Princess Doodle Beans Boutique

Dance, Dance, Revolution!!

2010-03-18T10:16:00.005-04:00

This is an absolutely Tutu FABulous spring! It's also a fabulous time to break out your favorite tutu and go tip-toeing (or tap-dancing) through the Tulips. *Like you need encouragement.*

The Boutique has been on a dance kick lately; selling Trashy tutus and Bella Modes like hotcakes to dancers all over the United States and Canada! And I am all too willing to create them.....

Procrastination Station

2010-02-03T08:23:00.005-05:00

Okay,

So I know it's been 5 months since my last post. I know that you're all probably wondering if the Boutique fell off the face of the earth. I know that you've all called the police and filed a worried report and have put up fliers on every tree in Michigan calling for the return (with reward?) of PrincessDoodleBeans.

Well, maybe not that last one.

Rest assured, the Boutique and I are in very good condition. In fact the lack of communication is more a sign of EXTREME busyness and NOT of boredom!

I am currently in the middle (quite literally, at times) of creating 7 Bella Mode Ballet tutus for a studio in Canada. This is one of my first bulk orders and I'm relishing it. I've cut nearly 2,000 yards of tulle for this order alone! and other than my arms being like silly putty....there are no adverse affects. WEEEEEeeeeeeeEEEEEE! (Hmmmm)

This new year also has me completing my first wholesale order to a sweet baby boutique in Three Rivers, MI. named the Ambrosia Vae Baby Boutique.
I completed 4 "Knotty Girl" tutus and 10 "Fairy Fluff" wands in a rainbow of colors! I am so looking forward to a continuing relationship with the shop and owner! Thank You, Amber!!

Well,
I must get back to the enormous mountain of tulle in the studio. Haven't found a way for the tulle to tutu itself...which pretty much ensures I still have a job. Hee hee.
I will try to stay more on top of this blog thing so the Feds aren't called in next time.

Blessings to you all!

K.Frank
PrincessDoodleBeans

Etsy Front Page Magic..*.

2009-09-02T19:58:00.004-04:00

OMGOSH!!!

One of my items finally made it to Etsy's esteemed "Front Page". My Classic Formal Affair Tutu skirt was featured in a Treasury by Doyoufeelthescent titled Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne", and made it's wonderful way all the way to the top spot on Etsy. (To say that I'm "beyond stoked" would be the understatement of the year!!)

Thank you to all who gave their love to my sweet boutique. Here's to many more features and front pages.

"Cheers"

Punk-alicious Feature

2009-07-30T12:03:00.002-04:00

Sweetness! My punk tutus are being featured in the Handcrafted Creations Blog! Show some love to this blog and the tutus!! Let's hear it again for HANDMADE!

http://blog.hand-craftedcreations.com/2009/07/princess-doodle-beans-punkgoth-tutus.html

Update of the Month....

2009-07-28T19:37:00.003-04:00

OMGOSH!!!!
It's been a whole entire month since I last ranted on here. Ok, a month and a day.
Time for some updates. I'll try to make this quick and painless.

Nicole Lynn was the winner of the custom Ultra Poof tutu on my Facebook give-away! She chose the colors Apple Green and Purple for her 4 year old daughters FREE tutu! Adorable.

I've been up to the tippy top of my head in custom orders lately! Not that I'm complaining...cause I'm NOT. I love that my quirky sweet FABulous boutique is taking off running. I'm running right behind it (in a trashy tutu, I might add.) I've completed a Ballet Style wedding tutu, a Classic Style wedding tutu, and created my first Reversible Ballet Style tutu for a customer in California. (now listed on Etsy) Then came a special birthday order for an awesome mom (Trashy Tutu) and her 4 year old daughter (Flower Power tutu set).

I'm currently working on three sweet streamer wands for a couple of flower girls and will begin creating a Red mid-length classic tutu for a local teen to model in a photo shoot next week! I'm thinking a modern re-take on Little Red Riding hood will be a perfect theme for this creative and poetic little lady.

Before I go back into the studio for more late night inspiration on this most festive Tutu Tuesday, I'll leave you with a little teaser of upcoming items that will be added to the Boutique in the near future...............................................................................................................................................................

are you still waiting?

How 'bout now??

Coming soon.... Custom bridal fascinators, veils, and hair clips. OOOOOH!!! I know. You just have to go out and scream it from a mountain-top now.

So long my sweets,
K

PrincessDoodleBeans on Facebook...Give-away!

