We have a fun new button design and it’s free! Snag the code from our Share The Love page and place it on your blogs/website etc.

Thanks to each of you so much for sharing Boutique Cafe with your readers and friends!

(**thank you to Amy from toteandtee.com who designed this actual tee shirt pictured, it was worn by Amanda Congdon in an episode of Rocketboom!)

From the team that brought you www.YouCanMakeThis.com, comes a new machine embroidery website — www.SWAKembroidery.com! This new website provides free “how-to” video tutorials, tips, ideas, inspiration, and darling embroidery downloads! Machine embroidery opens up a whole new world of creativity. From home décor to clothing, you’ll soon be adding that unique touch to everything!

You’ve made some amazing items from the eBooks at www.YouCanMakeThis.com. Now it is time to “seal those projects with a kiss” with machine embroidery.

As part of our grand opening, the Janome company is sponsoring a give-away for a free embroidery machine! The Janome Memory Craft 350e is a fantastic machine. Read more about the features this machine has here: http://www.janome.com/documents/File/Brochures/MC350E_Brochure.pdf

We appreciate the Janome company for offering this fantastic prize. To enter this drawing, simply sign up for the free www.SWAKembroidery.com newsletter and you’ll automatically be entered into the drawing. Details on how to enter through mail are also found on the site.

Enjoy your visit to www.SWAKembroidery.com!

A big big thrill from my trip to Market in Portland was the time I spent with fabric designer extraordinaire Anna Maria Horner.

The first thing you notice about her is how lovely she is in person, dark gorgeous hair cut shorter in the back and tapered forward to show off her stunning features, beautiful eyes and a tremendous smile. Then when you speak to her you feel so at ease, Anna Maria is just so real and full of life. It’s impossible to be nervous around her! (though my nerves attempted it at first)

Her booth at market won first prize and it was easy to see why, a total visual feast of the most delicious fabrics, textures and patterns. Everything holding true to her unique sense of style and movement. When we sat down in the beautiful wing-back chairs en-robed in “Drawing Room” fabric, it was the perfect place to hold our little interview for Boutique Cafe.

What I didn’t expect from Anna Maria Horner was how entirely funny she is! She had me cracking up so hard at the start of our interview that we literally had to pause and start again (something about the size our our large microphone made us all laugh uncontrollably).

I hope you’ll take a peek at my Boutique Cafe interview with Anna Maria and leave a comment for her. She really was a wonderful guest and just a total thrill to be around!

(Photo Credit: Intimate Photography by Amelia for exclusive use by Boutique Cafe)

MORE Quilt Market NEWS and INTERVIEWS Coming on Boutique Cafe.com - Check in often!!

Teens Today with Vanessa Van Petton has held a recent contest for the Best Parenting Podcast and we were informed that Boutique Cafe is one of their choices! What a thrill to receive a nomination from one of you, and to hear such high praise from Ms. Van Petton herself about Boutique Cafe.

Teens Today is a website that showcases a teen’s perspective on parenting today, from her “net” generation view of the wondrous world of young people.

Please check out the fantastic list of “Best Parenting Podcasts” mentioned on Teens Today website (we’re in the Parenting with a Twist category). And be sure to leave a comment for Vanessa about why you love Boutique Cafe - we really would love you for it!

Teens Today with Vanessa Van Petton >>

I received the most touching email from Angie about TheAve group’s charity auction to benefit one of their very own designers. I couldn’t possibly begin to convey how much this note touched my heart. I wanted to share it with you and encourage everyone to support this launch for Renee. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

“Dear Daria,
I am writing to you because I have listened to boutique cafe since the beginning and I know that you can reach more women, people, designers single - handedly than anyone else I know of. I Hope that you are able to help us.

Let me start by telling you what this is all about:
Last week, the members of TheAve were devestated to hear that our dear friend and groupmate, Renee was diaganosed with lung cancer Renee, is only 39 years old and is 1/2 of the dynamic painting duo Cricket*Cottage. The doctors have told her the cancer has spread to the rest of her body including her brain. She is in the intensive care unit now where she had a drain placed to drain fluid that accumulated around her heart. At this time, the doctors say she is too sick and too weak to start Chemotherepy. They have said there is no cure for Renee but only the small chance of remission. The cancer will come back

TheAve, instead of sitting back and feeling helpless, has decided to have a benefit launch for Renee with 100% of the proceeds going to Renee and her family. Renee is a mom and a designer just like many of us who listen to your show. Who better to help than one of our own

My Sincerest Appreciation,

Angie
Simply*Sophia”

To support our fellow designer and raise money for her Cancer treatment please bid on these Team Renee auctions >

THE YUMMY MUMMY CLUB is a playful and cheeky site for modern mothers looking for adult stimulation. This site was created by celebrity Yummy Mummy, and fellow Canadian Erica Ehm (who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at the Calgary Women’s Show last year) in 2007 as a playful place for moms to come to celebrate and commiserate the realities of modern motherhood, while trying to balance life as a sexy mama.

