Custom Double High School Homecoming Mum…SO BLING!

I had the pleasure of designing this mum for Domonique, a senior at Westwood High School, this week! She requested the X-large custom double homecoming mum from 5th Avenue Bowtique. After talking with her and her mother, we determined that her requests included the following items should be on her high school homecoming mum: butterflies, stars, rhinestones and bling, zebra & leopard print (with monogramming directly on the ribbon), lots of RED, maribou feathers, and arhinestone encrusted horseshoe. She also loved the idea of the Diamond beaded garlands that come standard with 5th Avenue Bowtique as well as the tiered rhinestone bezel charms!

The photos show the actual mum as well as some close ups! I absolutely love the contrast between the black & red, which were highlighted really well with the ribbon selections- black & white sparkley leopard print and a regal red & white scroll print were the perfect accent for the large zebra layers! Oh, and the zebra ribbon had rhinestones added for a little extra “oomph”.

I am very happy with how this one turned out! This was a GREAT way to start off the Homecoming Mum season! I’m looking forward to meeting the requests of many other High School students (and their parents) in the next 2 months!

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Custom Homecoming Mum Rings The Glamour of Homecoming in a box

102 16391 300x225 Custom Homecoming Mum Rings The Glamour of Homecoming in a box

Along with this whole concept of creating homecoming mums that won’t fall apart in an afternoon, I love this idea that I came up with last year. Our spirit rings have been designed with the same materials- grosgrain ribbon and plastic diamond beads- so you can wear them year after year! High school students should get a full 4 years out of this accessory!

You have a few choices when it comes to ordering- the product shown has 2 layers of monogramming added (cost $21). Our basic mum rings are just $11. Guess what? When you purchase your mum from us, you receive a mum ring FREE!

To order this ring or a homecoming mum from 5th Avenue Bowtique, visit our website: http://fifthavenuebowtique.com/bow/homecoming-mum-spirit-ring-w-monogramming-p-548.html

You can also email us at info@fifthavenuebowtique.com

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the Spirit stick for little Boys – new homecoming mum product!

Why should girls have all of the fun?  After designing the “girl” themed spirit stick (see the blog post below as well as the link to our website for the product photo), I had to create something that would work for little boys too!

My goal was to make a “throw back” style spirit stick.  After all, Pepsi cola came out with a “throw back” soda (natural sugar with the old can design), and the NFL released “throw back” jerseys.  Why shouldn’t 5th Avenue Bowtique have “throw back” spirit products?  There’s something to say for going back to the time when these products were invented!

So, I added some detailed brown ribbon and hand tied on the streamers…they’ve been glued underneath with permanent adhesive and WILL NOT come off!  The bear is holding a well crafted “football”- I tracked it down because I loved the look, the quality…it looks perfect in his hands!  Then, the helmet, which happens to fit perfectly.  All together, it looks like a toy from days past!

It’s perfect for your little fan to wave in the stands when the game gets exciting…and, it’s going to be a great keepsake to pack away!  I will say, also, that this spirit stick could easily accompany your child to a NFL game…and would look great!

For more information on 5th Avenue Bowtique homecoming mums, visit: www.5thavenuebowtique.com

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We’ve added SPIRIT STICKS to our high school homecoming mum selection!

 Weve added SPIRIT STICKS to our high school homecoming mum selection!So, our customers really like the idea that our high school homecoming mums can be preserved over time.  The materials we used are ideal for being stored over time…if you place them in a box, under a bed, or in an attic, the ribbon isn’t going to bend, crease, break, etc.

High School homecoming mums are popular for high school students.  But, what about younger kids that haven’t made it to High School yet?  Well, I’ve designed something for them too!  The spirit stick is the perfect item to accompany them to the homecoming game.

The SPIRIT stick is the perfect accessory to accompany you to the game…styles are now available for both boys and girls.  I am most proud of the fact that your purchase can be stored and re-used next year, and the year after, and the year after!

So, maybe you have a son who is a High School football player and your son has a little sister.  This spirit stick can be used throughout his high school years and can be passed down from child to child (like hand me down clothes)!  Now, that’s getting your money’s worth!

We offer all color combinations and are happy to take special requests!  For more information, please visit our website:

http://fifthavenuebowtique.com/bow/spirit-stick-for-girl-match-your-homecoming-mum-school-colors-p-544.html

You can also email: info@fifthavenuebowtique.com.

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Conroe High School Homecoming Details 2011

I began making up some new samples of mums, garters and spirit items this week.  I’m really not happy with the photos from previous years as most have been taken in a rush just before customers were walking out the door.  This business has a lightning fast turnover rate.

