Adventure Awaits!

Just a reminder, all my shops will be closing the day after tomorrow, February 1st, for one week because I get to go back to California! I'm tagging along on my husband's business trip. Although I won't get to visit my hometown, I will get to go to the beach. This is my first trip back to Cali (other than airport layovers) since I was seven years old, so to say I'm excited is an understatement! I do not plan to do any sort of business while I'm away, so if you want something pick it up within the next 24 hours.

Besides my California adventure, my business venture is progressing. My custom-designed eyes arrived from the manufacturer and I'm happy to say they're gorgeous! I tried them this morning and they're a perfect fit for the American Girl doll. They are harder to insert than the Margon eyes I've been using (if you get them in sideways and have to boil them to get them unstuck the eyelashes will fall out. I may or may not have learned that the hard way) but once they're in the rim doesn't show at all and the iris size is the same as the original. I am waiting to hear back from the manufacturer about final pricing, shipping, and colors for an order of several hundred pieces. Once I place the order it will be a few months for them to be made but then I will have my own exclusive line of doll eyes. I'm just beyond excited! I started work today at 6:30 AM, I was just so eager to get started. Before 7 I already talked to clients and suppliers here in the USA, the Netherlands, and Taiwan! I always envisioned myself with a global business because I simply adore traveling and meeting new people and I feel like finally it's really happening! Speaking of meeting people all over the world, I recently became acquainted with an extremely talented Dutch artist who is trying out some of my eyes in his wooden automatons. He sent me the photo below and you can also find his work on YouTube. I hope you'll check it out, and hope my eyes work!

My tried and true kids' clothing and consignment business is moving along. I am in the middle of listing several hundred pieces of girls' clothing. The new stuff is mainly size 12-24 months but I have dresses in size 0 all the way to adult right now and more are on the way. If you need an Easter dress or ensemble I hope you will head to my eBay and Poshmark boutiques (link from the Home page).

In another new adventure, I am trying reselling new baby clothes. I have a huge wholesale lot of Baby Boden pieces, including those shown below, on the way. To start I am just stocking baby girls' pieces, but if they do well I will add boys' and older kids' stuff. Baby Boden always flies out of the shops, which is why I chose that brand. It's cute and really high quality and since it ships from the UK it's not easy to find around here. I do have one boys' Mini Boden shirt in my boutique right now if you are interested in boys' clothes. Sign up for Poshmark with the code STUDIOMANDALINE for a $5 credit. It doesn't look like the Boden pieces will be here until I return, so look for them starting mid-February.

It's hard to leave just when so many things are taking off, but I am in desperate need of a vacation, even if only to rest my hands. I plan to treat the trip like a health spa getaway. Through the keto diet and intermittent fasting (you can follow along with that journey on my Instagram) I am down SIX dress sizes and I plan to try to shave off a few more walking on the beach, exploring the tide pools, and getting back to my roots! I hope you have a wonderful week, until we meet again!