Dreamscapes Baby Boutique: The Blog

Giveaway! WIN a Boba Carrier or Fleurville diaper bag!

2010-12-08T18:50:00.002-06:00

Posted by Administrator on 12/6/2010 to Giveaways

We reached 300 fans on Facebook and to say thank you, one lucky person will receive either a Boba Carrier of their choice* or a Fleurville Sling tote!

All you have to do is make sure you are a fan on Facebook and leave a comment on this post!

For extra entries:

follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/dreamscapesbaby)
subscribe to our newsletter
re-tweet or share this giveaway on Twitter and Facebook! (Make sure and either use our buttons or tag @Dreamscapesbaby on Twitter, @Dreamscapes Baby Boutique on Facebook)
Tell us your favorite product on our site!

For each extra entry, make sure and leave a comment for every action you choose! Up to 6 entries per person!

Contest is open to current fans/followers as well as new ones! Contest ends on 12/15/10 at midnight, CST. Winner will be chosen using Random.org on 12/16/10 and contacted through email.

*Boba Organic and Boba Tweet are not available as an option.

Fall 2010 Appaman now at the store!

2010-08-17T09:53:00.005-05:00

This year's Fall collection from Appaman is loaded with amazing style. The ever famous Puffy Coat is available in Skater Blue or Pink and this year we added the English Biker Jacket to the mix. Perfect coats for fun in the snow or those cool fall days!

The grey denim jeans last season sold quickly, so this year we stocked up and added them again! Now with a little more of a loose fit, your baby boy will be styling all season long. All pants come with an adjustable waist to make sure of a perfect fit.

The new raglan sweater is a thin, soft sweater that will be perfect for cool fall days and can be easily layered for heavier winters.

You can check out the entire collection as well as sale items from season's past!

Appaman at Dreamscapes Baby!

MORE Cyber Monday Deals

2009-11-24T16:58:00.002-06:00

We've partnered up with some awesome boutiques for Cyber Monday! Here are some awesome deals you'll want to take advantage of!

Cyber Monday Deals and Sales 2009

Gifts for Baby and Kids

Something About Baby:
Deal: 10% off all items in the boutique.
Coupon Code: Use code SAB10. Offer expires 12/31/09
http://www.somethingaboutbaby.com

Dreamscapes Baby: Designer baby products.
Deal: 20% off
Coupon Code: Use Coupon Code: cyber
http://www.dreamscapesbaby.com

Heavenly Hold: Baby carriers, nursing pads and more:
Deal: 10% off
Coupon Code: Please use coupon code: code: NEWBABY
http://www.heavenlyhold.com

Milos Creations: Adorable Costumes for baby girls, boys, toddler girls and boys , big kids and adults.
Deal: Free shipping on orders over $100.00,and FREE embroidered name personalization of costumes.
See Cyber Monday link
for full details.
Coupon Code: Use code FREESHIP09 at checkout
http://www.miloscreations.com

Shop Baby Tree:
Deal: Store wide sale on baby products. Save up to 40% off.
Coupon Code: No coupon code needed.
http://www.shopbabytree.com

The Pitter Patter Boutique: Baby Travel Gear, Gifts for Mom and more.
Deal: 15% Discount
Coupon Code: Enter Coupon Code: CyberSave
http://thepitterpatterboutique.com/

The Crafty Moms: Girls hair accessories, binky clips, diaper wipes cases and more.
Deal: Free Shipping all day.
Coupon Code: No coupon code needed
http://www.thecraftymoms.blogspot.com/

I am the Princess: Princess and girly items for baby girls, little girls and big girls.
Deal: 15% off everything including sale items.
Coupon Code: Please use coupon code: cybermondayseog
http://www.iamtheprincess.com

Itzy Ritzy:
Deal:Celebrate Cyber Monday with 15% OFF celebrity loved baby gear at www.ItzyRitzy.com
Coupon Code: MONDAY
http://www.itzyritzy.com

Katey Jades Baby Boutique: Christmas Clothing for kids, personalized gifts, baby products and more.
Deal: 20% off
Coupon Code: hol20
http://www.kateyjadesbabyboutique.com

Lollipop Book Club: Children's book of the club month:
Deal: $10 off any 12-month package
Coupon Code:Please use Coupon Code: sale10off
http://www.lollipopbookclub.com/

Che Demis Boutique: Upscale and Baby boutique.
Deal: 10% off
Coupon Code: GIFT4U
http://chedemisboutique.com

Abby N Kay: Designer Baby Products: Diaper bags, crib bedding and more:
Deal: Free Shipping Use Code: FreeShip plus 10% off all Ride On Toys from Warehouse 36. No
coupon code need for the ride on toys.
http://www.abbykayboutique.com/

Merrimack Valley Diapers: Cloth Diapers and Accessories:
Deal: Good for $5 off a purchase of $50 or more plus free shipping.
Coupon Code: Please use Coupon Code CyberMonday
http://www.merrimackvalleydiapers.com

Snotty Booty Diapers:
Deal: Free shipping on any order, plus a $5 gift certificate for each $50 spent. These offers will be in addition to any product markdowns in the store.
Coupon Code: Use Code: cmonday
http://www.snootybootydiapers.com

Shabby Bebe: Designer Children's products
Deal: 15% off your order of $50 or more use coupon code: shabby15 and 10% off your order if less then $50 Please use code shabby10
http://www.shabbybebe.com/

Teacups and Mudpies: Trendy children's clothing, baby girl and baby boy clothing and more.
Deal: Free shipping on all purchases.
Coupon Code: Please use coupon code: CYBER09
http://www.teacupsandmudpies.com/

Corn Bag Critters: A natural, earth-friendly, and non-toxic way to help children and adults soothe pain.
Deal: 20% off:
Coupon Code: Use coupon code: holi21109
http://www.cornbagcritters.com

Born Fabulous:
Deal: We will do free shipping on all orders.
Coupon Code: Please use coupon code:FREESHIP
http://www.bornfabulousboutique.com

Laughing Ladybugs Boutique: Couture Girls Clothing:
Deal: 10% off the entire store.
Coupon Code: Please use coupon code: CYBER10
http://www.laughingladybugsboutique.com

Clothing, Hand Bags and Accessories for Men or Women

Get Dolled Up Boutique: Personalized and Monogrammed handbags, diaper bags, garment bags and more.
Deal: 15% off plus Free Shipping.
Coupon Code: Please use coupon code: 15OFF
Http://www.getdolledupboutique.com

QT Sunglasses: Designer Inspired Sunglasses:
Deal: FREE SHIPPING and 20% off on all orders. Free Shipping for US and Canada orders only.
Coupon Code: Please use coupon code:Cyber09
http://www.qtsunglasses.net

Hair Accessories

Little Miss Julia: Hair bows, barrettes and more.
Deal:15% off everything
Coupon Code: Use coupon code: Promo20

My Bonita Boutique: Crochet Headbands, Flower Headbands, Hair Bows and More.
Deal: 25% off all items.
Coupon Code: Please sure coupon code: cyber25
http://www.mybonitaboutique.com

Pop Tots Boutique: Fabulous hair accessories for girls and beanie hats:
Deal: Free shipping
Coupon Code: Please Use code: Cyber Monday
http://www.poptotsboutique.com/

Gifts

Nanny Deprived: Gifts for Moms.
Deal: Free Shipping.
Coupon Code: Use coupon code: FREESHIP
http://www.nannydeprived.com

Lone Star graphics: Custom Vinyl Decals, Custom Shirts, Hats and More!
Deal: 20% off any order of $20 or more
Coupon code: cyber20
http://www.lonestargraphics.biz

Label Creations: Personalized Address Labels, Canning Labels, Tic-Tac Labels, Bag Tags, Checkbook
Covers, Canning Labels, Bookplates, Favor tags, Note Cards, Hang Tags for Crafters & Events
Deal: 20 % off and Free Shipping for US only.
Coupon Code: Use DISCOUNT COUPON: LC1115
http://www.labelcreations.com

Sassy Sparkle: Personalized Rhinestone Clothing:
Deal: 15% off any order
Coupon Code: cyber09
http://www.sassysparkle.com

