Dainty Button Chronicles: Operation Model Search

I never thought I'd be trying to get the word out about something like this but I am. My business has launched a "model search". Sounds fun, right? I'm already stressed out about this. Before Dainty Button ventured and expanded into a clothing collection, I didn't think much about photo shoots. I've used a few models for marketing purposes with Dainty Button's accessories, but nothing too serious. A clothing collection is a little different. I use a dress form for studio shots and website listings but now that Dainty Button' s clothing collection has successfully launched, it's time to take it to the next step and beef up our marketing. I'm super excited about this. I'll be working with a fabulous photographer, Sam Hassas, who happened to do my families holiday photo session, which was bsolutely amazing! I have some great ideas for this photo shoot, which will officially highlight our Spring/Summer collection. There will be many new styles and designs that have not been introduced on the website, in this shoot as well. 

So, what are we looking for?

I'm looking for a great group of women of all ages and sizes. My idea for this shoot is a very eclectic group, with different looks, styles and personalities. Here's what we're looking for...

Requirement #1:

Model Categories

Category 1: Two toddler girls between the ages of 2 and 4

Category 2: Two little girls between the ages of 6 and 9

Category 3: Two teenager girls between the ages of 14 and 17

Category 4: Three young adult women between the ages of 21 and 35 (Size 2-4; 6-8; 8-10)

Category 5: Three women between the ages of 36 and 45 (Size 2-4; 6-8; 8-10)

Category 6: Plus size woman between the ages of 21 and 40

Category 7: Senior woman, 60+

Requirement #2:

Must be able to spend a Saturday in the San Francisco Bay area, during this shoot.

Am I getting paid? Will lunch be provided? What's in it for me?

We are not a huge corporation, which allows us to pay each model, although we do want to make it worth your while. Each model will be able to keep each item they model during the shoot. Lunch will also be provided. We also have a special "Model Friends and Family" package, we'll present you with at the time of the shoot.

I'm interested, what do I need to do?

For anybody that is interested, please email us at daintybutton@yahoo.com with a little information about yourself, size, which model category you're interested in and include a self portrait (full body) of yourself. All inquiries must be turned in by Saturday, March 31st. 

When is this photo shoot?

I'm currently securing a Saturday in April. We will confirm a date the week of March 26th. This will not take place the weekend of Easter. 

We look forward to hearing from you! 

Charity and the DB Team!

Dainty Button Chronicles: The Skirt Issue

I've been attempting to post this for awhile but sitting down and doing so, has been much easier said than done. So, finally here we go...

A little over a month ago, my dear friend and I partnered up and launched a Skirt Collection with my accessories business, Dainty Button. This has been one of the best business decisions, I've made. Since launching this collection, I cannot tell you how successful and wonderful it's been. Along with something like this, comes much work. This past month has been a learning experience for us and although the positive feedback from this collection has astounded us, we've taken into consideration suggestions, more neutral feedback and even complaints (yes, every business has them) regarding this collection and we are striving to better these areas, as small as they may seem. Our goal and purpose is to meet each and every customers needs and we hope this will help. This post is to hopefully help customers and future customers understand our policies, sizing and mission behind our clothing collection.

Dainty Button Clothing Line Mission:

To provide a beautiful, wholesome, affordable and trendy line of clothing for women.

What's so awesome about our skirts?

Each one of our skirts is designed and handmade by us, for you. We take into consideration sizing, style and comfort. We enjoy wearing skirts that flatter, are comfortable and trendy. I'm sure you want the same, as well. A large majority of our skirt collection is made with jersey cotton and jersey knit, although we are branching out and introducing more styles, textures and designs.


What kind of material and fabric is being used? 


Our skirts are made with jersey cotton knit and jersey knit. These allow for a very comfortable fit. Some knits stretch differently, so please keep this in mind when purchasing different styles. As they do fit true to size, please do not get concerned with one skirt does not stretch the same compared to a previous purchase. Nothing is wrong with the skirt, it's just a different stretch of knit.


Why is the hem zig zag?


We offer a hidden seam on our skirts, therefore if you happen to notice a zig zag stitch, this does not mean it's been made poorly. This is a hidden seam and a zig zag stitch is indication of a hidden seam.

Why does it take longer than normal to receive my skirt?

Each one of our skirts is designed and handmade by us, for you. A lot of time, care and attention is put into each design, versus a factory of workers cranking out designs, hence the reason we ask that you allow us 14 BUSINESS DAYS with production. Since launching this collection, we have an extremely large volume of orders coming through daily and we strive to meet each and every one of our customers needs. If you for some reason are in a time crunch, we would gladly work with you.

How do I know it will fit?

Shopping can be very stressful when it comes to sizing, especially online. We have provided a size chart on our etsy site with each listing to help you make a proper decision when purchasing. Our sizes run true to size. Here is our size chart...