This month, they are focusing on being a Healthy Mummy - and are giving away some prizes that I just had to share with you. Click and enter to win some spectacular gift baskets from Yummy Mummy Club >>

Boutique Cafe would like to invite you to join our Flickr Group - we want YOU to STRUT your stuff! We want to see our friends posting your crafts, DIY, boutique creations and handmade wares. It’s time to break out the pictures and STRUT YOUR STUFF!

Designers, Crafters, Sewing Fanatics, Photographers welcome!

Share your talents, passions and pursuits on Boutique Cafe Strut - where YOU are the Star!

XO
Boutique Cafe.com

Join BC STRUT and share your creations! >>

This week we are going to be talking about the office. This can be a trouble spot for many people, as things tend to pile up and having 10 spare hours to deal with it at once never seems to come… The solution is to work at it for 30 minutes a day until you have it all caught up. Once it is caught up (and this is the ultimate trick), spend a few minutes a day filing receipts, bills, info from the kids school… just dealing with all that paper mess that comes into your house everyday.

It hardly takes any time and is very important in keeping things tidy, and your sanity intact!! If you would like more information on this, check out show #10 - Dealing with Paper. Good luck!

Check out The Savvy Organizer today >>

Last week’s Bag Challenge was such a hit, it’s time to shift gears a bit and sing the Blues! Denim that is! For our Challenge this week we want to ask “Have YOU Got The Blues?”. We want everyone to blog about your fave pair of jeans this week, it can be jeans you already own or even a scoop on some hot denim duds that you have your eye on. So what’s your personal fancy? Skinny, Flair, boot cut? Low rise? (how low are we talking?) Share it all on your blogs and remember to come back and share your url so we can enjoy and even shop!

*To participate please post your “Dream Jeans” on your own personal blog, with picture and link back to this Challenge url. Once you blog your reply to the Challenge, come back to Boutique Cafe and list your blog link our comments so we can all come to view your post! It’s a fun way to get traffic to your personal blogs + we all get to know each other a little bit better.

Its time for a NEW Fashion Forward Challenge this week, and we want you all to break out your camera’s and join in the fun. Our theme for the week is “What’s in your Bag?” and it’s as simple as that. Basically we want everyone to dump out their purses and showcase what’s in your bag? It will be fascinating and fun! Let’s see what we all just can’t live without!

*To participate please post your “Purse Contents” on your own personal blog, with picture and link back to this Challenge url. Once you blog your reply to the Challenge, come back to Boutique Cafe and list your blog link our comments so we can all come to view your post! It’s a fun way to get traffic to your personal blogs + we all get to know each other a little bit better.

This video was sent in to me and I couldn’t resist posting it for everyone. So many of our community members are designers and moms with a love for photography. I think we all must take a million pictures each month and having something handy like this would be ideal for impromptu photo shoots. Enjoy and let me know if you try this. - Daria

$1 Image Stabilizer For Any Camera - Lose The Tripod - The best free videos are right here

Sweet news from our friend Amy Butler today:

“Hello! I will be offering a 10% discount on all sewing pattern orders for the month of February 2008 as a THANK YOU for a great 2007. I am so thrilled with your support and how wonderfully my sewing patterns have been received by you and your customers. It is fantastic to be a part of this wonderful industry that is growing right before our eyes. I’m looking forward to a terrific 2008. Looking forward to seeing you at Spring Quilt Market in Portland Daria.
With my appreciation,
Amy”

Visit Amy Butler’s website in February for the discount >>

Amy Butler has wowed us again! Her new line appropriately named, Midwest Modern hits stores April, 2008.

Of the new fabric line Amy says:
“My collection is inspired by the vintage modern spirit of my lifestyle book Midwest Modern which just released this fall. With luscious palettes called Ohio Sky and Pink and Orange Dahlias, the colors for this group comes from beautiful summer days in my Ohio garden. The mix of organic prints are perfect for fashion, quilting and home dec projects, everything you need to help your customers create their own Midwest Modern style!”

Visit Amy Butler Design to view the entire collection. Congratulations Amy, we’re in love with your new line!

**listen to our exclusive past podcasts featuring Amy Butler Part One and Part Two.

That special Valentine’s Day dream outfit can still be ordered in time for your child’s favorite “Love-ly” holiday. You’ll find hundreds of Valentine themed custom and handmade listings on eBay by searching “Boutique Valentine”.

Not only can you indulge in a unique handmade creation, but you can feel spectacular knowing that you are supporting WAHM’s!

