It has hit....

Cold and flu season that is! My family has been dealing with sickness now for a couple of weeks and I am so over it. I had to put my store on vacation in an attempt not to take on more than I can chew. I thought I was getting better until I woke up with NO VOICE and sneezing and sniffling. Now my husband is complaining that he is not feeling well either. My goal right now is to get the family healthy and back in good working order! What are you doing to stay healthy this cold and flu season?

Pageant Makeup Capes

I know the photo is awful and I will be adding better pics...but I wanted to give you a sneak peek at my newest line. Pageant Makeup Capes, these are perfect for your little princess! They keep make up and hair products off of those pageant dresses that cost mom a fortune! This is a great investment for any mom who has a little princess in pageants. I am taking orders so please contact me at lilmissmackdesigns.com if you are interest. OH...and yes they can be personalized for an additional charge.

Halloween Set

This is the BEST VIDEO EVER!!!

"Tippity Top" Music Video from Elevation Church on Vimeo.

Snow Critters Euro Hoodie Dress

I had such a great response last winter to the Snow Critters Euro Hoodie Dress.
I thought I'd bring it back again this year!
Be sure to check it out and other great items on
www.lilmissmack.com
Where we specialize in Custom Children's Cothing and Accessories!
OH...and did I say its on sale?

My New Anthem..."Give Me Faith"

I can not get this song out of my head! Ever since Chris Brown performed this song on Thursday I have been signing it!

Check out the lyrics and video

Give Me Faith [Acoustic] from Elevation Worship on Vimeo.

Verse 1:
I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you to open my eyes
To see that You’re shaping my life

Pre-Chorus:
All I am, I surrender

Chorus:
Give me faith to trust what you say
That you’re good and your love is great
I’m broken inside, I give you my life

Verse 2:
I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me

Bridge:
I may be weak
But your Spirit’s strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God you never will

Elevation Volunteer Set

I created this set for the opening weekend of our New Church Campus in Matthews NC....Elevation Church! It was a huge weekend for us and all of the Volunteers. So in order to help celebrate Mack sported this awesome set!!

We are back and ready with some NEW DESIGNS!

After a little bit of a hiatus Lil Miss Mack is BACK and ready to create more wonderful designs for you! I am in the process of updating my website and adding new products. I am also adding a Line of embroidered and appliqued Tees and onsies...you choose the size of shirt you want!

Where do we go from here

With all the changes going on in congress and the new guidlines the CPSIA is placing on all items related to childrens products. I am not sure what the future of Lil' Miss Mack or other SAHM seamstresses, is going to be. For now until all amendments are made to the current laws I will not be producing any new items. It is not worth the heafty fines and jail sentence that accompanies it.
I am truly disheartened if I will no longer be able to produce unique garments for children, but I will abide by this law. I will keep you updated on the status and how it will affect many small business owners who do what I do.

THIS ARTICLE IS A MUST READ!!
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

Happy Birthday!

This is going to be short....I just want to say that my BABY is 2 today!! I can't believe that she is 2 already...where has the time gone??

Anyway, Happy Birthday MCKENZIE GRACE PAYNE you are so loved and just a wonderful blessing to all of us! WE love you!!!

Here are just a few pics of how you have changed over the past 2 years....

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on all orders over $100 dollars!!!

ENTER CODE at checkout:

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offer expires 1/30/09

Card Board Testimony

I saw this and I just had to share! I personally think this is VERY powerful stuff! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Save Handmade

As most designers know by now they are declaring Febuary 10th
NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY DAY

For those of you still unaware let me educate you ever so quickly.
It seems that a new law has passed and will go in affect on Feb. 10, 2009, requiring that ALL
manufacturers, big corporations to mom and pop shops, of children's products will have to have all items tested for lead. A certification must be accompanied with each item.

