiranha has been designing since 1993. bluepiranha technique is to saw, hammer, and shape metal into some awesome jewelry. Check out their blog http://bpjewelry.com/blog/. See some pictures at the bottom =)

bluepiranha says:
You actually should know your wholesale price before you retail. Typically most retail buyers are going to want to pay 50% of your retail price - that's keystone, but in recent years most people find that retailers are marking up more than 50% of wholesale just to make ends meet.

For example, if you sell and item for $25, a buyer would likely expect to pay $12.50 for it. Assuming you are doubling your wholesale price to determine your retail price. But if a buyer picks up your work and they mark it up to 2.5, that's $31.25 that they'd sell it for. If you are selling it for $25, why would anyone buy from that retailer? That's known as undercutting and is a big no-no in the wholesale arena.

Each medium is different, but I figure my pricing as follows:
COG (Cost of Goods, or your materials) = $5
labor at 15 minutes to create (say you're paying yourself $20/hr) = $5
overhead (say, 20%, so in this case, 20% of $10) = $2
profit margin (say, 30%, so 30% of $12) = $3.60

Then add them all together. So, $5 + $5 + $2 + $3.60 = $15.60. This is the *wholesale* price.Multiply that times,say, 2.5, and you get $39. This is the *retail* price.

Most people implement either a dollar minium (say, $200) or a piece minimum (say, 10 items). Some people do both. The point of having a minimum (dollar or piece) is to be sure that the buyer has enough of your goods to display appropriately in their store / gallery. If they only want three pieces, most of the time that's not going to make a great display. They need to have enough to display so that your items catch their customers' eyes.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

What NOT to do at a Craft Fair...

2009-05-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't yet participated at a Craft Fair, but sure am planning to in the future. As I was looking through the Etsy forums I found this post by SoSheSews and thought it was pretty helpful and great things to keep in mind. Here is what she wrote (if you want to see the advice and comments of other Etsians please go to http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6149459):

A little about SoSheSews:
First she has adorable stuff! And!!! The clothes will actually fit me!! lol ok well here is a bit about her and her shop...All of her items are made by using recycled, repurposed, and upcycled materials. As you can tell I have fallen in love with this shop!!! Check her out I had to keep myself from posting too many pics ;)

Here are her tips:
1. Do NOT consider the other vendors "competition". In my fair opinion, this is just the worst way to go into it. Even if the other vendor sells the same type of stuff as you, customers are attracted to all kinds of different things. Consider them your "family" for the day and things will be way more positive for you.

2. Do NOT leave your table/booth for longer than is needed. Sure, the show may be slow. Sure, you haven't had a customer approach you for half an hour. But leaving your neighbor to mind your table is a luxury at most shows. Plus... I've personally witnessed lost sales due to this. Nobody likes to hear "oh... um... this isn't my table but I think they should be back in a little while."

3. Do NOT talk to other vendors about how much money you made or didn't make. Unless this is a relative or a best friend, there's no need to disclose that kind of information to someone. If someone asks you how it's been going for you just say "It's been going great! I'm having a lot of fun." Leave the dollar amount out of it... for the sake of embarrasing you or making the inquirer uncomfortable by comparison.

4. Do NOT talk bad about the organizers. End of story. Doesn't matter what's been done to you. Doesn't matter how they treated you. Unless they treated all the other vendors badly, people are going to be VERY uncomfortable with that. There's ways to handle bad situations with professionalism. Be discreet. Very discreet.

5. Do NOT ignore the folks who approach your booth... but do not hound them either. I'm gona tell you right now... a very simple "Hey there." can make a world of difference. I usually wait a few seconds after they approach. I say "Hey there" in my sweet, southern tone. Then after their response, I break my eye-contact and pretend to do something else until I sense that they need information or might be looking at me. I usually will sort-of half stand, with my knee in my chair so as to project a sense of casual-ness without the whole in-your-face feel of completely standing up whenever anyone enters my booth space.

6. Don't be an Eeyore. I'm not sure if I need to explain this further... but if you don't know who Eeyore is... well... just don't be a grumy, self-loathing, unoptimistic, rain-cloud of a person. Even if you really do "hate" the object you made that someone is asking about - resist the urge to crucify your efforts on it or bash your abilities against the rocks of their potential purchase. I am always all smiles... you'd be surprised... customers will sometimes seem "relieved" to see me smiling at them. Makes me wonder if no other vendors are smiling.

New-New-New

2009-05-09T08:31:00.001-07:00

Ok so here are some pics of what I have been working on... some are already up and some are still waiting their turn =)

A Couple of Ideas to Wear those Bobbies =)

2009-05-05T22:03:00.001-07:00

Ok, so here are a couple of pics of how you can wear those adorable button bobbies.