Click here to start shopping and bidding >>

Looking for a fun and easy gift idea to pamper those you know and love? Megan from Creative Outlet has posted a spectacular tutorial on making DIY Wheat Sack Bags. These would be awesome gifts to warm the hearts, and aching bodies of your friends and family. Best of all, you can use some of those smaller scraps of fabric to create these gorgeous gifts. I know that I would LOVE one of these! (hint hint)

Find her tutorial on her popular blog >>

How many of us are tired of our current hairstyle? Sometimes I feel so stuck in my ways and scared to cut my locks. Well lately the Bob is making a huge comeback, and with stars like Katie Holmes rockin’ the bob it makes me think of going for a chop. My issues is super thick hair with loads of natural curl, this requires an alteration to the classic bob for me. I need to wear mine slightly longer to give more weight to my hair so it doesn’t look like a football helmet. L!

So here’s our questions for the day - “Have you worn a chic Bob hairstyle? Do you currently rock the bob? And do love love it or would you pass on on the trend?”

Let’s Chat!

(**if you’re sporting a cool new do, snap a shot and throw a picture up on your blog. Then come back and post a link in our comments so we can check it out and rave about you! )

I was so excited to read the Pantone Color Report on hot colors for Spring 2008. For those who haven’t had a peek yet here’s a link to the PDF.

Click to view report>>

HO HO HO! It’s our favorite time of the year, and Boutique Cafe’s 12 Days of Christmas is back for our third season of shows. This year we’re recruiting our guests a bit differently, due to the time crunch and increased schedule for Daria, we won’t be running auctions for interested designers/groups/shops to bid on a feature. INSTEAD… we ask that you email us directly as to availability, we will then invoice you for your purchase through Paypal so you can instantly purchase your interview with Daria, in our popular holiday shows that run at the end of November. That’s right - you’ll instantly know that you can prepare and plan for an interview on Boutique Cafe’s biggest shows of the year. Once the 12 spaces are sold that’s it, so don’t delay in grabbing your “Day of Christmas” feature on our podcast.

Our Buy it Now price is $100 per “Day of Christmas” and will feature you, your group, or your boutique related website during a podcast interview. You will have your clickable link and a few photos embedded in our enhanced feed, as well as your url in our shownotes for that show. Boutique Cafe also will be doing a press release during the holiday shopping frenzy to give attention to our 12 Days of Christmas guests. Read the rest of this entry »

Megan, our former Queen of Chat has just launched a new endeavor and we’re so thrilled about it! It’s called Traveling Betty and you simply must check it out and get involved.

Flat Betty is Megan’s alter ego who will travel the world spreading joy and raising money for charity.

Are you a Betty? We bet you are! Do you strive to make a difference - however big or small - and look for the beauty in others? If so - embrace your inner Betty and snag one too!

Visit Betty’s Blog for full details »

EXTRA EXTRA!!
Maja and I would like to invite you to check out our new podcast The Savvy Organizer. As many of you know Maja has guested on Boutique Cafe several times in the past sharing organizational tips and ideas to free up your life. Her segments were always extremely popular and helpful.

We now have taken this idea and collaboration to the next level, and started a new show. Maja is the host and I’m producing it! We’re quite the team.

Please check out The Savvy Organizer, listen to it, bookmark it, blog about it, share it with your friends and family. We’d love to hear your comments and questions as well. Let’s get organized together!

Visit The Savvy Organizer website »

A fun new mini-project of mine is my new Apron A Day blog. It’s just a fun place where I share some of my favorite apron finds, and where you can snag some awesome aprons too!

If you haven’t noticed, Apron wearing is back! (with a vengeance) and anyone can turn into an Apronista! Join in the journey with me each day on Apron A Day »

Don’t miss out on sending in 4 of your favorite family pics in our contest!!! Tomorrow at Midnight is the last day for entries and we currently have 69 amazing photos entered, so there’s still a good chance to win one of FOUR Digital Frames from our friends at Philips.

email them to me directly or post them in our Flickr group - it only takes a moment for a chance to win a truly exceptional prize.

For Full Details Click Here »

Jeanne Fitzmaurice the founder of DesignHer Gals (and past BC guest) has inspired us once again, with a huge and valiant effort to help stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. Visit the Gal to Gal Foundation Walk website, Click “Join Now”, donate $3, and then create your virtual likeness on the site. It’s that easy to get involved and make a difference. Join Celebrity walkers such as Martha Stewart, Molly Sims, Marg Helgenburger, Dana Devon and many many more as the Virtual walk across America takes place this month. They are hoping to include 1 million walkers and raise 3 million dollars - so spread the word! You can GRAB A BANNER HERE » and share this event with your blog and website readers too!

I joined in the walk today and felt a tingle as I saw my virtual self along side the other awesome women who are walking for this cause. What a thrill to be a part of virtual history like this as well - you can feel that too! Join the Gal to Gal Walk today and be sure to come back and post a comment when you join in so we can search for you on the site.

