Handmade in Texas

Muddy Feet Boutique is a fresh new children’s clothing line handmade in Texas.

A mix of traditional and trendy, the line recently débuted with a Spring/Summer 2012 collection at the Dallas Market Center. Founder and lead designer Jessica Sherrill tells me it was welcomed with a tremendous response. Each garment is handmade to order, with a production time of approximately 7-10 days.

Jessica and her team use sewing machines to construct most garments and finishing/trim work is sewn by hand. All draping, patternmaking and samples are done in-house. “Muddy Feet Boutique started while I was pursuing my undergraduate degree with aspirations of law school,” she says. “I realized I loved creating clothes way more than arguing law cases.”

There are many positives to this slow design approach. If you would like to add a sleeve or lengthen a hemline, this is available for little to no charge. Many color options are also available, some at no extra charge, too.

-Jessica Sherrill

After attending Parsons The New School of Design, Jessica worked at a very high-end children’s wear company before returning to her Texas home and venture out on her own. Contact her for custom designs, or find Muddy Feet on Facebook

New Children’s Book Celebrates the Christmas Spirit

A magical sleigh ride helps bring a family together in time for the holidays.

Author/illustrator Alan Anderson loves everything about Christmas – the lights, the music, the decorations, family, snow, giving gifts, the celebration of the birth of baby Jesus. In The Christmas Sleigh, he weaves his fondest memories into a children’s story book that illustrates when we care about others, life becomes richer.

Published by WestBow Press, The Christmas Sleigh introduces readers to Anya, a young girl who is out on the town celebrating the season with her parents -who are separated – putting aside their differences on behalf of their daughter for this one evening. While on a horse-drawn sleigh ride, friendly driver Tommy tells them a wondrous holiday story about his own life, which transforms their lives forever.

When Anya comes to learn Tommy’s secret, it becomes a story that can have great affect upon anyone willing to listen; Happiness can only be found as one puts forth sincere effort to make others happy.

-Alan Anderson

Thinking of writing a children’s book for your store?

WestBow Press is a strategic self-publishing alliance of Thomas Nelson, Inc., the world’s largest Christian publisher, and Author Solutions, Inc. (ASI), a leader in the popular self-publishing industry segment, distributing products in more than 100 countries worldwide. Through this partnership, authors benefit from the rich publishing heritage of Thomas Nelson and the speed-to-market advantages of the ASI self-publishing model. Titles published through WestBow Press are evaluated for sales potential and considered for publication under the Thomas Nelson imprint. For more information, or to start publishing today, visit www.westbowpress.com or call (866)-928-1240.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

A Feel-Good Story for Year’s End

Nineteen-year-old Lauren Feather has taken on a challenge that many find inconceivable in this economy: opening a successful fashion business.

Not only did Lauren open the flagship store of her (Best Kept Secret) Boutique™ this summer, she chose the Las Vegas area -Nevada’s current capital of foreclosure- as the new home for what she calls “adorable, affordable, cute and quality™.”

“As a Summerlin resident, it is the ideal location for my brand,” Lauren says. “It’s exciting to see my dream come to life while being able to bring (Best Kept Secret) Boutique™ to this community. Women can find cute, affordable clothing they’re proud to wear.”

The boutique merchandise of eye-catching apparel, stylish shoes and trendy accessories is a reflection of Lauren’s own youthful energy and action-filled lifestyle. She designed the shopping experience to have a one-on-one feel while catering to young women’s desire to shop for trendy, edgy fashion at affordable prices.

I realized department and specialty stores were committing a major fashion faux pas -charging ridiculous prices for mediocre fashion. The victims? Young women looking for cute, affordable and quality clothes.”

Lauren is inspired by her own passion for fashion, constantly in search of unique, fine quality clothing that isn’t super expensive. She dreamed of a store filled with the most adorable and reasonably priced little gems she could really buy and be happy with. After investing time researching, drawing up plans and putting her keen eye for fashion to work, Lauren actually opened that store, and she’s living her dream.