Boutique Sneak Peek!

It's been a while since I've updated my blog, but it's because I've been so busy adding new styles to the American Doll Boutique! I thought it would be fun to start a new kind of post that I'm going to call "Boutique Sneak Peeks"! Each Boutique Sneak Peek will show you what I've been up to and what you might expect to find when you visit me during my upcoming Fall craft show season.

So to start us off with this new idea - here are THREE Boutique Sneak Peeks!



Neon Color Pack: I came up with these outfits after I started noticing three trends that are everywhere: Neon colors, pop pants and brightly colored hair extensions! So I created this package of items to add a little neon pop to your favorite doll's wardrobe. Each set can be worn together as one colorful ensemble, or separated and used with items you already have at home. This colorful pack includes a one-of-a-kind neon splatter paint tee, pop pants, a colorful head scarf and an easy-clip-on neon hair extension. 

Yoga: Everyone needs time away from every day stress - and what better way to relax than with yoga? Now your doll can help you practice yoga in this comfortable shimmery cotton set on her very own yoga-grade mat! 

Each set includes a minty green pair of yoga pants, rosy top, a practice chart, a yoga mat and a convenient carrying strap!

Hip Hop: Hip hop has become a popular dance style because of its combination of upbeat tunes and story-telling moves. Your doll will be ready to dance away in this graffiti spandex top, urban-style pants and slouchy cap. 

All three of these outfits are $22 and will be available starting in the Fall 2013 show season! Come see me at one of my show dates, listed here, or call to make an appointment to come out to my home-based boutique!

Click HERE to visit my website and view my upcoming Fall 2013 craft show schedule!

2012 Show dates!

Hello friends!  What a wonderful fall season it's been already!  Christmas in the Country was a phenomenal success, and it was so much fun to see old friends and make new ones!  I just wanted to take a moment to remind you of my upcoming show dates and locations for the remainder of the fall season.

Nov 10—Saturday

Nov 11—Sunday—10 to 5 each day

Christmas in Erie, PA.  
Bayfront Convention Center

By the same quality show promoters of Christmas in the Country

Directions 

Nov 16—Friday—through 

Nov  18—Sunday

Fri 5 to 9pm; Sat 9:30 to 5; Sun 11 to 4  

Rochester Museum & Science Center.  
657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607

I will be on the second floor of the Baush & Wilsons Halls.

Up the stairs--turn right--I am the second space on the right by the windows

Directions     Show Map

Nov 23—Friday—10 to 4   

Nov 24—Saturday—10 to 3

St. Gregory the Great.  
250 St. Gregory Ct at Maple Rd, Williamsville 

Two buildings... I am in the back building by the U shape driveway. 

On the right as you enter the gym.

Directions

Dec 1—Saturday—9 to 4

Rochester School #46 Holiday Bazaar. 
250 Newcastle Rd, Rochester 14610. 

Great show with small town atmosphere!  Directly on the left as you enter the gym 

Directions

Dec 1—Saturday—10 to 5

Dec 2—Sunday—10 to 5

Yuletide in the Country.  
Erie County Fair Grounds, Hamburg, NY. 

A smaller version of  Christmas in the Country.  All vendors are found in the Agri Center. 

Directions        Show Map 

American Doll Boutique Open House

If you would like to escape the hustle and bustle of this time of year, I invite you to visit me at my home for my Holiday Open House on Thursday, December 13th through Saturday, December 15^th I will be opening my doors at 10 in the morning and retiring for the evening at 7 o’clock. Come enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, some cookies and a relaxing shopping atmosphere. 

4715 Duerr Rd, Orchard Park, NY  14127  Directions

Girl Scout uniforms at last - and they're budget-friendly!

For the past few months, I've been on a quest for the perfect affordable solution for the request for Girl Scout uniforms.  Finally, I'm satisfied!

These snappy skirt-and-vest sets come with an American flag and are embellished with "badge" decals for the Junior, Brownie or Daisy.  Also included in the packaging is a write-up about Girl Scout organizations around the world.  In order to keep these uniforms at an affordable price ($12), shirts are not included, but are sold separately for $6.

Because of the high demand for these uniforms, I ask you to email or call me to have one set aside for you.  I mail any size package via USPS 2-day express for $5 (anywhere in the continental US) and would gladly send one to you.  If you wish to pick one up at one of my craft show locations, click here for a list of places you can find me.  If you email your hold request to me, please be sure to check for email verification back from me to be sure that one will be held for you!  You may also call me on my cell phone at (716) 998-9662.

I hope you are as excited about these Girl Scout uniforms as I am!  They are a great addition to any doll's wardrobe!

An Exciting New Fall Show!

What beautiful weather we had last weekend!  Thank you to everyone who came to Letchworth State Park and Peak ‘n Peek for their popular craft shows.   

 

Just a reminder that I will be displaying at a new show this weekend located at the Blessed Sacrament Church at 263 Claremont Ave (off of Kenmore Ave.) in the Town of Tonawanda.  The show will be held in the “blue building” Saturday, October 15th and Sunday, October 16th from 10 am to 3 pm.  Click here for directions.  They will be serving home-made chili, soups and pies for lunch.  To celebrate this new show, we will be offering free doll hair styling with the purchase of any doll outfit.  One doll per person, please.