Now what does that mean for any small business owner or even a SAHM who supplements their income from hand crafting items for children? EXACTLY the same thing it does for big manufacturers. We all will be bound by the same law and testing.
All of this is coming on the wings of the recent recalls of children's toys manufactured in china and imported to the US. I understand a need for safety regulations for things that our children come in contact with...but in my opinion this is not the answer.
They need to put tougher regulations on what is being imported in to the states.
Now I could go on forever with "my opinions" and I don't want to overshadow the issue at hand. So I have provided several links for you to investigate this for yourself and come to your own conclusion. However, if you are already informed and want to do what you can to save your businesses then please click on the "SAVE HANDMADE" bear below and sign the petition!
I know this personally affects me and thousand of other SAHM/WAHM and mom and pop shops who make boutique items for children. Note this is not limited to toys...this includes anything geared toward children 12yrs and younger. So all the beautiful OOAK boutique pieces that so many moms love to purchase for their children will be a thing of the past.
Examples...Tutus, custom made clothing, hairbows and accessories, custom shoes and of course toys...this is just a small list.

Please don't let this fall by the way side as this affects millions of people...INCLUDING big corporations. In a time of economic uncertainty this is not the time to further upset the economy and possibly put it in ruins. The worst thing we can do as Americans is to be uninformed!

Here are some additional links to help you get informed!

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/264507

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.pdf

http://www.fashion-incubator.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=32%3Ca%20href=

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/ComponentPartsComments.pdf

http://www.fashion-incubator.com/

http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476

Clowning Around with The Giggle Girls!!

I am getting ready to head to the sewing room to see if I can get some creative juices flowing! I haven't sewn much in the past few months...other than completing orders. I however, have not created anything new. So I am hoping the ideas will floweth over!!

I am trying to come up with something for my design groups first launch of the year! The theme is
"Clowning Around with the Giggle Girls"
Now my take on it is just something FUN and COLORFUL! I personally am not a big fan of clowns...they freak me out if you want to know the truth. :-)

Anyway, be sure to check out Ebay and see the wonderful designs by this group!
January 12th-31st
SEARCH GGDB

The Creative Process

I'll be honest I have been in a bit of a creative slump. I guess its not uncommon though. I mean writers get "writers block" so I'm sure a sewer (is that a word???) can have a sewing block.
Well, I reorganized my sewing room this past week...part of my NO resolutions was to purge a few things from my home...more exact was to purge from my sewing room.
It really didn't go to well, I have to admit. When I was in the process of "purging" I found a use for most of what I came across...LOL...and guess what happened???

My creative juices started going...I had to pull out a notebook and start jotting them down. Who would have thought that just by reorganizing I would become creative again.
I haven't created anything new in a couple of months....so this will be a good start for my New Year!

I have been working on adding old designs to my website...but now I am excited to get started on some new ones!! I will post some pics when I get something new created...keep your fingers crossed it won't take that long! :-)

New Year New Resolutions!

So it's a new year and we all are guilty of making resolutions. So my question is this??
Do you really stick to them??? I know I never have....but I am hoping this year will be different.

I think we have all made the resolution to diet or stop doing....fill in the blank....but again how many of us really stick to it? I was reading an article about this... and how millions of Americans resolve each year to get into shape. Come Jan 2 through about Mid to late March the Gyms are PACKED with people trying to stick to their resolution. Only to fail.
I've done it....sadly enough...and got suckered into a 2 year contract (monthly payment I couldn't afford) and only went for a couple of months.

Well I decided that this years resolution would be NO resolutions! Just take each day as it comes and just try to make better choices for 2009....I think I can do that...?? I hope... =D

I just want to wish every one a Wonderful 2009 and don't be so hard on yourself...it will be everything you put into it and so much more!

Do You Hear??

My family and I have been going to a wonderful church called
ELEVATION Church and this month to honor the Christmas season our
Pastor, Steven Furtick is doing a 3 week series.
It is called Do you Hear?
I thought it was rather appropriate to add it especially with the
hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Shopping, office parties, family get together, FOOD, presents and OH LETS not forget the
FOOD!!!

For some it is all about what they are going to get under the tree or getting that certain someone the PERFECT gift.