2009-06-27T14:08:00.003-04:00

Hello wonderful readers and fans of the PrincessDoodleBeans Boutique. Whew! It's been one of those whirlwind weeks....custom orders, promotions, give-aways, and a few trips to the beach. Utter craziness. And I LOVE every second. Just a F.Y.I. you can now become a fan of the boutique on Facebook. Which is a huge bonus on two levels. 1. get up to the minute updates on what's going on, new pictures of products, new listing details, leave messages for me, etc. and 2. FREE TUTU GIVE-AWAYS! *dances around room wildly...again* My first Facebook giveaway is this coming Friday...July 3rd at 10am. I'm giving away a custom ballet style Ultra Poof Tutu! The winner will be chosen from among the list of fans who have RSVP'd "attending" to the event. (sorry, only those marked attending will be eligible, maybe attending will not be included. All or nothing, baby!) The winner will be chosen via Random.org from the list and will be notified on facebook. The winner will then get to choose colors, size, embellishments...and shipping, ALL for FREE! WOOHOO! *dances wildly around the room...yet again* It's time to give back a little FABulousness to all you loyal fans. So let's get you on that list! here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=95903783396

Club Wedding-Luv Give Away

2009-06-24T10:53:00.006-04:00

What is Club Wedding-Luv?

A Brand New Club Where Brides and Grooms can Win FREE GIVE-AWAYS from some of the best wedding vendors on the web!

The Vision:

To Have Thousands of members - 100's of give-aways going on at any one time. All vendors will do their own giveaways via their WL blog. Give-away info will be posted by vendors and the left until it is claimed (just like selling a product - only it's a free give-away)Selected vendors will be featured on the homepage www.wedding-luv.com First 100 Vendors will have their give-away featured on the homepage free!! Come join us in making this vision a reality!!

Where can you join?

http://club.wedding-luv.com/

What PrincessDoodleBeans is giving away:

Your own Custom Detachable Silk Flower Headband. Choose the color/style of headband from the picture and also the color/style of Silk Flower that will adorn it. The flower is attached to a grosgrain ribbon lined alligator clip...so you can wear it on the headband or in your hair! These super stretchy fashionable headbands are perfect for flower girls.

How to win?:

Be the first to become a fan of the PrincessDoodleBeans Boutique on Facebook then leave a comment on my blog http://club.wedding-luv.com/profiles/blogs/princessdoodlebeans-boutiques about the boutique/product. First one to comment WINS!!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/PrincessDoodleBeans-Boutique/110418751150

So Ready...Set...*Be Tutu Fabulous*

It's All About the TUTU <3

2009-06-15T12:45:00.003-04:00

For all that are interested...(which I'm assuming is ALL OF YOU!)
My wedding tutu is being featured in a Fabulous online article along with a couple other Etsy shops with adult tutus. They truly aren't just for girls and ballerinas anymore. Check out these wonderful picks at the following address: http://hellowendysgems.com/

Wendy does such a superb job of highlighting the best in handmade :)

YART*SALE

2009-06-09T14:57:00.005-04:00

Just a shout out to all you faithful followers and fellow frilly stuffs lovers. (gol, try to say that 10 times fast.)

My sweet Boutique is participating in Etsy's YART SALE tomorrow 6/10 through 6/14 only! What is the Yart Sale you ask? Think: Yard Sale + Handmade Art= Yart

I am participating by discounting or upgrading 8 items in my store for this Special Event! It's also my Birthday tomorrow....so this is kinda like giving you a present for my special day. (my present is aging another year. yay. *sarcasm intended*)

So go ahead and check out the deliciously FABulous items on sale.... http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6192257&section_id=6188979

GiRlS jUsT wAnNa HaVe FuN

2009-06-08T14:31:00.005-04:00

Half the fun of creating all these frilly poofy tutus is taking pictures of them upon completion. A sense of accomplishment and joy races through me when I see actual human beings wearing something I worked so hard on. This was most definitely the case with the Women's Classic Ultra Poof tutu. I had a specific model in mind while creating it, so she was able to request the colors that were used. She absolutely exudes JOY and FUN. It seemingly emanates from her pores. I knew that I couldn't do a simple moody photo shoot with her, Oh NO! It had to be funky, quirky, fun loving, and childlike. So we went to the Northport Marina Park.

Sure the weather wasn't as warm as we would have liked it, but she kept in character the entire time and gave me more expression than I could have dreamed. Silly, happy, sweet, disappointed, mixed with far away glances and longing dreaminess. Can you tell she's an actress?

Thank you Tantzi for an opportunity to capture your vibrancy in these photos.

**p.s. oh, yes....this tutu is now a custom listing in my Etsy store. Get yours today!**

.fRiDaY FuN dAy.

2009-06-05T11:53:00.003-04:00

Can I get a "Woot Woot!?!"

PrincessDoodleBeans has made it into the Leelanau Blog as the featured photo/biz. of the day for 6/5.