Home and Garden

Melt Ur Scentz: Have you melted your Scentsy today? Free Shipping - email me @
melturscentz.com with your order and Freeship in subject line.
Http:www.melturscentz.com

Jewelry
TLC Silver Jewelry:
Deal: 20% off Jewelry and Holders. Valid Cyber Monday only.
Coupon Code: Use coupon code: Checkout
http://www.tlcsilverjewelry.com

Caribbean Jewelz: Handmade Artisan Jewelry:
Deal: 25% off total purchase.
Coupon Code: Use coupon code: cyber60
http://www.caribbeanjewelz.com/

Pendora Pendants: Glass Tile Pendants:
Deal: 25% off all items.
Coupon Code: Please use coupon code: cybermonday.
http://www.pendorapendants.com/

Organic Products:

Tidbit Couture: Organic cloth diapers and Baby products.
Deal: Free Shipping. Plus, additional sales will be offered throughout website.
Coupon Code: Please use code: FREESHIP
Http://www.tidbit-couture.com

Krave Natural: Earth Friendly products for Home, Baby and Body:
Deal: Free site wide shipping and there will also be additional savings on items throughout the
store.
Coupon Code: FREESHIP
http://www.kravenatural.com

Pet Products

Punk Luxury Dog Carriers : Buy luxury dog collars, high end dog carriers and a Christmas costume
or two for your dog.
Deal: Free Shipping for US buyers all day long.
Coupon Code: No coupon code needed
Http://badasspetz.com

Photo and Greeting Cards

Fun and Sassy Designs: Modern Photo Cards and Personalized Gifts for Adults and Kids:
Deal: Free Shipping on Orders over $50 + $15 off Orders of $99 or more through 11/30 at midnight EST
Coupon Code: Use Code: CYBER15
http://funandsassydesigns.com

Bunny Prints: Personalized Photo Cards for Birthday and Baby Shower plus matching birthday
clothing.
Deal: 10% off
Coupon Code: cyber09
Http://www.bunnyprints.com

Photo Card Designs: Photo Cards for Weddings, Birthdays , Baby Showers and more.
Deal: Good for one day only- 5% off .
Coupon Code: Please Use Code: cybermonday
http://photocarddesigns.com

Pitter Patter Creations: Trendy birth announcements, birthday invitations, baptism invitations and more!
Deal: Receive free shipping for orders over $30.
Only one promotional code may be used per order and cannot be combined. May not be used on
previous orders.
Coupon Code: Use coupon code: FREESHIP09
http://www.pitterpattercreations.com

Lemon Tree Cards:
Deal: 15% discount expiring 12/25/09
Coupon Code: Please use coupon code: LEMONADE
http://lemontreecards.com

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals!!!

2009-11-24T16:48:00.004-06:00

It's that time again! Turkey is being cooked and pies are being baked. The smell of fresh pumpkins have been wafting throughout my house. I love this time of year!

With the rush for Christmas shopping coming up, we wanted to make sure everyone knew of our Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals!

Black Friday SALE: All Twinkling Tees will be marked down 30-40% off from November 25th til November 30th! Now is the time to get a personalized bling tee for your kids or a mom you know!

Cyber Monday ONLY: 20% off all items in the store using the coupon code CYBER! Just enter it in the coupon code box on the home page NOT in the code box at checkout. If you enter codes at checkout, they WILL NOT WORK.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving and a safe shopping season!

With thanks for a successful year,

Amber

Blog Hop Winner

2009-10-29T14:50:00.002-05:00

Congratulations Susan F.! You are the winner of our MySEO Gal's Blog Hop!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Amber

Our First Blog Hop!

2009-10-01T08:51:00.007-05:00

We are participating in My SEO Gal's Blog Hop starting October 5th!!

To celebrate the 1st blog hop of many to come we are giving away a My Mom Rocks pacifier!

For entries:

* Follow our blog and leave a separate comment.

* Follow our blog on Facebook's Networked Blogs, leave a separate comment.
* For an extra entry Tell all your Facebook friends about our giveaway

and leave a separate comment.
* Tweet about our giveaway and leave a separate comment.
* Post about our giveaway on your own blog, leave us a separate

comment with your blog url.
* Fan our biz page on Facebook and leave a separate comment.

*Check out our site and tell us your favorite item in a separate comment.

Please leave us a way to contact you in at least one of your comments.

The blog hop ends on October 21st!

Winner will be chosen at random and announced on October 22nd!

It's Back to School Time!!!

2009-08-07T16:05:00.006-05:00

I can't believe it! Summer is almost over and fall is heading our way. I swear summer just started. I've been working on so many new things for the boutique and yet I feel like I haven't gotten enough done. There are too many distractions in the summer...like the pool, the park, going to movies...

Now that we're counting down the end of summer, I wanted to feature some awesome back to school items!

This is perhaps the coolest backpack I have ever seen for boys! Fleurville's eco-friendly People Pak in Pirate Camo will guarantee your son goes to school in style!

Lunchboxes! Why not change it up a bit this year and buy a personalized lunchbox? No more getting your child's box confused with another child's just because of mass marketed licensed apparel. :)These boxes are created by a mom for moms and we carry several different styles from ballerinas to pirates!

Twinkling Tees has the most beautiful bling tees for your new Kindergartener or Preschooler! Rhinestone tees that declare Preschool Rocks and Kindergarten Rocks are the talk of the town!

If you live in Texas, backpacks were added to the Tax Free Weekend! So, if you live in Texas like we do, take advantage of online shopping and beat the crowds and save on taxes!

So many great things are coming to the boutique that it's hard to list them all. Hopefully I will be blogging much more often now that I will be forced to be on a real schedule. ;)

Dreaming of an endless summer,

Now purchase through our blog!

2009-08-05T15:24:00.004-05:00

We are currently beta testing a new feature that lets you purchase directly on our blog! You may use Google checkout to purchase items. Currently there is a scrollbar issue, so to see more items, simply use your tab key to scroll. Only items without sizes or options are listed as we are testing the cart.

Feel free to comment and let me know what you think of the new feature!

PS. The cart works best in Fire Fox.

One Lovely Blog Award

2009-06-21T21:16:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Cales at MarieLynn Boutique Blog for the One Lovely Blog Award! Here are the rules:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the blogger's to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

So, here are some great blogs I am now awarding!

1. Nanny Deprived Blog
2. TLC Jewelry Blog
3. Milo's Creation Blog
4. Extraordinary Ornaments
5. Chasing Snails Blog
6. Boutique Graphics Blog
7. "Scent"sational Scentsy
8. Your Perfect Party Shop
9. My SEO Gal's Blog
10. QT Blog Creations
11. Perk U Later Blog
12. The Crafty Moms Blog
13. My Simple Indulgence Blog
14. Little Miss Julia Blog
15. Brea's Baby Boutique Blog

Congrats everyone!

Memorial Weekend Sale!

2009-05-22T21:27:00.001-05:00

We're having a Memorial Weekend Sale!

Get 20% off certain items including diaper bags, designer clothing, baby accessories and more! No need to use a coupon! But hurry, sale ends midnight 5-25 CST!

Top 10 Picks!

2009-05-19T18:02:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to take a minute to put on here that we have a Top 10 Picks page at the boutique! Since we don't have a feature to let customers review products, we decided to make a page that shows what the top 10 best sellers were for the prior month! Note: these are not items I list just because, they truly are the Top 10 items we sold. It's just a new way for you to see what's hot at the boutique! Check it out now at TOP 10 PICKS

If you have suggestions for the boutique, you can always let us know! We love to hear feedback, both good and bad from our wonderful friends and customers. After all, you mean a lot to us.

Amber

Spring Clearance Sale!

2009-04-15T12:02:00.003-05:00

Appaman, Vintage Onesies, Uncommonly Cute, and Baby Rock Apparel are on sale!
Get 'em while they last! Quantities are limited!

Baby Shower Favors!

2009-04-15T11:51:00.007-05:00

The idea hit me one day: why not be able to shop for baby shower supplies and sign up for a gift registry, all in one place? I want to make shopping for your children as easy as possible, and this is one more thing to take away an extra step!

Now you can find great and unique baby shower favors right at the boutique!

Here are a few of our favorites!

We are adding more favors every day! Check with us to see what else we are offering!

