Bow Ties for the Little Guys

Here are some of the bow ties for little guys that I’ve made lately.  These things are just too cute.

Of course, I had to convince him that pink seersucker actually is cool for boys to wear.  He was a little hesitant at first but he came around to like it.

And here’s a christmas plaid one.

And a little Reindeer bow tie and neck tie set.

And finally, a patch madras neck tie.

I think I may add a children’s tie section to my little “store”.

And the winner is….

Scott!
October 30, 2009 at 10:56 am 

He said: “I think it would be great to have a bow tie. I’ve always wanted one!”

I’m so happy it will be going to a first-timer.  Congratulations, Scott!  Once you receive your tie, how about passing along a picture for all of us to see?  

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Those who signed up for The Cordial Churchman Update will be receiving their first edition soon, which will include a special subscriber’s inaugural offer.  Those who sign up between now and the second edition will also be eligible for this special promotion.  Sign up here.

Again, congrats to Scott!  

Win a Free Bow Tie!

The winner of this giveaway will win a bow tie of his choice or a free neck tie to bow tie conversion.

I’ve had it in my mind that I would give away a bow tie in conjunction with Reformation Day for a while now.  We used to have Reformation Day parties and my husband would dress as Martin Luther and shave a tonsure in his head – which resulted in a very cold shaved-head November.  This year, since he has a real job, he’s decided to not be so  bold with his costuming and thus, we will celebrate with a bow tie giveaway.

The contest is open to everyone – all you have to do is comment on this page.  Also, you can get an extra chance to win by signing up for my new 
MAILING LIST.  I will use this list to send periodic updates when I add new bow ties to the store or decide to do specials.  I promise not to spam you like crazy – I’m really not into that.

I will close commenting at midnight on October 30th and announce the randomly selected winner on Monday, November 2nd.  Are you excited?  I am.  

Please announce this give-away on your forums, blogs, facebook and twitter so that we can spread the word about great, quality, handmade bow ties!  Your support in this endeavor is what helps me to price my bow ties so reasonably.  It is a community effort for sure.

So, let the games begin… Good luck.

Creative Neck Tie conversions to Bow Ties

I’ve had a great time seeing the variety of neck ties that people send me to convert into bow ties.  The order that I popped into the mail today was by far the most interesting (and difficult) batch of ties that I converted yet.  I can tell that the gentleman that owned these ties has used and loved them dearly and it makes me so happy that he’ll be able to wear them again!  He sent me 5 ties to be converted: Squirrels, Cheetas, and Swans belted together (one of his wife’s favorites), Bunnies in hats and a vintage J.Press Paisley tie.

I felt like I was putting together a puzzle working around all of the love on these ties.  When I finished them up this afternoon, I felt pretty proud of myself.  I even was able to salvage the vintage label and sew it back into the bow (his request).  I wish I would have taken better pictures, but here’s what I’ve got.  Maybe I’ll see if he can send me some shots of himself wearing them.

Also on the agenda for this evening: a frog tie and a bear tie.  I have such a fun job.

If you have an interest in having your ties converted, know that the charge is $23 for each tie.  You can e-mail me at ellielaveer@gmail.com for more information.

 

Woot! New bow ties!

I’m so excited about this batch of ties!  I’ve got a great group of modern and classic ties with an ascot thrown in there for good measure.  These babies are totally ready to go and can usually be shipped the same day they are ordered.  Please share this website with all your bow tie wearing friends so that they can get their very own one of a kind bow tie.  Here are some of the offerings.  Hop on over to www.elliesbowties.com for all the ordering info.

The Mocha - Click on Photo for more detail

The Analyst - Click on photo for more detail

The Ombudsman - Click on photo for more detail

The Andrew - Click on photo for more detail

The Regent - Click on photo for more detail

The Triumph - Click on photo for more detail

The Trouble Maker - Click on photo for more detail

The Entrepreneur - Click on photo for more detail

The Educator - Click on photo for more detail

And remember, you can always send me your ties to convert into almost any style you would like.   Also, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve decided to start charging shipping just to help offset my packaging and shipping costs.  There is a $3 per order charge so if you order 1 or 5, the shipping charge is the same.

Contact me at ellielaveer@gmail.com for more information.

Cheers!

-Ellie

The Cordial Churchman Update

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.  This is the first time I’ve been on a computer for any length of time in a while.  A few days ago, my computer stopped working so it is now going to the apple hospital to hopefully be repaired.

I wanted to give you a bullet point-ish post though to remind you that I’m still around and tell you what’s going on over here.

• I’m thinking of starting a mailing list to let you know when I update my online store.  Is this something you would be interested in?  Do you know of a mailing list service I could use – preferably something I can put in my sidebar?  Your help is greatly appreciated.
• My model/husband has been writing a masters thesis nonstop lately and I haven’t really had a chance to get him to model the ties for me, but I promise, more converted ties are coming SOON – like within the next few days.  Some good ones for you Trad gentlemen.
• I’m planning a bow tie giveaway for the end of the month.  So be looking forward for your chance to get a handmade Cordial Churchman bow tie for free (!) and in the process help spread the word about my ties.  More info on that one in a few weeks.
• I’ve made more ascots, they actually are really fun to make and are so soft.  Some people have expressed interest so know that they are $23 and I’ll be making them less often than the bow ties so put your bid in if you’re interested. (ellielaveer@gmail.com)
• Apparently, tomorrow is Bow Tie Tuesday, so if you’re a gentleman, get your bow tie on tomorrow.  E-mail me pictures if it is one of my ties.

