Stamped Jewelry Tonight!

This is one of my FAVORITE classes.  I feel like I should be doing an Oprah spoof when I say that. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAAAAA-VVVVVO-RITE CLASSSSS-ES!!!!!!!

But I really do mean it. I love to create stamped jewelry. I love to see what everyone else is going to create. Each design is so personal and filled with creativity. I feel so proud when our Molly O customers leave with their new designs completed.

So, don't miss out on tonight's class! This is one of the last chances to create something fabulous for the holidays.  Make a Grandmother's necklace, a special goddaughter bracelet or a key chain for dad.  The options are endless.

Here is the info:

Thursday, December 9th @ 6:30 p.m.
Location: 10655 Park Run Dr. Suite 200  Las Vegas, NV 89144
Located inside the Astoria Homes Bldg.

Class fee: $15 (Bring a new friend to Molly O and your class is FREE!)
Materials: Sterling Silver discs starting at just $2! And necklaces at $8.

Make sure to reserve a spot by emailing us at info@mollyodesigns.com

December Calendar

I can't believe it has been a month since we posted, but that because Molly O Designs is exploding. We are some busy creative girls over here! But I think our New Years Resolution will be to give a little love to our lonely blog.  Come to think of it, that might have been my resolution last year too. Hmmm........

Well at least we are keeping up with our Facebook Fan page. If you have haven't joined yet, then you are missing out! Really, everyone is doing it. Just click HERE to join our crew of talented and creative ladies.

If you have been missing out on all our amazing classes, then you are in luck. Here is our December calendar! Reserve your spot fast, because our classes have been filling up quickly. Just email us at info@mollyodesigns.com to let us know which class you would like to attend.

And in case you are the type of gal who needs everything spelled out for you, then here is another version of our calendar. We try to cater to all our lovely followers whether they are left or right brained.

We hope to see everyone in December!! What better way to give amazing gifts and stay on budget for the holidays!

November Calendar!

Nothing like waiting until just the last perfect moment to post our November calendar. It has been in the works for quite some time. But for some reason I thought all of you could just read our minds and find out when to come to class.

For those who are not mind readers, here is the our latest and greatest schedule for the month of November.  And for those that are not quite hip enough to figure out our abbreviations (don't worry, not many have caught on), MOD is our acronym for Molly O Designs of course! So text away my friends, you will never again need to spell out Molly O Designs when telling all your friends to check out this amazing fad that is sweeping the nation. MOD, MOD, MOD. How cool are we? LOL (hey, LOL started somewhere too).

If you are feeling a little jealous and left out from all the MOD private classes, then don't forget to book your own! As the hostess, you get lots of great freebies plus you can get your own special dot on our calendar. Now that is an incentive on its own!



 Email us at info@mollyodesigns.com if you would like to book a class. We would love to hear from you!

Fab Flowers - New for Molly O Mondays

We LOVE this class. There are so many ways to wear this fabulous flowers. And they are so quick and easy to make. Our new Molly O Fab Flower class is being launched during our Molly O Mondays.

 

These flowers are perfect for reviving your wardrobe. So often I look into my closet and just see black shirts that go on endlessly. No color, very little texture.  But by adding a fab flowers, you have an instant pop of color and a new layer of texture giving you an entirely new design. What a great way to update your closet on a budget!

Add a full necklace to a shirt or dress and you will stop people in their tracks!

Are you stuck in the Mommy ponytail rut? Easy fix! Choose a side pony and a flower to accent it. Who says being a mom means wearing a messy ponytail and sweatpants?! Throw a flower on your tshirt and one in your hair and you will be the envy of all those moms at playgroup. 

To reserve your spot in our Fab Flower class, email us at info@mollyodesigns.com  See you on Monday, November 8th @ 10:00 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. at the Molly O studios!

Announcing Molly O Mondays

Don't miss out on our first Molly O Monday class on October 25th at 10:00 a.m.  We are creating this adorable Miss Spider hair clip. The perfect hair accessory for all your little girl's halloween parties.  Or, add it to a pin and leave off the bow for a great boy's accessory for his backpack or shirt.

 

And don't forget to add all our Molly O Monday classes to your calendar!

