The Phoenix

Have been busier than expected - the leg warmers are HOT! On Friday I sent out the last non-local Halloween order and tomorrow will begin Christmas tutus. It's been a fun fall season with several neat requests. The most unique was a Phoenix tutu.

I thought for quite awhile as to how to do this tutu.... Truthfully, I stayed up into the wee hours trying to figure out the tail. Thankfully she had sent me a few pictures of what she kind of had in mind. The tail just wasn't looking right, until I decided to flame it by cutting the strands at an angle.

She wanted the yellow to be blended down from the top, but with such a short skirt there wasn't much space to blend down. So I added shorter strips of yellow "flame" on he red to blend it at the top some. Then I decided it was too yellow, so sprinkled in some single-layer strips of red.

Left the front of the tutu with straight edges so that it didn't get too short - it was definitely a delicate balance between too short and too long with this tutu. She wanted the back to be dramatically longer than the front, but I didn't want it to be so long that the little girl would trip over it. So I took up the front some to give the back an even longer look.

A hard tutu to photograph on the hanger, even harder on the table.... But I didn't want to allow Big Brother to try it on and get it all messed up (it was his size). I'm hoping to see pictures of this little girl in her Phoenix costume.

This week it's more leg warmers and tutus, to restock my Etsy shop and prepare for my first craft fair - in 2 weeks already! Tutus on tap this week:  a peacock similar to the Phoenix, candy cane, burgandy red & hunter green.... Remember to enter my TUTU GIVEAWAY! Winner will get to choose their size and color (up to a size 5)...and I'll cover shipping as well. Just comment with what color tutu you would love to see. I will put everyone's name in a hat and draw a winner after the craft fair on November 5th.

Bring On the Baby Legs

Wearing a sweatshirt today, considering closing a window (or two) in the house, and preparing the kitchen to bake cookies (which always starts with dishes) - hoping to get to the cookie part before the kids finish napping.  Daddy-O dressed Baby Girl this morning in a long-sleeved onesie and sweat pants.  I had intentions to change her outfit after he left for work, but she's definitely needed the warm clothes today.  It's a great day for leg warmers!

I've been eyeing up knee highs in all the stores and keep reminding myself to place an order to make lots of leg warmers for the upcoming craft fair (Nov. 5th @ the MAC, free admission).  Today I was looking at material and ribbons and just about bought some, but stopped myself.  Need to match the ribbons to the socks, not the socks to the ribbon.  Still looking for some holiday socks at a reasonable price - need to keep costs low so my prices can stay low.   :D

Tutus, Tutus....



Purple, Lavender & White tutu with Purple Poppy headband

In preparation for my upcoming craft fair - maybe fairS, I've made tutus all last week.  I'm having so much fun putting the colors together and seeing how they blend once finished! This one reminds me of lilacs and pansies.



Hot Pink & Purple tutu with Hot Pink Gerber Daisy hair clip

This one reminds me of Bubbliscious Bubblegum, remember the squares that you could barely fit into your mouth once you started chewing them. Great for big bubbles! 


Hot Pink, Baby Pink & White with Yellow Peonie hair clip

Ice cold pink lemonade on a hot summer day? Perfectly pink for newborn pictures or for the girliest of girls to twirl around and around.

Am considering a couple other craft fairs this winter. We'll see. I'm nervous about this first one. The biggest questions I'm trying to answer right now are "How much inventory should I bring?" and "How am I going to display it?" My friend, Robin came over the other day to craft. She is making princess and dinosaur fleece hats. Oh so cute!

'शयपत्री' The Hundred Leaf Flower (aka. Marigold)



Marigold hair clip

Naturally golden in color, marigolds can be found all over the world in different varieties. I remember my mom always harvesting the flower heads for seeds the next season. She has advised me to grow them in my garden to keep the insects away from my veggies. Though I didn't have much problem with insects this year, I'll have to remember this next year. We were just so busy with getting the boxes together and mulch down, that I forgot to plant a row or two. (Never got around to planting my dill either, until I just bought a small pot from Sunflower Market this week. Lets hope it grows in enough to survive before the frost comes.)

Marigolds are used as a culinary herb to make an anise-flavored tea and as a substitute for tarragon. The marigold used in the Ukraine is said to have a flavor that's a mixture of basil, tarragon, mint, and citrus. Maybe I'll get creative next year and try it with our zucchini blossoms - something else we haven't tried yet.



Marigold hair clip

Attached to a partially lined alligator clip (full size clip) this marigold can be used as a barette or to adorn ponytails, braids, tutus....just about anything you can clip to. It is smaller than most of my flower clips, with a diameter of approximately 2.5 inches. A wonderful summer-autumn flower for those of us embracing the fall.