Join Now & Make A Difference »

For all the Facebook/Boutique Cafe guru’s please check out our new little group on Facebook.

Come and meet up with a whole new cross section of women/ moms/ designers/ momprenuers and so much more!

CLICK HERE »

HURRY Voting closes on Sept. 16th! SavvyMom.ca is holding their “Momprenuer of the Year Awards” this summer open to Canadian momprenuers. At the insistence of several sweet Boutique Cafe members, I have thrown my name into the hat and would love to have your vote for this honor. The first prize is valued at $18,000 worth of cash and prizes to help grow and boost your business, this would be a huge help to Boutique Cafe in continuing to bring more quality content to our listenership.

Thank you for taking a moment to vote for Boutique Cafe Cast your Ballot here ». Contest ends Sept. 16th.

Over the next few days we’ll be moving Boutique Cafe studio and our entire household to a new home. I will be unavailable until next week sometime but will attempt to read urgent emails if possible. If you have any major concerns please contact megan via email at megan@boutiquecafe.com

Thank you for all your well wishes on our move, it means alot to me! See ya on the Flip Side - Daria

If you haven’t tuned in to Boutique Café© podcast lately, you may not be aware of our weekly segment of Boutique News. We invite you to submit your news regarding sales, launches, promos for BC listeners and any big news that affects our community. Megan our Queen of Chat compiles the submissions and shares the news each week on our show. Please email a brief explanation to megan@boutiquecafe.com. We’d love to feature your suggestions.

Journal Modiste has released their 2007 Trend Report. If you are a designer wondering what to offer this fall, or a mommy searching for the most hip creations for your kiddos, take a moment to read their report. They cover hot styles you’ll see alot of (ie: Asian inspired kimono tops, pirate themes, and even plaid madras tops). Also included are a few fabric and Pantone swatches, so you can easily seek out the sweetest shades for Autumn.

View Report Here »

Dear Valued Members,

After many months of discussion the mods and I have decided that it is time for us to close the BC Chat forum, in order to place our collective energies into the podcast and site. As you are aware our Chat forum has been an active and safe harbor over the past two years for our members to gather on a daily basis and meet other women just like them. It’s been a source of information, friendship, great deals, hot challenges, a mom club and so much more. We understand your attachment to our board and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making it successful and a joy - we love it too.

However, in order for Boutique Cafe to continue on the cutting edge of technology and opportunity some changes need to be made. Our goal is to better serve the thousands of women who choose to shop our suggested finds, and tune in for our shows. The Chat board took a huge amount of time for moderating and planning, there are also many other venues to chat in this manner so though it was enjoyable, we feel that the alternatives we plan to offer will continue to allow your expression and participation.

So how do you get involved and share? Well Boutique Cafe is excited about the chance to share Our traffic with You, your sites and blogs. By leaving comments in our Show-notes and comment areas you may link back to your own blogs gaining great free exposure for your home businesses. Now here’s where the fun comes in, every time you blog about Boutique Cafe be sure to come back to BC and post your link. We want a healthy dose of cross promotion peppering the site and creating a resource for all who are interested.

We feel it’s important for Boutique Cafe to concentrate on our strengths and things that are proven to be popular on the site. Our podcast and videocasts will be more frequent, they set us apart as our own unique view of the community and momprenuer arena. Amelia and Susan will be doing their Challenges (previously on the Chat board) within several podcasts throughout the month. That’s right - they’re going techy too! You can join in the new podChallenges by listening to the show, blogging your thoughts/pictures/etc, then coming back to BC and posting a link to your site. And what of our amazing Queen of Chat Megan? She will be joining in many of the podcasts with me to add another voice and her unique perspective on BC shows. We’re so thrilled that Megan will also be the source for Boutique News. You may send your news for mention in our shows to megan@boutiquecafe.com

I want to thank each and every one of you for your support of Boutique Cafe. We realize this will be a suprise to many, but also a new opportunity to express yourselves and grow your businesses - all while having fun on BC. * Please take a moment now and join our Mailing List, as we will be doing ongoing draws and giveaways for our mailing list members.

We hope you’ll support us in our growth as we make changes and improvements to the place you love to be!

Daria, Megan, Amelia & Susan

This week, I want you to pick the ONE thing you seem to have the most trouble keeping organized or clean. Make that your priority this week….work on keeping up with it every day until it becomes a habit and no longer the one thing that isn’t managed!

My one thing is going to be my closet! I am notorious for not hanging things up, but instead laying them on the floor of my closet or on the chair next to my bed. So starting today I am going to hang everything up or fold it and put it on the shelves in the closet.

What’s YOUR one thing going to be? Join in the Challenge »