One of my sample designs (which will be photographed and added to the website shortly as well as to this blog post) has been designed for Conroe High School.  First, for those of you who come across this in search of info on your school’s festivities this year, here’s some info (which is coming from the Conroe HS alumni website):

Game- October 14- 7:30pm.  Tickets cost $7.00.  I’m including a link to the Alumni website as they have a variety of activities scheduled for former students- how nice!

So, what to do in terms of a design for a mum going to this school?  They are the Conroe Tigers. Colors- black and bright yellow…hmm…it didn’t take me very long to decide on this one.  This year, I’m working on customizing on a new level- with the ribbon.  As each year goes buy, ribbon wholesalers are coming up with more and more styles- I now have access to paw print ribbons, various mascots, animal prints, and sport themed ribbons (basketball, football, soccer, cheer, dance, etc.)  So, it’s time to make the upgrade!

To make this homecoming mum, I grabbed some black & white tiger/zebra print ribbon (I’ve included a link below to a SIMILAR product to what I used)…the tiger & zebra look about the same when it comes to black & white.  It’s fun, it’s girly, it’s different and a heck of a lot more interesting than plastic gift ribbon being used at the florist shop!

Things got dicey when I used my embroidery machine to monogram bright yellow letters over the tiger ribbon.  This one is a head turner…Next, of course I added all of the 5th Avenue Bowtique signature products- the (hand strung) diamond bead garlands, custom embellishments, real ribbon bows, curled grosgrain ribbons…lots more!

This one turned out great!  Stay tuned for photos along with the whole new product line!

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Atascocita High School Homecoming 2011 Texas

Another year has come and gone and it’s football season again!  Fans and players alike will likely be lugging gatorade this year since Texas has broken all time records for number of days in the triple digits this summer.  With that, it would almost make sense for homecomings to be be pushed back later into the fall, but, like the trends from last year, some homecomings are popping up as soon as next week- September 9th!

This is an odd ball comment, and, call me skeptical, but, the homecoming dance planning committee has failed to consider the feelings of new students.  I’m sure many are feeling the pressure to find a date in just two weeks!  Wow!

I’ve managed to get a list of the homecoming dates for many of the Houston area schools and the corresponding GAMES.  Dance dates may be different from the dates posted, but I hope this will be of some help.  Please see the list below.

I’d also like to highlight Atascocita High School’s homecoming as their game is scheduled for September 16th, which is coming up soon!  Atascocita has a ridiculously TALENTED group of guys playing for them (see the link below as they won the Texas District 19-5A victory last year).

This is also one of the most insanely beautiful buildings ever built in the name of education- it is designed as a replica of Moticello, the estate home of President Thomas Jefferson- pillars and all!

Good luck this year Atascocita Eagles!

Homecoming Schedule for NE Houston:

Atascocita Eagles- Sept 16 Colors Royal, Red, White

Summer Creek Bulldogs- Sept 23 Maroon, Gold

K Park Panthers- Sept 30 Hunter Green, Black

Cleveland Indians- Sept 30 Red, Black, White

Huffman Hargrave Falcons- Sept 30 Red, black

Crosby Cougars- Oct 7- red, white

Humble Wildcats- Oct 7- Purple, white

Porter Spartans- Red, gold, black

Kingwood High School Mustangs- Oct 8- navy, white

New Caney Eagles- Oct 14- Royal blue, white

Splendora High School Wildcats- Oct 21- red, white

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Hair bow Classes- a 5th Avenue Bowtique following

I was out at the pediatrician with my kids and saw a hair bow on a little girl. I could tell that the maker had either taken my hair bow class or learned from someone who took my class…All of the students learn a basic 5 layer hair bow “pattern”, and for a good while, many of them seem to stick to it like training wheels. So, I find them easy to recognize when they go.

I don’t see a face or a name, but I do recognize their work. So many of my very first students went on to begin their own businesses…I know that one of them was featured on the San Antonio news, so it stands to reason that they have taught other people as well. Good for them!

There is something so rewarding about making something YOURSELF for your own child, or one that you love and not all of us sews (or loves to sew)!

I have not yet posted spring class schedules…the private classes continue to be the easiest (and fastest) way to learn. For more info, please visit: www.5thavenuebowtique.com or email info@fifthavenuebowtique.com.

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Homecoming mums- how late can you order?

So, every week I hear the same question from customers- “How long can i put off making my order?’ If homecoming is on Friday, can I wait to order until Tuesday, Wednesday, or even Thursday of this week?

Honestly, it just depends. Keep in mind, 5th Avenue Bowtique designs homecoming mums like no other. After your custom order is placed, we begin searching for special and “coordinating” themed items that we can use to embellish your homecoming mums mum. Some may be in stock, and some homecoming mum supplies may need to purchased. Each week, we go shopping to fill in any missing pieces in our orders.