I'm so excited I could pee.....but I won't. (you're welcome)

Check it out!!!
http://www.leelanau.com/blog/?PHPSESSID=a99d2dee8cd178b4754c40674bc80282

Black * Cherry

2009-06-01T19:27:00.005-04:00

So, really quick before the girls find their way out of their beds and into the living room again.

I've added a couple really sweet items to the PrincessDoodleBeans line on Etsy. I love how these products keep emerging...the creativity flows at the oddest times and hours, but I've never been one to complain. Take the newest custom onesie/T-shirt design for example. I love all those really cute and sweet cupcake appliques I see. Nice and simple...with the little red cherry on top. *squeals with delight* But I've never been one for syrup-y sweetness. Instead, I prefer a little edge, some punk in the pie.

The Black Cherry custom onesie was my answer to the call. Still sweet but will some rockin' sass on top. A black button is sewn on top of this sparkly pink frosted cupcake, with black embroidery thread lining the "Icing".

What makes this little number even more supreme is that it coordinates PERFECTLY with the Children's Trashy Tutu in my store!!

OOOh, I love it when things work out this effortlessly.

So take a peek at the Boutique......and *Be Tutu Fabulous*

Make up your Mind!

2009-05-25T17:15:00.005-04:00

I don't know if you've noticed or not, but little girls tend to be a tad contradictory. One day their favorite color is Pink, the next day, Purple. I tend to notice these eccentricities more than most because I have three of them in close proximity to myself ALL DAY LONG!
As creator of some fabulously frilly tutus, I thought maybe I would make one that would stand the test of time (at least for a couple days) by making it versatile. Thus the Reversible Tutu was formed.
Actually, what got me into the studio to create it was a message from a bride-to-be inquiring about color choices for her two little flower girls. She wanted something in Purple and Silver that didn't get washed out...a tutu where the Purple would pop, but still have a hint of silver.
Problem solved with the Reversible Tutu.

We both loved how the colors blended. How she could choose which side would be displayed and later on the girls could flutter around the countryside in which ever color they were most fond of.
Crisis averted. Customer happy. Designer Thrilled!
(and all this before breakfast)

The above pics. are of the two that I created for the wedding. I'm sure we'll have many more to come!

So whether her colors are pink and purple, blue and yellow, black and white, mint and maize. This tutu is sure to last a very long time (or until her colors change....again)

"Fairy Fluff"

2009-05-14T09:43:00.004-04:00

I've been accused of loving tulle too much. Crazy talk, I know, but this time they may actually be on to something. I've been on a quest to find even more creative goodies made out of tulle for the Boutique. Accessories for the little fairy princesses out there. Tutu's are superb! Don't get me wrong, but sometimes you need a little something to complete to look. Something that screams

"I'M THE FAIRY GODMOTHER HERE!"

So please put your hands together for the latest goody to grace the boutique's Etsy page....The "Fairy Fluff" princess wand! (pauses for standing ovation.......)

My girls absolutely adore these! Okay, are obsessed with them. (Must be genetic.) They carry them around everywhere they go so they never miss an opportunity to "Bippity Bop" someone on the head. But hey, that's okay.....really. You see, these wands are so super soft. They can bop and you'll never see a tear. (well, maybe just of joy!) A mother's dream wand, I suppose.

The wand is totally customizable. Choose up to 3 colors of tulle from the 30 I have in stock. You also get to pick what color(s) satin ribbon you'd like for the handle and the streamers. WAHOO!

Let's face it...no Fairy Princess is complete without her wand.

*****Well, back to Far Far Away I go....Have sweet Fairytale dreams****

Ingeniously Creative

2009-05-12T09:20:00.006-04:00

A while ago, while perusing Etsy listings for inspiration and items to be included in my "Sanctuary" treasury, I happened upon art in bracelet form. Not your "run of the mill" type of jewelry. A mix of life, material, hope, nature, ingenuity and perhaps a few tears. The kind of accessory that causes you to dream again. It's no wonder, then, that after speaking with the designer, I learned she is in fact an artist.
Carol started her career in Milan, but after a few years discovered that she wasn't cut out for the fashion world. She instead threw herself into creating mixed-media artwork instead. From steampunk inspired Gothic treasures in ring and necklace form. ("Not for the faint of heart." is the warning.) To pieces that include just about every pretty thing you can imagine. Freshwater pearl, turquoise, silk ribbon, vintage Lucite, brass and Irish lace to name a few. I was especially taken aback by the whimsical art beads from the "Lets Face It" series. Perhaps Carol has captured in these beads the face of art itself.

Her inspiration?
I'd guess the coast of the Irish Sea where she resides has some influence.

