Here’s the question:  Can you honestly think of a better Mother’s Day gift than a magnificently painted portrait on canvas of her kids or grandkids?  This is a gift that’s so touching, and so personal, that it is without equal.

All you need to start such a painting is a great snapshot of the child, or children and the artist will turn it into a masterpiece that would make Rembrandt proud. 

And at a price that’s downright affordable, too. 

And they’re offering a special bonus to make it even sweeter.

So can they really create such a masterpiece between now and May 11th?  That does seem like stretch, doesn’t it?  Actually, they probably can’t  (it normally takes 4 to 6 weeks to paint a portrait of this quality).

But what they CAN do is to compose it against an appropriate background and send you a .jpg image that you can print and present to her.  That way, she can not only see what she’s going to receive, but actually participate in the process.

See — creating portraits is a very collaborative process.  At each stage of development, they’ll send you (or her) an image by email.  That includes close-ups, when appropriate.  You can provide input as to what looks just right or what needs to be changed.  You call tell them “the eyes need to be bluer” - or - ”Can you fix that flyaway hair on the right side?” 

Of course!

That’s the beauty of painting as opposed to photography.  They can  paint anything you want - including placing them into any scene you can imagine.  Paint them on the beach, in a beautiful garden, or just a nice shaded background.  It’s all your choice.  Oops!  I
mean her choice.  Remember, she’ll get to participate in the process.

You’ll never have to worry about getting something neither you nor she will want.  By the time it’s complete, you’ll know exactly what you’re going to get.  That’s one of the reasons that this offer comes with absolutely THE most outstanding guarantee in the business.  It’s totally risk-free.

So what are you waiting for?  You can spend hours and hours shopping for that typical ho-hum gift that will be forgotten by the time next Mother’s Day rolls around . . . .

. . . . Or you can surprise her with a gift that will bring genuine tears of joy to her eyes.  A gift that will be cherished for a lifetime, then passed on to her children and her children’s children for generations to come.

Now how can you possibly top THAT for the perfect Mother’s Day gift?

Check out all the possibilities:    Risk-Free Custom Portraits for Mother’s Day Special

Oh, and what about that special bonus? 

They’ll frame that portrait for 50% of the regular price.  What a deal!  And their frames  are magnificent, wide, luxury frames that could hang in the most prestigious mansion and
fit right in.  They can cost hundreds of dollars all by themselves.

At half price, they make you look even better in Mom’s eyes.

Again, act right now.  This offer on the frame will end on May 11—

P.S. - Are you a Mom?  If you’re reading this and would like a portrait for yourself, you have two options: 1) Print this and put it in front of the guy whose attention you need to get; or, 2) Treat yourself to your own Mother’s Day present.

Risk-Free Custom Portraits for Mother’s Day Special

Good morning everybody!

Over the weekend I was getting caught up on a lot of on-line reading.  I couldn’t help but be struck by a number of family blogs that say something like:

“Well, I guess I have to start shopping for her Communion dress (or suit)” and then they go on to say how much they’re dreading the whole “ordeal”.

The thing is - the fact that they DID wait this long is why it’s going to be “an ordeal”.  The stores are completely picked over now.  Selection is down to a minimum.

These same people are contacting us saying that they HAVE to have this specific dress WAY sooner than it’s available.

That’s why we talk so much about shopping early - getting at it in December or early January.  February is even good.  You can choose from a myriad of styles for communion dresses or suits!

But the longer you wait - the fewer choices you have.  That’s just the way it works. 

Wish we could wave a magic wand and change it for the late-minute shoppers, but we can’t.

You need to know WHERE TO LOOK now.  We DO have choices!  But as with anywhere else, not as many as you would have had a month or two ago.

Where to look?  First, in our Clearance Dept.  There are a lot of gems in there - and these dresses and suits are ready to ship out right away.

Next, in our Sale and Available Fast Departments. These can ship much more quickly than our typical special order styles.

And please - keep an open mind!  When you’re shopping at the last minute, you need to select from what IS available.  Please don’t ask us to get something for you sooner than the availability shows in the description.  We just can’t take an order requesting delivery sooner than a style is expected to be available!  That’s why we provide you with all the information - to help you make a fully informed choice.

And if the approximate delivery date is just days before your wear date - pick something else!  This is the busiest season for children’s dresses of all and absolutely anything can happen to cause a delay - things that are COMPLETELY out of our control.  We do our utmost to serve you well and promptly but there are some things that just are not within our grasp to make happen.