This first one is a little poof in the front and 2 bobbies are used to secure it:

In the following 2 pictures the bobbies are used as decoration on some hair buns:

This 3rd picture is the most common way you can use them. You can criss-cross them (which is usually what I do) or even use different colors:

And, this very last picture is of one of the many fabric flowers I have been working on. What I did was used several layers of fabric to make it and finished it off with a fabric covered button. Keep your eyes open because I will soon be posting them on my Etsy (I just have to take a picture of all of them).

Ask yourself...what am I planting?

2009-04-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

So, at some time in my life I used to sell MK. I don't actively sell anymore because I don't have time, but I still receive newsletters from my ex director and this little excerpt totally caught my attention and I thought it was a wonderful little piece to share:

An Excerpt from The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale
George Bernard Shaw said, "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstance they want, and if they can't find them, they make them."

Well, it's pretty apparent, isn't it? And ever person who discovered this believed (for a while) that he was the first one to work it out. We become what we think about.

Conversely, the person who has no goal, who doesn't know where he's going, and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion, anxiety and worry - his life becomes one of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry. And if he thinks about nothing...he becomes nothing.

How does it work? Why do we become what we think about? Well, I'll tell you how it works, as far as we know. To do this, I want to tell you about a situation that parallels the human mind.

suppose a farmer has some land, and it's good, fertile land. The land gives the farmer a choice; he may plant in that land whatever he chooses. The land doesn't care. It's up to the farmer to make the decision.

We're comparing the human mind with the land because the mind, like the land, doesn't care what you plant in it. It will return what you plant, but it doesn't care what you plant.

Now, let's say that the farmer has two seeds in his hand - one is a seed of corn, the other is nightshade, a deadly poison. He digs two little holes in the earth and he plants both seeds - one corn, the other nightshade. He covers up the holes, waters and takes care of the land...and what will happen? Invariably, the land will return what was planted.

As it's written in the Bible, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap."

Remember the land doesn't care. It will return poison in just as wonderful abundance as it will corn. So up come the two plants - one corn, one poison.

The human mind is far more fertile, far more incredible and mysterious than the land, but it works the same way. It doesn't care what we plant...success...or failure. A concrete, worthwhile goal...or confusion, misunderstanding, fear, anxiety, and so on. But what we plant it must return to us.

You see, the human mind is the last great unexplored continent on earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return anything we want to plant.

I really hope you enjoyed this little excerpt as much as I did! and let's move forward and plant wonderful thoughts of our wonderful little shops =)

xoxo!

Sexy Aprons Anyone???

2009-04-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I totally have to share this with you guys. I have (recently met) this friend whose shop is absolutely adorable! She has the cutest and sexiest aprons and accessories ever. Check her out! Here are some of her items, enjoy! Here Etsy store is http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6860853

Adorable!

2009-04-26T23:56:00.001-07:00

Here are my newest :)

Friends...

2009-04-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking of something to do with friends. So I made these little rings. I remember the famous friendship bracelets so I made button friend rings =) hope you like here they are. They come in a set of 5. I can also try doing them in different colors, but it will depend on what I have on hand. Enjoy!

Busy Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

2009-04-22T22:20:00.001-07:00

I have been a busy bee!

Here are some pics on new designs/creations I have been working on. As you can see they are simple. I love simple =) I just think they are so much cuter simple and honestly sometimes the fabric is so beautiful that there is no way that I can cover it up.

I will be posting them on my Etsy lil by lil. I really wish listing was much faster and easier... like maybe do everything on one page and just scroll down?? I don't know, but something easier and faster woule be awesome. So here you can see a pile of ALL of the bobbies I have created and then I am posting some pics of some of them a lil more organized so you can get an idea of what I have been up to. Some of the designs include super cute fabric my friend Blueberryshoes traded me for bobbies =) However, there will only be a few of these so grab them while you can.

I am also super excited. I received a package from my friend Blueberryshoes today with lil sample fabrics which I totally love (thanks Blue! I will send you your sets when I am done creating them... oh and let me know if you want ribbon on them or something).

Ok, so till later visit my store. I have been very motivated to even update my blog lol

Treasury

2009-04-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

Check it out I am featured in a Treasury http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=51279

Totally Awesome Shoes

2009-04-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

I am super excited because I just bought the most awesome shoes on Etsy =) can't wait to get them =) check them out

Thrift Trip

2009-04-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

I decided to go thrift shopping this week becuase I hadn't been in a while and I found some great stuff and wanted to share =) here are a few of the things I got and will be posting on my Etsy to sell in my lil vintage corner =) Enjoy!

