Thursday, March 19, 2009


Join JackaLulu for our debut spring launch on ebay!
Just type Jackalulu in the ebay search window for all the wonderful designers!

Bluebonnets & Bows Pettiskirts!





My new line of pettiskirts has arrived! I'm very excited! 40 yards of delicious chiffon with contrasting ruffles and delicate satin ribbon trim. I have several colors & sizes available. These were definatley worth the wait!


Because I am retailing my own line of pettiskirts directly from the manufacturer, I have kept the mark up very low. I am offering these devine skirts on my website for $54.99 and shipping is FREE!


For my blog reading friends, here is a special bonus for you! Purchase an in stock pettiskirt on my website and use coupon code: IReaDyouRBloG and get an *additional $2 off your pettiskirt!This is a one time use code so the first blogger to use it gets the discount. It will no longer be valid once it is used. This code is only valid on in stock pettiskirts and not on any other items.

Hurry up before it's gone!






Monday, February 2, 2009

One Year "STAY" issued on CPSIA! Good News!

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger. These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.
Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.
The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.
The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.
The stay does not apply to:
Four requirements for third-party testing and certification of certain children’s products subject to:
The ban on lead in paint and other surface coatings effective for products made after December 21, 2008;
The standards for full-size and non full-size cribs and pacifiers effective for products made after January 20, 2009;
The ban on small parts effective for products made after February 15, 2009; and
The limits on lead content of metal components of children’s jewelry effective for products made after March 23, 2009.
Certification requirements applicable to ATV’s manufactured after April 13, 2009.
Pre-CPSIA testing and certification requirements, including for: automatic residential garage door openers, bike helmets, candles with metal core wicks, lawnmowers, lighters, mattresses, and swimming pool slides; and
Pool drain cover requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act.
The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.
Handmade garment makers are cautioned to know whether the zippers, buttons and other fasteners they are using contain lead. Likewise, handmade toy manufacturers need to know whether their products, if using plastic or soft flexible vinyl, contain phthalates.
The stay of enforcement on testing and certification does not address thrift and second hand stores and small retailers because they are not required to test and certify products under the CPSIA. The products they sell, including those in inventory on February 10, 2009, must not contain more than 600 ppm lead in any accessible part. The Commission is aware that it is difficult to know whether a product meets the lead standard without testing and has issued guidance for these companies that can be found on our web site.
The Commission trusts that State Attorneys General will respect the Commission's judgment that it is necessary to stay certain testing and certification requirements and will focus their own enforcement efforts on other provisions of the law, e.g. the sale of recalled products.
Please visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html for more information on all of the efforts being made to successfully implement the CPSIA.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

NEW LINE OF PETTISKIRTS!

I have taken the full pettiskirt plunge! I have contracted with a petticoat manufacturer to create my own line of pettiskirts. The first delivery of skirts is due late January/late Feburary 2009.
My skirts will have 40 yards of luxurious full fluffy chiffon in wonderful colors. And eventually I will be offering wonderful PRINT chiffon pettiskirts as well such as leopard prints, zebra prints and more! The quality of these skirts is excellent and their beauty is unsurpased. But the best part about them is the PRICE! Beautiful boutique pettiskirts without the high boutique price!

No, I'm not "the original". (learn facts about the original in my earlier post) I didn't invent or create anything new & wonderful. I'm not a big brand name that is sold through a distributor with huge markups. And I'm certainly NOT the first to sell a pettiskirt nor the only one selling pettiskirts. You have lots of choices when buying a pettiskirt.
If you choose to buy a Bluebonnets & Bows pettiskirt, you will have a quality pettiskirt every bit and beautiful & well constructed as any other brand name at a BEST price!

Now, my new line of skirts will be ready to ship and will be shipped with 1 business day of purchase. Shipping is FREE. I will be offering discount coupon codes to many of my customers. If you would like to get a coupon code for my pettiskirts, send me an email & I'll be happy to send you one. Coupon codes will be good for pettiskirt purchases on my website.

I will also be offering great discounts for purchases of 5 or more of my new skirts to groups, photographers & other non-retailers. Contact me for details. Sorry, but this offer does not apply to custom order skirts.

Can't find the color pettiskirt that you want or need? How about a skirt in your school or favorite team colors? Do you need several matching skirts for a group? I will continue to offer custom order pettiskirts from the same manufacturer that I have been selling for a few years, now. This is the same manufacturer that made Kaiya Eve skirts for many years. Custom pettiskirts can be ordered in your choice of colors and color combinations. But as many of you know, this manufacturer takes up to 6 month to ship so you must plan ahead. Custom pettiskirts are only available on my website.

Don't miss my new line of pettiskirts! FREE SHIPPING!

