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

What Is Your Resolution?

I can't believe that 2010 is just around the corner and so are those pesky New Year's resolutions. Why not, come up with a creative resolution this year to learn a new skill. One that can be passed down through generations. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Take a Molly O class. If you are like me, it may just be the first resolution that you have seen all the way through. What a great way to kick off the new year! And you will have something to show for it.

Check us out at http://www.mollyodesigns.com/

Creative Ladies!

I taught the Molly O Stamped Jewelry class last night to one of the nicest group of ladies. We had a great time and everyone walked away proudly with their new designs.

One of my favorite things about our classes is seeing all the amazing creativity that comes out of everyone. Most start our classes a little hesitant. We hear over and over, I'm just not that creative, or I have never done something like this before. And by the end, they are all giggling over their designs and showing them off.

But what I love even more then seeing the designs at the end of the class, is getting photos of what everyone is making. It just makes my heart sing. Kind of like a proud mama. So I just had to show you the adorable photo that came in last night even before I got home.

Laureen was the hostess for the evening and came up with this amazing design to give her mom for Christmas. She decided to combine sterling silver with copper and then use our texturizing effect on both. I think the result is chic and super sweet! What Grandma wouldn't get a little teary -eyed on Christmas morning opening this Creatively Made gift?!

Keep up the creative spirit and keep sending those pictures! I can't wait to see what everyone is working on for the gift giving season!

October Giveaway!

I haven't posted in a little while because it is the busy time of year at Molly O Designs. I don't know about anyone else, but this tends to be a stressful time of year for me. So I decided someone out in blogland needs a little pick-me-up.

We are giving away the adorable coffee cup holder and key chain shown in our previous post (actual fabric may vary) along with a $10 Starbucks gift card. We get emails all the time asking when we will have a Molly O Stylists in their area to teach Molly O classes. We are working on it, I promise! We just launched teachers in Virginia last week. So, we are working our way across the country.

But, until you have a chance to make these items yourself in a Molly O class, we thought we would give a few samples away to make sure everyone feels included.

All you have to do to register to win is leave a comment below about which Molly O class you would love to attend or your favorite class that you have already attended. If you need some ideas, just pop over to our site http://www.mollyodesigns.com/ and click on Creatively Made. To the right you will see a list of our class categories. Look around and find something you like!

We will announce the winner next week and announce our next giveaway! And don't forget to join our newsletter for the latest Molly O news. There is a sign up box at the bottom of the blog.

Happy Fall everyone!

12 weeks until Christmas

Did I scare you? Because I am scaring myself! But with everyone on a tight holiday budget this year, I thought that we should start planning ahead!

The first thing to think about is whether you are going to buy or make most of your Christmas gifts this year. My plan is to make as much as I can for friends, neighbors, teachers and relatives. There are so many quick and easy gifts that you can make for very little money. My plan is to make a list, set aside a Saturday and just mass produce all my Creatively Made gifts.

Here is one of my favorite friend and teacher gifts! Our Coffee Holder and matching Key Chain. Just add on a coffee gift card and you have a fabulous, easy and affordable gift!

Over the next couple of weeks I will start posting photos of all my Christmas gift giving ideas. If you have been sitting on the fence about hosting a Molly O party, this is the time to schedule it. It is the perfect time to invite your friends over to start on your Christmas list! Plus, if you host the class then you get lots of freebies including your class fee, materials and discounts on anything else you buy that night.

We are also in the process of planning an all day Style session in Vegas. You will have the opportunity to take 3-4 classes plus create and design during an open session. Which means you could get your entire Christmas list taken care of in one day! If you are interested in attending, drop us a note so we can determine the level of interest. info@mollyodesigns.com