April Fools Day Special!

2009-04-01T14:03:00.000-05:00

Belly Bandit-Hollywood's Celebrity Secret!

2009-03-30T09:13:00.003-05:00

Over a month ago we were approached by a company called Belly Bandit about selling their body compression wraps. Of course, at the time, I had not heard of them or the product so I did some research and you know what I found? I found that I wished I had heard of these before I had my son! Why didn't I ever think of starting a boutique BEFORE I had my child? I can only kick myself for that, but thankfully, other moms don't have to do that to themselves!

As soon as we started carrying the Belly Bandits, they seemed to be the hottest selling item at the boutique! Apparently, Hollywood moms like Halle Berry and Jessica Alba knew about this little secret before the rest of us and swear how well they work. It's no wonder why they look so fabulous after having a baby.

Then one day we received an email from the "Banditas" at Belly Bandit to tune into the Raechel Ray Show and the Ellen show because well, Belly Bandits were being featured on both shows on the same day!

And they've exploded on the scene ever since!

What are Belly Bandits?

The Belly Bandit™ wrap is an abdominal compression binder designed to help you get your body back to its former fabulousness post childbirth. Not only does the Belly Bandit™ help reduce uncomfortable uterine swelling, it aids in decreasing bloating caused by water retention, and gives additional support for Mommy’s weary legs & back. For you breastfeeding moms, there’s a bonus… the Belly Bandit™ will help you with your posture during feedings, and may help to reduce the all too common back & shoulder pain associated with breastfeeding.

Ultimately, the Belly Bandit™ wrap will aid in getting you back to your pre-pregnancy hotness faster than ever!

Stretch marks – urgh! Although everybody knows what can cause them ie: stomach growth and the stretching of skin, we really have never thought about the post period and what may be another factor. The excess skin that is pulled and stretched after birth may continue to cause unslightly markings by “hanging around”. Greater support of this loose skin may actually decrease tension which in turn may decrease stretch marks in the post period.

Who knew it could be so easy?
Smart women around the world that’s who! The binding of a woman’s abdomen post delivery has been used therapeutically for centuries all over the globe. Increased and constant pressure against the abdominal area has many benefits. It has been known to help flatten the belly and re-define the waistline while helping you keep your back straight minimizing associated pain and fatigue.
This is simply a breathable and comfy exclusively tailored abdominal wrap to assist your body in regaining its former beauty and shape. The Belly Bandit™ wrap provides strong support to help relieve discomfort and give you that extra boost of confidence you deserve after childbirth. Our smooth lightweight construction is designed to be worn comfortably under all of your clothes and our tagless design won’t irritate your skin.

…We may be biased, but we actually think it’s kinda cute.

Belly Bandits come in Original, Couture, and Bamboo!

Come check them out at the boutique and look as fabulous as the stars!

Nano Baby

2009-03-25T09:32:00.006-05:00

For me, going to the Dallas Market is like surrounding me in brownies...too much eye candy and delicious stuff and of course I want it all! I was thankful that I came across the Nano Baby line. It was the guitar tee and oat plaid shorts that caught my attention. The shirt was so incredibly soft and comfy looking and yet, the guitars fit right in with the boutique! Needless to say, the day I received my package of the summer line was like getting a surprise birthday gift in the mail!

Check out the styles of the new Spring collection:

See more of Nano at the boutique!

Toy Wrangler!

2009-03-23T10:39:00.007-05:00

If at any time I find a product that makes me go, "Where were these when my son was a baby?!" then I know I hit gold! In this case, the Toy Wrangler is the item I personally know that every mom can benefit from.

What does it do?

Keep toys off the floor and within baby's reach! The simple yet ingenious design allows you to use just one or all three colorful bungees to keep baby happy while you eat or shop. Durable plastic removable rings make it easy to interchange all of baby's favorite toys, big and small. A wraparound soft cotton cover protects baby from dirt and grime during play while the versatile, lightweight design makes it easy to fold and take it with you wherever you go. Also available is the Mini Toywrangler™.

No more searching on the floor while shopping,
in the car or out to eat.

How perfect is that? I just got one in the other day and it's awesome! It's exactly as pictured and it is so well created.

If your little one is somewhat past this stage, as my wonderful son is nearing the age of "Mommy, sit chair" and no longer in a high chair, the Mini ToyWrangler is the perfect accessory! Yes, my son still thinks throwing cups in the car is hilarious. Hitting me in the head with them isn't. Throwing toys while we're shopping is apparently pretty fun too. Not anymore though!

My son actually has that exact cup in the photo. The Toy Wranglers are proof that moms are the best inventors of products for moms. And that with a few savvy items up our sleeve, we can outwit our toddlers in ways we never knew was possible!

Who knew?

ToyWranglers are now available at the boutique! www.dreamscapesbaby.com

Dreaming up More Great Finds!

Custom Bedding Put On Hold

2009-03-20T10:49:00.004-05:00

Well, I've had to do it. I've had to put the custom bedding on hold for now. It's temporary, but much needed. I have some custom bedding projects already in the works but no new clients for right now. If you want to inquire about availability, just send us an email to daretodream@dreamscapesbaby.com!

Why the hold?

Time. Mostly time. We're doing so many wonderful things at the boutique that is very time consuming. What's in the works?

Pre-made bedding for one. It takes a lot of work to begin your own line of something. Bedding is no different. We have to have labels made. Find the perfect fabrics. Put it together. Get pictures taken. Add them to the website etc etc and that in itself takes probably 3 weeks for one bedding set! But, we have had such a demand for baby bedding that getting a set together for sale is completely worth the work. Currently, we added one set so far that is perfect for a boy or a girl!

This set is called Black and White Elegance. You can see why!

This set includes:

Black and White Floral Scroll Bumper Pad with Black Satin ties
White with Black Polka Dot Crib Sheet
Black and White Diagonal Stripes/Houndstooth Crib Skirt
Flannel Houndstooth Baby Blanket

We even have a white with black polka dot/white flannel pillow you can add for only $15! Not to mention matching burp cloths, bibs etc. In this case, we will gladly make custom items to match this set i.e. high chair cover, bib, burp cloth, car seat cover, curtains, nap mat etc. We can do it all!

We are so excited about getting this set together. It's been a long undertaking to say the least! I already have another set in the works that is girls only. I can't wait! Course, I got into this because of the lack of boy bedding, so believe me, I will be doing a LOT of boys bedding in the near future.

This is just one of the exciting things we have coming. We've expanded our clothing line and maternity items. We now carry the entire line of BabyLegs. We're adding more rock theme baby gifts.

I am also taking a class on Dreamweaver. Expect some awesome website changes in the somewhat near future! Taking control of the website content/design is very important to me. I want to make sure the boutique is easy to navigate and pleasing to the eye at the same time. If you have suggestions, send them to us! We love to hear your thoughts!

I'm also organizing my work days into something more manageable. Expect to see more blog posts on a regular basis! I'm shooting for 3 times a week. We shall see. I know it won't be easy!

Thankfully I always have something to say!

:)

Thanks to our faithful readers,

ALL Fall/Winter 08 Appaman is ON SALE!!!

2009-03-03T18:47:00.003-06:00

For those of you in the northeast and eastern seaboard, my heart goes out to you! Living in the DFW metroplex, we haven't seen a drop of snow this year. It may sound odd, but I'm used to seeing at least a little bit of snow and not having any really makes for a lousy winter! Of course, to everyone else, I'm sure that sounds like bragging.

To help you warm up, our entire line of fall/winter Appaman has gone on sale! You can still get these great designer duds for affordable prices. Most stores are already stocked full of shorts and swimsuits. Not here! We're realistic about what season others are living in!

Grab 'em while they're hot...or warm...or just plain cheap!

Appaman Fall Winter Sale

The CPSIA and How it Affects Dreamscapes Baby Boutique

2009-01-29T13:00:00.002-06:00

I haven't blogged about this yet, because I wanted to gather all the facts before I made a statement. However, I think it's time.

If you haven't yet seen all the mom blogs, Etsy, and other handmade craft forums you may not yet understand what the CPSIA is and how it affects small businesses. Or, you may be hearing conflicting opinions and miscommunications. Either way, here is how the current legislation is going to affect not only Dreamscapes Baby Boutique and Two Crowns Bedding, but also other small businesses.

