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So, I'm sorry it was so hard to narrow down photos...and I only know how to put them in a single column on this darned blog...but HERE THEY ARE!!
Alex. Dress from Miso Fly. Amanda Headband. Emily Ivey Photography. Jessica Hunter make-up artistry.
Kaylie. Cream Poppy Headband. Only a photographer like Emily Ivey could make this dead-looking bush (to me) look BE.A.U.TI.FUL!
Kaylie. Cream Poppy Headband. Cindy Turner Photography.
Alex. Miso Fly Jacket. (I wanted it, but now it's gone. Booooo.) Maya Headband. Fab shot by Cindy Turner Photography.
T-B: Alex, Kaylie, Brooke. Jackets from Miso Fly. Various Hair Pieces. Lovely photo by Hanssie Trainor Photography.
Brooke. Miso Fly Jacket. Natasha Headband. Hanssie Trainor Photography.
Kaylie. Black Jumpsuit from Miso Fly. Lindsey in Gold Headband. Hanssie Trainor Photography. Jessica Hunter Make-up on all photos!
Alex. Coat from Miso Fly. Because we all wear our gorgeous Miso Fly jackets in trees. =) Hanssie Trainor Photography.
Sasha Headband. On my Grandma's piano. And Hanssie didn't even know how special that photo was going to be to me. =) Hanssie Trainor Photography.
Brooke. Blue shirt from Miso Fly. Jesse Headband. Emily Ivey Photography.
Kaylie & Alex. Jackets from Miso Fly. Kaylie is wearing Leila Feather Headband. Alex-Sasha Headband. Emily Ivey Photography. And look at that GORGEOUS make-up!! Love it! Done by Jessica Hunter.
Kaylie, Alex & Brooke. Alex is wearing Miso Fly jacket. Various B&B Headbands. Emily Ivey Photography.
After the Great Gatsby shoot, I mustered up the nerve to try to get into a lovely boutique store in Redlands (& Rancho Cucamonga), called Miso Fly. They bought some headbands during the holiday season, and they flew off the shelves! It was so exciting!! I had to take more in before New Years! What a great feeling to have something that you made be loved by others! And to have your stuff sell in a store that you love...it's quite an experience!
Shortly after all this, Hanssie suggested that we do a B&B Couture shoot...just for ME! Ahhhhh! I was jumping for joy. She put the word out to models and more, and away we went. We talked over suggestions; I got clarity on my vision and what I wanted to create, and with the help of many, my vision became reality! We had three amazing photographers: Hanssie of Hanssie Trainor Photography, Emily of Emily Ivey Photography, and Cindy of Cindy Turner Photography. (Just add a .com to any of those, and you'll be at their site. =)) We got some BEAUTIFUL clothing from Miso Fly, and with our three gorgeous & fun models, Kaylie Wilson, Alex Oakley and Brooke Conlin, we were just about set. Last, but definitely not least, we had a wonderful make-up artist, named Jessica Hunter (jessicahunterartistry@gmail.com)! She did such a wonderful job making our models even more lovely! I can't thank all these people enough!
The shoot was done locally, and I was looking for several looks. First was a monochromatic sort of look with light make-up, to allow my hair pieces to really "pop." Second, I wanted a sort-of couture, high fashion look. And third, fourth, and fifth...well, we just didn't have time to do all the things I wanted, so we'll be doing some more fun stuff later! Just an excuse for more fun! I can say that we had such a great time. We used about every second of daylight that we had, did several make-up changes, plenty of clothing changes (the dressing room was...uh...dangerous, to say the least!). And I made my models & photogs pig out with some yummy food that I prepared for them! Anyway, I think it was a hit...and so did others. IeStyle Magazine saw the photos on Miso Fly's site and wanted to do a spread in their magazine! So we got published! You can get a magazine at many local Inland Empire boutiques, or view it online at http://www.iestylemagazine.com.
This car was a "beaute," and it's owner LOVED it...so much that he was washing windows in the middle of the shoot. Too bad I don't have a photo of HIM. =) This is the happy couple Tristen & Kevin as captured by their upcoming wedding photographer Garrett Davis.