SO, "Where can I find these treasures?" you ask. "In galleries? Where the finest of artisans is featured?" YES! But be not disappointed. You can also find them in the Ingeniouslycreative Etsy "gallery". Here is the link:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5272622

Spring Collection....And Sweet Deals!

2009-05-04T09:32:00.007-04:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce to you the NEW Spring Collection at the PrincessDoodleBeans Boutique.

You, meet the Spring Collection....Collection, meet You.

*shake hands*

There. Now that you've been introduced properly, I'll give you some information on these sweet custom tutus.

First out of the box is the Custom Rainbow Sherbet long length tutu. Double layered and ready for a party. Super sweet! I chose to include the colors Peach, Mint, and Light pink to create that sherbet look. The waistband is wrapped in soft pink satin ribbon and finished with a petite daisy with coordinating button centerpiece. YUMMY!

Next is the Custom Passion Punch Sherbet tutu. Available in the 3 shorter lengths. Popping with the juicy colors of Fuchsia and Orange and double layered to create extra frills and thrills for your little girl. The waistband is wrapped in soft Fuchsia ribbon and tied into a bow with Orange ribbon. The centerpiece is an Orange silk Chrysanthemum flower.

Back by popular demand is the Custom Punky Flower Tutu. Two dramatic lengths add personality to this custom item. Color choices are up to you!! Get yourself a little FLOWER POWER!

___________________________________________________________________

Specials for the month of MAY:

**This month only**

Purchase a custom Ballet or Classic style tutu and receive a FREE Upgrade to an Ultra Poof tutu!! Your item will have double the tulle at no extra cost. That's a savings of between $5-$7.

Check out my Etsy listings for more information/which items are included in the sale.

Have a Merry May

K. Frank

Here Comes the.....Wedding Tutu!

2009-04-27T08:44:00.005-04:00

Rain...Rain......rain rain rain rain....r a i n .........

We've seen our share of the water droplets the past week. Not that I'm complaining...cause I'm not! We need the rain like we need to breathe...but it makes it hard to take tutu pics when it's constantly drippy. Maybe I should do a mermaid/fish tutu. *thinking out loud*

So, I've had many teenagers calling me lately. Not to babysit for my 3 girls, but to model tutus. I've been having to practically beg my daughters to put a tutu on so I can get some photos. ("would you like a cookie?" or "You can stay up an extra hour if you act like a ballerina") They're probably sick of tutus....

But call after call, message after message is from a young aspiring model. Love it!

I "kidnapped" one young lady last week for modeling purposes. An awesome red-headed beauty from our youth group. (also one of our babysitters, ha!)

I had her in the Custom wedding/prom tutu. (now on Etsy...btw) I used our backyard as the backdrop for the pictures, and as always, neither the model or the scenery disappointed.

400 yards of black tulle were used on the wedding tutu shown. This one was 28 inches long...and that's the shortest length for this style of tutu. You can imagine how much tulle would be used in the long length of 36".

In the works is a Spring/Summer collection of children's tutus, with the theme for Spring being:

Sherbet.

The colors and styles will reflect this deliciousness! yummy.

Until then,

*Be Tutu Fabulous*

* FlowerGirl *

2009-04-19T17:36:00.004-04:00

It's raining.....

And I've never been so happy to see the drops fall.

Usually I'm melancholic when it's raining, but waiting for 6 months to see them in their liquid (NOT FROZEN!) state is stirring a hope within me. I'm also feeling a huge sense of accomplishment after completing a custom order for a massive black and fuchsia tutu dress for a sweet little flower girl. This is my first "real" BIG and important custom order. Weddings are a big deal...especially when your in charge of throwing the flower petals down the walkway for the bride to glide on. Glad to be a part of the hoopla, even if it's from afar. This little girl is going to look amazing at her task, though. I decided early in the process to double the amount of tulle used. I wanted this thing to be a virtual wall of tulle, and it is. Over 150 yards were used. The client chose to have just the single medium white rose for the centerpiece. There were a few different options, but she didn't want her 2 year old to be taking the focus off her sister...this is the bride's day to shine.

I can hear the bamboo wind chimes outside....

What a good choice those were....

I'll let you get back to your day...

I'm going to stare out the window again....