Don't forget to enter my TUTU & FLOWER GIVEAWAY by commenting what color tutu you would love to have! (If you're having trouble commenting on Blogspot - which I know has happened - you can also comment on the Ellie Grace Facebook Page.)

Tutu & Hair Clip Giveaway!



Purple & hot pink tutu with hot pink gerber daisy clip.

Announcing my first craft show: November 5th 9am-3pm at the MAC in Westminster, CO (72nd & Irving).

In celebration, I'm giving away a custom tutu and hair clip (or headband). Just comment here with what color tutu you would love to have and what size I should stock for the show. A winner will be drawn November 5th.
Comment on Facebook or here to enter.

Note:  Commenting what color & size you would like does not place an order with me or commit you to that specific tutu should you win.

Violet Purple Memories

I'm getting ready for my very first craft show (as a vendor)!   Nervous, yes.  Excited, yes.  It's just a small one at the local rec center and I go with a friend to register tomorrow.  In the spirit of getting ready, I've been making tutus to build an inventory.  There are so many questions to work through: how much inventory do I need?  Special prices or bundles?  How will I display everything - tables, hangers, headband & hair clip holders?  How much change should I have on hand?  Do I need credit card capabilities?  Should I accept checks?

Purple, lavender & white tutu with purple poppy headband.

Photographed Baby Girl in the newest tutu this morning.  Everytime I sat her up on the bed to get a nice sitting picture, she would flop backwards and throw her feet up.  So we moved it outside for a little bit.  Then she was interested in everything but the camera.  I love how the sun caught the crystal in the center of the flower on this one.



Purple, lavender & white tutu with purple poppy headband.

I decided to start with some purple tutus, since that has been the color request lately.  Will probably be sending this one out to our friends, Steph & Mike whose baby girl is due next month.  A great color to cut into all the pink stuff!

Was looking at this one last night and trying to decide what it reminds me of. The royal purple and lavender brings a flood of memories. The first thing that came to mind was my grandma's pansies. Alongside and in front of her tiny, "cracker box" house she grew little white lillies (the name is escaping me right now) and pansies. She would always pluck a pansie and pull off the petals reciting a rhyme about a little lady washing her feet. Truthfully, I think the little lady in the middle of the pansie looks more like a tiny lady in a white ball gown.



Baby Girl is looking for Daddy and Big Brother (who have left for school & work already), repeating "Eee dat daddy? Eee dat daddy?"   (Purple, lavender & white tutu with periwinkle polka-dot ruffle baby leg warmers.)

The next thing I thought of when contemplating this tutu was an old boyfriend's mom who used to grow tons of African Violets of various shades.  Noticed while I was home last weekend that my mother-in-law is also growing some on the window sill abover her kitchen sink.  I used to love checking out all of her velvety violets in all the different shades of violet, lavender, and white.

Purple, lavender & white tutu with marigold hair clip.

Lilacs.  Even though my grandma was allergic to them, I always associate them with her.  Thank you, Jenny for saying these are lilac colors!  And, of course, I've been admiring all the lavender stalks in bloom around town this summer....and if you happen to be lucky enough to be up in the high country of the Rocky Mountains, find yourself a Columbine flower. My husband's favorite purple association is the Colorado Rockies! Sure my son would agree. :D

Purple, lavender & white tutu with periwinkle polka-dot ruffle baby leg warmers and purple poppy headband.

Hubby-proof Chrysanthemums

Hubby has nearly finished our new deck (just need to stain & seal it still and I hear that's the not-so-fun part). One of these days we will have time, hands, and a dry day to get it done. I was so excited when he was finishing the planter boxes (instead of a railing on the low side) that I went out and bought some yellow and red mums. Well, back to the staining & sealing bit.... Guess my shopping was a little too early and they've been sitting in their pots in the garden until I can plant them in their boxes. Long story short, left Hubby home for a week while I took the kids to see grandparents.... and now I don't have to worry about planting the mums. It will be Hubby's job once he has the planters ready and buys some new ones.

An autumn flower, mums have many meanings and uses. Some people say that the Chrysanthemum symbolizes honesty and they are a traditional gift for Mother's Day in Australia. In Japan a Chrysanthemum sweet tea is made and used for many uses, including the flu. Other medicinal uses that have been found include being antibacterial and possibly an anti-HIV drug. On a gardening related note, pulverized flowers are used as insecticides. Will have to look into if it's safe to use in vegetable gardens - the earwigs haven't been too bad this year, but they still creep me out.

HUBBY-PROOF CHRYSANTHEMUM

Golden yellow and orange mum hair clips, 4" in diameter. Are you ready for fall?