Monday, October 13, 2008

PETTICOATS!! cute & classic OR "out there" & "edge-y"







PETTICOATS! WOW!!
We're wearing our under clothes on the outside, again!!!
Wear these with your favorite leggings for a sassy fun look! Girls just love these! They are "out there" and edgey but still soft and girly.
The petticoat is back! Wear them in a more traditional way under any skirt or dress to add fullness and "twirl" power.
As an under garment or outer garment, you get DOUBLE the wearing power from these great petticoats!
No wardrobe is complete without at least on of these! Made of soft chiffon and available in black, red, white & pink!
And MUCH more affordable than the extra full petti"skirts". These are approx. 20 yards in fullness compared to the pettiskirts which are 35 yards. It should be noted that the 35 yard petti"skirts" are a little difficult to wear as an under garment because they are just soooo full. These petti"coats" are perfect for under garments adding just the perfect amount of fullness. And with the added option of wearing as an outer garment with leggings as shown, you get a lot of petti for your buck!!!
I have sold these to MANY, MANY boutique designers and model moms!! Yes! you've seen them out there! Now you know where to get YOURS!!
Right now these petticoats are $38.50 with FREE SHIPPING!
PettiSKIRTS are now $65.99 with FREE SHIPPING!

Removable FUR CUFFS are TDF!!! A must have this season!








Removable fur cuffs just can't be beat! Just slip them on over any long sleeve tee shirt or sweater for an unbeatable fresh fall/winter look! Mix and match them with your entire wardrobe. And they stay cleaner and looking new much longer because they can be slipped off quickly when needed!!

Now, I've seen all kinds. All are cute and it just depends on your style preference. Some are crochet, some are made from "furry" fleece. Nothing wrong with any of them just pointing out there are different kinds of "fur" cuffs out there. Some are using buttons to button the cuff to the skirt. These are removable for washing but can only be worn with the shirt with the buttons. Some are useing elastic inside the cuff. Not very comfortable & not my preference, but the choice is yours.

I use high quality, polyester, long pile FAUX FUR. They are extremely soft and luxurious. No buttons or elastic. I use a soft rib knit inside for a nice comfortable fit. They are sized to fit most all children's wrists and they just slip on and off!

Faux fur cuffs are a must have accessory for your wardrobe!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

New and more new.

Wizard of Oz fabrics are just to die for and I had to create something fun with them!!
A double layered skirt with a bound hemline to create body and fullness! This was really fun and the look is fantastic!




I am really enjoying designing with knit fabrics and have created several designs!! They are just so comfortable and easy to care for!!





We lost our good friend, Renee

I lost a good friend & groupmate.
Renee and her best friend, Becky, were the design team known as Cricket Cottage on ebay. She was a groupmate of mine in "On the Avenue" and was an amazing artist and person.
Renee was diagnosed with cancer just a few months ago at the age of 39 and lost her battle on June 20, 2008.
All my love & prayers go to Renee's family and to Becky.
I will miss my friend, Renee.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

PETTISKIRTS: Some truths & facts







Can you tell which of these skirts retails for $85 or more and which ones sell for much less??No? Are your sure?Can you tell which ones are "originals" and which skirts are "knock-off"??

Of course you can't! Even if you were looking at them in person! Because they are all made by the same hands by the same manufacturer. This US based manufacturer/wholesaler designed them & has been making them since 1969 and selling them to retailers for many years!! The ONLY difference in these skirts are the labels inside and the price.

You see, Ms. Lightner of Kiaya Eve Couture, had the brilliant idea (I know it was a brilliant idea because she emailed me and told me so) to take these skirts and "...put them into the world in a whole, new magical way." That is indeed a fact!

Here is Ms. Lightner's entire, unaltered email to me sent through the ebay email system in response to an ebay guide I wrote about pettiskirts:
"recently read quite the interesting article about what "the original pettiskirt" means. Well, as the designer who created "the original pettiskirt" by Kaiya Eve Couture, I would like to take a few minutes out of my very busy day to share a few thoughts on the matter. You see, as I have previously stated in many of my featured press related articles, I have never claimed to have invented the "petticoat". As we all know (since we are all such clever women), the "petticoat" as been around for years and years and well, ... years. However, I am very happy to say, that I -- Kandi Lightner -- designer of Kaiya Eve Couture was the very first person to have taken these beautiful little petticoats and put them into the world in a whole, new magical way -- and called them a "pettiskirt". Yes ... the very first person. Why you ask? Well, other than that fact that I am just ... ummmmm ... brilliant ... and well, Original -- I, again, being the smart person that I am, termed them a "pettiskirt"

I do know, in fact, that the email was indeed sent by Ms. Lightner because about 2 months prior to receiving this email, this SAME ebayer made a purchase from me on ebay. Thus, providing me with the ebayer's name and information confirming her identity.