HAPPY NO PANTS FRIDAY

2009-04-17T08:26:00.005-04:00

My husband...whom I love dearly, and am constantly entertained by has started a new "group", if you will, on Facebook. Backing up.....it actually started at work months ago. (beginning of winter.) He decided that to make going to a Harley Davidson dealership more enjoyable (really? how can a motorcycle emporium get MORE enjoyable??) the employees should abstain from wearing pants on Fridays. I think this was more for the employees than the customers, but I digress. It started out just being him wearing anything but pants on Friday. Shorts, Bermuda's, Capri's, Skirts, Dresses, Tutu's, (ha!) Kilts, Gauchos, etc....and on and on and on. Just NO PANTS! It started to catch on slowly. Another employee took up the cause and remained pants less on Fridays as well. And then another....and another. you know how it is. A Facebook group was formed. And like a mad hysteria the No Pants craze took off. We are now 200 members strong...including children. (mine look forward to No Pants Friday Fun Day all week!)

I'm sure this is good for the tutu biz as well....I mean Tutu's are NO PANTS!

So have a very happy and pants free Friday!

K. Frank

Pump up the Bass

2009-04-08T08:58:00.002-04:00

It's not snowing today!!

I know, it's April 8th and it shouldn't be snowing anyway, but someone forgot to mention this atmospheric truth to God...and it's been snowing all week. BUT NOT (I repeat, NOT) TODAY! It's amazing, I can actually see this bright orb in the sky....it hurts a little to look right at it. If memory serves my right, I believe that orb is called the Sun. It brings heat and light to this little ball of dirt called Earth. Hmmmm.

So, besides being amazed at the lack of snow outside, I've been busy on Etsy with a huge boost in sales!! *Yippeee* Maybe my little boutique is finally going somewhere and we can start to get rid of all the tutu samples in the bedroom. (my husband says it makes his man-cave look frilly, bah!

In the midst of the chaos and lack of sun this week, I did manage to be halfway creative.....it was just a little custom onesie for my friends new baby boy. (who is absolutely adorable...btw) Usually I'm kinda out of ideas when it comes to baby showers for boys. I make tutu's. Most Dad's frown openly at the thought of the new "man" in the family owning a tutu. Most mom's do too.
This gift, however, was just too perfect for this family....you see all the boys (including Dad) are musicians!! And not Mozart or Chopin-like musicians. I'm talking, face melting, guitar lickin' crank up the volume, shred master musicians.
So I created the "Pump up the Bass" custom onesie for the little prodigy. (ha!

Ok, and you know, I just can't make something and not share it.....so I listed it on my Etsy store too.

Well,

I'm off to soak up some Vitamin D

K. Frank

What Day is It....

2009-04-01T08:34:00.004-04:00

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22852848&ref=em

April Fools

Let's Go Nuclear

2009-03-28T16:50:00.005-04:00

So,

Maybe I'm just having too much fun with the whole Trashy Tutu bit. I completed another Custom order this week for a black and acid green tutu I like to call the "Nuclear Waste" Trashy Tutu. Had an opportunity to not only hand deliver it, but also shoot a few pictures of the recipient in it. We used our church as the scene of the crime...ha! I have so many favorites, but these are the top 3....for now.

Added this number to my etsy site as well. Can't wait to expand the line of Trashy Tutu's. Remember $5 of the sale price of any Trashy Tutu goes to help support the Safe Passage organization. So you're getting an awesome tutu and helping families as well! YAY!

(Makes ya feel all warm and squishy all over, doesn't it?)

Stella and the "Very Veggie" Tutu Set

2009-03-20T20:27:00.004-04:00

It's been a busy week here at the boutique. I completed a super poofy custom tutu for a 12 year old, a custom dog tutu for "Stella", and a springy tutu set for etsy. I decided to call the set the "Very Veggie" tutu set after tossing some names around all afternoon. I loved the sweet chocolate brown carrot onesie so much I just had to create a coordinating tutu to go with. The set is in the 6-9 month size, but the tutu should fit up through 2 years. I'll be listing this one on my Etsy site in the near future.
The sweet Stella came over with her owner this afternoon to collect her tutu and show off her dancing skills. My girls and I had a blast watching her tippy-toe all over our living room floor. My 2 year old couldn't stop laughing. She thought it was so funny seeing a doggy tap dance. Stella has some serious twirling skills too. It's amazing what a dog will do for a few treats. This was the second doggy tutu I've made...why should the humans have all the fun, right?
Next on my to do list is an assortment of Trashy Tutu's. No rest for the wicked.......

* I Got a Treasury *

2009-03-19T12:44:00.002-04:00

Thought all of you would be sick of the winter weather...ok, beyond sick and desperate for any ray of sunshine. So here's a little Sunny Yellow pick me up featuring some of my favorites in an Etsy Treasury. Hooray for handmade!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=47038

BTW.....as I'm writing this it has started snowing. *whine*

* Rock On *

2009-03-13T12:22:00.008-04:00

This weeks feature is the "Rock On" Tutu Set. I just sold another one through my Etsy site, so it seems to be a pretty popular item in my shop. Up until this point the set has been a One of a Kind creation...in the 12 month size, but due to the popularity of this set, I will soon list it as a Custom Order in sizes newborn through 5T. Included with the sale is a Skully onesie (through 24 months) or T-shirt (2T-5T) hand painted by yours truly. And a custom knotty girl tutu in Black, Turquoise, and Fuchsia. The waist is wrapped with black and white polka dot satin ribbon. ADORABLE! Look for it soon at the PrincessDoodleBeans Tutu Boutique on Etsy!

