Cherry Blossom Trees

Spring is finally here and the cherry blossoms are sprouting up everywhere, blowing the first of their flowers in our hair. The sun is out and the kids were ready to run in the grass, excited about Easter only a couple weeks away.

This year, we decided to take the trend of dress up and frills to a more casual but yet still beautiful level with these vintage rompers. We felt that although dresses and tulle are perfect for that Sunday Easter Brunch, most of us want to undress and unwind after wards. Nothing beats soft organic cottons and close knit sweaters for this early spring weather. Breathable and breath taking, I loved watching the girls enjoy a friendship together.

Their laughter almost sang in the air, while whispers of wishes echoed in the fields. The three girls embraced their time together with stories of make believe places, imagining the sights they would see. Jenny told them the story of Rapunzel and that if she could live out any princess, it would be her. Hair as long as ribbons that when dropped would unroll and unwind, leaving a trail behind it. The other two girls enjoyed the story and added small details to the tale. Princes, and horses, and far off lands. Off course by the end, They all lived happily ever after.....

Come join us on Bumble Alley where princesses meet princes and live out lives that look like fairy tales.

Prices. Polka-dot Purple Romper. 38.Gray Rain Romper. 38.Floral Fantasy Romper. 38
Pleated Silk Headband. 25. Precious petal Headband. 28.

Headband Heaven

Fresh designs for our Easter Collection mimicked the personality in each of these young ladies.

The Sweet Sarah Headband, is as angelic as she is. Quiet and quaint, you can expect her to gasp at poor manners and yucky black bugs. Price. 28.

The Jenny Drama Bow, stands up to any adventure. Upbeat and ready, you can expect her to be outside climbing trees, digging for bugs, and swimming her little heart out. Price. 20.

Allison is always Rosy Cheeked and Charming. No rose can put its thorn on her day because she believes that life is meant to be lived. Price. 24.

Come join us on Bumble Alley as we celebrate children. And please send a comment of your girl for a chance to be the next inspiration in another special head band, designed especially for her.

Precious Purple

Every year I wait for the lavenders and lilacs to blossom. It seems that even when the rains come in, I am waiting for the trees to sprout. In my day dreams, the rain drops dance on the ground. They whisper a prayer from the heavens, and drench the soil with purpose. A purpose to grow, to live, and to be exactly what they were designed to be.

By the time I had a chance to look through the window, the rains had stopped and my hands held a skirt. A skirt that was as delicate and as gray as the raindrops in my dream. As beautiful, as purposeful, and as precious as the rain.

I saw the trees, drenched and wet, soaking in all of heavens glory. Waiting patiently, growing slowly and embracing balance. I began to see the life in the buds of that tree. Small purple flowers that were as delicate as a young child, nestled comfortably in the grass and watching the world with vibrant eyes with such intensity that they touched hearts.

Come take a walk on Bumble Alley, where we are welcoming spring in shades of gray and lavender. Ready, for Easter Sunday.

Prices: Silk Skirts 45. Velvet Dress 55.

Purple Velvet Tie 20. Gray Vest 50.

Perfect Blend

Drake chose to be a little more adventurous. He liked the thrill of new flavors and the idea of surprise. So, for this young man, the strawberry sherbet added a little kick to his lick. Topped off with some sweet vanilla balanced the tart taste to make his choice be the perfect blend.

So, with a lick and a grin they enjoyed the first glimpse of sun that early spring day. They learned about sharing, about caring, and about being neat. Because having fun doesn't always need to be messy and sticky hands have never won hearts.

Come join Bumble Alley as we walk into a place of manners. Where clean, well behaved children hang around ice cream shops.

Prices: Bow tie. 12. Necklace. 15.

Ice Cream Shop

Ice cream shops seem to be a hit at any age. There is always something so exciting about choosing flavors, adding toppings and making decisions on a type of cone. Each and every visit there could be as adventurous or as simple as one would make it.

Perfect for this young pair, who knew what they liked and knew what they wanted.

Allison chose a simple vanilla ice cream. Life around this little girl is already so complicated so she picked something that would never change. Vanilla is vanilla. It is pure, natural, and always delicious. But then again, a little chocolate on a cone never hurt a girl....

Come join Bumble Alley for an ice cream treat, with as many colors in their designs as there are ice cream flavors.

Prices: Grey and Purple top. 35. Shoe clips. 20. Head band. 24.

White & Black

There is something peaceful about things that are in black and white. Things are simple. Things that are uncluttered and placed strategically to serve its purpose. It doesn't need color to be noticed, it has style. It doesn't need texture to grab interest, it has patterns. And it definitely has a way of merging together a gray that doesn't complicate, but enhance.

