www.silikids.com

pediped^® footwear will host a fundraiser starting January 5 through February 6 to benefit the pediped foundation™.  During the Purchases with Purpose fundraiser, select styles available on pediped.com will be marked down as much as 50 percent and half of the sales from the promotion will be donated to the pediped foundation™.  The funds will be used to provide monetary support to organizations including Make-A-Wish Foundation and other worthy children’s charities.  For more information on the pediped foundation™, visit www.pedipedfoundation.org.

Pretty up your next party with Brassy Apple! >>

Nothing puts you in the holiday mood more than the smell of Christmas. Since Christmas scents are usually limited to Pine-Sol™ pine, sugar cookie and country kitchen apple scents, I started making my own. Combine the following:
1 sliced orange
1 sliced lemon
10 cloves
1 tablespoon Allspice
3 cinnamon sticks
Add two cups of water and simmer (low flame) on your stovetop. The smell fills your house! Occasionally add more water as it evaporates.

CANADA—November 30, 2009— From the very beginning Boutique Café’s passion has been supporting mom entrepreneurs (“mompreneurs”) and women in business. For over five years the website’s podcast interviews, fashion show spotlights, product reviews and various forms of advertising have given added attention to women business owners.

Daria Muirhead, Boutique Café’s owner and podcast hostess, is all about helping these women fulfill their dreams. In another effort to do so she recently launched Mompreneur Corner, a new feature on Boutique Café that will showcase featured articles by and for incredible business women. The weekly articles will cover a wide range of topics, from the importance of branding your business to better balancing family and business. Mompreneur Corner will offer readers specific how-to’s from expert panelists in areas such as fabric design, product placement, advertising, stress management, mothering from behind a desk and zeroing in on your passion.

“I have put together a wonderfully talented group of women for our Mompreneur Corner feature. They will quickly become an integral and ongoing part of Boutique Café and I am excited to share their talents and expertise with our audience,” said Daria.

In addition to the new Mompreneur section on Boutique Café, the site is currently showcasing its 2009 Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift Guide. The gift guide is packed full of discount codes, free shipping offers and other special promotions. This is fourth installment of the website’s popular holiday shopping guide and is a tremendous draw for readers and advertisers alike (many of whom happen to be work-at-home moms and mompreneurs).

Whether you’re interest is family or business (or holiday shopping), you can find what you’re looking for on Boutique Café.

About Boutique Café

Boutique Café is the world’s first boutique podcast. The site’s weekly shows highlight topics of interest to fashion savvy moms around the world. Whether readers are looking for a new muse, the latest in fashion for children, reviews on must-have products or tips and tricks for women business owners, Boutique Café can help. Besides producing a highly portable and downloadable radio show, the site also supports a community forum of buyers, designers, moms and professionals. Boutique Café has experienced great success in its first five years of operation and has gained thousands of subscribers to the show as well as thousands of visitors to the site each day. Visit BoutiqueCafe.com for more information.

###

There is now a brand NEW Swanky Community where moms can connect, share photos/videos and more, create groups and the list goes on. They have over 200 members so far and are looking for fun moms to join in!

Sign up for the Swanky Community>>

Now with Mompreneur Corner we hope to take our journey a step further. We will be showcasing featured articles by and for incredible business women. These weekly articles will run the gamut of topics, everything from the importance of branding your business, to how to balance your home/work just a bit better. We’ll delve into specifics from expert panelists in arenas such as: fabric design, product placements, advertising, coping with stress, mothering from behind a desk, zeroing in on your passion and much much more!!

The most thrilling part of the venture comes from the calibre of writers we have lined up to share their talents and expertise with you. Over the past several years, it’s been my honor to connect with so many leaders and trail blazers in various fields – I have approached several key people to become an integral & ongoing part of Boutique Cafe…and they can’t wait!!

We invite you to join with us in this new step at Boutique Cafe, by adding your voice to our discussion as well as sharing these articles and features with your friends. This is only the beginning – welcome to Boutique Cafe’s NEW Mompreneur Corner! Please give us a shout-out in our comments today and let us know you are eager to begin.
~ Daria

At Boutique Cafe, we’re excited to offer our popular 2009 version of our Holiday Gift Guide for your online shops, websites and stores to take part in! The savings guide will go live on Oct. 31th – Jan. 1st 2010!! We’re excited to showcase those sellers who will offer special deals to our readership, afterall saving some $$$ is a gift to us all this year.

To reserve your ad space simply send us an email to daria@boutiquecafe.com and in the subject line please put “Holiday Guide Reservation”. We’ll send you further details on how you can take part and create a holiday selling season to remember!!

I thankfully have many sweet friends who know me very well, and recognized something weird was up. I received several phone calls from friend reporting the suspicious activity to me – Thank you so much for that! I was able to login and reset my passwords, all of my passwords in fact. However once I reported the suspicious activity to Facebook they disabled my account so they could look into it. So here I sit without access to FB and I find myself wondering “What does one do now? How will I go on without FB in my daily life over the next few days? Why me?”

So you’re all invited to my pity party. Please keep me informed of what you are up to, post in our comments and share your links – because this girl needs to feel connected. XO - the REAL Daria

If you are interested in interviewing some of the top fabric and textile artists in the country for our Boutique Cafe shows please email me directly to: daria@boutiquecafe.com (Subject: Quilt Market Correspondent). Thanks so much for your interest,

Details:
October 10-12, 2009
Houston, Texas
George R. Brown Convention Center

**Deal: Use the code “labor09? for 25% off your total order at Tote and Tee. Code good until Tuesday at midnight:)

Oh Yummy! These gorgeous carpeting options are now available from our dear friend Amy Butler! Here’s her email:

“I have been keeping busy the last few months with many new projects; one of the most fun has been my new hand made rugs. I have been lucky to work with my friends at Chandra and come up with 19 amazing rugs for you. Some of the designs you will recognize from my fabric and bedding lines and there are a few new ones too! After designing the rugs I was lucky enough to visit India and watch the entire rug making process, I had such a blast and learned so much. The process is truly amazing to watch and see the final product appear before your eyes.

My new rugs are made from 100% New Zealand Wool, hand made and even semi-sustainable – using no harsh chemical washes, the industries safest chrome dyes and natural latex adhesive. It took me a long time to decide but I finally picked one for my living room and I love it, it’s the cat’s new favorite hangout too! I put together a great slideshow of photos for you to review and you can get all the details on my website; I can’t wait to hear what you think! For wholesale information you can contact info@chandrarugs.com. Thanks for spending time with me today, keep in touch!

All my best,
xoxo Amy”

KSL.com

There’s nothing better than giving a shoutout, a hoot and a holler to mompreneurs who are getting noticed! Congratulations to Quinn Curtis (organizer of the recent Moms Who Make it Conference) and Cari Greer (Owner of Sole Desires) for their feature on KSL news.

This piece focuses on the specific way Cari Greer is making it in these tough economic times with her business on wheels. It also shares the focus of the Moms Who Make It Conference including such tips as:

Get out there and network.
Seek professional advice.
Don’t be afraid.

For the accompanying article Click Here >>

Tomorrow is an exciting one that I’d love to share with all my Boutique Cafe buddies. I’ll be going to an ultrasound in the morning, and hoping to not only see a happy healthy little bundle – but also find out if we are expecting PINK OR BLUE!!

Obviously we’re hoping for PINK since we already have four strapping boys, and I’m severely outnumbered. But we’ll be thrilled either way, a baby is just such a beautiful blessing. So everyone stay tuned, and cross your fingers that our little baby will cooperate with the ultrasound tech and show themselves. LOL!

Cheers and thanks for your support and friendship! – Daria

To buy your evening session tickets before they’re sold out and take a peek at the schedule, click here!

One fun part of the Moms Who Make It conference is our Moms Who Are Making It spotlight. During this time we will be honoring 10 moms who have had difficult life circumstances but have used them as a catalyst to change their lives for the better. These are moms who have inspired you to look at your own life and think, “I can make it too!”

We will collect all the nominations and randomly select ten to be honored at the conference. Each time a mom is nominated she receives an entry into the drawing, so the more nominations the better her chance of being spotlighted at our event. These moms will receive a full-day ticket to the conference and some fun swag! If you know a mom who is “making it,” please email or comment a quick summary (200 words or less) on why you think she should be honored during the Moms Who Make It conference. You can send an email to momswhomakeit {at} createdbymom {dot} com.

If you wonder if you’ll be honored as one of our Moms Who Are Making It, buy your ticket now before the price goes up on July 7th (midnight) OR before they sell out! If you are chosen we will refund your ticket price.