*Think Spring*

K. Frank

Harper is Tutu cute!

2009-03-06T19:53:00.007-05:00

Today I had the exciting privilege of hand delivering a custom order to a special little girl named Harper. Her mom ordered a Custom Classic Tutu from me a couple weeks ago and I've been giddy with excitement about creating it ever since. The 3 colors she chose (orange, apple green, and turquoise) are amazing together. I added an orange satin ribbon around the waistband to give it that extra POP! Harper was dancing around the room in no time...twirling and looking absolutely adorable. I'm not sure she'll ever take it off.

Her mother, Lisa, also has a shop on etsy. We've enjoyed talking to each other about our custom wares and crafty know-how. (ha!) Lisa designs and creates custom Pom-Pom ponchos, taggy blankies for babies, and the coolest snake (infinity) scarves for kids/teens you've ever seen. Don't believe me? See for yourself at: http://www.manitoutrail.etsy.com/

We have quite a lot of talent here in Northern Michigan. I guess we need something to do when it's below zero outside.... I'm looking forward to sharing other etsy/crafting moms with you in the near future. But for now....Ciao

Knotty Girl Tutu

2009-03-02T09:21:00.005-05:00

Here's another new-ish idea from the Boutique. The Knotty Girl Custom Tutu!! I use the same width tulle as the Custom Ballet Tutus and knot the ends to create a really funky feel. This is perfect for kids whos personality goes against the grain. The "not your typical little princess" girls. I'm thinking of my middle child, "Beans" as I write this. Her first tutu was a baby blue and royal knotty tutu on blue satin ribbon. I also created one that the little "Doodle" modeled as a tutu halter shirt. ha! These are soon to be added to my etsy site in children's sizes up through a 24" waist. They will be available in these 3 lengths:
Petite: 6"
Poofy: 8"
Prima: 10"

Happy March!
K. Frank

The Trashy Tutu Has Arrived!

2009-02-25T09:23:00.005-05:00

Yay!! After weeks of telling you all about the Trashy Tutu, I've finally added it to my Etsy site! It looks at home on there... all snuggled up with the other custom tutu listings. And while I was at it, I went ahead and added the Children's Trashy Tutu (the kid friendly version) and the Custom Headband order as well. I was on a roll....seriously I think smoke was rising from my fingertips. So hooray for the trashy tutus and hooray for etsy!

And while we're Hooraying...let's also let one out for the Safe Passage Organization. When you purchase a trashy tutu (either adult or children's size) $5.oo of the sale goes to Safe Passage. This organization was started by Hanley Denning almost 30 years ago. Safe Passage provides child care and education in a loving and safe environment for children who live in the Guatemala City garbage dump. Yes, I said in. Their parents spend their days digging through the mountains of trash looking for recycle-ables to sell to area buyers...at the end of their 12 hour days they usually end up with a little over $5 for their efforts. The children used to have to work along side their parents in a methane rich environment..looking forward to the day that they too would provide for their families in the same way. Now the children are not allowed in the dump. Instead they have a safe haven to go to during the day that provides care, food, and educational opportunities to break the cycle of poverty. I'm so excited to have an opportunity to give to this worthy cause.

For more information on Safe Passage go to:

http://www.safepassage.org

Custom Tutu Orders

2009-02-24T08:33:00.006-05:00

I'm in the middle of doing a custom tutu order for a couple of friends/crazy teens at youth group. After a sale yesterday afternoon on etsy (YAY!! YAY!!!) I decided to do a bulk order of supplies so I could get going on all the other tutus I've promised people over the past month. That being said....I'm extending to sale to those of you who read my blog! For the next week when you order a custom tutu through me (either online or in person) you'll get $5.oo off your order!! Another incentive to purchase the "Trashy Tutu" (for adults..not yet available online...message me for info.) is that I'll donate $5 of the sale price ($40.00 instead of $45.00) to an organization called Safe Passage.