To register for any of our Molly O Monday express classes, 

email us at info@mollyodesigns.com to reserve a spot.  

All classes are held at the Molly O offices in Summerlin.  

Once you reserve a spot, we will email you with the details.

Hope to see you Monday!

NEW Applique Class

We are finally launching our new Applique Class and I couldn't be more excited! This is such a great class for everyone, beginner to advanced.

Learn all the basics of applique without a sewing machine! That's right, everything is done by hand. You will learn to create beautiful one-of-a-kind designs that will be uniquely yours. Make something for yourself or as a gift. We have designs for babies, toddlers, girls, boys and even moms.

Join our class on Thursday, October 7th @ 6:30 at the Molly O Offices in Summerlin.  To reserve a spot, email us at info@mollyodesigns.com and we will give you all the details.

We have an amazing selection of applique kits, notions, accessories, shirts, bags and dresses. Everything you will need to create the perfect Molly O look!

Super Star Moms!

In every Molly O class we always have at least one superstar. I love these women! They take what they learn and run with it. Go above and beyond what you expected. Some just go crazy with it. And that is when I LOVE to share what they have done. 


Look at Super Star Natalie! She took our Boutique Bow class with the intent on making adorable bows for her little girl. Instead she made HUGE quantity of bows to give out to all the little girls competing in her daughter's pageant. What a great gift! Can you imagine receiving these in your goody bag?  The best part is that it was inexpensive and left an impression on all the girls and moms that received them. 

Molly O Square Bows

Great job Natalie!!!! 

Submit your Super Star Mom moment and receive a FREE Molly O class for being featured on our blog. We love seeing all your Molly O creations in action. Send your photos and descriptions to info@mollyodesigns.com

Back to School Bows + Free Class

It is almost time to send our kiddos back to school! Go ahead, do a little mommy dance, I won't tell. You may have mixed emotions about your little princess heading off to school. But one thing is for sure, you need to send her in style!

Join us on Wednesday night to learn how to make boutique bows. We will teach you the insider secrets to creating 4 different fabulous bows. Then you will be able to put your new skills to use to create an adorable bow wardrobe for your little sweetie. 

WHEN:  Wednesday, August 11th

TIME: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Molly O Offices (we will email you the details after registering)

DETAILS: $15 Class Fee + Materials, 

additional FREE BONUS Headband Class

Email us at info@mollyodesigns.com to register!

Bring a friend and receive a FREE bow kit.

Who Is Your Target Audience?............Surprise, You Are Wrong!

I'm always trying to define our Target Audience in order to grow our business. Often when I do an interview the question comes up, "who is your Target Audience." Every time I think that I have it figured out, I get a great surprise!

When we first began Molly O Designs, we defined our target audience as 20 - 30 something year old moms. Moms with small children. Then we did a class for a group of retired women, and then a group of single girls, and then a bridal party and then a 12 y.o. girls birthday party. Hmmmmm, I guess our audience is bigger then we thought. The lines of our audience were no longer clearly defined.

Nothing makes me more excited then to see a "new" audience at one of our classes. Last night we have a great little surprise in the form of 12 y.o. Devin.

Devin arrived with his mom, took one look at all the tools involved with our Stamped Jewelry class and got to work designing. It was so great to see his creativity mixed with that typical boy infatuation with tools. Hammers, steel stamps, pliers and bench blocks, it doesn't get more manly then that. Well a maybe a little more manly, but this class definitely jumps the line between crafting and tool time.

At the end of class he had made 4 charms in total and added them all to a very "manly" leather cord. The perfect look for a pretty cool young man.  (Look at proud mama Sophie in the background!)

Great job Devin! And go tell all your friends how cool and "manly" it is to take a crafting tool pounding class at Molly O! 

Proud Mama!

It makes my heart sing with joy when my children pick up one of my skills or passions. I try not to push or force them to do the things I love. But when they show interest on their own, it turns me into a very proud mama.


The other day, my oldest daughter picked up a discarded piece of a skirt that was laying on the cutting area floor. I had just transformed my friends skirt into a sun dress for her 2 y.o. daughter. But there was a piece left over that was about to go in the trash. When my 8 y.o. saw it, she just had to have it!

