It’s not often I come across a website that makes me stop what I am doing because I have to try it out… now!  That was what happened to me when I discovered Marilyn Scott-Waters and her Toymaker website.  I must admit it was the fairy furniture above that really out me over the edge  I have always loved fairies and I am convinced that when Emily and I make this furniture together and put it outside amongst the plants of our garden – no fairy would be able to resist.  Marilyn has put together a stunningly beautiful collection of FREE paper toys.  Her objective, she says, is to encourage parents and children to spend time together (you know we are all about that at Emily Rose!) – with a collection of fun activities like the ones on her website I think she has definitely achieved her goal.  Emily and I will be sitting down together to peruse the paper doll otters, the gifts and surprises section and the toys that move.  Go and check out Toymaker – I’ll bet you can’t resist!

We often ask for feedback via our Facebook Fan Page.   I love the opportunity to chat directly to our customers and hear ideas and input.  A few months ago I asked for input on what new designs we should carry in the store and got a TON of feedback.  It seems that our customers have very clear ideas about what they would like their 18 inch doll to be wearing.  Well – we would like to see your ideas.  The winner of our design contest gets a $100 spending spree at Emily Rose PLUS the exciting opportunity to have their design created and available in our store (with your name listed as the designer) as a very special Emily Rose outfit.  Here are the rules:

Age Requirement: 7 – 107 (we hope many Moms will join the fun)

You must be at least 7 years old to enter this contest and if you are under 18 your entry must be posted by a parent (see below for posting details).

Submission: Your design MUST be original – which means out of your head on to the paper – no photographs of existing clothing designs or copied designs please.  Please provide a full color drawing of your design that includes the following:

• A front and back view of the outfit.
• Fabric suggestions – wool, satin, denim, etc…
• Notes on any small details (identify trims, closures, embroidery, etc…)
• Your name, email, state and age
• You may include accessories – but please do not include shoes or accessories that are not made of fabric

Posting: All entries must be posted to our Facebook page so make sure they are of high-quality so you can see the details.  To post to our Facebook Page you must become a fan first – just click here and then click on the “Fan this Page” button.  Once you are a fan you can click on the Photo tab and upload your design as a photo.  If you don’t have a Facebook account you will be asked to join.

How do you win?: We are letting all of you choose the winner.  Once your design is posted any Facebook fan can click the “like” button under the photo.  The design with the most “likes” WINS THE CONTEST!

Deadline: All entries must be received by midnight on March 31st to enter BUT voting starts immediately so the sooner you post your entry the longer you have to collect “like” votes.

Good luck – and have fun!!!

All entries become the property of Emily Rose Doll Clothes.  Emily Rose reserves the right to use submitted design ideas in any capacity, including but not limited to; design production, advertising and promotion, internet stores and blogs, etc…

How clueless are Dad’s sometimes

For more Wordless Wednesday fun visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Look what I found from the Cloth Dolls by Stitch N Stuff website.  A free pattern for 18 inch doll shoes!  Yippee!  Have fun and we would love to see the results of your efforts.  Join us on Facebook so that you can post photos of your new doll shoes.

Hi, my name is Lisa-Marie and I am a control freak.  There I said it.  I’m a control freak.  I have very strong opinions on how things at Emily Rose should be done and how our customers should be served.  But – there comes a time when you have to give a little – and in terms of customer care that time has arrived.  Ever since I took that first customer phone call in late 2006 I have LOVED talking to customers.  It’s my favorite part of my job.  I even love it when customer’s have problems because I know at Emily Rose we fix issues quickly and respectfully and we put our customers first.  I have always made time to answer the customer service line whenever I can.  I drop everything sometimes to chat with customers who feel like friends.  But – over the last Holiday season I came to the painful realization that my time is needed elsewhere.  I want to have time to find and/or develop new products for all of you.  I want to have time to release the next 40 FREE trading cards that I was supposed to have available before the end of 2009.  I want to have time to finalize the doll clothes patterns.  I want to have time to develop more contests, spend more time interacting with all of you in the social networks and in general, time to take care of Emily Rose so that we can continue to provide the product variety, quality and value that you justifiably expect from us.  It’s time for me to stop answering the phone and pass the task on to skilled and caring customer care people who are already part of the Emily Rose family.

From now on when you call our toll-free number the phone will ring in Kentucky at the Emily Rose warehouse.  The lovely and talented Karmell or Debbie (nice Southern American gals – not Brits like me ) will take your call, your order, your questions, your problems.  They are committed to giving you a fabulous customer service experience.  I was in Kentucky all last week putting the final touches on their training and as of this morning – they are on their own.  They are nervous – they want to do a great job for you so please be patient as they get more comfortable with delivering my “control freak” level of service

If you would like to speak with me directly I still am, and always will be available.  Just request a call back and I will phone you as quickly as possible.

I’m letting go of control… but not letting go of service.  You deserve nothing but the best from us – and we are committed to providing it.

Sport For Your 18 Inch Doll Like American Girl

Hie-yahh indeed! Your doll will have the best time in +karate class with this cute doll karate uniform. She has even earned her black belt, which is included (with all the other colors – wow!) and red punching bag for practicing those high kicks. Sensei will be very proud! Visit Emily Rose to order your very own Karate Kicks outfit.

We often get asked why we don’t carry matching doll and girl clothing.  The truth is – we have tried!  We have looked everywhere and even sampled a few lines – but none of them meet our exacting standards and more importantly… price.  We are committed to only offering what we consider affordable products and the matching clothing that is of acceptable quality is what we consider far out of most price ranges.  In our travels through search land we did come across Luna B.

Luna B Tees offers a matching doll and daughter t-shirt and you can even get them personalized - just click on the picture above to visit their website.  I thought these would be something our customers (all of you) would enjoy.

For more Wordless Wednesday fun visit 5 Minutes for Mom

Here’s what Jeanette had to say about our Bridesmaid Dress

Good Morning,

I received the bridesmaid’s dress today. It is absolutely beautiful!!!
The picture on your web site looks white and does not do it justice. I The
top is deep green velvet and the rest is a soft green sheer material with
an overskirt of matching netting. The pink rose buds finish the look
wonderfully. The hair barrette matches perfectly.

I purchased this dress for my granddaughter’s doll and will give it to her
as part of her birthday gifts next month. Her favorite color is green. I
know she is going to think the dress is awesome!!!

Sincerely,

Jeanette
Connecticut USA

This is Swami Yogananda. He’s 99 years old. Don’t worry, I’m not about to suggest that in order to be a centurion you have to learn how to do this. I just thought he was quite incredible.

I worry quite a bit about raising Emily as an only child but one of my major worries is that we (her Parents) may become a burden on her as we age. Being an only child, she would have no one to share that burden with. This post isn’t really about the responsibility of “Raising American Girls” but more about the responsibility we have toward keeping our own health, for their sake as much as ours.

I research that topic of staying healthy and aging well quite often – but really it comes down to four basic rules that hopefully most of us are abiding by already. Don’t smoke – its bad for you and bad for you children. I was astonished that during our visit to Tennessee to move the business last week we ran in to a waitress at a restaurant who was 6 months pregnant and confided in us tearfully that she couldn’t stop smoking! I was stunned! Don’t drink too much alcohol. Exercise a much as you can and, my favorite, eat colorful foods (how easy is that one to remember!)

Don’t forget, not only will we improve our own health but we will be great examples for our girls as they mature and develop their own health habits.

Don’t get me wrong, I am far from perfect, but am working on it everyday – in that spirit I offer you this article, 10 Health Habits to Help You Live to 100. It is an easy and inspirational read.