We’re looking forward to sharing their stories and being inspired just as you have been inspired by them!

Moms Who Are Making It is sponsored by The Potted Pansy

I am working with Quinn Curtis, the woman behind CreatedByMom.com, helping throw the biggest party plan this most awesome conference! The conference will take place on Thursday, July 16th near Salt Lake City, Utah. Quinn is all about empowering and inspiring women and Moms Who Make It is the ONLY conference dedicated to strengthening moms in all facets of life and/or business. This isn’t an event just for women entrepreneurs nor is it just for moms. It’s for any woman who is looking for powerful tools and insight to start or grow her business and creatively balance her personal life.

Special guests include Kim Christopherson (YouCanMakeThis.com), Rachael Herrscher (TodaysMama), Melissa Chapell (Raw Melissa), Kelly Anderson (Startup Princess) and Pamela Baumeister (Wasatch Woman magazine). Here is just a sampling of topics featured at the conference:

• Know the power in living your purpose; harness your creativity to build the life you want


• Balance your daily demands allowing sufficient time and energy for your family


• Cut your grocery bill in half while making mealtime more meaningful to your family


• Enhance your natural beauty holistically


• Know how to take your business idea and make it a reality


• Utilize social media to broaden your support base; gain hundreds of new potential clients

Now here’s the super cool, nifty, better-read-this-whole-post part:

We are looking for one Boutique Café reader to be our

Moms Who Make It correspondent at the conference!

Daria can’t make it and wants to send YOU in her place to provide behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and coverage of the conference!

If selected as the winner here’s what you’ll win:

1. All-access ticket to the MWMI conference (or if you have already paid for your conference ticket, we will reimburse your purchase price)


2. Invitation to the after-hours VIP Mocktail Party


3. Flip Video camera (to be picked up when you arrive at our on-site registration)


4. Boutique Cafe t-shirt


5. CreatedByMom.com super chic camera wrist strap

And here’s what we’ll need from you:

1. Guaranteed attendance at the conference*


2. All audio/video footage from the event


3. Follow-up post telling BC readers your experience/thoughts from the conference

* If you are not able to attend the conference you may find a replacement. If you can’t find someone to attend in your place, please let us know ASAP so we can draw another winner.

To enter please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. The winner will have 24 hours to claim her right as Boutique Cafe’s exclusive conference correspondent or a new winner will be chosen. The contest ends two weeks from today on July 6th.

For one extra entry tweet about this post using #MWMI and leave a comment with your tweet’s URL.

For another entry blog about this post and leave a comment with your blog post’s URL.

And for yet one more entry, add one of the banners below to your blog or site and link to this page. Leave a comment with a link to your site.

...

Seating is limited and the conference will sell out quickly so buy your tickets now before they’re gone! Even if entering the contest I would still purchase your ticket; if you win we will reimburse you. If you don’t win at least you didn’t miss out on the hottest conference ticket this year! For more information about the conference or to purchase tickets please visit the Moms Who Make It page on CreatedByMom.com. Good luck!—Emily

*** CONGRATULATIONS to Jen H., the winner of our Moms Who Make It conference correspondent giveaway! We can’t wait to meet her at the conference, especially when she replies to our email with this:

OH MY GOODNESS! Is this a joke! I’m so excited that I can’t stand it. Let me know what to do – thanks girls – thanks Daria! I’m SOOOOO excited! Did I mention that! HEE HEEE

Smiles, JEN H.

In her recent article, Charlene shares her personal experience of being our Keynote Speaker at the first Boutique Cafe Girls Getaway Conference we held in 2007 at Salt Lake City. The conference was attended by a wide range of incredibly talented women, and since the event we have seen so many of their businesses and passions take off in a huge way. From clothing designers, to fabric designers, to graphic artists, and so on – many of these ladies are making great strides in their industries. In the article for Greggy Girl Talk, Charlene raves about Boutique Cafe’s ability to bring these ladies together and talks about our Producer and Podcast Guru Daria as well!

Thank you so much Charlene for sharing your experience at our conference with the Greggy Girl family and fans. Having you as our Keynote Speaker was a dream come true! Read the Full Article Here >>

I love that the site is super easy to navigate with the most important issues/questions smack-dab on the homepage in an eye-catching, bolded blue font:

• What is the CPSIA?


• What can I do about the CPSIA?


• Where can I find a list of compliant products?


• Can I sell current inventory on-hand?


• I make OOAK items, what options do I have besides destructive testing?

...and the list goes on. I think I’ll be researching whether third-party certification will be good enough come the next CPSIA deadline.

What is the CPSIA? also has left-hand-side links important for all of us to browse, from activism sites to apparel & fashion to information for resellers. And most importantly, the site welcomes questions from readers. The more questions, the more answers; the more answers the better prepared we are to understand the CPSIA; the better we understand this law the more effective we can be at working to change it.

Whether or not you’re a seller or reseller of handmade children’s goods What is the CPSIA? is a must-read for all of us as it effects everyone. Not convinced it effects you? Check out the slideshow of affected products below.—Emily

P.S. You can follow @whatiscpsia for tweets about the newest blog posts and other relevant CPSIA info.

How does this all tie in to Boutique Cafe? Well, it only ties in loosely but it is entertaining and will give you a small glimpse into my offline life. In a recent veto competition the challenge was to video ourselves putting on the following list of items and have the fastest time doing so:

• 6 shirts


• 6 pairs of socks


• 1 pair of shoes/heels


• 1 skirt


• 2 jackets/coats


• At least 3 accessories (hat, scarf, gloves, etc)

The Boutique Cafe shout-out happens at the very end of my donning those six shirts—my blinged-out Boutique Cafe black tee is the very last, and I totally planned it that way of course! I only did one trial run—after two run-throughs I had worked up enough sweat for another shower! Madison was my videographer, George and Livi were wardrobe and Robert Schneider (“Boom Boom” from Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine) provided the fun background music. (I think my husband had more fun watching me take off the clothing though he did crack a smile watching me put everything on while my two youngest offered their “help” and ran around me in circles!

Here’s my video, and though I didn’t win (just couldn’t beat that Dore—she had me by about 20 seconds) I had a really great time!

To watch all five videos (the winning one is Dore, fourth one down), click here.  Nothing like watching five women getting dressed from start to finish! Since this challenge I’ve won one Head of Household (HOH) challenge and a veto challenge. Three more bloggers are up for elimination and one is safe (Tara and Gena, you so owe me!)

We have a break from all the “fun” this weekend but the competition will resume on Monday. It should get pretty interesting as the final few battle it out. You might want to follow along at MomDot. No, you can’t phone in your votes but you can click! (And yes, alliances are being made…and I’m sure a few will be broken!)—Emily

“Since you’re a dedicated, informed LeapMom, we want you to be the first to know about a product that has been kept under tight wraps here at LeapFrog HQ. Until today. Take a look at the Dream & Learn Smart Orb, which will make your child a genius overnight. Guaranteed. Phone lines are already open, so don’t miss this amazing offer, as supplies are limited.”

LEAPFROG® DREAM & LEARN™ SMART ORB MAKES KIDS SLEEP SMARTER AND WAKE UP BRIGHTER

“Study While You Slumber” Product Will Make Every Kid Valedictorian

EMERYVILLE, CA—April 1, 2009—Today LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: LF) proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that learning can happen anytime, anyplace—with satisfaction guaranteed. After a decade of top-secret, government-funded testing at underground research facilities in several undisclosed locations, LeapFrog has released the revolutionary Dream & Learn Smart Orb. Dream & Learn is the first product to harness the unique ability of children’s brains to absorb raw intelligence delivered via high frequency sound waves. Now all kids (and the occasional cocker spaniel) can instantly comprehend difficult-to-learn concepts—while they sleep!

“Every child sleeps an average of nine hours a night, so why not turn this normally wasted time into a painless study session—and ace that chemistry final?” said Nancy MacIntyre, executive vice president, product, innovation and marketing. “Parents who despair that their child will ever grasp the quadratic formula, Zeno’s Paradox or the answer to ‘how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?’ will now rest easy. We’re happy to say that, thanks to our space-age engineering, having the brightest kid on the block is no longer just a dream.”

Turning centuries of educational theory on their head, the patented smartification technology embedded within Dream & Learn—Subjective Neurological Osmosis Retention & Entertainment (S.N.O.R.E.)—allows children to go to sleep as usual and simply wake up noticeably smarter (albeit, in approximately 10 per cent of test cases, somewhat groggy). The Dream & Learn’s (http://www.leapfrog.com/en/shop/dreamandlearn.html) compact size, sleek spherical shape and hermetically sealed shell allow it to be nestled safely and unobtrusively next to any standard-sized pillow. And the ”infinity dial” of subjects lets parents choose exactly which Amazing Knowledge Archive (how to calculate a molar solution; baking a perfect pie crust—every time!; exactly who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?) will grow their little one’s brain each night.