So she found a needle and thread and went to work. It brought a little tear to my eye *sniff*. Proud Mama moment.

She worked and worked on that little piece of fabric. I finally asked her what she was making. "A new dress for my American Girl doll. She is feeling sad." Hmmm, o-kay. But why is she sad I asked?

Because of what Gabriella did to her. Gabriella is our 4 y.o. and is (clearing throat) very spirit.

O-kay, tell me how your little sister made your American Girl sad...................................

Proud Mama moment over.



Maybe I should enroll Gabriella in art class.

Lose the Mom Uniform - Part II {Find Something That Fits!}

So who took out their ponytail? I know several of you ran from me in the grocery store, target and school pickup for fear of me seeing your “mom ponytail.” I didn’t mean to scare you, well maybe I did a little. I just wanted to inspire you to become a more fabulous “you”.

So, we took out the ponytail in Lose the Mom Uniform, Part 1. Or, at the very least added adorable hair accessories to make your pony look effortlessly stylish. Check. Next up, let’s find something that fits!

Chant the following to yourself over and over until you believe it, “I don’t care what size I wear, I don’t care what size I wear, I don’t care what size I wear.” Now that doesn’t mean you should go eat an entire bag of Cheddar Cheese Ruffles (not that I’ve ever done that) and start wearing stretchy pants. What I want you to understand is that you need to find clothing that fits. Not clothing that you think SHOULD fit.

I see so many women that look larger, frumpier and saggier then they really are simply because their clothes don’t fit. If you can get it on, it doesn’t always mean it fits. I for example can snap a pair of jeans 2 sizes smaller then I actually wear. But I can’t breath and the muffin top that appears could feed a small country for a year.

So here is your assignment. I want you to put on an outfit that you wear but deep down know it is a little snug. Take a picture of yourself. Just stand in front of the mirror and snap your photo.

Now find an outfit that actually fits and take a photo. The waistband does not press in at any point nor does it fall down to your hips because it is too big. Find a shirt with a nice fit and some structure (Structure is Part 3 of this series). What I mean by structure is a shirt that creates your shape for you, not a fitted T-shirt that clings to your frame. Or one so big that it creates a mono-tent over your curves. Too tight does not make you smaller.  Just like too big doesn’t cover your flaws, it just makes you look even bigger.

Now, compare the two photos you just took. You should see a noticeable difference in your shape and size. When clothes actually fit, you look slimmer and more polished.  If you are really brave, you will send me the photos and let me post them on the blog for inspiration. Come on, don’t you want to inspire the 10’s of moms that read my blog?

If you didn’t have anything in your closet that fits, then you need to go shopping. This is wear you chat again “I don’t care what size I wear”. Take 2 or 3 sizes into the dressing room with you. Don’t look at the tag just try them on until something fits.

One last thing about finding clothing that fits. I’m not just talking about your pants and shirts. Don’t forget about your undies and bra too! We have all watched Oprah and have seen what a great fitting bra can do for you. It can takes pounds off your silhouette! So do me a favor and lift up your girls in support. I promise they will thank you.

Remember, nothing says mom uniform (or Jersey Shore want-a-be) like clothes that don’t fit. We all want to be a smaller size, but in the mean time dress for the body you have now and you will look amazing regardless of your size.





If you missed the first part in our series, Lose the Mom Uniform, go back and take a look. It isn't too late to join!

Open Class at Molly O Designs

Many of you have been asking for open classes so you can drop in and take class without hosting a class yourself. Ask and you shall receive.

If you are interested in taking any of our classes, you must register by emailing us at info@mollyodesigns.com.  Just drop us a note and let tell us which class you would like to attend along with your contact information (email and cell number in case we need to reach you the day of the class). We email you back with all the details.

Hope to see you there!




Stamped Jewelry - Saturday, July 31 @ 1:00 p.m.

Open Workshop - Thursday, Aug. 5 @ 6:30 p.m. - come and work on ANY project that you want to finish. We will have our entire inventory of supplies and tools available to you.

Back to School Bows - Wednesday, Aug. 11 @ 6:30 p.m. - Learn to make amazing bows for back to school or any time of year!