I love how they can be used on a wedding dress as well as in a Hanes t-shirt. A delicate under garment as well as a dish towel. Very much are they colors that can just as much create drama in one place and peace in another. They are the shades that we go back to again and again because they have proven themselves to be reliable.

Come take a walk with me down Bumble Alley, where life can finally be reliable.

Prices: Tie. 20. Headband. 24. Mini skirt. 18. Belt. 25.
More items from this collection that are ready to be shipped out.

*Please remember that each piece is one of a kind and the items we offer to our first customers. We will not be making any new orders from these collections so please contact us for availability on each item that interests you.

Memory lane

Memories have a way of bringing the old things, new again and I love taking a deep breath in memory lane. Many times I remember moments when I would play as a child, the places we would explore and the friendships that I had. I would stand on this road and look at my life again, connecting to the familiar face of a child that I used to be.

It was an opportunity to make something that could have been. Pieces that we might have wore when I was growing up with my brothers. It was like I couldn't help but imagine feminine flower prints along side the classic warmth of wools.

Now when I walk, I see more then just a familiar face. I see a life style. A place when my dad would teach us to draw, encouraging us in our creativity. I see my mom who looked out for us and always made herself available. I see my secrets whispered in the ears of my sister balanced between building forts with my brother. I see a place that was comfortable to be in and definitely come back to, again and again.

Come take a walk with me down Bumble Alley where great memories are treasured.

Prices: Headband. 25. Floral Shirt. 40.Belt. 30. Vest. 50. Hat. 38. Bow tie. 12

*Please remember that each piece is one of a kind and the items we offer to our first customers. We will not be making any new orders from these collections so please contact us for availability on each item that interests you.

Timeless love

Bandana Bib.15. Scalloped Necklace(s).18.

Headband.20. Skirt.26. Shoe clips.20.

More items from this collection that are ready to be shipped out.

Today there are girls who shop at Anthropology, they look for timeless pieces as well as one of a kind looks. They want to express their personality through the clothes that they wear and the accessories that they put on. They are open to today but also embrace the traditional, they expect to be treated nothing less then the ladies they are. Doors that are opened, seats that are offered, and dates that are paid for. Because she wants a boy with a pure intent, one that will become a man with character.

Him, on the other hand, is a guy that moves forward. He has no purpose in looking back but always being a part of. Because he wants to innovate, he wants to improve, and he wants to be there for all that is coming. He is a boy that is intrigued by the modern world and all of the innovations for a life that is easier. Even though he knows that moving ahead doesn't mean you need to lose out to who you were raised to be. This is a boy that was raised to open doors, offer seats, and always pay for dates. He is the one who believes in the traditional ways but takes on all the modern adventures as well.

And so, these two meet. And even though he is a little short for her, he had her at "McQueen".

Come take a walk on Bumble alley, a place where Vintage girls meet Modern boys.

*Please remember that each piece is one of a kind and the items we offer to our first customers. We will not be making any new orders from these collections so please contact us for availability on each item that interests you.

Yellow Daffodils

More items from this collection that are ready to be shipped out.

A simple daffodil inspired my heart. The clear water in the vintage vase brought a smile to my face each time I stole a glance. I could almost see the vase standing on a kitchen counter years ago by another house wife. With children running in the yard, laundry dancing in the breeze, and a women sitting by her sewing machine.

The more I looked upon the flowers, the more I related to this idea. The simple joy of making beautiful, one of a kind pieces for children was important to me. I felt that as I sat there and imagined her life, the more I believed that she and I were similar.

If she were like me, she would take her time with each piece. She would think about the child wearing it and then imagine the places that they would wear them to. She would smile, and remember that each child was as beautiful, as precious, and as unique as the very moment that they lived in.

So, she would sew. She would pray a prayer for each and then ever so carefully place each item on each child. And ever so gracefully, bless them and their sweet little hearts. Because see, she believed that every thing she made, she had the opportunity to bless the very work of her hand. She had the unique ability to pour prayers into the very fabric of their lives.

Words of love, innocence, truth, and laughter. Words that will stand up to the world around them and be more powerful then all the bitterness and hate. The jealousy and pride. The hurt and the lies. Prayers to a God that cares more about children then she ever could. Just knowing that, takes my breath away.

Now you have a chance to be part of a life on Bumble Alley.

Head band. 20. Shoe clips. 20.Cardigan.58. Girl's Belt. 20.Boy's Tie. 25. Suspenders. 25.

Please remember that each piece is one of a kind and the items we offer are first come first serve. We will not be making any new orders from these collections. Please contact us for availability on each item that interests you.

The Meaning of Life

What is life all about? Is the life we are living the life that God wants us to live?

Most of us care less to ask ourselves these questions when all is good and everything is going our way. We are preoccupied in enjoying ourselves with that we have and we never bother to really meditate about life’s meaning. A lot can distract us from asking the big question in life, like “What is my life all about?”