Fighting Over Homework—Never Again!
Dream & Learn eliminates the need for any parent ever again to nag their child to finish homework. Parents simply set the Dream & Learn dial to the topic of their choice, place the device near their child’s pillow and off the little one goes into productive slumber. The S.N.O.R.E.’s proprietary sonic algorithms infiltrate and effectively “hijack” the child’s unconscious and download the selected information directly to the appropriate lobes of the brain. A satisfied parent said, “My son used to fail every math quiz he took. But now, at only eight years old, he is heading to Antarctica to do stuff my wife and I can’t even pronounce, let alone understand. Thanks, LeapFrog!”

Already in development are next-gen products that will actually allow a child to sleep around the clock—and get smarter, faster, than possible while awake. And depending on their particular parenting philosophies, moms and dads can even choose not to tell their child he or she is “Dream & Learn”-ing, placing the orb after bedtime and removing it in the wee hours of the morning. The child will awaken smarter—but none the wiser.

Availability and Money-back Guarantee
Dream & Learn Smart Pod is now available from LeapFrog’s web site. If within ten days your child is not a seven-language-speaking viola virtuoso leading NASA’s mission to DNA profile the rings of Saturn, you are guaranteed a full refund of the purchase price plus applicable shipping and handling charges.

HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY!

It’s time for another amazing BlogHer conference, and Boutique Cafe wants to represent your company at the event. This is an exciting opportunity to have Daria and Emily from Boutique Cafe work the conference for you and introduce your product to the most influential bloggers in the country.

What we offer: – hand out product giveaways, business cards at the events – network on your behalf, talking about your product/services – live video stream from BlogHer (sponsored by your company) – live tweet updates from BlogHer (sharing the scoop as sponsored by you) – follow up podcast on Boutique Cafe (sponsored by your company) – your company’s banner will run in the Boutique Cafe header during the event month ($300 value) – we’ll even wear your company t-shirts and logo

BlogHer Info:
BlogHer’s annual conference will take place all day Friday and Saturday, July 24 & 25, 2009.

Location:
The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers in Chicago

Cost for Sponsorship:
Please email daria@boutiquecafe.com for details on sponsorship pricing for this event. We look forward to working with you and sharing your company’s message at BlogHer this year!

For more information on Daria, Emily and Boutique Cafe please check out our About Us page.

Several new developments have come about on the CPSIA front since the last Boutique Café article on this topic. Here’s a quick summary.

1) On 2/4/09 Senators Jim DeMint of SC, Roger Wicker of MS and Saxby Chambliss of GA, and David Vitter of LA introduced bill S.374 to the Senate where it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. This bill would amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to provide regulatory relief to small and family-owned businesses. On 2/11/09 Senators Sam Brownback of KS, Tom Coburn of OK, Mike Crapo of ID and James Inhofe of OK cosponsored the bill also. Call (202-224-3121), email, fax and write your Senator to let them know you support this amendment.

2) On 2/11/09 Rep. John Shadegg of AZ and co-sponsor Rep. Roscoe Bartlett of MD introduced bill H.R. 968 to Congress where it was read twice and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. This bill is identical to Sen. Demint’s in wording to amend the CPSIA, providing relief for America’s small businesses. Call, email, fax and write your Representative to let them know you support this amendment.

3) On 2/10/09 CPSC posted Guidance on CPSIA for Small Businesses, Resellers, Crafters and Charities. Although this obviously was needed months ago, it is still welcome information and summarizes the legislation in understandable terms. ALL sellers, resellers, retailers, and manufacturers would do themselves a favor by reading this guide. Table B is of particular interest, listing materials, which are exempt from testing (hopefully a permanent ruling) such as dyed and undyed yarns and fabrics.

4) The Stay of Enforcement remains . . . for now. Activist consumer groups NRDC and Public Citizen are rumored to be filing a lawsuit to get it overturned.

So keep up the fight. CPSIA is not going to go away and we need to ensure that small business and micro manufacturers can survive this legislation.

Article by: Heather Flottman
Owner/Designer
liliputians NYC

As you have probably already read (perhaps here on Boutique Café ) the CPSC has granted a 1 year stay of testing and certification (an excerpt from the press release is in italics below).

The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.
Handmade garment makers are cautioned to know whether the zippers, buttons and other fasteners they are using contain lead. Likewise, handmade toy manufacturers need to know whether their products, if using plastic or soft flexible vinyl, contain phthalates.

However, this issue is NOT over. Stop. Take a breath. Pat yourself on the back. Know that you’ll still be able to continue selling custom outfits, hair bows, or whatever product you create come February 10th. And then regroup.

It is crucial that momentum is not lost. Hope is very near with Senator Jim DeMint of SC (one of the 3 in the Senate who voted “nay” against this along with Senator Jon Kyl and Senator Thomas Coburn) introducing legislation to reform CPSIA. Call, email or write Senator DeMint and tell him “thank you.” Call your senators and tell them you support this. Let common sense prevail.

Keep the heat on Congressman Waxman and other members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Email them. Call (202-225-2927) and let them know that CPSIA needs to be amended. Let them know you support the 6 points presented by Senator Demint. Keep up the fight and save handmade.

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2009
Release #09-115

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC Grants One Year Stay of Testing and Certification Requirements for Certain Products

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger. These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.

Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.

The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.

The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.

The stay does not apply to:

• Four requirements for third-party testing and certification of certain children’s products subject to:
  o The ban on lead in paint and other surface coatings effective for products made after December 21, 2008;
  o The standards for full-size and non full-size cribs and pacifiers effective for products made after January 20, 2009;
  o The ban on small parts effective for products made after February 15, 2009; and
  o The limits on lead content of metal components of children’s jewelry effective for products made after March 23, 2009.
• Certification requirements applicable to ATV’s manufactured after April 13, 2009.
• Pre-CPSIA testing and certification requirements, including for: automatic residential garage door openers, bike helmets, candles with metal core wicks, lawnmowers, lighters, mattresses, and swimming pool slides; and
• Pool drain cover requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act.

The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.

Handmade garment makers are cautioned to know whether the zippers, buttons and other fasteners they are using contain lead. Likewise, handmade toy manufacturers need to know whether their products, if using plastic or soft flexible vinyl, contain phthalates.

The stay of enforcement on testing and certification does not address thrift and second hand stores and small retailers because they are not required to test and certify products under the CPSIA. The products they sell, including those in inventory on February 10, 2009, must not contain more than 600 ppm lead in any accessible part. The Commission is aware that it is difficult to know whether a product meets the lead standard without testing and has issued guidance for these companies that can be found on our web site.

The Commission trusts that State Attorneys General will respect the Commission’s judgment that it is necessary to stay certain testing and certification requirements and will focus their own enforcement efforts on other provisions of the law, e.g. the sale of recalled products.

Please visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html for more information on all of the efforts being made to successfully implement the CPSIA.

****Don’t Miss this great article on ZRecs though, CPSIA-Certification Delayed un 2010 – Seller beware

Boutique Designers from eBay and Etsy join forces for “One Last Hoorah” due to the ridiculous CPSIA regulations coming into effect that will put countless boutiquers, crafters, WAHM’s and sellers of children’s products out of business. These regulations do not take into account small business and will wipe out our community as well as your choices as consumers.

Please mark your calendars and tell your friends. As our items we make with our loving hands will suddenly be illegal on 2-10-2009!

CLICK to Support these Amazing Designers>>

... If you’ve been keeping an eye on the CPSIA issue via blog posts, news headlines or even Twitter than you’ve probably already heard about the “enlightening” WBAL TV interview with Vallese, (former) spokeswoman for the CPSC. If you haven’t watched it yet, it’s a must-see for even those not involved in the CPSIA issue.

After you’ve watched the video, perhaps you can tell me if I’m wrong when I say Vallese never really answered any of the questions asked during the interview. She talked and talked and talked but never said anything. She went from stating resellers of used children’s products don’t need to worry about testing to saying in not so many words (actually, many, many, many words) that testing may be the only way for a business owner to have the “level of confidence” she needs to sell those used products. By the way, the phrase for the day is “level of confidence” so wonderfully utilized throughout the second half of Vallese’s interview.