For custom tutu ideas check out my etsy site: www.princessdoodlebeans.etsy.com or my flickr photo page at: www.flickr.com/photos/princessdoodlebeans

For more info. on Safe Passage go to: www.safepassage.org

Upcycle Your Life

2009-02-23T14:48:00.012-05:00

I'm often asked what the term "upcycled" means. And really the easiest definition I can think of is "To recycled something to a better purpose." Like that old worn out woolen sweater you've had in the back of your closet for 6 years. Yeah, the one with the hole at the bottom from when you snagged it on your way to work. And there it hangs depressed and lifeless, but you don't have the heart to throw it away cause it was a gift from your grandmother's sister's daughter twice removed. (or something) Take the fabric....the buttons....the thread and upcycle them into a neat pair of baby shoes. Take the sleeves and turn them into leg warmers. snip off the cuffs and add a few buttons or other embellishments and, Voila', a super neat bracelet cuff. Really the only limitation is your imagination. In these times where product prices are going up and availability to resources is on the downturn, it makes so much more sense to recycle what we already have into "new" items.
Here are a few of my upcycled ideas....I'd love to hear yours. Contact me if you'd like your upcycled idea featured in my Boutique Blog.

Tutu Fabulous Catalog

2009-02-17T11:45:00.007-05:00

It's Tuesday...I skipped Monday altogether because a) it was President's Day and noone else was working anyway. 2) i have a nasty head cold that made work dreary and uninspired. 14) I've never been a fan of working on Monday.

So I'm currently in the middle of designing a custom tutu catalog to distribute around the area. I figure this will give people a hands on idea of what the Boutique is capable of. I have quite a few tutu lovers that aren't internet lovers. Can't say I blame them. I much prefer to have something tangible in my hands to look at. The prices in the catalog will be reflected online as well. Noone will be getting a "better deal" by ordering in person vs. online. I'm also adding the adult tutu section to both because of the overwhelming response (mostly from friends and family, ha!) for frilly trashy goods in their size.

So back to the drawing board -

Happy Tuesday!!

K. Frank

Trashy Tutu

2009-02-15T19:12:00.009-05:00

I had an interesting Valentines Weekend. Instead of the typical valentine making hoopla with the chocolate hearts and roses and kissy goo-goo nonsense, I invested my time (as well as my husband and my friend, Malanee's) taking pictures of the newest custom tutu to grace northern Michigan. The TRASHY TUTU! It started out being just a tutu for me....my own private guilty pleasure. I make adorable frilly tutu's for all the little princess's in the neighborhood, why can't I have one too?? Only mine isn't quite as frilly....more like the tutu equivalent of a train wreck or a hangover, or a cage fight.

I convinced my husband to venture with me outside with the intention of having him snap a few quick pictures of me in my tutu. I was not dressed, as you can see, for the 25 degrees that awaited us in the backyard of our rural Northport home. What was meant to last a few snaps went on for almost 20 minutes. And I'll admit....cause I have a hard time lying....that I reveled in every second of it. There's something about donning a tutu that makes you feel like pirouetting around like a crazed ballerina.

After reluctantly escaping the cold, I phoned my friend Malanee to tell her of the latest photo session. She agreed that it sounded deliciously inviting and asked if she could "borrow" my tutu for a concert the following day. I, of course, said "yes". But wanted to snap a few pictures of her in the train wreck too. You're beginning to comprehend that "few" is a relative term. And hour later we finished her Trashy Tutu session at the Boat Yard in Northport. The old warehouse and failing shack were such moody backdrops for our shots. We only called it quits because neither of us could feel our limbs anymore. I mean, digits really are important. *You can view the entirety of the photo session on my flickr site. www.flickr.com/photos/princessdoodlebeans.

So through all of this holiday nonsense I decided to add custom Adult Trashy Tutus to the list of tutus available for sale. I'll be updating my etsy site soon to reflect the newest creation. The tutu will be available to customize up through a women's size 10 for around $50.00.

Why should kids get to have all the fun?? Join the TUTU Revolution!!

ok,

gotta tuck the girls in....

K. Frank

A Northport State of Mind

2009-02-10T21:56:00.007-05:00

I'm one of the most blessed people on the planet. I'm convinced that my family and I reside in God's country. Seriously the grass IS in fact greener on this side of the line that divides Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties in Northern Michigan. And to be more specific, the road that leads northward to a point at the tip of Leelanau County to a sweet and very much still here little village called Northport. It is here that I call home. Not just the village, but the people, the community, the businesses and the never give up attitudes of all those around it. With Grand Traverse Bay on one side and Picturesque Lake Michigan on the other, Northport exists as much in the minds of it's year round residents as it does in the thousands of visitors it attracts every summer. One of those commanding presences in the village is the fabulous Pennington Collection. The gift shop that does in fact have something for everyone. A feast for the senses awaits anyone who saunters past the bright pink bench that sits outside welcoming visitors and family alike. It was to this special store I was drawn to sell the first of my 6 tutu sets. The owner, Sarah Eggert, was more than willing to help out a "local mom" in her latest creative venture. She welcomed my tutus (and me) in with open arms. So here we are. We may be small by world standards, may be a little friendlier than your run of the mill business-minded entrepreneur. May have our smiles pasted just a little too big on our warm welcoming faces. But they're there none the less; waiting for you to come check us out. So come...to Northport, Michigan. The little town with a big heart.