First of all, you may think the law only applies to large scale manufacturers. In fact, it applies to every manufacturer of items intended for use by children under 12. Well, of course it needs to apply to the manufacturer, but what IS a manufacturer? Under the currently defined term, manufacturer is anyone who creates a new item from other materials. This means that while you are aware that Mattel is a manufacturer, you may not realize that your neighbor down the street who makes baby blankets is also a manufacturer. Someone can buy a onesie from Target and add a fabric applique and they become a manufacturer. Which means they are required to abide by testing statutes like everyone else.

Is this a bad thing? No. Anyone and everyone that makes an item should be under the law and abide by the law. The problem lies with how the testing procedures work. If a onesie has already been tested by the manufacturer, and the fabric and thread being used to apply the applique has been tested for lead, and everything is negative for lead...you would think the item would be in compliance. That isn't how this law is written though. As it stands, the finished item would have to be tested again to prove it's negative for lead. Testing costs hundreds of dollars for one item and that item can be destroyed in the process. Now what has started out as onesie being sold for $20, is now going to cost $1,000. Unless the item is being made in bulk, each different onesie with each different applique will have to be tested. Considering the profit margins are slim for a boutique onesie without testing, no small business will able to afford the testing and still make a profit.

The same can be said for a baby cap made from yarn. If the yarn was tested negative for lead, (which yarn doesn't contain lead, the average person can figure that out) if you make a hat and a baby blanket from the same yarn both items will have to be tested by themselves. The redundancy is astounding and ridiculous!

Now you can see why companies are up in arms. On top of the cost for testing and having to test the finished product after each piece has already been tested, the testing labs are backlogged and testing itself is expensive.

The problem with lead in toys really came to a head in 2008. Dubbed the Year of the Recall, many toys manufactured in China and other Asian countries were imported to the US. These items contained harmful levels of lead and in at least one case, a child died from ingesting a lead coated item. Congress decided to act swiftly to protect Americans and passed the CPSIA with only opposition from Ron Paul. (Thanks Ron Paul btw!) Here is where the madness starts. First of all, the act was passed without thought. Many consumer advocates were pushing this as "feel good legislation" and had the public backing it. It wasn't until businesses looked into the actual law that things got messy.

What else is the problem with the law? To start, there are already laws in place and standards for lead levels but manufacturers haven't reinforced them. That's how items are able to come into the US that contain unsafe lead levels. But, instead of enforcing the laws already in place, making manufacturers accountable, and putting more strict import laws into place, they came up with a law that threatens to put all small businesses out of business and puts the consumers back into the hands of the people that caused the mess to begin with! Whew!

You know all those wonderful WAHMs on Etsy, eBay, and own small online boutiques? A lot of them are closing because of this law. Quotes for testing are so high, these companies can't afford it. Items that are one of a kind (OOAK) will be impossible to make. No more handmade movement. No more supporting small American businesses. No more quality, unique toys for children. Just more mass manufactured items by Mattel sold in big box stores.

Great isn't it?

So how does this affect Dreamscapes Baby Boutique? In several ways! First, many of the brands we carry are from great moms and dads that saw a need in the market and created a product. They may be WAHMs. They may have their business just to make a little extra income. They may rely on it. Either way, they are not a large enough business to absord the testing costs. Which means fewer products for you to choose from. Less unique and individual items for your baby! Second, we at Dreamscapes Baby Boutique offer custom nursery bedding and baby items that are unique to you. All items are 100% custom made to order. Our custom nursery bedding is OOAK. Every design is made for the individual person based on their wants and nothing is duplicated in any way. Because of testing costs and redundant testing procedures, we will no longer be able to offer these services. Custom bedding is why I chose to go into this business. If you've read the About Us page, you know that not finding what I want is the reason I made it a mission to create the best for others so they CAN have what they want, what they dream. I also try to make everything affordable. We like to think we create top notch luxury items at Wal Mart prices!

So, less to choose from. No custom OOAK items. We had planned on creating a line of clothing also but that will have to wait. We simply cannot afford the testing costs.

Just, don't think this only applies to us that sell baby products. It applies to EVERYTHING made for children 12 and under. There are no exemptions. Thrift stores and consignment shops will be held liable if they sell anything that ends up containing lead. Fines are exorbitant and there can even be jail time. Books are included in this and the American Library Association has been sending out press releases on how this affects the resale of books and our libraries in general. Those beautiful Swarovski crystal encrusted tees and pacifiers will be gone unless exempt because they are made from lead. Lead that cannot be leached into the human body even if ingested but still lead.

So should small business be exempt? No. I don't believe it's in the best interest to have small businesses be exempt. Attempting to determine exactly what a small business is wouldn't be easy and gets us nowhere. However, there needs to be changes to exempt materials. It's my opinion that textiles should be exempt. It is also my belief that textiles contain miniscule amounts of lead or none at all. The latest recall involving children's pjs were recalled due to the screenprinting inks and were also made in Vietnam. Import laws would have kept these items from ever being sold and then recalled again.

What should happen? The requirements for testing need to be amended. Testing finished products when the materials used to make the products should not have to be tested again. Materials that are not known to contain lead should not be included in the testing. There are many other things could change, and need to be changed, but this is all I am addressing at the moment.

Thanks for your support of my business and if you love what we do, make sure to contact your Congressman and let your voice be heard. We are not involved in a small interest lobbying campaign against safer laws for children. We are simply small business owners intent at staying in business while being legal at the same time. Congress needs to own up to their mistake and listen to our voices.

Latest on CPSIA from Forbes.com

2009-01-29T10:31:00.001-06:00

Scrap The Consumer Product Safety Improvement ActWalter Olson, 01.16.09, 04:21 PM EST
Self-congratulation makes for bad law.

If someone you know volunteers at a thrift store or crochets baby hats for the crafts site Etsy or favors handmade wooden toys as a baby shower gift, you've probably been hearing the alarms about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
Hailed almost universally on its passage last year--it passed the Senate 89 to three and the House by 424 to one, with Ron Paul the lone dissenter--CPSIA is now shaping up as a calamity for businesses and an epic failure of regulation, threatening to wipe out tens of thousands of small makers of children's items from coast to coast, and taking a particular toll on the handcrafted and creative, the small-production-run and sideline at-home business, not to mention struggling retailers. How could this have happened?

Congress passed CPSIA in a frenzy of self-congratulation following last year's overblown panic over Chinese toys with lead paint. Washington's consumer and environmentalist lobbies used the occasion to tack on some other long-sought legislative goals, including a ban on phthalates used to soften plastic.
The law's provisions were billed as stringent, something applauded by high-minded commentators as a way to force the Mattels and Fisher-Prices of the world to keep more careful watch on the supply chains of their Chinese factories.
Barbed with penalties that include felony prison time and fines of $100,000, the law goes into effect in stages; one key deadline is Feb. 10, when it becomes unlawful to ship goods for sale that have not been tested. Eventually, new kids' goods will all have to be subjected to more stringent "third-party" testing, and it will be unlawful to give away untested inventory even for free.
The first thing to note is that we're not just talking about toys here. With few exceptions, the law covers all products intended primarily for children under 12. That includes clothing, fabric and textile goods of all kinds: hats, shoes, diapers, hair bands, sports pennants, Scouting patches, local school-logo gear and so on.
And paper goods: books, flash cards, board games, baseball cards, kits for home schoolers, party supplies and the like. And sporting equipment, outdoor gear, bikes, backpacks and telescopes. And furnishings for kids' rooms.
And videogame cartridges and audio books. And specialized assistive and therapeutic gear used by disabled and autistic kids.

