OOOOHHHH! We have a spooky halloween message for our listeners. (insert maniacal laughter here) Have a safe and happy halloween everyone.

It’s hallow’s eve on Boutique Café©, the tricks and treats are on display
Join us later this week for your cup of couture brew
or we’ll make a ghost out of you!!! eeee heeee eeeeee!!!

(** sign up for our mailing list today – we’re drawing for a free Boutique Café© t-shirt at midnight tonight!!!!)

A Great advertising opportunity for children’s clothing designers and accessory designers. Check out the auctions and bid for a featured spot on Boutique Café© and our
12 Days of Christmas Boutique shows. Link to the 12 auctions

We’re thrilled to speak with Carrie Steffe, expert photographer and promoter of boutique clothing. Listen in and learn how to get the best from your children’s photos. Carrie’s new website highlights her passion, and she also promotes great eBay designers at emersonsmom auctions. Please subscribe to our show via iTunes to view shots of Carrie’s daughters modeling, all while listening to the show.

Our Auction Scramble features a Breast Cancer Awareness auction from eBay. This beautiful ensemble is dedicated to the designer’s dear friend, undergoing her last chemo treatment. Our Accessory Scramble”“another BCA auction”“features a lovely and original pin to wear over your heart.

Natalie Brown, our featured musical artist today, has a gorgeous and powerful voice that is truly astounding. “I Wonder” is available on www.garageband.com, a great source for podsafe music.

Finally, kudos to our commenters mentioned in show six: Lala, Amelia, and Amy (from show three). Thank you also to Lynn, Laura, Maria and Judy. Check out their websites!

How to Spot a Quality Product in the Children’s Boutique World –
Submitted by Debbie Peasley bridgetandco

In searching through all the beautiful designs in the Ebay Boutique World, how can you tell if you are getting a quality product? Presentation is key to getting a buyers attention and the design itself can be phenomenal, but how does a person know if the item is of top quality. The bidding may be high, the price may be high ““ does that tell someone that the item is top quality ““ not necessarily. The seller can have 100% feedback and you still can’t be sure that the product is high quality. From a seamstress point of view, I will try to point out some of the things to look for to make sure you are getting an outfit worthy of your bid.

We all love to look at the sweet children modeling outfits, but you have to look past this. Does the outfit fit the child properly? A good seamstress will make sure that her outfit fits the model. Not all sellers use models and this does not mean that they aren’t quality outfits. Really look at the design as it is displayed. There should be pictures of the front of the outfit and the back of an outfit. The front could look fabulous, but you need to see the back as well. There doesn’t need to be an overwhelming amount of pictures to sell an outfit.

Look at the close up detail pictures of the outfit. If there are no close-ups, email the seller and request them. When looking at these pictures look for straight top stitching. If the outfit has a collar, make sure it lines up properly. I have seen outfits that button up with a collar and the collar doesn’t line up properly. Ruffles on outfits should be of consistent gathering. Side seams should line up where skirts are attached to bodices on dresses. Back seams on dresses should line up ““ zippers need to line up at the top and on the back seam. Make sure your plaids line up and if an outfit is lined, make sure the lining isn’t rolling to the outside of the garment. Look for stripes to line up properly. Seams should be properly finished to prevent fraying when washed. You can look for “serged seams” or “French seams”.

How can you tell if the fabric is quality fabric. Many designers will disclose the designer of the fabric. For example: Hannah Bella by Robyn Pandolph. Many designers use quality cotton fabrics and will disclose this in an auction. If a fabric content is not listed, you may want to contact the designer to find out the content of the fabric as well as the washing/care instructions. Not all fabrics are the same and they will not wash and wear the same. Make sure the care instructions are something you can live with. If you have a two year old toddler, a dry clean only outfit may not be the way to go. Designers use various fabrics to create designs. From vintage to shower curtains and even curtains have been recycled as a child’s outfit. All are very creative and beautiful. If in doubt, ask the designer.

We’ve put together a special commercial/promo for the Breast Cancer Awareness auctions. Thank you so much to those who assisted by lending their voices and their stories. If you have your own podcast or website please feel welcome to link to our promo announcement and share it with your listeners. Support the BCA’s this year by viewing the auctions and making a bid.

BCA logo used with permission.

Big thanks to Iasha and her beautiful twin daughters for allowing Boutique Café© to use some of her wonderful photo imagery for our site and banners. Photography by Iasha. She’s AMAZING!!

Thanks to Bob Taylor (voice of gold) for his masterful announcer voice in our Boutique Café© intro. Bob Taylor Productions

A big thanks also goes out to Creativejam

Blossom Street Shoppes
Thank you to Lisa and her talented team at Blossom Street – an auction house and resource for children’s boutique couture and so much more!