I just wanted to say thank you to Vallese for clarifying the CPSIA for me. Now everything is crystal clear: The CPSC is just as confused as I am about the new legislation. Just as entertaining as the uncut interview are the various blog posts from those same “mommy bloggers” Vallese referred to so affectionately in her interview. You will find of my favorites listed below. Perhaps SNL should consider having Vallese host an upcoming show…

• National Bankruptcy Day: Alert the media! The CPSC has a sense of humor (love the “transcript” from the interview)


• From Cribs to Car Keys: When Will They Learn…


• MomDot: CPSIA Insults Mommy Bloggers (a little PG-13 but worth the read)


• Business Is Personal: CPSC’s Vallese interview review re: CPSIA

This is probably the first day in a long time I’ve smiled when talking about the CPSIA. Hopefully it won’t be the last time. Better laughing than crying, right?—Emily

On December 17th, I wrote my first article for Boutique Café. It summarized the CPSIA and its effects on the handmade toy and clothing industry as well as the unintended consequences for a gamut of other businesses that sell or manufacture products for children 12 and under. Fortunately there have been some positive developments to report since then.

For one, the media seems to be finally paying attention. News programs are reporting the ramifications of CPSIA, blog postings have a steady stream of calls-to-action, and newspapers big and small are focusing on the issue. This needs to continue to make the public aware of the impact the legislation will have to small business if not amended.

The thrift and resale shops were given a reprieve yesterday with the CPSC’s press release which clarified that “sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.” It later goes on to state, “However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and should avoid products that are likely to have lead content.” And, “Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.”

A particularly, promising statement for the handmade clothing sector was reported in the McHenry County Business Register, a Chicago area paper, by Hyacinth Filippi Worth. As stated in the article, “Davis [CPSC Spokesperson Patty Davis] said all products intended for children 12 and younger must adhere, Davis also said hand-made, one-of-a-kind items likely will be exempt, which would allow small-time crafters and seamstresses of children’s products to continue making and selling original products.” This is a promising assertion, but unfortunately is not an official ruling at this point. I hope we can make it one.

On January 9th, a notice of proposed rule making was posted on the CPSIA web site (see Children’s Products Containing Lead: Proposed Determinations Regarding Lead Content Limits on Certain Materials or Products; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking under What’s New). This preliminary ruling will possibly exempt the following natural materials provided that “these materials have neither been treated or adulterated with the addition of materials of chemicals such as pigments, dyes, coatings, finishes or any other substance, nor undergone any processing that could result in the addition of lead into the product or material.”
•precious and semiprecious gemstones
•natural or cultured pearls
•surgical steel
•precious metals: gold (at least 10 karat); sterling silver (at

The CPSC has formally requested comments. The rules regarding testing are not final. Comments on testing methods (eight questions have been asked) are being accepted until January 30th and can be emailed to Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov. For a discussion on these questions, the Fashion Incubator forum is a great place to familiarize oneself.

I am hopeful that component testing will be allowed along with exemptions for all components which clearly are not a lead risk as well as excluding some products altogether (such as books, handmade clothing, second hand clothing). I also hope that X-ray fluorescence ( XRF testing) is permitted as a more reasonable (read nondestructive and inexpensive) testing method.

Please help in getting this amended. Safe products are possible without the demise of small businesses in America. At this point it is imperative to keep up the momentum.

As mentioned in the article, satisfy the CPSIA’s request for comments by emailing them your thoughts on 3rd party testing methods.

The Committee on Energy and Commerce sponsored CPSIA and it is the chairman of the Committee that can call hearings on this matter. Let’s convince him to revisit this legislation by writing letters or calling (202-225-2927) to express your concern and how this law will affect you. If you’ve already written them, please write them again. Here are their names and addresses:

The Hon. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Hon. Joe Barton, Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce
2322-A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Hon. Bobby Rush, Chairman
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Hon. Ed Whitfield, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection
2322-A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Continue CALLING and writing your congressmen and senators (Search by your zip code in the top left and right pages to find your representatives contact info.) Make sure they hear your views on this issue. Mention the REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY Act and explain that because CPSIA burdens small businesses unfairly, that CPSIA needs to be amended. Convince them to join their colleagues such as Congressman Charlie Dent, Congressman Jim Gerlach, Congressman Tim Holden, Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Patrick Leahy, and Congressman Anthony Weiner who have taken up our cause.

The second round of voting has started at Change.org. Register if you haven’t already and make this issue one of the top 3 items presented to President-elect Obama.

Keep blogging about CPSIA and utilizing sites like facebook, twitter, and YouTube. The internet is a buzz with CPSIA. Just google it.

Join the mail-in protest, sending soon to be “hazardous goods” to CPSIA founder Rep. Rush.

Take this survey to help ascertain the economic impact of CPSIA for retail and manufacturing businesses.

And if you haven’t already . . .
Sign this petition for the Children’s Apparel Industry and this one from the Handmade Toy Alliance.

Visit the CPSIA “ war room” and CPSIA Central to discuss get up to date news on the topic.

The sky is falling! Yes, I feel a like an overly dramatic Chicken Little. And I wish it were true considering recent congressional legislation is about to crush the life out of the handmade clothing and toy industry. I’m talking about H.R. 4040, the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) signed into law August 14, 2008, and the ramifications it will have when it goes into effect February 10, 2009 (now being popularly referred to as National Bankruptcy Day).

Make no mistake. CPSIA was necessary in principle and has noble intentions, keeping our children safe and holding companies accountable for importing toxic toys. We all demand safety for our children and this is the intent of CPSIA; specifically to ensure safe levels of lead and phthalates in all products manufactured for children under the age of 12. Unfortunately this legislation lacks common sense, is ambiguous and fails to take into account the handmade industry.

What you see is not what you get with CPSIA. There is no distinction between big, small, or even micro one-person businesses. Whether it’s a large-scale manufacturer importing apparel to be sold in big box stores, or a work-at-home mom (WAHM) selling customs on ebay, the legislation applies the same to all.

Unit testing will be required on finished products, regardless if the components are natural materials or if you have documentation from a vendor stating that buttons, for example, are certified lead-free. As it stands, H.R. 4040 fails to recognize that textile products are inherently lead-free. Why then is an organic cotton shirt being tested for lead exactly?

Unit testing is extremely cost prohibitive to small business, but worse, it is unnecessary. In fact, it is completely redundant if the components that comprise the whole have already been tested and due diligence can prove they meet the guidelines.

To put a real dollar amount to testing one of my products, I solicited a lab quote. I was told it was $75 to test for lead per garment component and each substrate. Coated or painted items such as buttons are $100. So my Little Red Riding Hood Shirt, a 100% cotton knit shirt with an appliqué made from 7 cotton fabrics and 2 buttons eyes would cost $625 to test for lead. Flammability testing is also required and is either $50 for a certificate per component stating it meets weight code or $100 for actual testing. So add another $400-$800 for a grand total of $1,025-$1425. in testing costs for a shirt that retails for $40. If the shirt is offered in another colorway, the same testing is required despite the fact that the same fabrics are used throughout.

Small manufacturers have no way of absorbing the price of such redundancy. And all manufacturers will be required to test a finished component/item from each batch. Easy to do in mass production—simply pull one sample from a lot of thousands. But how does one comply when your “batches” are made-to-order batches of one? SKUs will also be required for each product with a permanent label on the item itself.

CPSIA will be retroactive and takes a guilty-until-proven-innocent approach with extremely hefty fines for violators. As written, any product used by children 12 and under (such as toys, footwear, carpets, clothing, bedding, luggage, lamps, toys, books, magazines, baseball cards, consumer electronics, school supplies, office supplies, jewelry, housewares, sports equipment and so on) without the newly required certification would be deemed hazardous, whether the item poses an actual threat or not. So on February 10, 2009, any unsold merchandise (in big box stores, the corner boutique, your fabric stash, Good Will donations, etc.) will be deemed “hazardous goods” and illegal to sell unless 3rd party testing proves otherwise. By the way, there are only 14 said labs currently in the United States.

Think you won’t be affected? I hope not, but the sad truth is that hundreds of thousands (if not millions) will be. Do you make children’s clothing, toys, jewelry, hair bows, accessories, furniture, artwork or anything else “intended for use by children age 12 and under”? Are you a retailer of children’s goods? Do you resell used children’s clothing or toys on ebay? Do you participate or shop at craft fairs? Do you donate used children’s items to needy organizations? Do you belong to a church that has rummage sales as a fundraiser? Does your child play sports and get their uniforms from a local screen print shop? Are you a consumer shopping for alternatives to mass-produced toys? If so, this law takes away that freedom.