Again with relatively few exceptions, makers of these goods can't rely only on materials known to be unproblematic (natural dyed yarn, local wood) or that come from reputable local suppliers, or even ones that are certified organic.
Instead they must put a sample item from each lot of goods through testing after complete assembly, and the testing must be applied to each component. For a given hand-knitted sweater, for example, one might have to pay not just, say, $150 for the first test, but added-on charges for each component beyond the first: a button or snap, yarn of a second color, a care label, maybe a ribbon or stitching--with each color of stitching thread having to be tested separately.
Suddenly the bill is more like $1,000--and that's just to test the one style and size. The same sweater in a larger size, or with a different button or clasp, would need a new round of tests--not just on the button or clasp, but on the whole garment. The maker of a kids' telescope (with no suspected problems) was quoted a $24,000 testing estimate, on a product with only $32,000 in annual sales.
Could it get worse? Yes, it could. Contrary to some reports, thrift and secondhand stores are not exempt from the law. Although (unlike creators of new goods) they aren't obliged to test the items they stock, they are exposed to liability and fines if any goods on their shelves (or a component button, bolt, binding, etc.) are found to test above the (very low) thresholds being phased in.
Nor does it get them off the hook to say an older product's noncompliance with the new standards wasn't something they knew or should have known about (let alone to say anyone was harmed; the whole controversy from start to finish has gone on with precious little showing of real-world harm to American kids from most of the goods being banned).
Thrift store managers, often volunteers themselves, have no way to guess whether every grommet or zipper on a kids' jacket or ink on an old jigsaw puzzle box or some plastic component of Mom's old roller skates would pass muster.
"The reality is that all this stuff will be dumped in the landfill," predicted Adele Meyer, executive director of the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops. Among the biggest losers if that happens: poorer parents who might start having to buy kids' winter coats new at $30 rather than used at $5 or $10.
And even worse: Since the law does not exempt books, children's' sections at libraries and bookstores will, at minimum, face price hikes on newly acquired titles and, at worse, may have to rethink older holdings.
After all, no one has the slightest idea how many future violations lie hidden in the stacks and few want to play a guessing game about how seriously officialdom will view illegality. "Either they take all the children's books off the shelves," Associate Executive Director Emily Sheketoff of the American Library Association told the Boston Phoenix, "or they ban children from the library."
Antique dolls? Old model-car collections? Musical instruments? Vintage bicycles? Some will go underground in private collectors' clubs, others will be tossed on the bonfires of the new Cultural Revolution.
A traditional attraction on the heritage festival circuit is the kids' dance or performance troupe in ethnic, pioneer or frontier garb, often handcrafted with the sort of ornate detail (beads, pendants, lace inserts, etc.) that will not be practical to test.
The same goes for Native American kids' cherished moccasins, buckskins and powwow gear. Making matters worse, many foreign producers of craft and small-batch toys and clothes, chary of liability under the law, are planning to exit the American market entirely, a step already taken by three German toymakers.
In recent weeks, as thousands of crafters and retailers began to compare notes and realize that they would soon be left with stocks of unsalable merchandise, forced out of business or both, the protests have begun to mount: alarm-raising at hundreds of blogs and forums, a torrent of Twitter discussion, YouTube videos, endangered-products lists, Facebook groups and so forth.
A group called Handmade Toy Alliance is calling attention to the law's burdens in that area. Booksellers are mobilizing. Yet prominent consumer groups have continued to defend even the law's more extreme applications, and their spokespersons are dismissive of public outrage. "I haven't heard a single legitimate concern yet," Public Citizen's David Arkush wrote last month.
The consumer groups--and the congressional offices of key CPSIA backers Bobby Rush, D-Ill., and Henry Waxman, D-Calif.--have blamed opposition to the law on "misinformation" and "confusion."
Defenders of the law point out, for example, that item-by-item enforcement at thrift shops is unlikely to be an enforcement priority any time soon for the Consumer Product Safety Commission's 100 field investigators.
The thing is, few librarians, eBay (nasdaq: EBAY - news - people ) sellers or knitters want to be told that they're outlaws but at too small-fry a level to attract the authorities' attention. They want to be legal.
Besides, the law grants enforcement authority not only to the CPSC but to the 50 state attorneys general, which means anyone who ships nationally, small fry or not, is at the mercy of whomever turns out to be the least reasonable attorney general, a post for which there is always considerable competition.
As CPSIA opponents mobilize, the phrase "unintended consequences" is often heard. Part of the irony, after all, is that the Hasbros and Targets, with their standardization and economies of scale, can afford to adapt to such rules as part of their business plan, while the sorts of enterprises that initially looked to benefit most from the Chinese toy scare--local, organic and so forth--are also the ones who find it hardest to comply.
But the failure here runs deeper. This was not some enactment slipped through in the dead of night: It was one of the most highly publicized pieces of legislation to pass Congress last year.
And yet now it appears precious few lawmakers took the time to check what was in the bill, while precious few in the press (which ran countless let's-pass-a-law articles) cared to raise even the most basic questions about what the law was going to require.
Yes, something's being exposed as systematically defective here. But it's not the contents of our kids' toy chests. It's the way we make public policy.
Walter Olson is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and the author of The Rule of Lawyers and other books. He edits Overlawyered.com.

New on the CPSIA

2008-12-17T12:11:00.000-06:00

New Safety Law No Fun for VT's Artisan Toymakers
Local Matters
By Ken Picard [12.17.08]

What's this?
Nothing speeds the wheels of Congress like children in peril and, by any measure, 2007 was the year of living dangerously for children’s products. Dubbed “The Year of the Recall” by Consumer Reports, 2007 saw a record number of children’s products pulled from store shelves — an average of four per week. In all, more than 46 million kids’ items were deemed too perilous for public use. They included lead-contaminated toy trains, collapsing cribs, magnetic choking hazards and toxin-tainted craft sets. Seventeen percent of the recalls were prompted by injuries or deaths, according to a report from the nonprofit consumer group Kids in Danger.
Congress reacted swiftly. In August it passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, enacting some of the world’s toughest standards on children’s products. CPSIA was hailed as a major triumph by consumer groups and child-safety advocates. Among other things, the law increased the staffing and funding of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, expanded oversight of imported goods, created a searchable public database for product injuries, and imposed stiff penalties on companies that break the law.
By and large, the negative publicity surrounding the recalls benefited Vermont’s artisan toy and clothing makers. Since nearly all the tainted toys were mass-produced in China or other Asian countries, playthings made locally from all-natural materials looked better, and safer, than the competition.
But the CPSIA, which passed with scant industry input or congressional debate, may end up taking those homegrown companies down, too. It mandates extensive third-party testing and labeling of all children’s toys, furnishings and garments for choking hazards and toxic chemicals. Chief among them are lead and phthalates, a class of vinyl softeners hazardous to humans. And, since the CPSIA covers such a wide array of products and parts, from bath seats to all-terrain vehicles, assessing the cost of testing is difficult. Industry estimates range from $140 to $4000 per item.
In many cases, manufacturers must test for banned substances, even if their products would have no rationale for containing those chemicals, such as a plastic softener in an all-wood toy.
Some Vermont toy makers claim that the new regs, which start phasing in on February 10, are impractical and too costly. They say if the new law isn’t modified for smaller producers, it could spell the end of Vermont’s artisan-toy industry. And, unlike the Toy Industry Association, which represents primarily large manufacturers, there is no trade group speaking on behalf of small, independent toy makers.
Ron Voake, owner of Vermont Wooden Toys of Norwich, has been hand-making children’s toys for 35 years, almost exclusively from wood sourced in New England and Canada. “It’s my full-time thing,” Voake says. “It’s not really a moneymaker, but it’s fun to do.”
Voake just learned about the CPSIA last week and says he has “no idea” what the new law could cost him. But, if the published reports he’s read are true, he’ll have to stop selling his toys to the public. “I don’t know what to make of it, but there’s not a lot I can do about it,” he says.
Craftsbury Kids of Montpelier is a local online seller of toys, jewelry, clothing and other children’s items. The company sources its products from about 100 different independent artisans and crafters worldwide. The cost of testing each item in a government-certified lab could be a deal-breaker.
“We wouldn’t be able to sell anything that we sell now, that’s for sure,” says company spokesperson Michael Secore.
And the new law doesn’t just apply to toys. Kathleen Fasanella is owner of Fashion-Incubator of Las Cruses, N.M., an Internet-based trade magazine that serves primarily small- and medium-sized makers of sewn items, such as clothing, apparel and stuffed animals. Fasanella is unequivocal about the law’s impact on her industry: “It’s going to put us all out of business.”
According to Fasanella, anyone who sells items for kids will be affected, including the grandmother who knits baby booties and sweaters, or the local thrift shop that sells secondhand children’s toys and strollers.
“Legally, after February 10, you can’t even give that stuff away” she asserts. “If you don’t have the certificate, it has to be destroyed.”
David Arkush is director of the Congress Watch division of Public Citizen, one of the half-dozen or so activist groups that pushed for passage of the CPSIA. Although Arkush says he’s only now starting to hear from small, independent manufacturers, he believes the claims about excessive testing costs are the result of poor information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, if not a deliberate misinformation campaign.
“Some of their perceptions of what the costs are going to be are really overblown,” Arkush asserts. The CPSC “is not a bunch of jackbooted thugs who are going to come lock people up if they’re not complying with the law.”
Arkush admits some of the mandates may sound absurd at first blush, such as testing wooden toys for phthalates, or testing cotton T-shirts for lead.
“But we’re erring on the side of safety,” he adds, “because this is about lead and other toxic chemicals that are very dangerous to children.”
Some local toymakers aren’t waiting around for the law to be amended. Mike Rainville is owner of Maple Landmark Woodcraft of Middlebury. His company, which has been in business for nearly 30 years and employs 40 people, has already begun the first phase of testing its entire line of children’s goods — 880 in all. But since there’s no government-approved lab in Vermont, all his products must be sent out of state. He says some of his slower-selling lines that don’t justify the cost of testing will likely be phased out.
“We essentially don’t have any choice. We’re large enough and visible enough, and our customers expect it,” Rainville says. “The program is far from flawless and it’s far from inexpensive.”
Rainville hasn’t yet received a final bill for the first round of tests. But he says he thinks he can keep the cost under 5 percent of his total revenues — still a major hit, especially in a poor economy when domestic manufacturers face serious import pressures.
“The ultimate sad irony,” Rainville adds, would be “if the small companies that have benefited from all the problems of the last 15 months end up being the ones driven out of business by the solution. And there’s a real chance of that happening.”

