Shop thredUP for the Upcoming Holidays!

Why spend $60 on a size 2T blazer or dress for holiday card pictures or parties when you can buy one for up to 75% off on thredUP?  With 100,000 items on the site, they are a consignment clothing superstore! 

Check out thredUP online for more great Holiday looks!!

Libbie & Winston, Oh How We Do Love You!

As you know, we are all about Etsy and we LOVE promoting the growing businesses found on the site! We recently connected with Anna, owner of the shop, Libbie & Winston, on Etsy and were able to check out some of her designs, as well as ask her a few questions to help you, our readers, get to know her and her business. We think she is absolutely FABULOUS and we know you will too!

{Polka Dot Girl Baby Month Onesies Set 3,6,9,12 months $28}

Q:  Tell us a little bit about yourself + your business, Libbie & Winston.

A:  I'll try and keep this short, sweet and to the point - I can ramble...Let's start with the business - L+W is named after my two dogs, Libbie & Winston (who make having a 12 month old seem like a piece of cake!).  After finishing grad school (I earned my master's in interior design) and being pregnant I knew looking for a "real" job would be difficult. While I was pregnant I had made a few "iron-on" onesies, dog shirts etc for fun - after a few friends showed interest in the shirts through Facebook, L+W was born in one quick afternoon!  I never really thought it would grow as quickly as it has, but it has been non-stop crazy fun ever since!  I quickly realized my iron, cookie sheet (for heat) and biceps weren't meant for this business and traded in for a heat press to make things slightly more official.  Although L+W started with only onesies and children's tees, I have recently started offering iPhone cases, melamine dinnerware, and other home accessories.  

As for a little bit about myself  - I spend most of my days chasing around my 12m old and am learning how to handle messes (I'm slightly OCD about clutter) and spend my nights attached to my computer working - (sorry for the 2am proofs).  My husband is in his LAST year of medical school (hooray!) and is sometimes recruited to work with me - he's a great invoicer, packer and shipper.

{Chevron Monogram Personalized Cell Phone or iPhone Case $35.00}

Q: When did the light bulb go off for you to begin your shop?

A: After a few orders from friends, I started a Facebook page to see what would happen and have had a blast!

{Plaid Baby Boy Month Onesies $75}

Q: What is the best part about being a small business owner and entrepreneur?

A: Being able to stay at home with my daughter and work on my own schedule is the best part.  I also LOVE all aspects of doing every part of this business - I LOVE working with my customers directly to make exactly what they want for the product while also being able to sit back and just design products that I LOVE, too.  I LOVE getting feedback from my customers and hearing that they are pleased with their purchases.  

Q: What is up next for you?

A: Check back after Christmas - my goal right now is to just make it through the holidays and make sure all my customers get their items on time!  One thing that keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the to-do list is my blog - I am dying to get it up and running, but more important orders etc have taken priority! 

LOVE what you see here? Check out Anna's shop on Etsy - Libbie & Winston for these and her 50+ other designs! Thank you Anna for chatting with us!

Dress Your Little Star in Little Trendstar!

We just LOVE Little Trendstar apparel for kids! These designer tees and onesies are oh so soft, made from 100% cotton, and COMPLETELY adorable! We had a chance to chat with Nicole, the owner and designer! 

{Tell us about yourself + your business Little Trendstar.}

I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a love for graphic design and fashion. I studied graphic communication at the College of Creative Studies in Detroit where I was able to really learn form and function and be introduced to the aesthetics of great design. From this knowledge, I have been able to spread my passion over two separate endeavors. A few years after college, I started a graphic/web design firm, with my husband, called Formcode Design Group. We have co-owned Formcode for 11 years and in that time I have been able to do what I love every day. Although Formcode and that aspect of design is important, the artist (and fashion aficionado) in me, couldn't help but branch off into different aspects of creativity. 

Little Trendstar came about as an outlet for these two affections. It began shortly after the birth of my second son. I was tired of the selection of clothes for boys. They were seriously lacking in the design department. I am personally drawn to bold, modern lines and clean, graphic shapes. And I was finding none of that in the stores. So, with Little Trendstar I am able to take this preference and create graphic, modern t-shirts that make bold statements. I try to create shirts that I call "stage-worthy", a design that would be worthy of getting noticed. Shirts that would not only look great on my boys, but look great on any kid wearing them. 

Both of my companies have really been a great compliment to each other and I am so thankful for that. My abilities as a graphic/web designer have helped me to create the Little Trendstar website and the additional online components. And the experience I have in creating marketing materials, and art-directing photoshoots, has really helped me bring the Little Trendstar brand to life. I'm lucky to have a balance with both businesses and I love that they can thrive and grow together. 

{What inspired the name?}

The name was a bit of a play on words. I was toying around with a bunch of different options, but I wanted something to encompass the feel of the brand. I knew I wanted the brand and the design to be considered trendsetting and I knew that I wanted to play off the stage-worthy "star quality" aspect. So once I had those two components, merging them together made sense. And "little", well that word was a given! LOL. 

{When did you realize you wanted your own children's line?} 

Definitely my two boys helped push me in this direction, but children's clothing really is a great market. You have the best demographic for your designs, kids look great in everything and their spirit and personalities are so free. I can really have fun with the graphics and be open to funky and fun designs that would be hard to market on adult shirts. 

Also, every time I put my t-shirt designs on my two boys, I know I have chosen the right niche. 

{What is your best seller?}

I've been lucky that most of the designs have done well, but there are a few that I need to reorder faster than others. The Benatar, Old School, Rockabilly, and Clash are always at the top of the list. I was fortunate enough to spot a photo recently of Gwen Stefani's son, Zuma, wearing the Rockabilly tee. That design was my nod to the rockabilly sub culture and the great style that derives from that scene. It was great to see a "rockstar's" son wearing it. 

{What is up next for you?}

I'm currently working on some new designs for the spring and I'm hoping to grow the Little Trendstar brand in the future. My goal is to open it up to hoodies, beanies, and accessories down the line. And due to some interest, I have also considered offering some of my designs in adult sizes. We will see, but for now I am just enjoying the ride!

We want to thank Nicole for taking the time to chat with us! Now click your way over to the Little Trendstar website and pick up your favorite tees for your little babes! 

Also, make sure you "LIKE" Little Trendstar on their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter!

A special thank you to Rachel Florio of Rachel Florio PR for putting us in contact with Nicole!

HOT new item for the babes!

Have you heard of illia designs? Well, we are big fans and we got word that they have just listed new ready to ship dresses! These dresses are available in limited quantities & sizes.

 So head over and visit www.illiadesigns.bigcartel.com Enter code "illia10" at checkout to save 10% off!