Bowznstuff and the Disney Princesses!

Its time for an ultimate piece of Bowznstuff Boutique applique disney delight! I have long dreamed of a set including all 4 princesses and when Kathy Fronzak showed me her pixie pals Disney Princesses I knew my time had come! This is another collaboration between Bowznstuff, pixie*dust*studios and creme*de*la*gems.
Each Princess has her own corner of the skirt featuring a piece of her story, a kiss for Aurora, an apple for Snow White, a glass slipper for Cinderella and a rose for Belle. The shirred back top features a fairy tale tree, the words, "Princess Dreams Believe" and lots of fun details. The set is completed by a super sparkly gold sequin mini tutu. You can see this fabulous custom sized set here, and all the other pieces in the collection right here.

Bowznstuff Boutique Custom Twilight and Queen fun!

The ole machines back at Bowznstuff headquaters have been working overtime the past few days! Two very different themes, both adding up to a load of boutique custom fun! The first is part of the Ebay Steampunk launch. I chose Alice in Wonderland as my leitmotif to create this fabulous Boutique Custom Queen of Hearts set - just the thing for a trip to Disney, straight from an era of corsets and bustles, fancy hats and time travel ambitions. You can see my set here and the rest of the Boutique Custom Steampunk creations right here.



Also my Sugar3 friends and I have been cooking up a Twilight collab for sometime now. I originally read Twilight whilst in hopsital last December - it was the PERFECT place to read the series - confined to my bed with nothing but time to read, read, fall in love with Edward and then Jacob and then Edward again and then read some more - fabulous! You can see my Twilight creations here and all the other Twilight Sugar, Edward and Bella Tote, Edward in Training boutique custom boys set and Twilight jewels right here.

Boutique Custom Fall, giveaway and holidays

Ah yes it may be baking hot outside but in the world of boutique custom girls clothes it is way past time to turn your undivided attention to the Fall wardrobe LOL! Surprisingly and unsurprisngly as the case may be at the start of every boutique custom season, that very first seasonal outfit I make, I think to myself - ah I never want this to end - Summer is particuarly like that. The first summer outfit of the season makes me long for a year long summer season. But then come June I get a hankering for autumnal tones - oranges and browns and lace and cord and velvet and PUMPKINS! So here it is the very first Bowznstuff Boutique Fall outfit of the season complete with all of the above - oranges and browns, lace AND what I personally think may be the pumpkin to end ALL pumpkins - a rather cauute pumpkin hat! You can see more of the set here. This is also part of a Bowznstuff collaboration so you can find the artwork and tote here, the jewels here and shoes here.



There is also a rather fab giveaway going on over at the Sugar3 blog - very simple - just go and check out the Sugar3 auctions here and then go over to the blog here and say which is your fav - some great pizes - including these hairbows plus a necklace and a reversible crayon apron!


Today marks the first day of the mid-year school break - most schools here stick to the standard 2 week break but our school goes for the big cahoona - 3 weeks and 2 days! That means lots of time for fun and more time for blogging about our fun so stay tuned. Oh and one more thing I've had lost of questions lately about Bowznstuff sewing patterns and hairbow instructions - for immediate download you can by them off my site.

Romeo Romeo wherefore art thou?

Haning out in the Sugar Cube as it happens. You know I love my collaborations and I am particuarly excited about this one!!! Working with my top girls and the theme - ohhh the theme!!!! I love Romeo and Juliet in all it's versions - the original play of course - the Baz Luhrmann film AND sound track, other versions like West Side Story, the Taylor Swift song, yep I love it all. So I was so so excited to work on this colalboration - it was a labour of love to be sure but oh so worth it!
You can find the whole collaboration here.
Here is my interpretation.


Kahty's amazing tote featuring her interpretation of Romeo and Juliet that is featured on the dress and in the jewels.


And the fabulous gems by creme*de*la*gems.

In other Boutique news - there is a great giveaway going on over at This is Boutique - just go and leave a comment on this post and you will go into a draw for a super dooper boutique prize!

And lastly I have a question...who would you rate as the greatest couple of all time?

Ballet Hair, Rag Doll Dresses and Unicorns.

So here I am, as promised back with lots of news and photos and even a hairstyle! Go me! So lets start with hair. As I mentioned, having survived the shock of Back to School, a little over um 3 months ago I have actually managed to revive my morning hair routine. I've become particualarly partial to rows of knots. I like the knot. I am not so fond of a single knot, but a row of knots, now that is something. First up it is quick and easy - who can't tie a simple knot? Secondly it looks interesting and in a row if you aren't a hair guru you sort of look at it and think...mmmm how did she do THAT - looks complicated! Meanwhile you can chuckle away to yourself knowing all the while that it is just a knot! I like to combine my knots with other little decorative simple styles. My combo style of perference at the moment has been twists. There are so many variations on the knot twist combo that it could keep you busy for weeks! So to start us off, a quick recap on what a knot is.
So you take your section of hair, divide it in half and tie a knot, like so.

Knots are particularly good in damp hair. This is just one knot, to do a row, just keep knotting till you get as far along as you like.