Cyber Monday Sale!!

2008-12-01T11:01:00.002-06:00

Yes, it's Cyber Monday and stores everywhere are offering incentives for purchasing online! To follow suit, starting today until Friday, December 5th, we're offering $5 off every purchase of $25 or more! And shipping is free for all orders over $99!

Black Friday was great and all, and I know I did enough walking around stores to last me for awhile, but being able to just relax after the holidays and shop and compare online makes things so much easier!

Happy Shopping!

Vote for US!

2008-11-04T13:07:00.002-06:00

Vote for Dreamscapes Baby as the Best Dressed Website!!! Just go to www.myseogal.com and enter our website address: http://dreamscapesbaby.com! It's that easy!

Thanks for supporting us!

Amber

Halloween Sale!

2008-10-22T08:05:00.002-05:00

Halloween is literally right around the corner and we have the best Halloween basics for baby! Our black short sleeve onesies are now on sale for only $7.99 just for Halloween! Make sure to grab yours quickly!

We're featured!

2008-10-20T10:58:00.002-05:00

I don't know why I'm just now getting around to posting this, but Dreamscapes Baby Boutique was featured in the online iEmporium magazine!

Get your own - Open publication

Now, on to other news. If you have noticed fewer posts it's because I've been dealing with work/occupational hazards i.e. carpal tunnel! I'm resting as much as possible and typing as little as I can. But for now, I will say to check out all the great Halloween items at the boutique and get yourself ready for some upcoming sales! Now is the time to subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to know what's happening at the boutique.

Until I can type again,

The Designer Vs. The Knockoff

2008-10-06T09:21:00.004-05:00

Something recently brought this topic to my attention, and I realized just how passionate I was about it! Let me preface this by saying I like high fashion and the art that goes behind it. I am one of those people that sees designs as living art and I appreciate the talent and creativity involved. The best part is seeing a designer jump out of his comfort zone to create something unique and different. That's true art in the fashion world. I know there's a Devil Wears Prada quote that would fit this theme nicely. :)

If you love Manolos, but don't know much about the history, I would really spend the time Googling it (I'll spare you the history here). Manolo Blahnik was an artist before he created shoes, but it was his shoe art that started him down a path of being known as a true shoe designer and artist. I have complete respect for that. If you truly understand the art behind the shoe, you can respect that the designer created it as a piece of art you can wear. Our guys may not really understand the premise of this concept, but those of us women that love shoes can attest to it!

But this isn't about Manolo.

This is about the complete respect I share for those that saw a need, created a design no one else had created, and became successsful for it. One of my favorite brands is Swankie Blankie. If you haven't yet heard of them, they are a baby blanket and more company that started because a mom saw a need, created something that at the time was uniquely different, and has become successful for it. For all I know, before Susie Grant created Swankie Blankie, no other blankets out there were made using the minky chenille that we all see everywhere now from boutiques to Wal Mart. Hers is just another brand on a long list of brands that I fell in love with while at Neimans. Maybe one day I will just make a list. :)

But again, this isn't about Swankie Blankie either. Dreamscapes Baby is not affiliated in any way with the company and we do not sell their products, but perhaps someday in the future I may think about it. At the current time, they could be considered a direct competitor for my own line of custom minky blankets.

No, this is about the original and the knockoff. As a designer, I know firsthand how important it is to create something new and different. Every piece I create has to be something no one else has. Even clients that send me pictures of items they like are quickly told that we can use the picture for inspiration, but Two Crowns Bedding will not duplicate the item. It's important to me to not ripoff the designer who had the vision to create it in the first place.

Even though our custom baby blankets may look similar to what you see on the market today, the main difference is that we are the ONLY fully custom blanket creator. We aren't going to tell you what goes together, we let you decide. Want black and white zebra with orange satin ruffles? We'll make it! Want your school colors in blue and burgundy? Great! We have it! That's where we have set ourselves apart. While we don't currently offer premade blankets, we are working on creating some. As of right now, your blanket is custom made to order exactly to how you want it. You choose where your monogramming will be, what font you want it in, and what thread color. Who are we to tell you what is and is not a correct color combination? That's why we do what we do!

Again though, this is not how this post began. What started this heated topic is the fact that a business friend of mine found out she was being knocked off by two different stay at home moms starting their own business. One was knocking her designs off without the same quality, and the other was supposed to be an authorized retailer, but was selling the designs as her own. Without her images being watermarked, my friend said these two ladies used the pictures of her items from her page and was using them as their own without giving any credit to the original. That's what blows my mind. On top of that, I was recently shopping at a nearby store and I put my son's BabyLegs on since it was cold, and a lady stopped me and asked if they were BabyLegs. Why yes they are, I said! I absolutely love BabyLegs! Her response to me was this: "Well, I prefer to support the work at home mom who makes them herself." What?? And her reply was said with utmost snobbery at that. Believe me, I'm all about supporting other WAHMs and their businesses, especially when they are doing something new and interesting, but supporting people who have no creativity of their own and instead steal other people's designs is not what I'm about.

Our world is full of knockoffs. People who buy knockoff designer purses to have the "look" and the "name" without the cost are only hurting the people who originally took their time to design something beautiful. That's not admirable. And no, I'm not one that can afford the latest designer bags and clothing, but trust me, I would rather wear Target label clothing for cheap than buy a knockoff designer label. But then again, you also realize that even the cheap authentic was created because something on the runway made it a fashion statement and it trickled down into the department stores and hence, another Devil Wears Prada reference could be stated here.

So maybe you can't always have the original and authentic. Maybe our society will always allow a version of a knockoff. But don't ever forget the originals behind everything we wear and buy. They are the true artists.

And being a true artist is what I aspire to be.

Dreaming Up Originality,

The Latest in Kids Fashion??

2008-09-09T09:47:00.003-05:00

I was just watching NBC Today's show and they had a segment on children's fashion today. They featured a little girl wearing a rainbow striped sweater, plaid pleated skirt, brown and pink polka dot leggings and black military style boots. And for some reason the host stated that if parents came dressed like this we would look like we just got out of bed, but for kids it works. Um...I hate to tell you this but NO it doesn't! Who in their right mind would dress their kids like this? It looks like they dressed themselves in the morning and walked out that way. Or that dad dressed them. Just teasing dads!