Lacey Tutu

2009-02-07T12:14:00.002-05:00

Lacey Tutu
Originally uploaded by PrincessDoodleBeansBoutique

A recent addition to the Custom Tutu line is the Little Lacey Tutu. You pick up to 3 colors of tulle and I wrap the waistband with lace ribbon and finish in a sweet lacey bow. Currently for sale on my ecrater site. This is an original design by the PrincessDoodleBeans Boutique!!

A Rainbow of Possibilities

2009-02-06T18:39:00.006-05:00

Everyone loves choices, right? Of course you do. Well, here are the color choices for tulle and ribbon for a custom tutu order. With the ribbon you can also choose between satin (this is the comfy choice for the waistband...very smooth.) and organza (gives the tutu a sophisticated feel. perfect for tutu dresses, flower girl skirts, and other posh events.) Really, the possibilities are endless. A single color tutu is very dramatic. Most of my custom orders have between 1 and 3 color choices, but feel free to contact me for more options. If you can dream it, I can probably create it.

Until then,

*Be Tutu Fabulous*

Not just Tutus

2009-02-05T14:50:00.002-05:00

I was just sitting here thinking...which is something i'm inclined to do on occasion. I mean, everyone knows that PrincessDoodleBeans is a Tutu Boutique, it's right there on the title. It's all over etsy and ecrater and flickr. TUTU's!!! And man are they sweet tutu's. But that's not all I create. oh, no. There's more. Above are some pictures of the other items in my shop. Most are accesories for the tutu's, such as the custom headbands. The shirts/onesies can be coordinated to go with the tutu's. And even the adorable little shoes can in some way be mixed in...so the possibilities are endless. But (and here's the really important part) if you don't want a tutu (although, in my opinion things are more fun WITH a tutu.) there are other options! Just send me a note and I'll make you (yes, YOU!) a custom listing. The possibilities are endless.....kinda like pottytraining.

K. Frank

And we're off

2009-02-02T15:37:00.001-05:00

I really have entirely too much time on my hands. Or is it just that I have to consume every moment of the day with something. It wasn't enough that I was a stay at home mom of 3 very spirited little girls. It wasn't enough to decide to homeschool all three of them this year. It wasn't enough to be working on music for both my neighborhood church and my little side project band. It wasn't enough to help my husband lead our teens in youth group. It wasn't enough to decide to make handmade tutus and sets, I even added some hand made upcycled baby shoes. It wasn't enough to start up 2 websites to sell said tutus, one website to feature photos of said tutus, and give some tutu sets over to be sold locally. Now I think it might be enough to add a blog about the creating and selling of said tutus. A blog about the craziness inside my head that allows for no such moments of silence and idle hands. I feel the need within myself to be in constant movement, whether it's a mind matter, a prayer matter, or physical nature. This is the driving force behind the PrincessDoodleBeans Boutique. Enter the madness......

Princess Doodle Beans Boutique

Dance, Dance, Revolution!!

Procrastination Station

Etsy Front Page Magic*.*.*.

*Punk-alicious Feature*

Update of the Month....

PrincessDoodleBeans on Facebook...Give-away!

Club Wedding-Luv Give Away

It's All About the TUTU <3

YART*SALE

*GiRlS jUsT wAnNa HaVe FuN*

*.fRiDaY FuN dAy.*

Black * Cherry

Make up your Mind!

"Fairy Fluff"

*Ingeniously Creative*

Spring Collection....And Sweet Deals!

Here Comes the.....Wedding Tutu!

* FlowerGirl *

HAPPY NO PANTS FRIDAY

Pump up the Bass

What Day is It....

Let's Go Nuclear

Stella and the "Very Veggie" Tutu Set

* I Got a Treasury *

* Rock On *

Harper is Tutu cute!

Knotty Girl Tutu

The Trashy Tutu Has Arrived!

Custom Tutu Orders

Upcycle Your Life

Tutu Fabulous Catalog

Trashy Tutu

A Northport State of Mind

Lacey Tutu

A Rainbow of Possibilities

Not just Tutus

And we're off

Etsy Front Page Magic..*.

Punk-alicious Feature

GiRlS jUsT wAnNa HaVe FuN

.fRiDaY FuN dAy.

Ingeniously Creative