So on Saturday I used the knot twist combo for ballet hair. Usually when I do ballet twists, like most people I do a t-part and do a twist either side leading back into the bun, but really why limit yourself when there is so much more fun to be had. So for this week's style, I sectioned off the back of the hair for a pony tail and then divided the front part into three sections like so.


After putting the back part into a nice tight pony I started with one of the side pieces. You simply twist inwards until you get near the pony and then secure with an elastic.

Repeat on the other side so you have a real Princess line twist going.


And now with the centre piece we are going to knot. Just keep knotting till you get to the pony and secure it with elastics - by this time you will have 4 elastics round your pony. This is perfect for a dance style - nice a secure.

Don't those knots look cool!

So now all is left to do is pop in a ballet bun - you can find instructions here and a bow and voila!

As I said there are so many variations on this style - during the week I had a row of knots on one side and three mini twists on the other like so. You see the possibilities..endless.



Speaking of endless, I have been spending what seems like endless hours at my sewing machine in a bid to clear my custom list. The Bowznstuff List is temporarily closed so at the moment the only way you can get your Bowznstuff is to bid! Two new sets up at the moment...the first is a vintage meets cute Raggedy Ann set - I've been saving that piece of Raggedy Ann fabric used for the knickers forever, I am so pleased to finally reveal it. You can see more here.


And just listed today a Bowznstuff Collaboration between Lula*Bee*Boutique who you can find here and myself. Lula*Bee does among other things the sweetest patchwork skirts and dresses - I love to look at them!
You can find my set here and the matching sister set here.

Top to Toe and a Giveaway

I don't know about you guys but I LOVE top to toe coordinating outfits - probably why I like bows so much and hair - just gives you that extra edge to really finish off a look. I mentioned in my last post about an upcoming Bowznstuff Collaboration and if it is top to toe you are looking for - we've got you covered baby. My latest set, a celebration of Earth Day features the amazing artwork of children's artist Kathy Fronzak who created the most divine little Garden Fairy. I think she might just be one of my favorite of Kathy's fairies EVER - which is unusal for me as she is not..well ummmm....pink! You see you take a little step outside your comfort zone and you might just find something you like even more!
So here is my set and bows here.




And then here is Kathy's handpainted tote.

And then here are some amazing jewels by Tracy of creme*de*la*gems



And finally to completely have you matched to the tips of your toes some fabulous handpainted sweettoesboutique FUN! I LOVE these!





And a giveaway...I believe I mentioned a giveaway did I not? Over on my other blog, I was very excited to interview the lady behind Gock's Frocks - she makes the cutest twirly skirts with all your FAV fabrics - if you head on over here you can leave a comment to win a $30 gift voucher plus free shipping at her Etsy store. So go get em girls! Hope one of your guys wins :) How cool is that! There'll be lots of fun giveaways over there so I'll keep you posted!

We also have some visitors this weekend - so I shall have to show you them too :)

till next time :)

Back to School, Red Ribbon, a new Blog and a Bowznstuff Collab!

Wow that's a LONG title! Still there has been alot going on here the past few days. First up, school is back after our 2 week term break. Second term means Winter Uniform which was kind of a big thing here. Loughie is finally allowed to graduate from shorts to long pants - archaic I know but there you go. And Hettie, her first year in big school marks the transition to the ugliest and I mean THE ugliest tracksuit, training suit, leisure suit, whatever it is you want to call the horrid thing to a tunic and shirt with puff sleeves!!!!!



Now red ribbon - yes this really did get my goat today - for some reason, when I reach into my ribbon stash for the big ole roll of red ribbon it always ends in tears! Bows have been known to fly across the room, they always get pulled apart and put back together! It is a proved FACT that red ribbon is just harder to work with than other kinds. If its got spots - FINE, just fine but just regular red ribbon, it must be the dye - it is sort of soft and whimpy and gives me the PIP!


Right now that that is out of my system, on to a much more cheerful topic - a new blog. Over the past four years I have spent a good deal of my time involved in the Boutique Custom Community. I love it, it fascinates and excites me, so much so that I decided a few months back to embark on a new project - a brand new celebrity style blog especially designed for the boutique custom community and boy has it been fun - WORK but fun! This is Boutique provides up to the minute news and gossip about the Boutique Custom Community. It is designed to showcase designers, inform, amuse and market. So if you are at all interested in the world that is Boutique Custom - head on over and check it out - you are sure to find something fun! Click here to see more.



Its also listing day for Bowznstuff - and what could be MORE fun than a Bowznstuff listing? Why a Bownstuff collaboration - thats what - and this one is fab. Pixie*dust*studio, creme*de*la*gems, sweettoesboutique AND Bowznstuff present to you a little Fairy straight from Kathy's imagination...stay tuned to see more but here is a sneaky peak!



Oh and before I forget, Sugar3 is having a FAB giveaway - its almost over but there is still time. You could win this! Just head on over here and leave a comment.