It gets me to thinking: how often do we look up to designers telling us what is hot for the season? If you haven't noticed, most items fit for the runway are not fit for regular every day people like you and me. They are designed for a particular body style and will only compliment that style and no other.

I leave it up to the every day moms and dads out there to decide what fashion truly is. If no one buys it, then who cares who designed it?

Have you ever walked by a display and all the manequins in the window were layered in what seems to be every item of clothing in the store? And yet, no one ever actually wears the clothing that way? It may be a little known secret that visual merchandisers responsible for the displays in stores layer things to show options and to fit as many items as possible onto one manequin so you can see a larger variety of clothing. However, since real people don't dress that way, it doesn't always work effectively.

There's a story my parents tell that when I was young (about 6 perhaps) I asked if I could do the displays in their store window (my parents owned a retail store in Oklahoma City, OK). I could use whatever I wanted. So, I went about looking for items to dress the display manequins and what I chose were every day items that you would wear by themself, not layered. You can imagine how shocked my parents were when they sold out of those items that same week! Another time, I was an assistant manager at a clothing store in Plano, TX and at one point we didn't have a visual merchandiser to do the displays so I took it upon myself to change them. I used actual matching pieces and accessories, clothing that you could easily see putting together as an outfit and walking out of the store looking great. Perhaps I'm crazy like that, but those particular items were the first to sell in the store. So much so that I had to constantly change our displays because we would sell the outfits right off of the manequins!

And then the corporate office hired a VM and it went back to layers and layers and less and less sales. Sadly, that company soon went out of business. Turns out, not everyone appreciates paying cheaper prices for something that falls apart after one wash. Myself included. But hey, it was a job and a stepping stone for my Neiman Marcus experience.

I guess fashion has always been in my blood, and I know what I like when I see it. That's my hope for the boutique as well, that I can offer the best in children's fashion without sacrificing quality. I won't sell anything that I don't think fits with my goals for the boutique.

And you won't find pictures on the boutique of kids wearing multiple layers. ;)

Dreaming up new ideas daily,

What Happened to Customer Service?

2008-09-03T14:20:00.004-05:00

It's almost that time again! The Christmas shopping rush is about to begin. Stores are already putting out their holiday items and decorations. We've somehow bypassed Halloween and Thanksgiving Day here in the US to target one of the most commercial holidays that exists. The problem I have isn't that stores are rapidly feeding the upcoming frenzy, but the lack of proper customer service that accompanies it. Many of the workers are part time and new to the store and can't answer simple questions. If you have a problem with an item it's hard to get it replaced or your money back. I've eaten at restaurants where my food was cold by the time I got it, my order was messed up entirely, and in one case the waitress actually lost my credit card (thankfully another patron found it and turned it in). And none of those places offered any type of consolation for what happened, just an insincere apology.

Now, we ate at a great restaurant one day in Denton with friends and somehow our order was misplaced and it was an hour before we got to eat! We were enjoying time with friends and chatting but Aidan was getting restless. The waitress brought him out some milk for free, and the manager comped most of our meal...and we never even complained! Talk about service! We weren't upset by it, we weren't complaining about it, and yet they felt the need to be proactive and take care of us. We love this restaurant and of course we'll eat there again. But, the lesson is one about customer service in today's society.

Because it is so important for my customers to have a satisfying shopping experience, I am completely proactive when things don't go as planned. I take pride in the fact that I will do whatever it takes (within reason) to make you happy. You aren't my customers, you're my friends. If you've ever ordered from the boutique, I hope you had an enjoyable experience. We have a guestbook page and we appreciate the wonderful comments we've received. If at any time you are unhappy with your service, please call us directly at 1-888-548-7641 or email daretodream@dreamscapesbaby.com and we'll take care of you. That's our pledge.

Oh! And if you are one of the millions of people who are dreading the crowded shopping malls this holiday season, feel free to stay in your pjs and order from us online or over the phone! We can even box up your gift for you and your shopping is done. Not sure what someone would want? We also carry gift certificates in varying denominations to make the pickiest person happy. Taking care of you is what we do, and it's what we enjoy doing.

Dreaming of a Snow White Holiday,

Hello, I'm Amber, and I'm a workaholic...

2008-09-01T18:47:00.004-05:00

Now that it's the close of the Labor Day holiday, I am officially back at work doing everything and anything with the store and our upcoming Spring 09 season. That's right people, it's already that time again when we buyers are out there at the markets making our choices on our Spring lineup. And let me tell ya, we have quite a few surprises in store! Unfortunately, those details are first disclosed through the Dreamscapes Baby newsletter. If you haven't joined up yet, go to the Dreamscapes Baby website and on the left side is a newsletter subscription box! Trust me, I won't be spamming your inbox every day. That would take a lot of time and with two kids, time is something I don't fool around with! So right now, we're doing a monthly newsletter and every month is a discount coupon just for you!

You know you love your job when you can't turn your mind off of work. Even though my family spent the holiday at the lake with more family, I was completely at a loss without my cell phone, email, and internet! I guess I have one of those creative minds that just won't turn off and without an outlet, I go crazy!

So what's on my mind? First off, the Appaman Labor Day sale kept me extremely busy! It's already got me thinking about the next sale or promotion. I think it's only fair that we offer something special every once in awhile. On top of that, we just created our own signature giftwrapping! To add to the shopping experience, we want to offer a unique gift wrap option for certain items (unfortunately, we can't do giftwrap on all items...yet). We already wrap our warehouse items in blue and black tissue paper to make it extra special, but our giftwrap will add a black box to the packaging with a beautiful blue satin ribbon. The option for giftwrap will start appearing on special items this week! Perhaps we'll make a list of brands that are included and pricing options on this blog after it's all said and done.

What else? Well, the Spring line of course! I can't wait to reveal the new Spring Appaman, as well as let you in on the new lines we plan to carry!

I'm also enjoying blogging about life and children's fashion, and I hope you enjoy this blog as well. Thanks for recent comments on the PoshMama award! Now I have to live up to the hype!

Off to Dreamland,

Posh Mama Awards!

2008-08-29T23:37:00.002-05:00

I just want to say I don't know how I got nominated (I think it was some kind of mistake) but I'll accept the award badge anyway! So thanks to those that chose me for the summer Posh Mama award! I love it!

BabyLegs-One Size Fits Most!

2008-08-27T09:55:00.008-05:00

If you haven't already heard of BabyLegs, you may think these adorable leg warmers are just for babies...and you would be wrong! In fact, BabyLegs make great leggings for all ages as well as arm warmers for everyone in the family! I prefer to use BabyLegs over tights for my daughter. I got tired of her coming home every day with a new tear somewhere in her tights and even normal child leggings couldn't hold up to her wear and tear. But, because BabyLegs are sewn with an overlock stitch (in gold, so you know it's a true BabyLegs product) and are made more durable than most leggings, they've managed to last through multiple wearings and look as great as when we first used them! My son loves his BabyLegs too. With him crawling around and bumping himself on things, having his legs protected is a necessity as well as helping to prevent sunburn when we're outside. As for me, all too often I grab a pair of Aidan's BabyLegs for my arms when a sweater isn't appropriate i.e. those trips to the grocery store where the aisles are freezing and entering various stores. Which, Aidan appreciates them too in those cases. Being in Texas, summers don't usually warrant jeans and onesies are perfect for keeping him cool. As soon as we enter a store though, you can tell his little legs are cold and he's miserable. That's why I always keep at least one pair of BabyLegs in my diaper bag, they come in handy when you don't think you'll need them!
Summer everywhere is winding down and fall is about to set in. As it gets chilly outdoors, especially at night, make sure you have your BabyLegs with you everywhere you go! As a bonus, there are still Sew Golden BabyLegs in stock at the Dreamscapes Baby Boutique, and there are still prizes to be claimed, even the Grand Prize trip to Seattle! Grab a pair of BabyLegs now before they sell out for the season and see if you won!

Hoping and Dreaming You'll Be a Winner,

2008-08-22T10:46:00.002-05:00

Bibzees...Because Even Cool Babies Spit Up!

2008-08-19T10:17:00.006-05:00

If you haven't yet heard of Bibzees, it's because Dreamscapes Baby is one of the first boutiques to offer it! I'm always searching for the next big thing, and helping women-owned businesses is a priority. With Bibzees, not only was it an incredible product, but their owner Beth Powell, is one amazing lady!