The first 2 are belts, a red and teal:

The following two are sets of buttons, which I totally fell in love with and made into bobbies:

I found these cabs and made them into simple rings:

These are some adorable clip on earrings:

More Wonderful Tips

2009-03-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

Yay! It's Friday =) ok... so I don't know how many of my fellow Etsians actually read the emails that Etsy sends out so I am putting it on here because I think today's is really worth reading!!! Enjoy =)

http://handmade-business.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-is-seo-important-for-my-shop.html

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/shop-makeover-series-google-pagerank-tips-for-your-etsy-shop-3206/

New Items and Upcoming Posts

2009-03-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

I have been working on some new items to list on my shop as well as some little tutorials that I have been asked to do. Here is two:

Tutorial for making your own ponytail holders
Tutorial on the many ways you can wear bobbies

Also, on a little side note don't forget to check out my new "ON SALE" section. Some of these items even include FREE shipping!!! Here is a taste of some of the bobbies listed under this section:

Here a few pics of the new bobbies I have been working on and that will soon be up on my Etsy:

As I was packaging some items to send out and making my cute little thank you tags I realized that I could share those with others who might like them and have them up for sale in my shop! I am almost done. I have decided to sell 15 for $2.50 and included the choice of ribbon so that way they are ready to use. So keep your eyes open for when they are up. I will post a picture on here before they go on my Etsy.

xoxo,

Le Boutique

How It All Started

2009-02-19T14:46:00.001-08:00

Ok! So after months I will try and keep up with posting here =)

I first opened my shop on August 28, 2008, but because I was trying to get familiar with the website I didn’t start posting until September 24. I have to say that I was extremely excited on that day because by the time I was done posting I already had 2 sales! That really motivated me to continue posting, but then all of a sudden no sales were coming in. I didn’t have a sale until the first week of October. I figured I was doing something wrong because I knew my items were cute and affordable.

What I have learned:
I started researching on Etsy and found several articles that helped and guided Etsians on how to sell on Etsy. I read EVERY SINGLE one of them. I also started going into the forums under the “Critique” section and started posting to see what other advice fellow Etsians could give me.

After all my reading and forum postings, I realized that my pictures were one of the issues. They were dark and didn’t do justice to my items. So, I retook all of them and edited every single one of them. Once I was done editing the pictures I relisted them all, but for some reason it quite didn’t work until I read an article that talked about listing as many tags and giving the best description and title as possible. Once again, I went back and edited my listings and the relisted. I knew it was going to cost money, but I went ahead and did it. Now that I think of it if I would have just read those articles before posting any items I could have saved myself some money, but it was too late now.

Marketing and Networking:
I have a full time job and don’t have much time to invest into marketing and networking, but I do take advantages of what comes up. The only marketing and networking I do is on Etsy and a link on my MySpace page. During the holidays I noticed posts about “trading items”. These were like boxes that somebody was willing to put together and had about 10 people participate. For this all you had to do is send her 10 of your items and you would receive items from others who participated. There is often also posts from people that are going to be a part of an Arts and Crafts Fair and are looking for people to send them promotional items they can give out. I have also done several of these.

One of the other things I do is post occasionally on the forums and lately I have been addicted to the chat rooms; especially one that is the “Feature Seller Game”. I also, often respond to people who are looking for giveaways for their blogs and I think this has also been a great way to market.

And lastly, I try to post daily or relist. This keeps you at the top of the searches (this is why all the tags are very important).

Tips:
- Sign up to receive emails from Etsy and read them! Especially when they have success stories or tips! They help so much!
- Here are a couple of tips I would give you…
- - Be timely in your shipments and make sure there is somewhere in your store that explains this and your store policies.
- - Keep a good communication and great customer service. I think this is the most important. I had a very bad experience with this. The seller was so rude!!! I contacted her because I had purchased buttons to cover with fabric. When I actually wanted to create something with them the backs didn’t fit! I contacted her and she said she measured them so she was sure they fit. The buttons were so cheap they bent when I tried a thicker fabric. All she told me was send it back to me and I’ll see what I do. She didn’t offer to send me a replacement, refund my money, or even pay for the shipping if I returned it. Not something you want to do.
o I once had a customer whose bobby pin broke after she wore it. She contacted me just to let me know, but I went ahead a resent her a new pair plus a freebie for the inconvenience the result was a very happy customer.
- - Always keep your prices at a competitive price point - especially with this economy.
- - Always keep an eye at your competition. I’m not saying to copy them, but what I am saying is make sure you stay unique so that way you can be distinguished.
- - Make sure your packaging is cute and that it will keep your items secured (or mention that things might break and you are not responsible). I once got a package delivered in a regular envelope soooo not appealing.

