Dance, Dance, Revolution!!

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

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*.*.*.

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"

It's All About the TUTU <3

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

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*

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.*

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

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!

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"

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*

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!

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!

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 *

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

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

Stella and the "Very Veggie" Tutu Set

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 *

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*

Harper is Tutu cute!

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

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!

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