This series hit home with me as it challenged me to STOP talking to God and start LISTENING to him. It seems all too often we go to GOD and ask him for this or that only to never really stop and listen to what he is asking of us. We expect him to answer our prayers and then get angry or upset when he doesn't answer them according to our will. See what I am learning is GOD does answer my prayers....sometimes what I thought as no response is in actuality my answer.....I never REALLY stopped to LISTEN to him tell me NO.

As Pastor pointed out in last weeks service, we as parents tell our children "no" all the time. We also tell them that the more they ask does not mean they shall receive. Why are we to expect that GOD our Father is any different.

During this holiday season my Husband and I have decided to slow down take a little more time to really talk to one another and listen to each other. Stress will damage any relationship....including your faith. Just STOP and LISTEN...who knows you might hear something you really would have missed otherwise.

If you are interested in hearing this wonderful series by Pastor Furtick check out his podcasts....they are awesome!!
www.elevationchurch.org

Has Someone Touched your life......

In a way that you just didn't understand?

Recently my family as well has MANY MANY other lost a wonderful friend, Danny Kellas....and he will be missed greatly!

I recently received an email from my husband that summed up what Danny was to us...

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that
person...


When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need
you
have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with
guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.

They may seem like a Godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled,
their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.




Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to
share, grow or learn.

They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build
upon in order to
have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have
learned to
use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.



Thank you for being a part of my life. . . . . . .

.. . .. . . . . whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime..

NOW for my husband and I Danny was a Reason....but others he was a season or a lifetime. All I can say is no matter what the extent of time anyone spent with Danny they all said the same thing. He was an amazing person who touched there life in so many ways!

Danny is truly an Angel sent to us and now taken home to be with his LORD...thank you for all you have been to us and so many others..we love you and will miss you terribly!

That time of the year ALREADY??

I can't believe it is time for the holidays already! It seems like summer just began. Where has the time gone? I know that I have a big list of holiday projects I need to get started on.
I typically don't do handcrafted gifts for my family but the economic times being what they are that is exactly what me and my girls have decided to do!


My girls and I made a list of some really good things to give family members without breaking our budget.
Here is a list of what we came up with....please feel free to use any of them...=D

We all know how much teenagers like to frequent the movies...atleast in my house.
we decided to give prepaid movie passes to our local theater as part of their stocking stuffers....or if you have couch potoato and movie buff...how about a movie night gift basket. Fill it with microwave popcorn, a DVD and some popcorn toppings....oh and don't forget the little popcorn bags (you can get them at your local craft store).

Now for the ladies in your life..old or young..have you ever known a female that doesn't enjoy a day at the spa? Well why not give them the gift of relaxation. Again, another gift basket...the possibilities are endless with this so use your imagination.
You can purchase or make your own bath salts, candles and soaps.
Add body sponges and head pillows...or even a great novel.
You can also do a pedicure or manicure gift basket.

This is actually one of my favorites...and last year we gave it to my Brother in law. He was going thought a particularly difficult time and being a single dad with 2 boys he was sooo appreciative.
So this is what we did....we made a pizza basket! Now I know you are thinking pizza basket???
YES, I purchased a couple boxes of pizza crust and tons of non perishable toppings.
Pepperoni, pizza sauce, crushed red pepper flakes and anything I could think of that would be good on a pizza....again use your imagination.
It is a great way to get your family in the kitchen together.

Now you can always stick with tired and true.
Preserves, baked goods, homemade breads and peanut brittle.

The holidays are about love and togetherness...so don't think that if you make it that it won't be cherished. I promise some of the best gifts I have ever received were made by someone who took the time to put the themselves in it.

May you and your family be blessed this holiday season ♥

My New Website!!

click on logo


So it is finally here! LIL' MISS MACK has it's own website!
make sure you go and check it out! I am still adding inventory so please check back often!!

Also, while you are there be sure to take advantage of the 10% off ALL purchases!
Add in code at the time of check out to get this deal.
This offer is only valid thru 11/30/08

coupon code:
grand opening