Lunch, Winners and Vintage Easter

Lunch, more specifically Lunch Boxes , cut lunches, school lunches, whatever you like to call them, to me they are like a little punishment each day. I'm sure my own mother felt this way too. I clearly remember one dreary lunchtime, banished outdoors, sitting under a tree, the ground was hard, I had a few gumnut wedged into my behind, miserably chomping down on a sandwich thinking, "boy this is even worse than usual". And do you know what, it was worse, much worse. As I stopped my miserable munching to inspect the sandwich for some cause of its particular distastefullness I found it, in the form of green mould. Thinking back to school mornings, I can remember my mum whittering on about hating to make lunches and so it doesn't really surprise me that she made me a mouldy sandwich - now all these years later I can understand the how the dreary, daily task could send you into such a stupor that you woudn't notice that the appalling state of the bread you were using. On the upside after that day for the rest of my school life I was just given money to buy my lunch which was a winner for everyone - no more mouldy bread and no more lunch duty for mum. When I line those lunch boxes up, I am overcome with the stultifying sameness of my daily job. It begins in the supermaket, each week hoping to find some magical lunchbox solution of which there clearly are none, at least not long term ones. Looking hopelessly for something healthy, easy to pack, appealing but not bank breakingly expensive - it doesn't exist - I repeat, does not exist. And so each morning the same routine plays - trying to balance the contents of the lunchbox. It should be healthy, it should be something they like to eat but also it need not to be too time consuming to make. And so I go about my little task, putting things in, deciding there is too much junk, not enough fruit, too many things, too few things, and so it goes on, putting in, taking out, sighing with the sameness of it all. I have taken to getting up extra early in the morning and walking to the bakery to buy a roll for each child. This I have found to be a particular hit on all fronts. For a start a roll is big and looks impressive in the lunch box. My children like rolls AND they are DIFFERENT from sandwiches so there is a plus. But you know it is sort of hard to get too worked up with excitment, even for a successful lunchbox find because at the end of the day what is the reward for it all - a smelly lunchbox with icky stuff spread all over the leftover contents!


Ahh so rant over, time for a winner! The winner of the first Followers Giveaway is Lysann! Congratulations!!! And if you didn't win this time, do not fear - I like this giveaway format - again a win win situation, bit like the roll arrangement, so there will be more!

Unlike lunchboxes, my sewing has none of that samess about it! Last week saw a mighty find Punk collaboration and this week we have swung to the opposite extreme, sweet vintage Easter.

This is once again a Sugar3 collaboration between me, Pixie*dust*Studio, creme*de*la*gems,
nanabobana! and sweet*toes*boutique. It is a very cool multi piece set that can be mixed in matched in a wide variety of ways. So for example the little bunny apronette is detachable, and you can wear it with either the apron overdress or the peasant top so it is a fabuluos set for Easter and beyond




You can see more here
or search Sugar3 to find all the coordinating pieces.




That's it for me today BUT I'll be back with some new ballet hair! Oh and I have restocked my store on Etsy with a wide variety - a bit of Bowznstuff for everyone! Click here to see.

Hair Candy Giveaway, Meatloaf and new Bowznstuff

So first up we are well overdue for a giveaway. This time it is for my blog followers - so if you aren't one - go over the the sidebar and become one - next Wednesday I will choose at random one blog follower to send a very special tin of Bowznstuff Hair Candy - these a tins of fun hair accessories - clippies, beaded barrettes, bows - here's a photo - just as an example.

And next up - a British Invasion!

Some new Bowznstuff -as promised here is the Bowznstuff Punk Set - meet Scarlet Fisk, sister to Yardley Fisk....Fairy Sweet's love interest.
Here are Yardley and Scarlet - could you get two cuter punks!?

You can find the Bowznstuff set here and Tracy's boy set here.

And what makes this whole thing better is that it was a Bowznstuff collaboration with some true Ebay Legends - Kathy of pixie*dust*studios with the tote, and my two fav Tracy's, pb&j*creations AND the icing on the cake as always creme*de*la*gems.




Also Fairy Sweet has a booth all of her very own at the Twilight Market - all her listings start at .99 including this tin of Bowznstuff Hair Candy.


And now as promised....meatloaf. There is this wiiiiieeerd second hand book store near me - so strange! Normally I LOVE second hand book stores, luv em...but this one has a strange kind of vibe ya know?! But I could not resist THIS book when I wandered past last week - how funny is this?

I think my favorite part is the motto...


and I must say I am rather partial to this "technique" tip. "Fare as carefree as meatloaf is pretty much without technique, but here are a few tips to help you turn out a sublime meat loaf every time" Love that!


And just as an example of how odd the shop was - when I went in and took the book to the man who I assumed must be the owner but was deeply engrossed in some really really really strange book, he didn't look at me, just took the book and looked intently inside then handed it back to me and said $9.00. THEN because I was in the middle of the shop where he was sitting not at the counter I had to put my bag on the floor while I scrambled around in my purse for the money and then when I handed it to him, no eye contact, nothing just sat there and kept reading, without giving me my meatloaf book. I just sort of stood there awkwardly for a minute, then still without looking up from his book, eventually he grunted and sort of shoved the book at me. Strange, but worth it for the meatloaf book!