Now, my guide was NOT about what "the original pettiskirt" means. It was simply informing consumers that the so called "knock off" pettiskirts are the exact same skirts as Kaiya Eve and other brands of pettiskirts that retail for much more. And that they are made by the same manufacturer. Though I mentioned NO brand names or persons names in my guide.

Yes! Ms. Lightner was the FIRST to "put them into the world in a whole, new magical way" and to attach the term "pettiskirt" to them. In that respect, she most certainly is "the original" and would give her credit for being "brilliant" as she claims she is. The misunderstanding, I think, is that Ms. Lightner's Brilliance, does not make the rest of us stupid!

Ms. Lightner's website claims "if it doesn't say Kaiya Eve, it's not an original". What about all those skirts sold in specialty shops all over the country since 1969 from this manufacturer?

Ms. Lightner's website states "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". What about all those skirts sold in specialy shops all over the country since 1969 from this manufacturer?

In many published interviews, Ms. Lightner refers to the other skirts as "knock offs". What about all those skirts sold in specialty shops all over the country since 1969 from this manufacturer?

Ms. Lightner's website states "no other pettiskirts can compare" (to Kaiya Eve). What??? How can that be if they are the same skirt? Well, they can compare & they do!
I understand that Ms. Lightner has very recently created her own "in house" manufacturing. Therefore, it appears that future Kiaya Eve couture products will indeed come from a different source than the "knock offs".
I recently sold a so called "knock off" pettiskirt to a customer who also owned a Kaiya Eve skirt. Her feedback to me was "...it's just like her $90 Kaiya Eve skirt!"

Facts:
1.October 1947, Vanity Fair files for their trademark. Among the list of items to be sold under this trademark?...........PETTISKIRTS

2.Between 1947 and March of 2007, when Ms. Lightner filed for her Kiaya Eve tradmark, approx. 15 trademarks have been filed all listing PETTISKIRTS as items to be sold under their trademarks.

3. May 2007, Ms. Lightner filed for a trademark for the phrase "the original pettiskirt". Disclaimer in the application: "NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE "pettiskirt" APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN"Someone has been selling something called a pettiskirt since 1947. How could this be "the original"?

4. Ms. Lightner's Kaiya Eve website states: "WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING ANYMORE ECOMMERCE APPLICATIONS.PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT PERMIT THE SALE OF OUR ITEMS ON EBAY, ANY AUCTION SITE, AT FAIRS, INDOOR OR OUTDOOR MARKETS. YOU MUST OWN A BRICK AND MORTAR STORE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR A KAIYA EVE ACCOUNT."

However, Ms. Lighter HERSELF (under the disguise of her ebay ID) has been selling her own Kiaya Eve pettiskirts, NWT, ON EBAY for $53-55!!!! And has even earned Power Seller status with these sales!! (as stated earlier, I know her ebay ID)
Now I wonder how her retailers would feel about her undercutting them by selling her skirts on ebay?? This is just unethical in my opinion.

5. Many of the pettiskirts that many other retailers sell come from the same US based manufacturer/wholesaler that makes Kaiya Eve pettiskirts and they have been making and selling these EXACT SAME skirts since 1969.
Though I do understand that very recently Ms. Lightner has acquired her own "in house" manufacturing now and future Kaiya Eve products will come from that source.

I'm very sorry if Ms. Lightner feels misunderstood & picked on by other people. But maybe she should consider selling her product by simply promoting the positive in her own product instead of discounting everyone else's products by calling them "knock offs" or imitations.
She can call her skirts "the original pettiskirt". She has tradmarked the term. But maybe she should leave it at that and stop with the name calling.

We should all thank Ms. Lightner for being brillant & putting these skirts into the world in a whole new magical way. She is a pioneer. She deserves all her fame & popularity. I'm sure she worked very hard for her sucess.

I certainly would not discourage anyone from buying a Kaiya Eve pettiskirt. By all means, buy one on EBAY from Ms. Lightner herself! They are beautiful, wonderful skirts and well worth the retail price. Please purchase your pettiskirt from whoever you choose. But know some truths & facts. And if a seller tells you their pettiskirts are "Just like Kaiya Eve", you can believe them!
And I assure you, when your child puts on any full, fluffy pettiskirt, No one will care what label it has in it! Only your wallet will know the difference!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Crazy about Pettiskirts!!

Just out of control fun a beautiful!
The pink is a 4 layer, 40 yard chiffon pettiskirt with adjustable cotton top & delicate ribbon tie closure. Every girl will feel like a princess in these!
Wonderful colors & color combinations!
These are 2 layer, 35 yard chiffon pettiskirts. 30 colors are available in any combination you can imagine! This ain't your granny's ole petticoat!!