Surely this legislation can be amended by incorporating some common sense and still make it possible to ensure our children’s safety without further hurting the US economy. According to the 2002 Economic Census (the last survey of its type), small U.S. clothing manufacturers (with fewer than 20 employees) contribute over $900 million dollars [consider: nearly $1 billion dollars] annually to the economy and comprise 68% of total apparel manufacturing in the U.S. This is clearly a vital and contributing asset to our economy. Multiply this fallout exponentially when you take into account the myriad other manufacturers, retailers and businesses that will be hurt or ultimately driven out of business.

So, why should you support amending this legislation?

Because the CPSIA isn’t fair and will not function as written. It inadvertently punishes American industries unrelated to toys and will ultimately result in fewer alternatives to mass produced merchandise made in China. The concept that small producers should be subject to the same rigorous standards but with lesser regulation (and common sense) has already been fought for and sustained in the food industry, which is why your local farmers market still exists. Now this same idea needs to be applied to children’s products.

What can you do?
1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman 888-531-9070.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx
Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009.
mailto:Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov.

2) Email or snail mail your representatives.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476”>http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476

3) Call your representatives. For their contact information just enter your zip code.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

4) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue. The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

5) Sign the petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html”>http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

6) Spread the word! Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.

7) Join others in fighting this cause.
Facebook group
Twitter search
“>http://cpsia-central.ning.com/notes/Notes_Home

Join the etsy community in the virtual chat with CPSIA Small Business Ombudsmen or send a handmade children’s item that will become “hazardous goods” as of 2/9/09 to Bobby Rush, founder of H.R. 4040.
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/
Etsy Thread

9) Read more about this legislation and its ramifications:
Fashion Incubator

Handmade Toy Alliance

National Bankruptcy Day

YouTube video

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

5 Minutes for Mom

Cool Mom Picks

The Smart Mama

blogher

Apparel and Footwear.org

Toy Association.org

Cafe Mom

Safety and Compliance

Zrecommends

SleepingBaby.net

Freshly Baked Blog

Along with donating product for Divine Design, up for auction on eBay are a handful of celebrity-signed Trina cosmetic bags. The auction only lasts a week and items start at only $10. You can read more about the list of celebrities (John Mayer, for one) by reading my full post on “freshly baked.” You’ll find the full list of celebrities who’ve signed Trina bags and direct links to the various eBay auctions. Happy bidding!

Note: Not familiar with Trina bags? Read my Daily Dish review—you’re sure to fall in love with them just like I did!

Drawing on Dec. 1st, 2008 at Midnight.

Join Our Newsletter

“The Nie Nie Recovery Launch is all about Love. Love for a women who has shown us all how to live life to the fullest, how to embrace each and every moment with the ones we love, and how to show gratitude to our Heavenly Father for all that he has done for us. Stephanie is a shining light in this world and an example to women everywhere. Please Bid and give back to someone who has given us so much. Every dollar spent will aid in her recovery and help her return to the life she loves so much.

Why this story has touched me: When I came across the blog cjanerun and read the news about Stephanie and Christian I was immediately touched and brought to tears. As I started reading the Nie Nie Dialogues I felt that I could really relate to her. Having 4 children myself and a husband that I adore I felt extreme sadness for her situation. As I have followed her recovery and read the posts that are being re-listed on her blog I have found myself striving to be a better wife, mother, and person in general. It is because of her example that I want to do this. I feel a need to show my children and husband how much I love them every day. I feel a need to cook more, to read more, to spend more time lounging on the couch with my babies in my arms. I never use to do that. It was always about “how much can I get done today!” I am so grateful to her for her example and her love for life. I wanted to do something for her in return and I felt like a benefit launch was a great way to raise awareness and offer support to her and her family. I hope one day she will know how much she means to me. Thank you Daria for helping us spread the word about this launch. You are an Angel:)” – Chelsea

Details: November 1-15th please join with these incredible designers and bid on the amazing launch items. Search NieRecovery on eBay! Sending our love and prayers to Stephanie, Christian and their beautiful family.

Hippos Toes owner, Carole Lindstrom wanted to combine her plans for a children’s boutique with her desire to help South African women gain a footing towards financial independence. Having toured South Africa several times-and feeling a connection to the women there- Lindstrom saw first hand how difficult it was for women to rise above impoverishment. “I really felt for the locally disadvantaged mothers trying to raise families with limited income opportunities.” Lindstrom stated.

With it’s Grand Opening this month, Hippos Toes showcases the latest children’s boutique fashions, which are sewn by South African mother artisans. Original styles, whimsical colors and nature themes set a trendy fashion-forward tone which Lindstrom feels sets Hippos Toes children’s fashions apart. “The clothing is really unique,” Lindstrom stated. “The designers change lines every season yet everything stays mix-and-match. It makes for easy, complete wardrobes.”

Lindstrom learned of Fair Trade clothing manufacturing in South Africa while researching clothing resources for Hippos Toes. With high quality control, impeccable workmanship and attention to artistic details, Lindstrom found the resulting clothing met, and exceeded, her apparel requirements. “The women who create our clothing are being paid fair wages and have good working conditions,” Lindstrom shared. “This fulfills my goal of being able to sell clothing with a purpose.”

Hippos Toes welcomes visitors to peruse the latest children’s fashions at http://www.hippostoes.com, read the companies philosophy on Fair Trade and start shopping for the Holidays on it’s newly vamped online store.

**PROMO – Shop Hippos Toes through our Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift Guide and receive 15% off your purchase with promo code BC15 valid through Jan. 1/09.

Beth is a person who enjoys “doing it all” and considers herself to be striving for the “super mom” award. You never know what she will be doing from day to day, but it will always include Holly and Jim in the equation with a bit of sewing and a lot of chatting mixed in.

Beth will be finding our daily finds to feature on Boutique Café. You can count on seeing designs that have amazing details and quality construction. Beth has an eye for the unique and classic styles that are found throughout the boutique communities.

Please leave a warm welcome message for Beth! We’re so excited to have her join in the Boutique Cafe family.

Lisa worked as a Boutique Cafe correspondent back in BC Show #15, in 2006 covering the Children’s Club Show in NYC. The Diva, generously hosts a massive yearly BBQ for boutique designers and their families at her own home. She has a huge reputation for being the Hostess with The Mostess and gives tirelessly to many causes. Now it’s our turn to support her.

Please tune in to cheer on our girl who gives so much to our community, her family, and especially her daughter Marielle who is currently waiting for a kidney transplant. Please pray with us for a speedy match for Marielle.

We love you Lisa – good luck tomorrow! We’ll be watching and cheering you on. XO - Daria

**UPDATE : Here’s Lisa’s Segment from Last Night’s show for those who may have missed it.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

**For a link to Lisa’s personal blog visit The Domestic Diva’s Disasters.

This is absolutely the most tragic thing, my heart aches for their family and their four small children. I have loved reading Stephanie’s blog over the past few years, and appreciate the loving example she sets as a mother and wife. It’s always evident that she adores her family, her children, her husband and God. We are praying for a swift recovery, knowing that it could potentially be months for healing. Sending much love and prayers their way.
The recent New York Times feature on this story >>

Watch The Today Show tomorrow morning, in the first hour when several family members guest to talk about Stephanie and Christian’s story.

To donate directly to the Nielson family

Keep watching for updates about when the stork drops off her new little bundle!

Click to post a Review for Boutique Cafe on iTunes

Thank you!!

Visit our website to view the new designs, which include our “let’s get smashed!” onesie, “babylicious” and “nesting” maternity tees, and our fabulous new “the apple doesn’t fall far…from the tree” mom & baby set. Choose one of our freshly baked (i.e. “new”) georgie tees or an ol’ favorite like “does this shirt make me look fat?” and get a second tee or other item for half off!*

Don’t wait too long…this scrumptious sale will melt within the week (offer expires July 30th). So grab some pie a la mode and check out our freshly baked styles at georgietees.com. You can also read more details about our calorie-free, fat-free, sugar-free BOGO sale between tasty bites!—Emily

Thank you so much for taking a moment to cast your vote for Boutique Cafe!! Cast your Ballot here ».

If you’re a mom with a small business, chances are you don’t keep a writer on staff. If you’re not a writer yourself, it can be difficult to come up with Website content that sounds good, and is beneficial to your business. When writer’s block strikes, many people jump to the old stand-by of throwing anything on the page and hoping it sounds good. You’ve all seen it…the small business website that sounds haphazard doesn’t make much sense and gives you no real clue as to what is being sold or offered. Let’s hope this isn’t you! But, if this does sound familiar, and you’re not sure how to create your own Website content, a simple formula can make all the difference!