Applique Class {NEW} - Thursday, Aug. 19 @ 6:30 - Be the first to take this adorable and fabulous class. Don't wait to sign up. This class is filling quickly!

If You Do One Thing This Year.........Lose the Mom Uniform!

I’ve decided to throw out my Mommy Uniform! You know the one that someone was handing out at the hospital on the post-partum floor? Except, I don’t remember actually receiving a bag with a mommy uniform, it just kind of appeared in my closet.


Maybe they handed it to my husband while I was checking out. Yes, that must be it. And since nothing else in the closet fit when I got home, I just accepted it for what it was. A rather depressing glimpse into the beginning of my new image.

Before my children, I prided myself on wearing fabulous clothes, shoes, accessories. Other women would ask where I shopped and if I would teach them to accessorize. But some how in the midst of having 3 kids in 4 years (yes, you heard me right) I transformed into a sweatsuit wearing, ponytail sporting, non-accessorized person. I’m not even going to say “women” because there is nothing womanly about how I was feeling. How the heck did I get here, and how am I am going to get out?

So I decided to lay down a few rules for myself. Should be easy, right? I did mention already that I have 3 kids under the age of 8? On second thought, maybe I will just buy a velour sweatsuit from Costco in every color they make.

No, no, no! I’m going to do this. Back to the rules. We will be assigning one rule in each segment of my blog posts. I want to give you a little time to adjust to each rule. Remember I’m on your side. I am one of you. My muffin top doesn’t look any better in low-rise jeans then any other mom. But I promise you, at the end of this series we will reclaim the right to feel and look fabulous together. It will be a transformation that is long overdue and greatly deserved.


Rules for Designing Our New Mommy Uniform

1. Ponytails are not allowed unless someone in the household is vomiting, the water has been shut off because I forgot to pay the bill (I’m not super woman after all!) or my 3 year old has decided to cut my hair while I am sleeping.
Take a minute and do something with your hair. I promise you will feel so much better!Last year I got a sassy new haircut and donated my hair to locks of love. I will tell you that I feel as cute as possible from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. This is a first for me. If you are too afraid to cut your hair then buy or make a few trendy hair accessories. My current favorite hair accessories are flowers worn off to the side and headbands with vintage buttons, brooches and feathers.
The best way to wear hair accessories is to keep everything else you are wearing simple and chic. Let your accessory be your focal point.


If the accessories are scaring you, then just start with wearing your hair in any style besides a ponytail. Just one day! You can do it.



Next week, “Forget the Trends, Find Something that Fits!”

Cheer Flip Flops!

Spring has arrived in the west! Which means flips flops are making their appearance for the season. Everything from our bling crystal flip flops to bow flip flops for mom and princess. But spring also means the pinnacle of cheer competitions!

We designed this adorable pair of cheer flip flops for our friend that competes on a local local cheer team. The perfect accessory to wear as she strolls into competition. After all, you have to save your competition shoes for your shining moment on stage! But that doesn't mean you can't sport a little bling on your way in.

Created using our boutique bow techniques, layered bows, covered buttons and of course our signature bling to personalize her flip flops. She wouldn't want someone else walking in her shoes!

To learn to make these adorable flip flops and many other designs, go to http://www.mollyodesigns.com/ to book a class! Or email us at info@mollyodesigns.com 

If your entire cheer team would like to create the perfect cheer flip flop to match their uniforms, ask us about our fundraising program!

Spread the Creative Joy!

One of the things that just makes my day is when I receive emails and photos from customers wanting to share their newest designs. I love that they take the tools and techniques they learn in their Molly O class and add their own creative spin.

Just look at these adorable flowers that our friend Lina made during the {Fabulous Flowers} class! A few for her and a few for her little girl. She was going to rock the adorable fuschia flower at a wedding. Talk about spicing up your little black dress! Just throw a flower in your hair and transform your look.

I can't even tell you how much I love these key chains from Shelley! She used our 50% off charm bin as her inspiration and created these amazing gifts! I was so inspired after seeing them that I created a necklace with the same vibe.

Thanks for sharing ladies! You made my day. Keep the pictures and the inspiration coming! If you have photos you want to share from a Molly O class, send them to info@mollyodesigns.com