Bows 101

I have wanted to do this post for a long time! Life is so busy with 5 kids, a husband who is a full time pharmacy student, and now I also do photography! I want to start blogging to teach other moms with girls tips on how to use and wear bows. I know that sounds kinda weird but I had no idea when I had my little girl how to do it so I thought I would teach you the things that I have learned along the journey of making and selling hair accessories for almost 6 years now. I can't promise that I will be able to post all the time but I will do my best! So here goes... ( this is only my opinion and advice! If you don't agree that is perfectly ok ;) So you found out you are having a GIRL! Congratulations! You start to think of all the fun you will have dolling your little princess all up! All the fun frilly dresses, bows etc. And then you go out to shop, or go on line and all the sudden you realize you have no idea exactly what to buy??? What size? What colors etc! So you buy a bunch of ginormus flowers on clips that are not lined, and crochet headbands that you have no idea if they will fit. Or maybe you decided you are going to make them all your self only to go out and buy a bunch of supplies that cost you way more than you would have ever spent just buying one, not to mention when you make something yourself you are way more critical of it than if you bought it. So in the long run you really ended up frustrated when your beautiful bundle arrived and you have a huge headband with a huge flower that was far bigger on her tiny head than you ever thought it would be, and also it was so heavy on the headband that it pulled forward and drooped totally showing the clip it was on, and the color does not match anything you have for her.... Any of this sound familiar??? I had four boys before I had my little girl! So to say I was excited to have the chance to doll her all up was an understatement! I remember the first experience of buying her headbands.I actually did not do to terribly bad but I did buy her a black newborn headband that I never really used because I did not really consider that newborns really rarely wear black. So I will start with newborns. You have no idea how big or small your baby will be. And when they arrive you had no idea that their tiny little head would be so tiny. So here are some tips for buying bows for a newborn. 1. They are only tiny tiny for a short while. In my opinion it is best to not go to over board on newborn headbands. If you buy a bunch of newborn headbands you might be frustrated after that you spent so much money on headbands you only used for a short time. 2- Using a head band with a clip attached so you can inter change flowers is great... for older babies. With a newborn most likely the clip will be too heavy for their little head and it will slouch forward and not lay flat on their head. So for the first few months it is best to have headbands with the flowers attached directly to the headband, not on a clip that you attach to a headband. You will find that the older a baby gets the less this is a problem. 3-Look through your babies clothes and take inventory of the colors you need. You might be surprised to realize that you want to buy a cute bow or headband you love even if it matches nothing in your babies wardrobe. So make a list of the colors you will need most before buying anything. You can always buy an outfit to go with the headband too if you like :) 4-Try and do a headband with different colors that will go with a lot of different outfits. For example if you have a lot of baby pink and hot pink you could do a bow with both pinks that would go with a lot more than if you had one that was only baby pink, or one that was only hot pink. P.S. Before having a girl I had no idea how many shades of pink there are! So you could do a headband with a bunch of different pinks combined. 5-Comfort is so important. I always add felt to the inside of my headbands to insure that they are soft for the baby to wear. Also you will notice that they leave an indention on the babies head when they are newborn! Don't fret it is because a babies head is still soft because the bones have not fused. Obviously you dont want it too tight! And usually your baby will let you know. Also it is a good idea to take your babies headband off while in the car. With a rear facing car seat it can be really hard to keep supervision and sometimes your baby will have the headband go over their eyes like a blind fold and start crying and you cant really get to them while driving. I had that experience with Ava. She started freaking out. I had no idea why until I got home and went to get her out only to see that her headband had been over her eyes for the last 5 min! So what should you buy??? For me I would say buy soft fold over elastic,thin soft elastic, or stretch lace for the headband. Have the flower or bow attached to the headband (not on a clip). Use a smaller bow or flower probably 1-3" any bigger will drown your poor babies head. Make sure you have felt on the inside. So here is what I would buy if I were having a newborn baby girl. 1- A cream and white combo cluster on a soft white lace, or fold over elastic headband. 2-A soft pink and bright pink combo cluster or layered flower on a light or bright pink headband. 3- A multicolored cluster (pink, turquoise,yellow, coral,mint Etc.)look through wardrobe to decide what colors you will use most and will look good together. 4-A custom headband to match your going home outfit, unless one of the above headbands would work. 5- A few fun little bit bigger or frillier headbands for newborn photo shoot. 6-A solid white or cream headband if you are blessing or christening your baby. You might want to get that in 3 month size if you are waiting a few months 7-Maybe 1 or 2 custom headbands for special outing outfits. So there you have it! My advice for using and buying your baby girls first headbands! Hope this info helped! Good luck! Feel free to ask any questions.