No matter if you are a boutique owner, clothing designer or sell pet products, how the front page of your Website is written can affect sales and the success of your business. This is why experts put so much emphasis on quality content that is well written, descriptive and clear as to what you are offering. Not only is a clearly written Website good for search engine ranking, it’s also vitally important to making your customers feel compelled to, and comfortable enough, to buy from you.

Consider the content written for this (non-existent) product:

‘You’ll love our unique, patented, time tested, one of a kind, sturdy sippy-cup holder! Because we put so much time into it, we know you’ll love it too! You can choose from lots of colors and patterns so just visit our colors page and choose what is right for you by selecting the box next to the color you want. Or, you can contact us for more information.’

Do you feel that you know enough about this product to want to immediately purchase it, or take the time to learn more? Probably not. The way you word the content on your front page can determine whether or not you get the sale. Your front page content is the “first impression” for your business, and a simple formula makes it easy to create content that is relevant to your product and customer:

Problem: (What problem does your customer have that you can solve?)

Solution: (How are you going to fix their problem? What do you offer?)

Why you & not the other guy: (Why should someone buy from you and not your competition?)

Back it Up: (Testimonials are your best friend!)

If we fix the above writing with our handy formula, we come up with something a whole lot more concise and relevant than the previous version:

‘Are you tired of losing your child’s sippy-cup every time he pitches it from the stroller or shopping cart? (PROBLEM) How many times has your child’s sippy-cup been tossed on a germ-infested floor, lost in the car somewhere or misplaced while running errands?

Cup Stopper sippy cup harness puts a halt to lost sippy cups (SOLUTION). This innovative sippy cup harness securely hugs any size sippy cup, with a snap-close jump ring that attaches to a car seat, stroller, shopping cart or more.’

‘Why Cup Stopper? (WHY US & not the next guy) Our proven design offers two skid resistant, adjustable straps to harness the cup, with a patented snap-close jump ring that won’t lose it’s spring after repeated use. Made in the USA, Cup Stopper offers a perfect alternative to similar straps that offer less quality craftsmanship and design. Moms love the Cup Stopper (BACK IT UP!) Add your testimonials to really drive home how great your product is! ‘

Using this formula will make it easier to write better content, no matter if you sell multiple products or just one exclusive item. No matter what you are offering, find the problem that potential customers have, and tell them how you can make it all better. Every customer has a problem, and you want to be the one who fixes it!

A little brainstorming, a little bit of practice and following the formula can save you the stress of writing your own Website content. Take the time to try it and get it right. Your business will thank you!

****************************************
Lisa Otto is the owner of Creative Writing Studios, a copywriting service that helps women small business owners have well-written, polished Websites and marketing materials. Lisa offers website writing, press releases, marketing flyers, and more, with free website content consulting. Visit Creative Writing Studios at http://www.creativewritingstudios.com

You’ll now find our Boutique Cafe feed on Mom Blog Network, so please take a moment to vote for us! We’d love your participation in getting the word out about our site and podcast. Thanks for your help everyone, and leave a comment here when you submit your own blogs so we can check them out.

We’re on our way home tomorrow, and can’t wait to share it all with you! Now the fun begins as we edit video tape and photos to share on Boutique Cafe. Watch for our video coverage of 2008 Portland Quilt Market…coming very soon!!

Pictured in this photo (L to R): Amelia, Amy Butler, Daria, Megan

A boutique launch not to be missed. Please bid generously to benefit our dear colleague Michele and her children. For more information on this very special launch visit We Love Mud Blog.

“Michele our hearts, love and prayers are with you and your family” – from all of us at Boutique Cafe

Click to Support Michele and her children>>.

**Boutique Cafe wanted to get involved: 100% of All Banner Ad purchases on BC’s Market and Sidebar from May 7-9th will go directly to benefit Michele and her family.

That’s 15% off your entire order, oh the fabrics we could buy! (expires 4.28.08 at midnight)

“BijouCo launched our group one year ago, we got a tad sentimental thinking over all the great memories we have made. We decided to invite other designers to join us in celebrating our anniversary! We are so thrilled to have a fabulous list of esteemed designers joining us. I have attached a guest list of all the designers.

The launch begins on April 15th, search BijouCo on eBay to see all the wonderful listings. In fact, each listing will contain a special diary entry from the designer, sharing what inspired them to create their sets! – LaNae”

Click to enjoy the Sentiment Listings – they are gorgeous! >>

In my feature on MRHH I share:
-my favorite beauty tip
-What my Mother taught me about beauty and fashion
-my time saving beauty tips
and MUCH more!

Check it out and be sure to bookmark them.

Read and comment on my feature here>>

What do you love? How have we changed your podcasting experience? Have any of our shows inspired you with new ideas for your home and business? Are your children wearing boutique handmade clothing now? Are you blogging along with our Fashion Forward Challenges, or trying out products we recommend on the Daily Dish? Please let us know.

Here’s how to get involved… simply send in a Testimonial about your own personal experience with Boutique Cafe over the past three years. We’ll be sharing your messages and feedback on our site so other Moms like you can see exactly what Boutique Cafe has to offer.

Please send your testimonial directly, with subject “Fan Feedback” email us by clicking here. (*please include your name and url so we can link to you and give you credit for participating).

We thank you so very much for taking a moment out to share your thoughts and feelings about Boutique Cafe with us. Your participation is what makes this show and website so worthwhile. Once we have several testimonials we’ll make a page available for everyone to view and enjoy.

Vote today for your favorite….voting ends March 21st! Click to cast your Vote > (only members of Journal Modiste are eligible to vote in this contest). Be sure to confirm your vote by clicking the link in the email sent to you after you vote.

All you need to do to snag this sweet prize is visit Rosa Dolce Designs on Etsy, then come back and leave a comment about what you love here! Please ensure we have your current email information so that we can contact you with your prize. We’ll draw the winner on March 6th.

All you need to do to snag this sweet prize is visit Shy Girl Designs website, then come back and leave a comment about what you love here! Please ensure we have your current email information so that we can contact you with your prize. We’ll draw the winner on March 4th.

This video is everywhere right now. If you are a member of the Boutique Community and are joining in the Boycott please say Yes below in comments. We’d love to hear what you think.

It’s time to break out the pictures and STRUT YOUR STUFF!

Designers, Crafters, Sewing Fanatics, Photographers welcome!

XO
Boutique Cafe.com

In turn we will be mentioning our giveaway sponsors in our podcast, and linking to them from our shownotes or newsletter, during the busiy Spring season. Donations must be $25 in value and up, if your items are smaller we suggest a great basket or assortment of your hot sellers would be a great giveaway. We will contact you once we review your application for swag placement and let you know if your site has been chosen.

Thank you for your interest in making this an incredible Spring on Boutique Cafe, loaded with the best giveaways and drawings!

**Be sure to send in your Boutique News and exciting happenings to Boutique Cafe – we would love to feature you and give you Snaps!

If your company is interested in joining our Spring Savings Guide and offering a discount code for our audience, simply email daria@boutiquecafe.com and we’ll send you all the information you need.

Our sincere condolences go out to his entire family, and many fans from all over the world. We feel especially sad for his 2 year old daughter Matilda, who will have to grow up without her adoring daddy. It’s just heartbreaking news.

In remembering Heath Ledger today, please feel welcome to share your thoughts on the famous actor, or your favorite Heath Ledger movie role.

In tribute, here is one of my favorite Heath Ledger movie moments – from the movie “Ten Things I Hate About You”. RIP Heath Ledger, you’ll be missed.

For full contest details Click here to visit A Mom In Red High Heels site >> and leave a comment. There are several ways to get extra chances to win.

You’ll love this Giveaway, including the adorable mama lisa tee from georgie tees and much much more!!

Thanks for letting us share this extra special giveaway with all of you! We love this blog and know that you will too.

“I was formally trained at the Texas Culinary Academy, a division of Le Cordon Bleu Paris. I hold a degree in savory culinary arts, but I also love to bake and can make some mean desserts!”

Congratulations Nikki and best of luck to you in your new endeavour. Click to visit the Gourmet Momma site >

Good morning. I simply have to share this photographers website called Fresh Sugar Photography


Located in Calgary, Alberta (yes that’s in Canada). I haven’t personally had the pleasure of working with her on photos for my children, however when I came across her pictures I fell in love with her style (especially with infants).


Enjoy a fun little break and check it out today…Fresh Sugar Photography

Maja shares her ideas and hints for putting away and storing Christmas decor. She also helps you to organize your holiday decorations so that it’s much easier to find what you need next year.