First thank you to Amy at Journal Modiste for her instant and full support of us, she’s always excited to share our news with her own visitors! Journal Modiste is a great resource to find original designers of clothing, accessories etc. for your children.

Boutique Café© has some great friends, we want to give shoutouts to those who have recognized and help to promote our new show. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us get started! We love you all!

The gorgeous designs of Deborah from sunflowers_with_sass are this weeks featured Fashion Show. Deb’s goal is to “strive to create fresh inspiring unique designs of exceptional quality.” Be sure to check out all of Deborah’s beautiful designs.

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and the BCA auctions are set to begin next week from Oct. 17-21st on eBay. Meet event organizer Angela Goins and learn about how you can get involved and bid for a cure. Angela also shares her own personal and touching story of how breast cancer has touched her life. When you’ve listened to the show please leave a comment below for Angela to thank her for sharing her experince with us.

As a special treat we’ll hear a gorgeous song by artist Christa Couture called Day 4 which is available on www.garageband.com a great source for podsafe music.

Our current Auction Scramble is for your own little Belle of the Ball – this extravagant and beautiful gown is sure to be on every little girls Christmas list. Stunning and beautifully crafted! View Auction Scramble

Accessory Scramble – We love these Brown and Aqua Funk hairbows, a totally mod look for your little diva. View Accessory Scramble

(*if you have an item that you’d like considered for an upcoming Scramble please email the auction link to info@boutiquecafe.com)

Do you have interesting news pertinent to the boutique community, the boutique industry or children and mom’s in general? Please email your information or story to us for review. News Submission. We’d love to feature your suggestions.. If we use your story on the site we’ll send you a great Boutique Café© t-shirt to sport around town.

There’s some great conversation over on our forums. For instance Amelia plans to keep her sanity in 2006″” and she has a plan! The EnchantedPrincess plans to write more. Perhaps a fairytale about a knight in shining applique? Other noble goals include taking the time to read and learn, building compassion, all while eating vegetables. So spill it, what are your goals for 2006? Share yours in the forums and get some boutique empowerment. I’m sure many aspire to being Journal Modiste’s Designer of the Week, and now straight from Amy herself, you can get JM’s super secret list of upcoming Designers of the Week, only on Boutique Cafe. Run like wildfire to check it out!

In a special episode of Boutique Café©, Daria and our organizational expert Maja reveal the winner of “The Great Maja Giveaway” contest. The winner will receive one free week of personal coaching over the phone each day from Maja to get them out of the chaos and back into life! Thank you so much to our listeners for your entries and participation; we had a great response and you can look forward to upcoming shows featuring Maja, covering many of the organizing concerns you shared with us. Keep listening to Boutique Café© for your couture fix, as we have several new shows on the horizon this coming week. Stay tuned!

Be sure to sign up for the Boutique Café© mailing list to stay informed of new shows and great contests. Join the list by visiting our About Us page and filling out the sign up box at the bottom of the page.

We will not be airing a podcast this week on Boutique Café© due to Canadian Thanksgiving. Tune in next week for an inspiring interview with Carrie Steffe an incredible photographer who will share her tips on getting the best pictures of your children and so much more. We have many great shows and promotions coming soon to Boutique Café© so in order to take part please sign up for our mailing list, simply click the ABOUT US button and fill out the box at the bottom of the page.

Many thanks to all those who have Shared the Love and placed our banners on their websites and Me pages! Keep sharin’ the love.

As a special treat we’re still featuring the AUCTION SCRAMBLE and ACCESSORY SCRAMBLE today –

Our featured accessory is one of glamor and style and definitely on of the hottest trends of the season ZOOM ME TO THE FEATURED ACCESSORY

The Auction Scramble was designed with the idea of “it’s so ugly it’s cute” and I’m sure you’ll agree that it is beyond cute. View AUCTION SCRAMBLE

Enjoy your Cup of Couture today.

For the third straight year hundreds of eBay boutique designers will join together for a cause near and dear to our hearts – the BCA auctions. Oct. 17th-21st search Boutique BCA in your eBay search box to find all of the beautiful handmade items who’s sale will directly benefit the ongoing fight for a cure. The past 2 years have been a huge success and far beyond the dreams of BCA creator Angela Goins. Originally she wanted to sell an item in honor of her own mother who had discovered that she had breast cancer. But the wave of support from the boutique community rolled in without precident and allowed the group to raise thousands of dollars in past years for Breast Cancer reasearch.
Please join with us this year supporting our beloved Breast Cancer Awareness auctions and be sure to go and get a mamogram during the month of October, early detection is key. And watch for our kick off podcast with BCA organizer Angela Goins.