I’ll leave you with this cute picture of my little boy wearing a romper I made for him a couple of weeks ago using my serger.  It turned out pretty cute.  This was my third time using this pattern.  Do you remember the last time I made a romper?  It was only 4 months ago and I used the leftover seersucker fabric to make my husband a bow tie (my first tie).  It seems like forever ago – I’ve made hundreds of ties since then!

Cheers,

Ellie

More Bow Ties to add to the store

I was a busy little bee today making bow ties, another ascot and a custom wool scarf today.  Tonight, I want to show you the bow ties.  I’ve got some pretty fun ties to add to my mix.  I didn’t realize it until I was taking pictures, but I must have had red on the brain.  These first three ties are conversions from neck ties.  All very lovely if you ask me.

The next two are made with 100% wool fabric.  Perfect for fall.

This one is a pinstripe linen to replace the blue pinstripe linen that I previously had.  I wasn’t able to get any more blue fabric, but I think this fabric is pretty nice.

And finally, these two ties were a custom order from a gentleman who wanted his ties to be pre-tied.  They are 100% wool as well.  I’m thinking of adding these to my “wool bow tie line”.  They obviously don’t have to be pre-tied.  What do you think about these fabrics for bow ties?

I’m hoping to get these photographed and officially on my store this weekend but know that they are available if you’re too antsy to wait.  Tomorrow, I’ll have to show off this cool patch-tweed wool scarf that I made and the newest ascot.

Related to the Ascot: We discovered that you’re only supposed to have one button open, not two.  When Andy changed this he looked much less self-righteous.  I think I’m coming around to liking them after-all - they’re really fun to make too and they actually don’t look bad on girls.

Ascot: NOT in stores everywhere this fall.

I don’t really know what to say about this.  I’m still trying to figure out if I like him wearing it. But after his unrelenting nagging, I went ahead and made him an ascot just for fun.  He found the tutorial here.  This particular one was made with two vintage neck ties so it is reversible.  Andy is very exited about it.  He plans to wear it to a preaching conference and then to smoke pipes with friends tomorrow.  He’s a strange bird.

The word on the internet is that ascots (also known by their British name, the day cravat) are for old men, rich men with yachts, or young men who are jerks.  Of course the guy from Gilligan’s Island is frequently mentioned.  Andy can’t see why this particular piece of neckwear should be considered any more silly than a bow tie.  Even neckties are pretty odd when you step back and think about it.  

Since this ascot is made out of neckties, it’s not made to the same specs of a genuine store-bought ascot.  It was less difficult to make than a bow tie.  I don’t expect the orders to come flooding in from all over the world, though—do you?  But the reality is, he begged me to make him a seersucker bow tie, and I did.  And now I have the coolest job in the world.  (The difference is, of course, that I actually thought the seersucker bow tie was cool.  This, well…) 

 

Playing around with my Serger

So yesterday, I finally got to play around with my serger.  I think this machine is about 30 years old.  It was most likely purchased at a garage sale to be fixed up by my grandfather who loved to fix broken things.  You wouldn’t believe how many sewing machines, sergers, clocks etc. my family found in his house when he passed away.  He had an amazing gift.  

I keep fiddling around with this machine and getting completely frustrated with my thread coming out of its track.  These things are not fun to re-thread.  So with my tweezers close by for easy threading, I pulled out my machine and went to town.  I figured out that I just need to be patient with the old thing. I can’t treat it like I do my trusty sewing machine.  A steady  constant pressure on the foot gives it a nice even serge – too fast, or stopping along the way makes my machine skip stitches.   

I made something for each member of the family.  I got a wool scarf, Andy got a serged hankie – pocket square and the boys got place mats.  I’m looking forward to using this thing to possibly make my first dress this fall.  I can’t believe how fast I can make things with this serger – the projects below took barely any time to make.

 

My goal is to make *something* that isn’t a bow tie each day this week and share them with you.  I have so many projects I’ve been dying to try.  

Happy Monday!

-Ellie

Father and Son Bow Ties

What’s cuter than a little boy in a bow tie?  I’ll tell you: A little boy in a bow tie with his proud papa in a matching bow tie!  I have made some father/son sets and it just makes me smile!  Here are some photos of some very proud fathers with their little boys wearing bow ties.   Both of these guys must have caught me on good days because I threw in their baby bow ties for free.  Aren’t these guys too cute for words?

Now of course, we have to recognize that the mothers are the real heros here who had to dress their squirmy little guys up, try to keep them from pulling at their bow ties and spilling water on themselves and then try to get them to look at the camera.  Thanks moms!  (Can you tell I’ve been through this?)