The Savvy Organizer >>

**All you need to do to snag this sweet prize is visit Molly O Designs website or her eBay Store and have a peek around.Then come back and comment here on which is your favorite item in her store. It’s that easy!! The winner will be drawn on Dec. 17th.

**UPDATE – Winner Announced! Congratulations to our poster “Cathy” from the Domestic Psychology blog. You have won the Bow of the month for a Year from Molly O Designs! What an incredible prize. Thank you to everyone who entered, we were so overwhelmed by the response. Happy Holidays!

In turn we will be mentioning our giveaway sponsors in our podcast, and linking to them from our shownotes or newsletter, during the busiest time on Boutique Cafe during the year. Donations must be $25 in value and up, if your items are smaller we suggest a great basket or assortment of your hot sellers would be a great giveaway. We will contact you once we review your application for holiday swag placement and let you know if your site has been chosen.

Thank you for your interest in making this an incredible holiday time on Boutique Cafe, loaded with the best giveaways and drawings!

Warm the heart of a child this holiday…You Can Make a Difference! For full details please visit Twirls for Girls

Flat Betty is being sponsored by Boutique Cafe this week and we’re excited to donate .05 per comment that will go to Betty Cause. That’s right! Betty raises money for charity and all you need to do is leave a comment to help her do it.

To add to the Giving – Boutiquecafe.com will also award a $25.00 Paypal gift certificate and a 1 month free Banner ad in our Market! 2 lucky people who post a comment on Betty’s Blog can win one of these great prizes! So give BETTY your comments and in turn you are giving to a great cause AND Boutiquecafe.com will GIVE you some spending ca$h and free advertising for the Holidays. Whew! that’s alot of giving!

All you need to do to snag this sweet prize is sign up for our Boutique Cafe Mailing List (right there in the sidebar ->). It’s so easy and takes just a moment to join in. We’ll draw the winning member on November 10th from our entire mailing list. Please ensure we have your current email information so that we can contact you with your prize.

The Gift Certificate may be used on her website, Etsy shop, and her eBay auctions. (entire amount to be spent at time of purchase).

Now that you’ve signed up for Boutique Cafe, please visit Toni Hamel Designs and check out all that is FRESH.FUN.FABULOUS!

**UPDATE: CONGRATULATIONS to Crystal Johnson from our mailing list!! You have won the $50 Gift Certificate from Toni Hamel Designs! I will be sending you an email with instructions for claiming your prize

Thanks everyone for signing up for our newsletter – more Giveaways are on the way! Keep watching.

Everything that Megan touches turns to gold and is a huge success, she gives 110% to anything she does and is the hardest worker I’ve ever met. She is also ultra creative, a stellar planner, and a true friend. Please join me in honoring Megan for the years of work she has put in for the benefit of our Boutique Cafe listeners. We wish you the most success in your business Megan, and are thrilled that you’ll have more family time you’ve been craving (for those are the things that truly matter)
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I adore you!

If you would like to post a personal thank you to Megan please do so here in our comments – let’s show her the LOVE! – Daria

Watch BC for an upcoming exclusive interview with Joel Dewberry himself – coming soon to Boutique Cafe. In the meantime be sure to indulge in the Indelible launch »

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

Many of you met Emily is person at the Boutique Cafe Girls Getaway, she’s an amazing person and mother. If you’d like to leave messages of Congratulations please feel welcome to do so in the comments below.

Congratulations Emily and Nathan – love you guys – Daria

I have a new kit and book that will be available soon. They have been true labors of love and I hope you enjoy them:
Sew-It Kit for Chronicle Books

This is a great giftable kit with 5 new sewing projects to accompany my IN STITCHES book. The kit includes fabric and notions to make one of the projects and 15 beautiful project cards, all packaged in a unique box format. Available in September 2007 from Chronicle Books. Retail $24.95.

TO ORDER DIRECT FROM CHRONICLE BOOKS (InStitches Book, Sunblooms Stationery Line or Sew-It Kit):
CALL: 1-800-722-6657 or www.chroniclebooks.com
Retail stores: 50% non-refundable discount on orders of 24 or more titles (all titles combinable for discount).
International Retail stores: To find your local distributor: exportsales@chroniclebooks.com.

Midwest Modern Book for Stewart, Tabori & Chang

My NEW book is called “Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern”. It is a home and lifestyle decor book packed with inspiring ideas covering creativity, fashion, home, garden and travel. It is loaded with beautiful photography (that my hubby, David, shot) featuring all of my fabric collections, my studio & my home. Available this October 2007. Retail $35.00. Here’s a sneak peak:

TO ORDER DIRECTLY FROM STEWART, TABORI & CHANG: CALL: 1-800-759-0190 or
www.hnabooks.com
Midwest Mod Book – SRP $35.00 AVAILABLE OCTOBER 2007
USA distributors and retailers should contact Trudi Bartow @ (212) 519-1209 for volume pricing or tbartow@hnabooks.com
Canadian distributors and retailers should contact Canadian Manda @ (416) 516-0911 or general@mandagroup.com
London Office +44 (0) 20 7713 2063
Please contact Madie Gunzi with inquires (MGunzi@abramsbooks.co.uk)

Rowan Sweet Life Bags
I am excited to tell you about my new Rowan Sweet Life Bags custom-made with my Nigella fabric. I designed these fashionable, multi-functional bags for creative passions like knitting, quilting, & crafting. The Sweet Life Bags are equally perfect on your arm as a stylish purse or shoulder bag. They are great for travel, baby care, shopping or the gym. They are loaded with smart details, organized pockets and plenty of room for stashing all of your tools and personal necessities.

There are 3 color collections made up of the 4 bag styles. The suggested retail prices range from $75.00 to $125.00. Wholesale pricing is 50% of SRP. The opening order is 12 bags total, in any combination. There is no minimum on re-orders. Orders are being taken now for the first production. Expected shipment date is August 2007.

Please contact Rowans Fabrics/Westminster Fibers directly to order the Sweet Life Bags.
Customer Service – Phone 866) 907-3305
All questions should be directed to Sarah Amrhein – Phone: (704) 329-5822
email: sarah.amrhein@westminsterfibers.com
International orders – please visit www.westminsterfibers.com for a distributor in your country.

I hope you continue to enjoy the beautiful days of summer. If you have a moment, check out a wonderful article on The New York Times website regarding the increasing popularity of sewing and knitting. One of the girls is wearing a dress made with my Belle fabric! Hurray for Sewing!!”

Take good care,
Amy
Amy Butler Design Website

Congratulations to Kim and everyone at You Can Make This, for making the creative process easy and exciting for anyone and everyone who has the desire to learn.

Here is what is up for grabs this month! Thank you to our donators!

1.Whole World Book with Sing Along CD
www.letsreadbarefoot.com

2. Heart Pendant
www.theskyrubyproject.etsy.com

3. $20 gift certificate to
www.littleangelsboutique.net

4. Free wide-vertising for 2 weeks on www.Journalmodiste.com ““ 2 ads to be given away. Front page prime location between the articles

The winners will be drawn on Thursday July 19th, so you have 4 days to click around and have FUN! Be sure to check back HERE to see if you have won!

Ready, set, GO! Let the CLICKING begin!

Thank you for taking a moment to vote for Boutique Cafe Cast your Ballot here ».

Best wishes to your family from everyone at Boutique Cafe!

Join Our Boutique Cafe Newsletter:

We can’t wait to share some HOT SUMMER DEALS with all of you!

If you have something like this in your city or town please share. What a great way to network, gain valuable contacts and support other women like you.

Visit Tyler’s website to read his amazing story and sign his guestbook @ www.ourlittlemiracle.info

Like Kenadie (whom we sent clothing to several months ago), Tyler was born with Majewski osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism. Tyler too has trouble finding clothing that fits. How can you help? Together with Swanky Moms and Journal Modiste we at Boutique Cafe are excited to get the word out, and call upon the talents of our readership to create some custom clothing that Tyler can wear.

For more information on Tyler’s measurements and where you can send clothing directly to this sweet little boy simply visit Swanky Moms. Nothing feels better than a chance to give from your heart.

The First Annual Boutique Cafe Girls Getaway weekend is officially over and if you weren’t there you really missed out. Everyone who attended had their cups of couture filled to overflowing with new experiences (many Salt Lake City first-timers), new friendships (those avatars now have real names and real faces), and lots of new ideas (“If it’s something you really believe in, you’ll be successful”—Carrie Miner from Puddle Jumpers).