All of us have experienced hardship and trials in our lives. If you haven’t, then you must be dead. Only then, can you rest in peace. Trails can help us to find our meaning in life. If we let them.

I believe God sends us trials for our own sake. Sometimes God uses trials to get us back on track. Maybe to grab our attention. Don’t run away from them. Many of us try to escape our trials of life, only to catch up with us at the end. We all need a reality check once in a while.

If a person thinks that life is all about wealth, and he loses his wealth, he is forced to think about life in a different way. The real way. Sometimes losing his riches is the best remedy for him.

For a man in addiction to be sober he must be cut off from his drugs. We are the same. We also need to be cut off from the distractions that poison our soul and prevent us from finding our meaning in life. In other words to achieve sobriety.

Even though sometimes we don’t understand why God permits bad things to happen to us, we have to put our trust in Him.

Trust Him! Keep your eyes on Him! He will pull you through.

We need to let God show us our meaning in life. For as we trust Him in our trials God can use the difficult trial to mold us, to mature us.

Lets not waste the trials we are given. Let us use them as an opportunity to really grow in Christ. Only then will we find our meaning. Our days are numbered, lets not waste anymore.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kind, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” - James 1:2-4

You Are Not Alone

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain. As I laid in bed watching the rain stream down my window, I began to call out to my Father. “Why am I feeling so hopeless, afraid and alone? “ My mind was full of confusion and uncertainty. I felt frail. “Speak to me Lord, I’m listening”….

As my heart filled with tears it began to overflow. “ Are you hearing me God? I’m here!! Where are You? “ My cry was muffled by the pounding rain. As I lifted my head and turned around, I saw my sweet little girls snuggled together with their arms wrapped around each other. I began to bawl. God revealed Himself to me! Trying to catch my breath, I slowly drifted off the bed onto the floor wiping my tears off my face.

I remained silent to accept His sweet love. I closed my eyes and put my head on my knees. Just as I was tearing up again, I felt His warm arms snuggle me. He was letting me know He was right there next to me. I didn’t have to worry anymore. In an instant He took my worries away and gave me strength.

Why is it that when a child wakes up from a nightmare in the middle of the night he runs to his parents? Because he feels afraid and unsafe. He knows once mommy or daddy wraps their arms around him, everything will be okay.

This morning I needed to feel safe. I found security in my Father’s arms.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

Details, details, details...

After months of bleak weather and a few recent days of the sun teasing me this spring, I am reminded that wedding season is right around the corner. Growing up in a Russian community, spring and summer weekends were always packed with weddings to enjoy and get inspiration from. Thinking back on my wedding 5 years ago, I knew that I had done everything that I wanted but now I wish that I had put more thought into the details of the day. Seeing current weddings and blogs on the web have inspired me to focus more on the little things of this memorable day. This inspiration has led me to create Bumble Bridal, a line of wedding accessories that focus on the details to accentuate the details of a bride’s day. I have started by creating some hair pieces and veils for brides, but am beginning to expand the collection to include flower girl and bridesmaid accessories, boutonnieres, bow ties and neck ties for ring bearers, and much more. Here are a few pictures to share:

Virginia is a good friend of mine with a flawless face and gorgeous hair who I thought would be perfect to showcase my new bridal line. She worked the camera like a pro!

One of the things I lacked at my wedding was a stunning hairpiece. That was a very difficult thing for me to find at overpriced and tacky bridal shops so it ended up being a detail that I overlooked. I want to give future brides the opportunity to embrace their hair and find an accessory to accentuate their beautiful features and dress to help tie everything together. If you are one of those brides who finds themselves clueless when it comes to hair accessories (like I did), I would love to create a one-of-a-kind piece just for you.

Check out my full Bumble Bridal line on facebook

~Maria

Sweet Smell of Spring

Living in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve humbled myself knowing we only get one “true” season: Summer (if even that).The rest of the year combines into one long rainy season. With summer just around the corner, I can't help but realize that the most breathtaking season is about to begin for most of the nation. Of all four seasons year round, my favorite by far is the beautiful spring (that unfortunately we don’t see much of here). When I think of spring, I think of green grass, flowers blooming, cherry blossoms, tulips, pastel colors and sun. However, the Northwestusually brings us clouds, rain, rain and more rain. Our springs aren’t as bright as I wish they were. The sweet smell of spring is muffled by the grey clouds and the wet feeling of rain. So for this approaching season, I have created some Bumble Alley pieces that will stand out and brighten up the dullest days. I'm going to make the most of this season and bring a little cheer to our wardrobes.

Spring Fashion 2010 is all about bold colors and oversized, attention grabbing hair bows and accessories. I've been working on many new ideas and products for the Spring line and I am excited to share some of my new creations with you.