Teran Sheffer is modeling my Camille Headband. Photo courtesy of: Theresa Minnette Photography
I love this beautiful shot of Tristen & Kevin taken by Greg Fiske. Tristen is modeling the Marilyn Headband.
Not too long before he can "kiss the bride." Officially. Awwwww. Had to show another photo of them because it was so kissy-kissy cute! Photo by Garrett Davis Photography.
So, with business plugging along, I went forward with another photo shoot. The theme was "The Great Gatsby." I had to read that book in high school, but I personally don't remember ANYTHING in it. =) I've heard that it wasn't the happiest story...but I think we were going more for the style of the times than the storyline.
We got some models, some real couples, about 50 photographers, hair & make-up artists, vintage clothing, amazing hairpieces, a GORGEOUS vintage car & we had the makings of a FABULOUS day! We were in downtown Claremont, borrowing the studio of the very generous, gifted photographer Garrett Davis of Garrett Davis Photography. I never knew how quaint downtown Claremont was! The enormous, old trees, the lovely train station, the muted buzz of people at the local shops. It reminded me so much of Ohio, the place where I grew up...a place that will always be home to me.
We had various settings for the day; an indoor lighting session (as this was a learning forum for photogs), a session outside with the real couple (Tristen & Kevin...who are clients of Garrett's & getting married in a few weeks!), a session at the frat house, one at the train station. It was great. I had a chance to meet so many new people & had a great time! Not to mention, the photos of my hairpieces were amazing! To top it all off, I reunited with an old friend who I hadn't seen in about 13 years (Emily Ivey)...who happens to be a wonderful photographer! You will definitely see some of her photos in posts yet to come!
Once again, I will post links as soon as I figure it out. If you see something you like, but cannot find that biz online, please contact me at bowsnberries@aol.com. =)
One of my favorite photos from the shoot...don't know why it's showing up so small on my blog. Sorry! Headband: Leila feather headband. Model: Tiffany Amber. Photo: Sarah Caperton Photography.
Super cute! Headband: Lindsey Headband. Models: Joseph Sandoval, Stevie Marshalek. Photo: Julie Irene Photography.
Again. Don't know why the photo is showing up so small...Grrrr! I'm annoyed because I LOVE this photo. Headband: Lindsey Headband. Model: Lindsey Addie (the headband was named after her because she made it more beautiful!). Photo: Greg Bumatay of Bumatay Studio.
And last, but certainly not least, one of my very FAVE photos! Again, it is the Leila Headband, modeled by the beautiful Tiffany Amber. And again, the photo is from Sarah Caperton Photography.
So, now that you've heard the lovely history of my children's line, I get to share a little bit about my B&B Couture line of hair-wear.
It all started one day, when I saw a cute sort-of bejeweled women's headband. I knew I wanted to try to make something similar. So I searched the web, researching places to buy materials, seeing who had the best of what I liked (because not all materials are created equal), and got started! My first headband was the "Marilyn." As in Monroe. I name my hairpieces for people who they remind me of. Or characteristics that I think go along with a certain name; like GLAMOROUS, FIERCE, CLASSIC... Weird? Maybe. It's just how I do things. I fell in love with that headband. I have the first one that I made. I still wear it. It's absolutely stunning and definitely a head-turner. I first wore it to a small play in Palm Springs and got looks from the other ladies in the audience...the look that says, "I hate you. Why do you look so cute? Ugh." I know it's a little vain, but sometimes it's nice to be the cute one. (Hey, being the mother of 5...it doesn't happen often!) I got great comments on it from friends and family, and I knew there must be a market for something like this in my area...the "I.E." So, there I went, on my way to "couture."
I know this is kind-of long, but it's my story, so I'll write and if you're bored, tune in later!