Now that’s just a very small taste of the delicious weekend the attendees enjoyed. I was not able to indulge in every activity (it doesn’t help when, after over an hour of waiting, you realize you’re at the wrong Bucca di Beppo), but I did get to hang with the BC girls for the PJ Party Friday night and learn more about these wonderfully creative and inspiring women. That hotel room simply oozed creativity—and a few great stories (but that’s for us to know and perhaps non-attendees to never find out). By midnight I had OD’d on way too many bite-size candy bars but I did learn that Chicago has some of the best barbecue sauce in the U.S., Daria is a big fan of musical toothbrushes (especially those with music from the Cheetah Girls), and Preston, Idaho is home to a world-famous rodeo.

The Saturday session was quite possibly the highlight of the event with three fabulous guest speakers. My pen could hardly keep up with the great tips and ideas floating around the room. I’m sure you’ll be able to catch the conference via video in the near future, but personally meeting these women is something you won’t be able to do via broadcast. Oh, and the giveaways were something else! And yes, I actually do own a sewing machine, girls, and I promise to make good use of my gift certificate to Fashionable Fabrics.

And major kudos to Daria, who even on her deathbed managed to attend the Saturday conference and put on a brave face. With a stomach in turmoil from much more than stress about the event, Daria kept her famous smile and just-as-famous laugh intact through the whole weekend. With help from our Queen of Chat (Megan), Eva, Amelia, and many others, the First Annual BC Girls Getaway was a true success. Plans are already in the works for next year’s Second Annual BC Girls Getaway, “The Hot 100,” but that’s all I’m going to tell you. Just be sure and pencil it in so you too can fill your cup of couture to overflowing.—Emily

Join the Boutique Cafe “HOT 100 Getaway” Mailing List Email:

Click To Play

For those who may not understand what RSS is I was sent this amazing and simple explanation video (thanks Nathan and Emily). I can’t help but share it with you as RSS is a big part of Boutique Cafe. Thanks for checking this out!

Saturday April 21st at the Salt Lake City Hilton (Granite Conference Centre Room)
9 am – noon (please arrive a few minutes early)
Tickets are $25 and are pre-registration only. Email daria@boutiquecafe.com to order your ticket (space is limited)

Paint the Town PINK and Join us for Presentations from:

Amelia – Owner and Designer of  Sweet Feet Boutique.
Topic : “What I Think Hot Is All About”
Amelia will share her insights on balancing your wardrobe, what to wear for Summer and how to not overdue your look. It’s all about taking care of you!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Charlene May – Owner and Founder of Greggy Girl. Charlene will share her personal experiences in building her business from a small home-based entity, to a world wide brand.
Tips and ideas for promoting your own businesses!

Meet the gals of Boutique Cafe, Giveaways, light breakfast and networking opportunities make this a “MUST” to attend. Don’t miss out!

***Update – Liz Carlson of Chatti Patti will not be able to attend. In her place we will present:

Carrie Miner the owner of Puddle Jumper Shoes will be one of our guest speakers at the Boutique Cafe Girls Getaway next weekend. Carrie has an amazing and inspiring story of how her company grew from the dinning room to a world wide company. If you haven’t heard of Puddle Jumper Shoes you definitely need to check them out – I haven’t met a Mom yet who could resist them.

Our Event Sponsors Include:
Greggy Girl
Fiji Water
Amy Butler Design
Design-her Gals
Shade Clothing
And many many prize donators to be announced soon…

View the Listings here »

Designers and podcast fans from all over the U.S. and Canada will be attending the Boutique Café© Girls Getaway, which will include a Saturday morning conference that boasts an impressive list of guest speakers:

*Amelia: Owner of Sweet Feet Boutique and a fashion guru

*Liz Carlson: Owner/founder of Chatti Patti

*Keynote Speaker, Charlene May: Owner/founder of Greggy Girl

Attendees will learn about everything from keeping your fashion style as a mom to how to grow your business. The Saturday morning session will being at 9:00 a.m. in the Topaz Room at the Salt Lake City Hilton., and tickets are $25 in advance. Space is limited, so contact via email to reserve your spot by emailing Daria at (daria@boutiquecafe.com).

The girls are planning to give the town a thorough painting, so the BC Girls Getaway offers more than just fantastic guest speakers. The weekend is full of shopping, site seeing, pajama parties, and even the opportunity to tape exclusive product segments with Daria Muirhead, Boutique Café©’s owner and podcast hostess. And did we mention the weekend is also full of giveaways and prizes for those attending?

**Corporate sponsors of the event include Greggy Girl, Fiji Water, Amy Butler Design, Design-her Gals, and Shade Clothing as well as many prize/giveaway donators.

If it’s about boutique, if it’s about kids, if it’s about moms, if it’s about you—and if it’s about having a great time—it’s on Boutique Café©.

About Boutique Café©

Boutique Café© is the world’s first boutique podcast. Our weekly shows feature children’s couture designers and highlight topics of interest to fashion savvy moms around the world. Whether it’s a new muse, shopping for trendy outfits for your tot, or tearing your hair out over organizing your home, Boutique Café© is here to help. Besides producing a highly portable and downloadable radio show, we also support a community forum of buyers, designers, moms and professionals. Boutique Café© has experienced great success in its first seven months of operation and has gained thousands of subscribers to the show, as well as many thousands of visitors to our site each day. For more information, please visit BoutiqueCafe.com.

1. # #

Use our New Share This button to email this article to your friends/colleagues.

If you have time to pop by, listen to the show, and leave a comment I’d be so grateful! The more comments for the show, the more attention it will get from new listeners.

I hope I represented the community well, they loved the designs and actually used several pictures from our fashion shows in the m4a version of the show! Congratulations to Flowers for Lili, Hip Chick, Blue Bottle Designs, Princess Tomato, Delaney’s Garden, Little Red Wagon, MoMo’s Clothes, Oli*Beli, SunnyBrook Farm Designs and Yummy Baby who each are mentioned in their show notes and images are included in the m4a version of the show!! WOO HOO!!

Click Here to Download the show. I recommend the m4a version with images in the feed.

Thank you all so much for your support of Boutique Cafe and me as well. Thank you also to Paige and Gretchen who fell in love with our community and desired to focus on it for their audience. – Daria

CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING »

If your company is interested in joining our Spring Gift Guide, simply email daria@boutiquecafe.com and we’ll send you all the information you need.

**please feel free to grab this logo and link to our gift guide on your site.

1) One of the easiest ways to do this is by Subscribing to our show through iTunes You can do this here.

2) Another option is by writing a review of Boutique Cafe within iTunes under our listing, you’ll need to have an iTunes user account to do this but your thoughts and warmth would be appreciated in sharing our show with other moms like you.

3) A third method of support would be sharing our podcast with 3 of your friends. It’s easy to share with them, you can send them an email with our website link or you can email the shows feed directly through the iTunes store click on Tell a Friend. This allows you to customize a message and send our show to someone you think needs their Cup of Couture and more…

It doesn’t stop there – here are a few more easy ways to share your fondness for BC:

4) Share the love Fly our Banners on your website or eBay me page. You can find them right here.

5) You could also blog about our podcast in general, or even about a particular show/guest we have featured. Be sure to let us know if you blog about us, we’d love to include your blog feature in our Press pages.

6) And finally…Participation on the website. That’s an easy and fun way to support BC as well, by letting us know you dropped by or that you enjoyed our show or feature on the site. That means so much to us! We have a great Chat forum for you to join in and share more about You too.

Thank you for your kind support of Boutique Cafe – we love bringing you interesting guests and great features to inspire your lives.

Our new podcast with Wendy Bellissimo (Celebrity Nursery Designer) is now live on Boutique Cafe. We invite you to pop by this weekend and listen to her interview, she shares some great information and is truly an inspiring business woman and mother.

Now to the winning part. We want Wendy to see the interest and excitment of our Boutique Community so that’s where you come in.

Step One – listen to the podcast
Step Two – post a comment in the show notes for Wendy
Step Three – email me to let me know who Wendy’s FIRST celebrity client was (hint** the answer is in the show) send your email to daria@boutiquecafe.com (subject: WIN WITH WENDY)

We’ll draw the winner from those who complete the steps. But your hard work just might pay off”¦.

One person will win a HUGE prize!! A full Year banner ad on Boutique Cafe in our Market (they can update the banner image at any time to coincide with their listings).

This is the first time we’ve ever offered a FULL YEAR Banner Ad prize and we’re so excited to receive tons of entries.

Thank you for joining in the Wendy Bellissimo and Boutique Cafe fun! Happy listening.
Cheers,
Daria

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