3.12.2011

Carolina on my mind...

Just a little side note to say Happy Saturday.....& if you are interested in purchasing an item/items that have not been "relisted" on my etsy site, most likely you can find it on my website http://www.momiboutique.com/.  I have not been "relisting" sold items as frequently on my etsy site because I have been having large influxs of orders at http://www.momiboutique.com/ & the purchasing process seems to go alot smoother for all.  It is nicer for you as the MOMI addict because the layout of the page allows for easier searching & larger front images.  All "add ons" or modifications are "spelled out" under each item & unless an item is truly sold out, it is always available for purchase...you do not have to email me or wait for me to "relist" it!  It has really been nice for me on my end because just when I thought I was going to really have to consider hiring a customer service rep, http://www.momiboutique.com/ became the new found hit place to purchase MOMI (vs. my etsy site), my orders increased X's 3 & my emails decreased X's 3.  I certainly hadn't seen that one coming in my crystal ball!  Since you have to enter a size to purchase at http://www.momiboutique.com/, it cuts down on alot of time...& at the moment I need every spare second I can get!  It has also helped to eliminate most "private listings". I really couldn't be happier!

I also need to let you know that I am gearing up to go out of town on April first to shoot my summer line..which will be released near the begining of April. I do not have an exact date at the moment as I am relying on mother nature, who typically has a mind of her own! :) 
I will not return until April 8th or possibly a little longer depending on how much fun we are having! I am so fortunate that my in laws have an ocean front duplex rental property in Carolina that they so graciously let us stay at, pretty much whenever the mood strikes. I think it was the only thing that really saved our sanity moving from Hawaii to PA, knowing we had a place to escape to. We have such a great time down at the beach house, we are usually never ready to come ome!...but, we always do! Unfortunately for Mr. MOMI & the girls, I have to keep everyone pretty grounded in PA due to the workload of owning a business.  I have made promises though that one day we will head out of town for good & get our own place by the sea...in the 20 year plan :)

All items purchased from March 20th - March 31st have a potential 4 week turn around until shipment. I would strongly urge you to place your orders asap if you are hoping to have them for Easter. I know this seems quite strange & so very long to wait, especially since MOMI has become notorious for it's very fast turn around but, please do know that I am turning orders as fast as humanly possible at the moment with the amount of orders that I have coming in daily & the circumastance that I was only born with two hands! :) I believe I have been pulling "all nighters" now, more than I had in college!!

*I wish you all a wonderful weekend!*

3.08.2011

MOMI boutique 101

If you're new to MOMI boutique, or feel completely lost in the dark in regards to all of the "event days" that MOMI has going on, this one is for you!....

History lesson:

It all started 2 years ago with what I termed Art Show Saturday. Since I literally spent 15 hrs a day in my sewing room it was my "15 minutes"of escaping from the mudane each week & letting my imagination run wild. I created ONE set/piece/dress/whatever I felt like in that moment & ritually every Saturday morning at 11am EST posted it in my etsy shop as a "One of a Kind" design. "One of a Kind" in MOMI's book means that the piece will not be duplicated/recreated, it is the only one of its kind, & your little girl will be the only one in the world to own that piece!

A year later, due to unforseen circumstances, I made Mr. MOMI quit his day job. That was not something to take lightly, he was the top salesman at a local auto group.  It was a huge risk but, it had to happen.  During the first month he was home & after finally realzing what was really involved in my days & that I never stopped working, he would constantly comment that I needed a hobby. I'm not sure what he was thinking becasuse I was basically forced to kick everything into survival mode, my 15 hour days became 18 hr days & there was just absolutely no time for a hobby. My "event days" came about  to satisfy my "need" for a hobby....when the "normal" working world works 5 days a week, I work 8..& because of this I can justify that extra time I take to dream away & create these OOAK pieces.  Orders do take priority over OOAK days.  If MOMI boutique becomes so overloaded that I don't feel I have a grasp on things, I will full on stop the event days.  I would never put a paying customer 2nd in line to my "hobby".  However, that does not mean that just because I have orders I will stop the event days. At this point orders are a constant & the OOAK's are worked into the 5 hours a day that most people would have already left the office....I hope this is all making sense!! 
At the end of the day, regardless of my "crazy workaholic ways", I am still human, life happens, I have 2 small children with 2 little hands that each need to be held, I have a house, a husband, & family, I also have a few friends but, they would probably like to kick me to the curb because I am always busy. :)
There are days when things are just not feasible for one reason or another & I will post on my facebook wall that the "event" of the day is not happening. 

Details:
Except for Saturday, there is no rhyme or reason to what time I post the designs of the day. I may give warning on my facebook fan page wall as to an upcoming time, other days it is whatever works at the moment. It is a HUGE commitment on my end to have designs made/photographed & ready to post 5 days a week, I can not commit to a specific time each day...if that would end of having to be the case, that is when the luster would be lost, my hobby would become a hassel, & the magic would be gone. :)

If you are interested in being at the brink of the latest cutting edge MOMI designs here is some terminology that may tickle your fancy:

Monday-MOMI's melting pot swing top: 1 MOMI melting pot swing top will be posted on my facebook fan page & auctioned off. Auction ends at 10pm EST the next day (Tuesday). Rules are posted at time of auction.

Two Timin' Tuesday- a 2 of a kind design will be posted at http://www.momiboutique.com/, there will only be 2 of this design available unless otherwise stated.

Flirt Skirt Friday- Thursday night at midnight EST (or possibly a few hours before) there will be a limited edition MOMI flirt skirt posted & availble for sale. The directions on how to own this skirt are always posted & the skirt is available until midnight on Saturday night, or until supplies last!

Art Show Saturday- at 11am EST there will be a design posted at http://www.momiboutique.com/, this design will be a OOAK unless otherwise stated

Sister set Sunday- 2 coordinating limited edition pieces/sets will be posted at http://www.momiboutique.com/, these are typically OOAK designs or 2 of a kind designs

I do have a fairly large following for these unique designs & they tend to disappear VERY quickly. I do have women who take their limited edition MOMI pieces VERY seriously & I will be forever thankful!
I will look forward to seeing you all soon!