Think of it this way — if you’re in a store, you have to pick from what is available there.  Same here - you have to pick from what is available for when you need it.  The difference is that we have SO MUCH selection!

So what I guess I’m trying to say is that at this late date, your #1 choice may not be available for you anymore — but don’t despair, because something truly wonderful IS available in time if you’ll approach your shopping with an open mind.

And we really DO want you to enjoy your shopping experience.  We just can’t make the impossible happen for you.  Wish we could! But we can’t.  That’s why we go to so much trouble to provide you with all the information you need to make a fully informed decision that is right for you.

Shopping for First Communion can be a wonderful time of bonding for parent and child!

Do you need help getting your Communion photo or video up to enter our Communion Portrait Drawing?

 We want to share the help we found in  The Costco Connection, April 2008, page 13:

Q.  Can you tell me how to post a video clip on a site such as YouTube?

A:  Uploading video to YouTube might sound daunting, but it’s quite a simple — and rewarding — process.

First, make sure your edited video is shorter than 10 minutes and smaller than 100 megabytes.  Save your video as QuickTime, MOV, Windows .AVI or. WMV, or .MPG files as they work best with YouTube.  The e site also recommends the MPEG4(DivX, Xvid) format at 640 x 480 resolution with MP3 audio.

That might sound like jargon soup, but all you need to remember is that once you have a video you want to upload to YouTube (say, transferred from a camcorder), simply save it as one of the above-mentioned formats, found in your video editor’s option settings.

Next, click the “Upload Videos” button near the top right corner of any YouTube page and enter as much information about your video as possible, such as title, author, description, tags (search keywords), category and so on.  Also, select if you want your video to be public (for the whole world to see) or private (by invitation only).

After you click the “Upload a Video” button you’ll be prompted to browse for the video file on your computer’s hard drive.  Select the file you wish to upload.  That’s it!

Keep in mind that it can take up to an hour for the bideo to be uploaded and available for viewing.

If you want to learn how to upload a YouTube video from your cell phone, visit LifeHacker.com

Thank you Costco!

What keywords should you use?  We suggest:

• Child’s name
• Term such as - First Communion, First Communion dress, First Communion suit, First Communion day
• Settings  Public - definitely public

Looking forward to seeing your photos and videos!

After we said the other day that there would be great news this fall on more boy’s suit styles . . .

                   . . . well, news came over the weekend — and —

                                  . . .    it looks like we’re going to be able to start offering some of these new styles right away - maybe even this week!

Just wanted to let you know as soon as we found out!

Have you see how much has been arriving in our Boys Departments lately?

Well, we have to admit - it’s true - that we get so caught up in the beautiful little girls’ dresses that our Boys Departments have some times been the “step child” so to speak.

This Spring we really buckled down and started working for you, our customers with boys. . . .

You will find a really nice selection of basic suits in the “Tailored Suits’ department, which are further broken down for you by price categories:

• Economy - these are great suits at great prices!  It’s pretty safe to say here that they will be all polyester; almost all come complete with shirt & tie - some with vests! 
• Moderate - these are even better suits and still at great prices!  Most are a poly/rayon blend with a beautiful drape that make them look very good indeed. Made with fine detailing; they are usually jacket and pants; shirts and accessories are available separately.
• Better - these are wool or wool blend suits - still at great prices!  While really, really fine boys’ suits can run $240-$360 (and even more) - these are AFFORDABLE good suits you’d be proud for him to wear.
• Tuxedos - yep, boys’ tuxedos in the most popular colors - and several with optional colored cummerbund/tie sets and/or colored vests.
• Informal suits - these are shorts or long pants outfits that are neat, trim and stylish but a little less formal - usually with a vest.  In wonderful colors for baby boys and older boys - especially Ring Bearers.

In addition, we have darling BABY SUITS arriving regularly - these are great for Bris, Baptism - even just plain showing off your new baby boy.

Where will you find them? 

In two places, really:

Boys Department - our complete Boys’ Special Occasions Boutique.

Christening Department - scroll down to see the Boy Christening Gowns and Christening Suits Departments.

Depending on the focus.

Is there any “rule” about which you have to shop in for your occasion?  Absolutely none!  We just try to make shopping as easy and convenient for you as possible.

And this Fall you’ll be seeing a lot more results of our extensive work for you as terrific new suit styles we have been working on start to become available.