It has been forever since I have updated this blog! I have been living in Las Vegas since August. Besides having five kiddos and making and selling hair accessories I have also started doing photography!www.kelsiackleyphotography.blogspot.com I love it! I am still selling on etsy, and doing a lot of house parties lately. Here are some updated pictures of my hair accessories! I love what I do! Enjoy!

FUN flare for flip flops and hair!

Sorry it has taken me forever to put together another craft class! This summer has been kinda crazy! This class will be a fun one!

Flip flops & Flower clips-

We will be adding some fun flare to our flip flops and hair!
We will be decorating two pair of flip flops old or new
(not provided)
You can purchase them for a dollar a pair at the dollar store :)
we will also make two flower clips one to match each pair of flip flops! How fun is that! Plus you get to come hang out with me!How FUN! I can't wait! Classes fill up fast and I will not take more than 10 girls per class. If I have more girls I might do another class on Wednesday. Call or text me to save your spot! Can't wait to craft with you cute chickadees! :)
Kelsi 435-862-3181

When: Thursday, July 14th
Time: 10-12 or 2-4
Cost: $20 per girl
For: Girls ages 6-?( Moms of girls younger than 6 are welcome to come with mom's assistance!)
10 girls per class

New stuff!

I have not posted pictures of my new stuff forever! Here is a peek of what I've been making and selling lately! You can purchase these items on my etsy store

GIRLS CRAFT CLASS! AGE 6-12

Here is a sample of the flowers we will be making tomorrow at my craft class! It is for girls age 6-12
First class will be at my home Thursday, June 2nd
10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm
classes are filling up fast! We will be making 6 flower clips the cost is $20
Call me for more info or to save a spot!
Hope to see you there!
Kelsi Ackley 435-862-3181

U Create Make and Take Craft Classes!

I am so excited to announce these fun new classes to create the most super duper fun crafts, and cutest accessories ever for you and your little princess! There will be three different age groups and a variety of classes offered through out the month of June! Watch for a calendar with pictures of the crafty crafts we will be making! I am smiling just thinking of all the crafty fun we will have! Yippy skippy! Hip hip hoorahy!

Mini Crafters

This class is for girls age 6-12 This class will be so much fun! The cost will vary by class and the classes will be 1-2 hours long. These classes are sure to be a great way to keep your cute crafty girls entertained! I just LOVE these girlys!

Youth Crafters

This class is for teen girls age 13-18. I am excited to do this new class! It is sure to be lots of fun! Cost will vary by class and the class will be 1-2 hours long. I will be posting the different crafts that we will be making and the dates and times! Can't wait to craft with you youthful chickitas!

Advanced crafters

This class is for adults! AKA Rocking craft Mamas! I am super excited to do this class! I will have all sorts of fun supplies to make all kinds of fun crafts and accessories for babies to adult! I will be listing the different items for the different classes This class will be such a blast! Girls night out! Woot woot! I can’t wait!

For more information or to sign up please contact
Kelsi Ackley 435-862-3181

*Space is limited and classes will fill up fast so if you are interested please make sure to save your spot! I will post a calendar for dates and time in the next day or so! Can’t wait let the crafty fun begin!

NEW stuff!

Holy heckanora Ive been busy! I am soooooooooo HAPPY! Why you ask??? Well you see Ive been in pain for almost 2 years! And I am finally doing good! Not sure if it will last but for now I am soooooo HAPPY! I love to make my hair accessories! I love to do it even better when I am not in pain! Who knew that a stupid car wreck and whiplash could cause me so much pain and trouble! Any way here are some pictures from my good friend Bethi from Bethi Starr photography. I am so lucky to have so many talented photography friends! Oh and I am so excited too because I have 51 sales in two and a half weeks on ETSY!!! So if you haven't yet check out my store at www.avabows.etsy.com