I happened across an old acquaintance from high school who now happens to be a "couture" photographer. She is amazing. I loved her work and noticed that she does a lot of "themed" photo shoots. I contacted her about using my stuff in her shoots; she said "Yes, please" and the rest is history. I am including just a few photos from the first shoot (that she actually coordinated so she wasn't able to take many photos...you'll see hers later). Her name is Hanssie Trainor of Hanssie Trainor Photography. Still don't know how to post links, so I'll just give you the address, and update when I figure this whole blogging thing out! Her site can be found at http://www.hanssietrainorphotography.com.
And to everyone else who has helped me along the way and pushed me to be what I wasn't sure I could be and to do what I wasn't sure I could do...especially my hubby, my cousin Holly, my Pops, my best customer Sue-Sue, Emily, and my mom who "invested on the ground floor." =P
...God created the heavens and the earth."
Oh wait, I'm not telling about THAT beginning. Right now I want to tell you about the humble beginning of Bows-n-Berries. Pictures first...story below.
My very first uh...bow? It's not too pretty...but it is part of my humble beginning. So keep your mean comments to YOURSELF! =)
My 2nd bow. Not much better than my first.
Super cute! Now we're getting somewhere!
Throw some cute clippies on a cute girl & we're in BIZ!
Getting better...
One of my favorite things to do...custom bows to match outfits/occastions! Love this one!
There's not much to tell really. About a year ago, I picked up some hair bows for my kids at a boutique store for our first family pictures since the twins' birth. They were very cute little hair bows. We liked them. They were great. But the more my hubby looked at them, he kept insisting that I could make these adorable creations. Me? Really? Hmmmm....in all my spare time with 5 children? I ignored the comments. Forgot about them even.
But then one day, about 3-4 months later, I had the urge to take a look at those darned hair clips. "Could I really make these?" I wondered. I USED to be the crafty type...sort of. But I wasn't sure I still had it "in me." I casually mentioned it to my husband, knowing full well that he would discourage me from trying it now that he had actually had time to think about it. Nope. He encouraged me, and I found every free video and bit of instruction I could on the matter, and off to work I went. I glued, I tied, I burned a few fingers...and whaddayaknow? I made some bows. Not too pretty at first. But bows! It quickly became addicting. I wanted to make the cute bows that I bought at Nordstrom for so many years! Lots of practice & patience and voila!! I did it! And I began to do a very good job at it! No messy glue globs and loose ends like so many bows you see out there. I wanted to make and sell something that I would actually want to buy!
Then came the website...http://www.bowsnberries.com. I know it's not the best, but it's what I can do for now. For not being a custom bow website, I think it's pretty nice. I did it using my Mac's iWeb program. Couldn't have been easier! I did my web hosting through http://www.hostmonster.com. They've been amazing with all my little tech questions. That's about it for the beginning of my company. "Them's the berries," as my Mama would say. Bows-n-Berries. =) You'll have to tune in later for the beginnings of B&B Couture.
Well, folks...here it is. My first blog post. I am completely new at this, so I will try my best not to bore you...but given the fact that I'm a new blogger, making that a promise would be like saying I'll stop eating chocolate. I just can't say it with conviction.
I am told that small biz owners should blog. So...I'm going to "give it a whirl." I want to start by saying that it is a mistake to think you can try to start a blog, cook lunch, and watch 2 year-old twins all at the same time. I was doing great, I could see their little heads bobbling around near their toy chest...which is exactly where they SHOULD be while I'm tinkering away at the computer and cooking, don't you think? But alas, when I had that gut feeling that they were just too happy playing with real, actual toys, I went to check on them...you know, to see what their ENTIRE bodies were up to (not just the bobbling heads that I was seeing over the kitchen counter before.) And there they were..."cooking" their own lunch. Oatmeal. They had a measuring cup (no doubt due to the skillful teaching of their mother...that's me), a Ziploc baggie (to save the leftovers), and a BIG, FAT M.E.S.S. If you've ever seen an entire container of oatmeal on the floor, in clothing and mixed with toys, you know the joy of owning a very lovely contraption called a VACUUM CLEANER! Ha! So, after using the lovely contraption to clean up the fun...I fed the children their real lunch, and put them for a real nap so I could make a blog post all about this nonsense! Goodness! Here is a picture of the fun! Enjoy the fact that it was me...and not you!