A friend of mine bought the Drama Queen shirt by Uncommonly Cute but complained that the design was covered up by the unsightly bib she had to use while her daughter was teething. I'm sure many moms have wondered why they buy adorable clothing that is just going to be covered up by Little Brother and Disney bibs. Beth Powell thought the same thing and realized there had to be a way to fix the problem...and she did! Bibzees is ingenious in that the bib is the actual fashion statement! The onesie is just the background to the hip bib design. Two bibs are included with each onesie so you can switch them out throughout the day.

My favorite is the Biker Chick/Rocker Chick Bibzee. The onesie is lavender and comes with a motorcycle bib and a guitar bib. Who says only boys can rock? The set is rolled neatly together and tied together with black ribbon. Then it's rolled into a black fabric type paper and sealed with a sticker. It's baby shower ready! No need to giftwrap!

I'm a true believer in this product. I've seen the quality and the detail that went into the bib designs and I love the idea behind it. We currently offer three designs to suit your tastes. Check them out now at the Dreamscapes Baby Boutique!

Keep Dreamin',

Appaman Fall 2008 is HERE!!!

2008-08-10T17:51:00.007-05:00

One of the hottest brands in kids wear today is Appaman, made famous by Maddox Jolie Pitt after sporting a shirt with the Appaman logo on the back. I was first introduced to this brand after my son was born in January 2007. A client of my husband's knew someone who owned a very popular upscale baby boutique in our area and she bought us a couple of items for our new bundle. One was a Cruisin' long sleeve tee from Binky Couture, and the other was a vintage black onesie with flames on the sleeves...by Appaman! It was our favorite item in my son's closet and he wore it until he grew out of it. We wanted to find more of these types of items by this designer...and unfortunately, the boutique she bought it from was limited in pieces and we couldn't find what we wanted. I am so in love with boys clothing today. I remember when my nephew was born 12 years ago, all there was for him was traditional smocking or sports clothing or polos. That was about it. My sister complained that boys clothing was the same everywhere and boring and I agreed.

Now look at today! Because celebrities have made being a mom a glamorous and sought after title, everything child related has changed. No longer are fashionable moms having to dress their fashionable kids in the same old thing. With Appaman, both boys and girls can strut their stuff in style.

My favorite pieces are of course the Henley with Flames and the Marine Motorcycle. While I'm not always an Angelina Jolie fan, I can thank her for publicizing a brand I fell in love with. It seems like anything her kids wear turns into the next hot item. I would complain about that, but her fashion taste in children's clothing is impecable and I have to agree with her choices. I'm always on the lookout for the best in kids clothing. I mentioned that Aidan wore his onesie a LOT but I didn't mention that it's still in GREAT shape without fading. On top of looking great, the quality is undeniable. I can say with absolute certainty that this is one brand that I've put through the ringer and has come out with two thumbs up!

Appaman is such a hot item that quantities are limited, so take a look and grab it while it's hot!

Keep Dreaming,

One Posh Mama!

2008-07-24T22:02:00.002-05:00

I'd like to think I have a pretty good handle on children's fashion. I know what I like and what I don't like and because of my history in retail (both growing up in the fashion industry and working in the children's department at Neiman Marcus) I am very picky as to what I allow on the Dreamscapes Baby Boutique store. I like to support other WAHMs, those that are out there creating their own niche in the marketplace and carving out a piece for themselves. They've found something missing and took the initiative to create it themselves. I have to say, as far as working with new designers and adding new products to the boutique, there is one place that I've found more vendors than any other. Not only that, but I've created friendships with the people whose products I sell, which adds something special every time someone buys from me. I know it doesn't only help me, it helps them further their goals as well. That place is PoshMama!

Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network is a positive and upbeat community made up of women from around the world. You will feel immediately welcomed as it is the sweetest spot on the 'net. Come hang out, network and make some great friends at www.poshmama.com. I invite anyone moms out there or any women entrepeneurs to check it out. I honestly believe that knowing the person and not just the product is incredibly important. Neiman Marcus teaches their sales associates that you don't just get the sales, you get the friendships. I made friends with many of my former clients and I know how important it is to buy from someone you trust. That's one reason I started this blog. I wanted an outlet to express myself while talking about the store, but also to foster those personal relationships that are so important to me.

Before you buy online, get to know the person you're buying from. I encourage you to get to know me as well.

Keep Dreamin',

Summer's Hottest Trend Is...

2008-07-19T15:16:00.009-05:00

...Giraffe!

According to Camelopardia Fashionista:
Giraffe Fashion
Camel Leopard Fashion = Giraffe Fashion For many centuries wildlife fashion were very common during the time of adam and eve wearing authentic deer skins and now at present the wild are out in the city streets again. If tigers, leopards and lions were on the catwalk now our lovely giraffe walking out of the wilderness and into the urban city are the new trend in fashion the untamed tiger look are outwitted by these cute and sexy giraffe prints.

I personally have fallen in love with giraffe print. There's something so sophisticated and classy about it as compared to the typically flamboyant and wild cheetah and leopard prints. Anyone can wear giraffe, as long as it's worn correctly! The safari style is in and here to stay as it seems, and Dreamscapes Baby has the perfect accessory!

The giraffe hobo by OiOi is the perfect complement to any safari themed wardrobe. It's a perfect size for those quick trips to the store and comes with all the features of a larger diaper bag...except it doesn't look like a diaper bag!

Another option is the OiOi giraffe print tote bag, which has much more space to carry all the essentials, plus one. The lining is a burnt sienna color, adding a little spice to the muted exterior. No longer are diaper bags frumpy and boring, now they're an accessory!

As for me, my birthday gift this year was the Banana Republic dress I fell in love with:

Along with this, I ended up purchasing the hat pictured right after it went on sale. Of course, my giraffe craze isn't limited to diaper bags and dresses, my swimsuit is of course...giraffe! Thanks to Land's End:

You could say I went a little overboard with the print, but well, I'm not wearing them all at the same time! :) For any animal print, subdued pairings is key. Never wear different types of animal prints together. Don't overdo the print i.e. pair a solid top with a printed bottom. I don't think anyone can go wrong with wearing giraffe though, it's just a beautiful print.

Speaking of giraffes, our recent vacation to Disney World's Animal Kingdom was something amazing! We went on the Kilimanjaro Safari and we had to stop several times because a giraffe kept walking in the road ahead of us. We watched one gracefully run alongside our truck and another got so close to us, it looked like it was about to stick it's head in! Trinity could have easily reached out and touched it. The entire safari was amazing. I highly recommend it.

Until we dream again,

Rockin' Babies!

2008-06-03T15:50:00.008-05:00

Dreamscapes Baby is proud to add Baby Rock Apparel and Crazy Baby Clothing Co. to our online boutique!

Baby Rock Apparel has created a line of funky and hip toddler tees that rock! Check out the Chick Magnet shirt in a vintage argyle or the Girls Rock pink tee for your little rock princess! Just in time for Father's Day, Cherish Thy Father is the perfect tee for Daddy's Little Princess!

Crazy Baby Clothing Co. is an edgy, alternative choice for the more punk rock moms and dads! With onesies featuring skulls, flaming dice, and cross screenprints, they are the perfect addition to the hip and trendy baby!

Don't forget, the BabyLegs Sew Golden campaign is going on NOW!!! Hurry on over to Dreamscapes Baby Boutique to get yours now!

Grand Opening!!

2008-05-27T17:29:00.003-05:00

June 1st 2008 is our official grand opening and to kick it off, Dreamscapes Baby Boutique is participating in the BabyLegs Sew Golden campaign!

From June 1st to July 15th, you can find winning tickets in specially marked BabyLegs for great prizes---including on Grand Prize trip to Seattle! Check out our Sew Golden website for more details and to see the participating BabyLegs designs!

Dreamscapes Baby will also be adding a subscriber feature to our website very soon so that our members will be emailed special coupon discounts, upcoming items, and more!

Make sure to join the Blogger network and feel free to leave comments on the blog! We welcome your suggestions and questions!

Dreamscapes Baby

New Arrivals!

2008-05-20T13:24:00.001-05:00