 

With the exception of occasional breaks to walk my dog Skipper through the crisp leaves in the park, the remainder of October will be filled with sewing.  Some of the fun projects waiting for me are sparkling  “holiday casual”   dresses and crisp plaid taffeta fashions perfect for any special occasion!  I will also be adding a new selection of cotton party dresses and many new trendy looks for your favorite playmate!  Watch my blog for previews of these styles!  Please remember, you are always welcomed to shop at my home-based boutique by calling me at 716-998-9662.  I always enjoy visitors as it offers a relaxed time for us to share in the love of dolls.

Yippie-kay-ay! It's a Wild West Summer!

One of the best parts about my job is that I see inspiration for new doll outfits everywhere I go.  Sometimes, old photos in a museum will give me a new idea for a heritage-style dress.  Other times, the latest tween fashion trends will get my creativity flowing.  Other times, my travels bring me inspiration.

Over the past year, I've been lucky enough to take two trips with my family - one up the Pacific coast into Alaska and the wild Yukon Territory, and another down the Pacific coast and into the heart of the Mexican wilderness.  We traveled on speeding buses into modern cities and on bumpy, jostling railroads into rugged mountain passes.  Everywhere we went, the flavor of the Wild West was all around us!

This summer, I took two whole weeks and did nothing but design what I came to call "Western Wear with a Flair!"  Did I ever have fun!  My goal was to create outfits that would mix and match with each other so that girls could take these pieces and really build their doll wardrobes with endless creative possibilities!  

The picture above shows a sampling of four of my favorite new outfits.  I call the one on the far left "Goin' to Town."  The gingham shirt is so crisp and classic, and the denim skirt is pretty and durable!

Next is "Ropin' and Ridin'!"  The skirt has so many beautiful horses galloping across it!

After that comes "Kickin' up Dust!"  The fringed jeans are a must-have for any cowgirl, and the magenta tee adds a fun contemporary twist.

Finally we have "Line Dancin' Get-together!"  This rose-covered skirt is so soft and pretty, and the silver trim on the shirt looks like it came straight out of a Western tailor's shop!  

The fun part about these outfits is that they can all mix and match!  Try the red gingham blouse with the fringed jeans!  How about the magenta horse tee with the blue horse skirt?  The blue cotton blouse and matching bandanna would even look smashing with the line dancing skirt.

To see all of the Western styles (including a turquoise Southwestern dress and an elegantly fringed vest and pant set) and to see extras like cowgirl hats, bedrolls and camp-out supplies, check out my website or, better yet, come visit me at my home-based boutique in Orchard Park or at the Southgate Plaza craft show in West Seneca, NY this weekend!

JUMP into Spring...

...With these fun jumpers and print tights!  Colorful patterned tights have been popping up on girls, in shops and in magazines everywhere!  I decided that I had to find some for my boutique.

After a lengthy search for stockings of the right quality, color, size and "stretchiness,"  I finally found these.  Next was the task of designing outfits to go with them!

After much thought, I paired them with soft white jersey tees and jumpers that I made from denim of varying textures and hues.  The final touch would be a jazzy decal that would tie the whole look together.

As always, I strive to find something to fit the individual styles of all of the young girls who shop in my boutique.  So featured among these striped, polka-dotted or floral print tights are jumpers bearing anything from cupcakes to cute skulls, from butterflies to sparkling hearts!

I hope you enjoy dressing your dolls in these new outfits as much as I enjoyed designing and sewing them!

Embracing all that winter has to offer!

The news media have forewarned us all to stay safe and warm inside our homes.  I believe Mr. Groundhog may have peeked out of his door and went right back into his cozy little abode!  No matter what his prediction is, let's hope that sunnier days are ahead of us!  

Until then, let's turn our thoughts to good old fashion winter fun.   If you're short on ideas of what to do, here are some of our family traditions that you might enjoy: 

1. Magic snow night...wait for that perfect evening when the temps are a little warmer, the snow sparkles and there is a peaceful calm outside....then make foot tracks and snow angels all over the yard!
2. Look at family photos while enjoying a cup of hot chocolate.
3. Play cards or a board game with your family.
4. Have a picnic on a blanket by the heater and pretend it is summer.  Point out imaginary butterflies, birds and other things that you enjoy seeing in the warm weather.
5. Pick a series of movies that you love and have a movie fest complete with popcorn!
6. Make homemade cards and mail them to friends and family who you miss seeing.

May I also suggest that when there is a break in the winter storm that you consider visiting my Orchard Park, NY home-based boutique.  It is filled with many items perfectly sweet for a Valentine's Day gift.  Some of the holiday themed garments are: lovely skirts ($6), hearts abound slumber shirts ($12) and irresistible taffeta dresses ($19).  Of course, the "I Heart" hoodie and pant sets ($19) are perfect for not only saying "I love you" but also expressing what you "heart".  Currently, the available themes are: Mickey, Minnie, PB & J, cupcakes, dogs, cats, unicorns, frogs, peace signs, penguins and perfect for this week...SNOW! 

Please remember to call (716) 662-4848 ahead to arrange your visit so that I can be sure to have a cup of hot chocolate waiting for you!