If you wait too long, we can’t customize your homecoming mum like we otherwise would. Now, your homecoming mum will still have monogramming, and we can place many of our other custom embellishments on the mum. There are certain details that are “standard”- our tiered crystal rhinestone embellishments, and themed grosgrain ribbons (printed with cheer, school mascot, football, and other themes), etc. However, finding your custom ornaments- say, your cheerleader embellishments, for example- will be difficult to add to your homecoming mum.

Last week, SOME mum orders were not finished until very late on Thursday evening. The orders were completed in the order that they were placed. The customer who ordered the day before (Wednesday) picked hers up late. She was still happy to receive it. However, I think she would have liked the homecoming mum even better if she didn’t wait until the very last second to order.

If you know that your child is going to attend homecoming, and you know that you’re going to want to buy a homecoming mum, consider placing your order early. The additional details on the mum can be added later. But, you will still receive all of the benefits of placing your mum order early.

I have begun offering a FREE mum ring for the first 10 orders placed each week!

To order, visit www.5thavenuebowtique.com or call/text 281-728-3573.

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homecoming mum for the homecoming queen

This past week, I had the privilege of making a homecoming mum for a young lady who had been elected to the homecoming court of her very LARGE high school. Her mother also purchased a garter for her brother who was also on the court, but in a different grade. The kids were delightful, good looking, intelligent kids, and deserving of special mums to commemorate this special high school experience.

This girl was a cheerleader, and her mum was decked out in megaphones encrusted with crystals throughout the mum. I’ve begun adding rhinestones standard on MOST mums- they just look better. The center of the mum had huge sparkly butterflies- for some reason, this is a favorite that people keep going back to on the mum. I also had a lot of ribbon with wire to give the mum extra dimension and layers. Oh, and huge feather boas. This homecoming mum exemplified everything that is girly, and appealed completely to the taste of the average teenaged girl. I think this is why we are regularly told by our customers that they receive oodles of attention.

The garter was equally impressive- a simple mum was in the center, and had a resin cast figure of a young boy planing football hanging from the flower. Striped grosgrain ribbon to coordinate with the school colors replaced the traditional polka dots that are so much more girly. His name and football number were also highlighted.

I do think that each and every one of the homecoming mums that are put out by 5th Avenue Bowtique are fit for a “QUEEN”…however tacky this sounds, the amount of work (hours for each) just makes such a difference in the end result. I have accepted the fact that we’re only able to take a handful of orders each week, unlike florist shops that can take 100′s. However, I am proud of the end result- they are truly gorgeous, and a real work of art!

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Charity Children’s Model Shoot sponsored by 5th Avenue Bowtique & Capturing You 2010

In 2008, I got a wild idea to put on a “fashion show”/Model Shoot for the children in our community. The first date was actually rescheduled due to Hurricane Ike…unfortunately, the hurricane ripped right through the middle of our metro Houston area suburb, and knocked down enough trees that we couldn’t drive for a good week. Power and running water wasn’t completely restored for almost three weeks.

Talk about a rain on our parade……the hurricane forced us to reschedule and, at first, I worried that we would loose our participation. The concept behind this event is to encourage self confidence among the girls, AND to give parents an opportunity to talk to their children about the opportunity to help others. We give them a great way to bring this concept up just by pointing out the amount of money that is raised through this event for our local charity. It was important to me personally, an luckily, everything went just fine.

Our “rain date” (this term is way too kind) ended up being perfect. Participants met us in Town Centre park in Kingwood, Tx. and photographer Jennifer Berard from www.capturingyou.net and Rachel Vogel of www.portraitplayland.com photographed around 75 kids and provided their parents with CD’s that included proofs from the day. Our props included everything from huge feather boas to cowgirl hats, blubbles, a variety of tutus, angel wings with real feathers, and more. I provided kids with a minimum of one hair accessory for the shoot, and donations were accepted for Child Advocates. Child Advocates is an excellent Houston based children’s charity.

The photos from this event are just fantastic! One of our daring models- Faith- actually jumped into a fountain and got soaking wet…the kids had so much fun that I am repeatedly contacted and asked WHEN we will be doing this again.

Well, it is finally time. Jennifer from Capturing you has generously volunteered to participate again! Details are still being worked out. However, here is what I know- the cost will be around $35.00 and will include the proofs, a hair accessory, and a donation to the charity that is named for this year. Parents will have the option to choose an accessory from my website for their photo…designs will go on a first come first serve basis. Each child will wear a minimum of one design as I may choose some children to wear specific products. Everything that is modeled goes home!

I would like to point out that the normal sitting fee to retain Jennifer is $200- this is an excellent fee for her alone! To register, please email info@fifthavenuebowtique.com. Customers who would like to reserve an accessory may visit www.5thavenuebowtique.com.

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