Be well and happy spring,

Maria

More Than Just Planning

Growing up, I never really cared for planners or To-Do lists. In the mornings, my brain used to be able to remember the last thing I was thinking about before I went to bed. I always used to be able to know what I came downstairs for. But now, I'm retracing my steps to remind myself: "I'm here to get a pen." Oh boy. Is this what comes with age?

I’ve finally taken it upon myself to go and buy myself a planner. I will be learning how to effectively plan my week so that I get the most out of my weekdays. Hopefully I'll be able to plan when to get my work done in one sitting rather than taking a million breaks to attend my children and husband. In which case I'll be able to spend more time with my family rather than running upstairs to finish a project I accidentally forgot to finish. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to cut dinner short or have my husband feed my girls because I was running behind schedule. For most, this is a practical tool that has worked for many years. Lets hope it works for me.

Organized Thoughts

It’s Friday again! Ahhh…Friday. I have really been looking forward to seeing you again. It's usually my favorite day of the week, but thisweek...not so much. Because I know what's just around the corner. I have finally gotten my home and sleep schedule back in order after my girls have been sick this past week. It always amazes me how being out of it for just three days really throws my sleep patterns and my home out of whack. When my kids aren’t feeling good, the last thing on my mind is cleaning. And after this short weekend, I'm preparing to face my biggest project yet: organizing my office/work area. One may wonder: how messy can a 120 sq. ft. room get? With fabrics, thread, toys, books, furniture, etc. in every square inch of the room, it can get pretty darn messy.

First, I have to get my thoughts in order and decide what I really want this space to look like. I want to be able to work easily and smoothly and feel comfortable in my chair. That reminds me: I have to get a comfy chair. I also want to feel like I'm not cramped among so much stuff because my work room is so small. One thing I'm going to keep in mind this weekend as I am shopping for storage bins and shelves are these pictures that I came across surfing the web one day. Motivation is key during this process. And once I accomplish my goal, I'll have one less room to de-clutter this spring:) Any ideas for how to make my messy work room more manageable?

This is what I need!! A wall of shelves....

So fresh and so clean...ooh yeah!

I own a ribbon rack, but the ribbons tend to find their way to the ground by the end of the day. I need something like this.

Bumble Alley Cover Models

Bumble Alley Boutique Photoshoot January 2010

Our first Bumble Alley Cover Model Photoshoot was a success! Olga Kruz, mother of our girl winner Erika hosted the photoshoot in her home, and it was so much fun! Aiden and Erika were definitely troopers. They did a great job! Our photographer Dina Chmut did a fantastic job capturing the smiles and poses of our little models. Thank you to all who helped make this photoshoot come together so smoothly. Now I can’t wait for our upcoming summer photoshoot! Don’t forget to check out our new creations modeled by the contest winners in our new Glamour line of Bumble Alley Couture.

Their little smiles and giggles didn't come that easily towards the end of the shoot. We bribed them with lolly pops and cheese puffs. It worked!

For a complete look at our photoshoot, check out our facebook page

Shine,

Maria

Love is in the Air

Have I ever mentioned that I love Valentine’s Day? It's the day we celebrate and show our loved ones how much we really care about them. Of course, showing our kids, husbands and friends how much we love them should happen on a regular basis, but on February 14th, we have a chance to go all out! With all the balloons, cards and roses at stores, there are many ways to show you care about someone. However, showing your love should go beyond a box of chocolates. Maybe surprise him by wearing his favorite dress, wear your hair the way he likes it, or give him a longer than usual foot massage. Do something that you know the two of you will enjoy.

With Valentine’s Day approaching fast, I'm curious how many of you will be wearing red? I never really dressed up for the occasion (well, if you don’t count grade school when we layered Valentine’s Day colors on ourselves). This year, I want to go all out! I purposely went to Target and bought red outfits for my girls and I. When February 14th approaches, we’ll probably look like Santa Claus on Valentine’s Day. But hey, it hits only once a year!

What better way to spend the Day of Love than with the people you love most? For my family, the day will start with breakfast in bed for daddy, going to church dressed in red, grandma and grandpa's house for lunch, and then coming home and watching romantic movies with my husband. Later that evening, we’ll drop our kids off at the babysitters and it’ll be our time. I’ll be wearing a little black dress and a red headband, red lips and red nails. And I'll probably throw a red tie on my husband, just so it looks like he tried. What will you be wearing on Valentine’s Day?

Our new Valentine’s Day creations were inspired by nothing but LOVE! I put all of my favorite materials together to create accessories that will stay in season beyond Feb. 14th. These stunning crimson shades are a total trend for spring/summer 2010. So lets get RED-dy for Valentine’s Day!

For a complete look at our Valentine's Day creations, visit our Facebook page Click here

With Love,

Maria