Here are some links:
My Blog: www.krmns-leboutique.blogspot.com
Articles I read:
The Art of Pricing: Staying Competitive http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/the-art-of-pricing-staying-competitive-420/
The Etsy Seller Handbook: All Our How-Tos About Selling http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/the-etsy-seller-handbook-all-our-how-tos-about-selling-2383/

I can honestly say that I have had a great journey at Etsy. And I absolutely love making new stuff and seeing them sold. This is just a snap shot of what has happened since my shop opened and with all the work I have done I have had steady sales since the middle of November! I have sales at least once a week! Hope some of this can be of help to you. I wish you the best in our Etsian world!

xoxo,
LeBoutique

Crazy Week! And It's Only Wed

2008-12-03T22:41:00.000-08:00

So this has been a crazy week and it's barely Wednesday and yesterday coming home was a nightmare! This major bridge where I live at was closed causing a major disaster on the freeway I take home. According to the news it was a lady who wanted to commit suicide by jumping off this bridge and it took them almost 5 hours to convince her to not do it and be able to take her to the hospital for evaluation. It really sucked because of traffic, but more than anything because it is sad that someone could even think of taking their own life away... I honestly pray that she is ok and that whatever is going on in her life may be resolved and she be healed from that emotional distress.

So let's move on to something more positive :) it's getting colder!!! and I love it! I can wear my boots and scarfs and coats.... although it doesn't get that cold here lol Somebody once told me I look like a bum cuz I always wear coats! LOL but hey! I'd rather never be cold ;) and if I look like a "bum" then oh well! but don't come close to me to get warm if you get cold lol

This week I have been working hard! My thumb even hurts from making all these super cute hair pins and some rings. I honestly wish I could keep them :) they are super cute! I'll post some so you can see :) I actually got inspired because after looking through all this ribbon I have I found some cute yellow vintage ribbon along with just cute ribbon that I didn't even know I had! Ok well here are some I will post some more later...

I hope you enjoyed and see ya soon!

xoxo,
LeBoutique

Another Busy Week

2008-11-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

So I haven't been able to blog because of my schedule and then I just get lazy =/. Let's see on Monday I just kicked and actually worked on some new rings. I also have posted several items on my Etsy :) and made 2 sales! That has made my week. Today I worked on changing the titles on many of my items to see if that helps to get views and get them sold.

I will be mailing the two items I sold today when I get home. I actually forgot the stuff I need to send at home =s very frustrating because I was hoping to get them mailed during lunch. Anyways, I will try to work on more items this week, but there is no guarantee since I have no available evenings. Until my next blog... have a great day :)

Yay Friday

2008-11-14T08:56:00.000-08:00

Thank God it is finally Friday... although I will have a busy weekend starting today! The hubby and I will be going to some marriage conferences this week and next totalling 24 hours!!! Tiring, but I'm very excited :)

So on Wednesday I actually worked on several new rings that I have to take pics of, so soon you will get to see them. They are super cute. Also, I have to send several out for promo and I just recently added another one I have to send some too.

Too Busy!!!

2008-11-12T13:08:00.000-08:00

So... I haven't blogged in a while or designed anything new. I finally took pictures of items I had already finished and had not posted. So those are up on my Etsy. My hubby's birthday is today and honestly I can't wait until I go home and eat Chinese food :) (His choice). My full time job has been extremely hectic as we are having a "Holiday for Hearts" Fiesta on Saturday as a fundraising event for our equestrian program at our residential facility. I have also been extremely busy at church, but there is no complaints :) I guess I just need to manage my time a heck of a lot better, but once I get home I just want to veg out!

Anyways, I realized I have one follower! yay :) I know I'm a nerd, but I still don't understand how this thing really works. For example, how do I read others... make friends... if somebody reads this... help lol :)

Well, this is good for venting I guess and talk out some of my ideas and clear my head without driving my hubby crazy :) Till laters :)

Patience...

2008-10-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

So... little by little I'm trying to learn more about this... I think I'm finally getting the drift. Well, yesterday I actually finished two cute clutches! I just hope I start getting more sales :( I guess I just have to have a little patience :)

First Post

2008-10-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

So this is my first post and I'm still trying to figure out how this all works....So I hope I learn soon so that I can start posting pics and more stuff.