Stay tuned!

Did you SEE all the adorable baby dresses on sale?  If not, be sure to check it out!

Why so many on sale?  Well . . . it’s SPRING for one thing!  Time to celebrate!

And yes, new styles ARE arriving — time to make room!

QUESTION:  Should we put baby SUITS on sale too? If you think so, please let us know!

We have a LOT more than baby dresses on sale, of course.  Check out our entire Clearance Dept! 

NOTE:  “Clearance” for us isn’t the same as a clearance rack at your local store.  Why?  Well, items on clearance at your local store have been handled by SO MANY people - and tried on - and possibly abused and local, well, get rather “shop worn”.  Don’t they?  Not here!  These are PREMIUM GRADE A FIRST QUALITY BRAND NEW — and on sale!

You’ll not only find baby dresses on sale - you’ll find Christening gowns, Communion dresses, Flower Girl dresses, boys’ suits, Prom dresses, shoes and accessories too!

Be sure to check it out!

This just in ——-

We just launched a HUGE sale on Baby Dresses & Heirloom Dresses!

First quality - BEAUTIFUL dresses - while supplies last - then POOF!  Gone!

The Baby Dress Sale is in our Baby & Christening Boutique.

The Heirloom Dress Sale is in our Girls Dresses & Gowns Boutique.

 All can be seen in our Clearance Dept.

 REMEMBER –

These are ALL premium - first quality - brand-new dresses!  They are not “picked over and shop worn” like you find on clearance racks in your local store!

This is a GREAT time to pick up gorgeous items for baby gifts - little ones in your life - little girls special occasions - even flower girl dresses!

You’ll find FANTASTIC choices for last-minute First Communion dresses, Flower Girl dresses - and more . . . .

In stock and ready to ship!

We just received a shipment of these dresses today to fill existing orders and we all went absolutely nuts!

These dresses are drop-dead GORGEOUS.  We cannot say enough about how much they impressed us.  The photos don’t begin to do it justice!

They’re very special.  Unique.  Not run-of-the-mill by any means. 

The fine netting lace (Schiffli) is one of the most beautiful types of lace in the world.  This dress not only has the lace - it is lightly beaded and sequined.

The lace drops below the ruched satin accent at the waistline to form a peplum effect over the full tulle skirt.

STUNNING!

The square neck is not often seen, either. It is modest, though it does dip a bit deeper in the back (but not way - way down).  The satin sash ties into a glorious bow in the back.

This is a dress of TEXTURES.  Lace - satin - and tulle with beading.  Frothy and rich in elegant details and yet not over-done.

It is a FABULOUS choice for many purposes - Flower Girl dresses, Miniature/Junior Bride dresses, Pageant Formal Wear dresses and yes, First Communion dresses!

Dress #SWC-403 is from the Justin Alexander Couture line.  It is definitely a very special dress for a very special young lady!

- I need flower girl dresses to [match] my Vera Wang bride’s maids’ dresses in “Ice blue”

- Do you have anything in “Calypso?”"

We hear these all the time . . . . and yet, does it really tell us anything?  What is really in the “name” of a color?  Is there a standardized list of color names somewhere?

These are questions we’ll cover here.

In truth - the “name” of a color is something concocted by the designer.  They want the name of the color to gel with the “aura” they want surrounding their design collection for the season.

So, “Ice Blue” looks a whole lot like pale blue with a slight hint of green - frequently called Robin’s Egg Blue.

Calypso looks a whole like fuschia or hot pink.

And what color IS “Rum Pink”?   (Though I love it, it’s barely pink at all!)

This season “green” is no longer just “green”, it’s “lettuce”, “pistachio”, “Spring green”, “celery”, etc.  Of course, each is a different shade.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between “Red”, “Christmas Red” and “Valentine’s Red” or “Apple Red”?  We have.  It has a lot more to do with when the designer intends to sell that garment than what the color actually looks like.  It creates a mood.  Will you see differences between shades if a company offers several of these?  Yes, you will!

But are the shades consistent from one company to another?

Nope.  Not at all.

One company’s “Apple Red” is another’s “Red” or “Christmas Red” or another term they prefer to use.

These terms sound so much more tantalizing than “lt blue” or “red” or “green”, and that’s what the designers are going for, you see.  These terms create an image in your mind and make them more desirable.

But that picture in your mind is exclusive to you — nobody else can see it.