Tots and Tails Designs Blog

My obsession with Little Lubbaloo

2006-07-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

I met a wonderfully sweet and talented woman within the past couple of months, and she is a designer of children's clothes. Her name is Ciaran, and her too-cute business is Little Lubbaloo (see www.littlelubbaloo.com)
We met at The Silverspoon's Dog and Baby Buffet -she was another vendor/designer, and we just hit it off! After our long weekend meeting, and giving our products to, celebrities (will have to be another blog entry) she handed me some of her tees for my girls. My oldest, 4 yrs, is in love with her t-shirt. She will wear it all the time if given the opportunity - and it is on her the day after laundry is done! She wears it so often that my husband calls her "Turtle-tummy" now when she is wearing it.
My youngest was given the adorable owl tee. I just love this shirt. Not only are they just the cutest, but the shirts themselves are amazingly soft and of high quality! All the washings these poor tees have gone thru, and they still look new! Even after my youngest dripped juice down hers the very first time she wore it.
Little Lubbaloo has very cute outfits as well. We are going to be getting some of her newest collection very soon! Her "Fun-day Best" collection includes tees with rhinestone sayings such as "Giddy Up" , "Personal Shopper", and "Surf Princess" that comes with a matching twirly skirt in fun patchwork prints.
She didn't forget about the little boys, though. Little Lubbaloo has a line of tees for your rough and tumbly boy with designs such as "Dump him I'm Cuter", "Road Hog" and "What up" - each adorned with coordinating images.
You must just visit her site to see it all! And, you can click on her "Retailers" button to see where to purchase these aw-inspiring designs for your lil'tot.

Designer Pet Beds Sneak Peek

2006-07-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

You are getting a SNEAK PEEK at our new line of Sassy Designer Pet Beds. We are hurrying to get these out by the end of next week. Keep a look out for the best, most comfortable, and designer quality pet beds on the market today!

Next, we will be launching our entire fall/winter 2006 line of Pet accessories, to include modern pet sling designs, crate cover sets and Comfy pet blankets.

Keep checking in for updates to this post!!!

Happy Weekend!

2006-07-05T22:08:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite creators of textiles is a woman by the name of Mari. She has an etsy shop at Maribellahandbag.com www.MariBellaHandbag.com
She makes a wonderful assortment of handbags, diaperbags, pouches, card holders, baby bibs, and more! I got this tee a little while back from her and have gotten so many compliments. (not me in the pic, btw) I also have gotten her very reasonable pouches to hold my business cards, also one for my partners, and some jewelry she had at an craft event. She does it all, folks! I tell you, everytime I pull out my pouch (because now I also carry my debit card, id, etc in it) I get a "hey, that's cute". Everyone should have one - they are just so easy to grab when you don't want to carry a purse. I can put a few dollars, business cards, id, credit card and recipts into it.

Austin business women rock!

2006-06-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

That's right - we Austin Mamas have to stick together! I just gotta say that when we decided to redo our website, I was so lucky to have found two of the best women in town to do the job. Our job wasn't exactly going to be easy either! After being somewhat disenchanted with oscommerce, the wonderful Karina Martens from www.Cyberstitchesdesign.com convinced us to go with Zen cart so that we could offer coupons, gift certs, better service, and a lot more. Thank you so much, Karina, for all your help - it was a rush job, and you did exceptional work!

Along with Karina, I got in contact with Bella Guzman. Funny story with Bella. I actually first met her when I was included in a gift craft show in an Austin shop for the holidays. There were probably only a dozen or so artists selling their work in an exclusive shop on 6th Street. Bella walks in with her new baby boy, Max, and falls in love with our Airplane Comfy. She buys one with Max's name on it and I never really thought we would ever meet up again. Fast forward 4 months and I was catching up with a good friend who makes baby slings locally. She will go to your house and actually help you learn all the wonderful ways you can use a pouch sling. (see www.360bebe.com) She mentioned going to a sling party that a woman (Bella) threw for a bunch of friends. She finds out that Bella is a wonderful graphics designer who works out of her home. Mind you, I am looking to find someone to help us with hang tags, nicer business cards, etc. I ask her name and she says Bella Guzman (www.BellaGuzman.com) - funny, that name sounded familiar... I go on to email Bella about a rush job so that we can be plenty prepared to go to an event in Beverly Hills in a few weeks. She says 'no problem' and gets to work using our existing logo and splash page.
So, there you have it, two of Austin's most AWESOME mamas who work at home, trying to raise a family. I highly recommend either one of them if you have the need.

AND FYI, our perfect logo and splash page - basically the illustrations - were done by a fantastic woman by the name of Katy Miller (www.katymiller.net). She just finished College with a degree in Art - she really wants to do children's book illustrations. SOMEONE hire this girl quick! She is so talented! What a sweetheart too!

Anyway, had to give some Austin women their due - we hugely appreciate ALL your hard work and talent to help make Tots and Tails Designs successful!

Thank you for your patience...

2006-06-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

Business has been good for lil'ol Tots and Tails Designs. I have begun to make it a priority to start posting here on a regular basis. I will be the first to tell you that I am not the best writer, but I would like to begin to write product reviews and comment on what I see in real-life and what I come across online.
I have met so many wonderful people online recently. I decided to join theswitchboards.com in hopes of meeting new and creative people. AND I DID! Oh, my gosh, there are so many talented and creative people out there. I have just begun to scratch the surface of all checking out all the wonderful Indie businesses online. Living here in Austin, I have definately come across many unique artists and business people. I am continually amazed at what others invision and bring to fruition - Austin is AMAZING!
So, over the next few postings there will be scattered ohhs and ahhs over some of the many Austin artist products I have been fortunate enough to behold. There will as well be news about your favorite Tots and Tails products and business experience.
Welcome and enjoy!

First post to Tots and Tails' new blog

2006-03-18T18:18:00.000-08:00

Enjoy!