XS 
Size: 0-2
Waist: 23"-25" 
Hips: 36"-40"

S 
Size: 2-4 
Waist: 25"-27"
Hips: 38"-42"

M
Size: 4-6 
Waist: 28"-30"
Hips: 40"-44"

L
Size: 8-10
Waist: 31"-33"
Hips: 43"-48"

XL 
Size: 12-14
Waist: 33"-35" 
Hips: 46"-51"

XXL
Size: 16-18 
Waist: 35.5"-38"
Hips: 49"-55"

3X 
Size: 20-22
Waist: 38"-40"
Hips: 56"-61"

What about length on the Maxi Skirts? 

Maxi skirts can be tricky to purchase, especially if you're short. Here is the standard length on our maxi skirts, but the awesome thing about our collection is you can get a custom length.

Regular: 38"-40"

Tall: 42"-44"

If you need it longer or even shorter, when purchasing, just mention what length you would like in "message to seller" and we'll make sure it's taken care of.

Your short skirts are too short, for me.

Our short skirts are a standard 22"-24" INCHES long, although if you do need it longer or shorter, let us know or simply comment with the length you would like in "message to seller", upon checkout at etsy. If you're unsure about a length, email us at daintybutton@yahoo.com and we'll help you select a length that will work for you. PLEASE NOTE...Anything longer than 28" falls under the long skirt category, when purchasing. 


Important note, regarding length...


Because we offer customization on lengths, we do not offer exchanges on length issues. It's VERY IMPORTANT to make sure you choose the right length to prevent this from happening.

A helpful and very important detail, when selecting a size...

Our etsy shop does not allow a drop down box, allowing you to select the size. Our listings are in categories of XS-L and XL-3X. It is very important and crucial that you put what size you need, upon checkout in "message to seller". If you happen to forget or do not know about the option of "message to seller", shoot us an email at daintybutton@yahoo.com with your order number and the size you need. Without providing us a size it delays the shipment timeline and many frustrations on both ends arise when this happens. Please make sure you are purchasing the correct listing and providing us with a size. It makes our job easier and you won't have to wait longer than necessary for your order to arrive.

1. I don't like my skirt.

2. Oh no! My skirt doesn't fit!

3. Great! The length isn't going to work.

What should I do?

At Dainty Button, we do not offer refunds. ALL SALES ARE FINAL, ALTHOUGH we do offer an exchange. If your skirt doesn't fit, no problem. We'll gladly exchange it for one that does. If you're not happy with your purchase and would like to exchange, we'll also gladly do so. It is very important that you read ALL DETAILS AND POLICIES, before purchasing. A lot of questions can be answered by doing so. If your skirt is too short or long, that can be fixed. Each skirt is provided with a hem that can be let out, if it's too short. If for some reason, this does not work, we'll be happy to assist in making sure you have the correct length. PLEASE NOTE... minor alteration issues can be resolved with your local seamstress.

Uhhh, my skirt is really see through. I can't wear this without a slip.

When creating and designing some our skirts, we did not take into consideration that some would be very thin. This is something that can easily be resolved by wearing a slip, but some women, such as myself, hate wearing slips. Let's face it, they're quite annoying. We have provided a "lining option" in our etsy shop. This allows you as the customer to choose if you'd like lining in your skirt. If you do not see a lining option, this means the skirt is ok to wear without a slip. Here is a list of our skirts that we suggest getting lined, if you don't want to go with the slip option...


The Black Crinkle Short Skirt
The Black Crinkle Maxi Maxine
The Summer Maxi Maxine
The Juliet
The Zoe


All of our other skirts are jersey knit and tend to run on a more lighter side, so please take that into consideration when purchasing.




How should I take care and wash my skirt?


As of now, all of our skirts are made with jersey knit and jersey cotton knit, so we suggest:


Washing with cold water and hang to dry. We do not recommend drying, to avoid shrinking. As we introduce more styles and textures, care instructions will be provided. 




Reading the small print...


When we list merchandise, we do our very best to capture the true color and detail of each design. We also try and provide as much detail in each listing to help make our customers feel confident in their purchasing decision. Please take the time to read every detail, as many questions can be answered prior to purchase. Also, please read your invoice as it states our shipping turnaround timeline. 


I hope this blog post allows our customers to understand this collection better and assists in making a future purchase.


If you'd like to be on our mailing listing, please email us at daintybutton@yahoo.com. This email list will keep you up to speed on new styles and designs as we launch them, as well as exclusive promos and sales. 


Cheers!
Charity @Dainty Button

Sunday School Chronicles: Planting a seed

A few weeks ago I asked my class full of students, during our midweek kids class, questions about the lesson. Not one student could answer them. Adding more frustration was the fact that during snack all they talked about were video games and movies. What was the deal? I teach a lesson about God's love and all they want to talk about is Transformers. I left class that night feeling so frustrated, then I became frustrated with myself. Why? Because I read my lesson from what I had printed out and what I knew from memory (thanks to being in a hurry that day and not preparing better) and after 6 years of teaching Sunday school, I knew how to effectively teach kids about God's Word and help them retain it. I failed. When I began teaching Sunday school, I never really understood the importance of questions and review. It wasn't school, right? They weren't going to be graded on it. This reveals how "green" I was. After several months of teaching, I picked up some resource books with games, annoyed with how very little the internet had, at the time. There was a section of review games. I happened to flip through it and actually liked what I saw. These were some great games. Why not try them?

I introduced this to my students the next class and they loved it. I had a couple teachers assistants in class with me, as well as a visitor from another UPC church, sitting in on the session. They thought I was a genius. Ha! I started putting review game ideas into our curriculum and it was mandatory for each teacher to use at least one review game in their session. We soon realized that our students were retaining more of the lesson.

The last two years our Sunday school department has gone under major construction. Since moving buildings twice, we have had Sunday school in living rooms, garages, parks, you name it. Since moving into our current building, we've been able to obtain classrooms again and a storage room for years worth of materials we've accumulated. That being said, prior to this new building, our staff has not had the resources to bust out lots of activities that we used to because we were what you would call a "traveling Sunday school". Seriously. We put the basic necessities in a container and carried it around to wherever Sunday school was taking place that weekend. Gypsies of sorts. I'm proud to say that we toughed it out, but this sort of scenario does take extra work, considering it's not traditional, whatsoever. That being said, since the first of the year, we've been able to go back to a more structured system (thank GOD!). I write the curriculum for our kids ministry (working on making it available to others, in the future) and the month of February happened to be on "Love". I'm a firm believer that you should use as many visuals and creativity as possible, when you teach. This is not to say that God's Word is not exciting but you're teaching kids, not adults. No brainer. I was teaching the lesson on Jacob and Rachel and wanted to use some visuals. This is what I came up with...

Yes, that's Adam Levine, Mila Kunis and Uncle Sam. "This is bringing the world into our church!", you say. Well, sadly this is what our kids in church know. They see this every day. Why not use it to help teach God's Word? Adam Levine was Jacob, that ugly creature was Leah, Mila Kunis was Rachel and Uncle Same was Laban. I cannot tell you how effective this lesson was. My class during midweek is very rambunctious and when it's completely silent and they're captivated by the lesson, you know you're doing a good job of portraying God's Word. During the entire monthly session, I used things such as this. At the end of each series, we do a huge review game. I put together this game last week, called BOMB. It's a game I created a couple years ago and it's an amazing, cheap and easy review game that the kids will love. 

BOMB!

Preparation:

1. Cut 24 cards out of construction paper (same color and size) and label each card with a number, however high you want to go. Leave two cards out and write "BOMB" on them.

3. Create a list of questions from the entire monthly session.

3. Split the kids into two teams, with each team getting 12 cards (one BOMB should be in each pile). Lay the cards facedown on the table of each team.

4. Use a whiteboard, poster board or chalkboard to keep score. If they can see their scores, it brings a lot of excitement.

How to play:

Start with one team, by asking a question. If they get it right, they get to pick a card. Whatever the number is on that card, that's how many points they get. Display the points each time they draw a card. Go back and forth from team to team. The object of the game is to not get the "BOMB" card. If they pick the "BOMB" card, it wipes out all points and they have to start over. The anticipation and adrenaline excites the kids. I will warn you, this can get very competitive, but it's a wonderful review game and loads of fun!

After leaving class last Wednesday, I couldn't be more proud of those kids!

You have no idea!

When teaching Sunday school, kids church, youth class, etc., a lot of times you don't think you're making a difference. You're wrong. Two case in points:

Bus Ministry:

I've often times thought that what we do during our Sunday programs is in vain. We pick kids up that disrespect us most of the time and come from horrible lifestyles, asking myself, "We have them one day out of the week. How are we even effecting these kids, positively?". My lack of faith was proven wrong when a mother of a bus kid called me one week, after they had moved, leaving a voicemail. This is what it said:

"Hi, Charity. I didn't get a chance to tell you "bye" when we moved. I know my kids caused trouble a lot of times, but you will never know the impact your church had on my family. The kids loved coming to Sunday school every Sunday and would remember things throughout the week. Thank you for sharing God's love with them. Your church is a true testimony of God's love. I know they will carry this with them, throughout their adulthood. Thank you and if we're ever in the area on a Sunday, the kids would love to visit."

I could barely even listen, because I was sobbing. It was just like God to place that reminder in my lap. What you do is not in vain!

Outreach within the four walls:

We have a midweek classes upstairs for our kids ministry. Within the past few months, a couple of our students have brought family to KidZone. Their parents are not members. The mom of this family pulled me aside and told me that these two kids double up on chores and homework on Monday's and Tuesday's, so their parents will allow them to attend midweek and stay out a little late on a school night. I was shocked. If these kids can work extra hard during the week to hear God's Word, then I better up my game and bust my butt doing the best I can to make it worth their while. Every Sunday school teacher should have this mentality. Over the past few weeks, watching these two kids remember Bible verses and lessons, knowing that they don't live in homes that parents attend our church as members, has made me realize that God's Word is being planted and I'm doing my part. 

If for nobody else but myself, just a reminder that teaching kids God's Word is not in vain. Be encouraged!