BBS’s 5th Anniversary!

Even though it’s been a year, it seems like a million months ago. So much has happened personally and professionally. The best way to describe it is to highlight the peaks and valleys over the last year and a half.

April of 2023:

My 96 year old mom passed away in her sleep, exactly when and where she wanted to. She had an amazing life and, in her words, was 'done'. My sister and I were both there.

May of 2023 to December of 2023:

Most of last year was all about selling and buying homes.

I sold my beloved farm and property.

Sold my mom's house.

Bought our new home.

Bought BBS a new headquarters.

Ended up renting out the headquarters in order to buy back my families cabin, which was my greatest accomplishment of the year.

December of 2023 to January of 2024:

I had my 2nd knee replacement surgery and spent most of the winter healing. I loved being home. There was lots of snow and wintery days. I did a lot of sewing!!

February of 2024:

Healed fast from surgery! I was walking well, driving and ready to get back to vending at shows. We opened our boutique on main street in Murphys, which was a long-time dream of mine!! A tiny shop in the heart of our small town. Just perfect for us!!

March to May of 2024:

We hit the road and started our show schedule!! Finished 8 weekends in a row!!

June of 2024:

My son graduated from high school!! We have been homeschooling since 4th grade. I can't tell you how proud I am of both of us!!

June and July of 2024:

Totally enjoying some vacation time. Took an amazing solo road trip to Oregon to see friends and family.

July 28th 2024:

I’m sitting here today at my cabin, updating the website with Juliana, and making plans for our next 5 week run of shows. Finishing up receiving new inventory for the next few months, and reviewing FIVE amazing Years. We now have a Facebook Boutique, a website, we’re active in the Renaissance and Fantasy Faire circuit, have a retail shop and participate in town events, sell wholesale and have consignment accounts. We have accomplished so much and still have so much to look forward to!

I started with 1 item back in August of 2019. Now we have over 50 styles, all boho-Inspired, all size-friendly (sizes 10 to 24). We offer clothing, costuming, and accessories. I couldn't be happier!

THANK YOU ALL for your continued support!

Love, Mara

From August 2022 To August 2023

So much has changed during this one year.

We moved into a small studio in August 2022 in Murphys. This finally gave me a place to stage inventory, have back stock and a small design studio. Very quickly we grew out if this space and added doubled our size in March.

Also in August 2022, Cherie started doing shows with me. An absolute game changer for me. Being that my fibromyalgia really limits my mobility.

In April of 2023, my 95 year old mom passed away. She is the one who taught me to sew when I was 10. I very quickly began sewing my own clothes and found my love of costuming when I started high school a few years later. These skills have carried me a lifetime.

By August 2023, we ran out of room again for the business.... since then, I was able to purchase a home to house Bohemian Butterfly Sisterhood. Lots of room for inventory, back stock., a big design studio, the perfect new home for our expansion plans moving forward.

By the end of 2023 we will have sold at over 50 festivals since Jan 2022. This year, we added music festivals to our list, which already included Renaissance Faires, Pirate Festivals, Goddess Festivals and Highland Games. We have created a wonderful Faire family and an amazing following of clients.

Thank you so much for your continued support and love. I could not do this all without you!

-Mara

Website’s 2nd Anniversary

February 18th. 2022

Two years ago, we launched the Bohemian Butterfly Sisterhood website!!

Embrace. Empower. Celebrate. The Feminine.

Today, we launched Bohemian Peacock Brotherhood.

Embrace. Empower. Celebrate. The Masculine.

Our Gender fluid. Size Friendly. Clothing for all was introduced at Fashion Market. Northern California in late January.

Soon you will see our brands at retail boutiques across the West Coast. We will be adding a list of shops that carry Bohemian Butterfly Sisterhood and/or Bohemian Peacock Brotherhood for your shopping pleasure. My most favorite new addition... Loungewear!!

Silk wrap robes and Kaftans. Whether you want to work comfortably at home, be the Star at your local kaftan party or be dressed in sparkly sequins at upcoming Pride events.

You will be dressed like a Queen!! Short and sweet update on our 2.5 year anniversary Thank you all for your continued support!!

-Mara

Our Sisterhood’s 2 Year Anniversary

What a wild ride the last two years have been!

I am writing with gratitude and amazement that Bohemian Butterfly Sisterhood is going strong after two years of growth.

-The Facebook Group has over 800 Members, and is growing each day.

-We launched the “Help A Sister Grow Her Dream” Grant last month, a monthly program that helps support the professional dreams of our Sisters. Terry P. of Oregon was the first recipient of this grant on August 1st 2021 and she is excited to be able to expand her small business!

-The website has been fully updated, and now supports our Bundles Of Joy Marketplace! Our pilot retail store has been successfully carrying our brand for a year.

Now it is time to wholesale our Bohemian Butterfly Sisterhood Brand to ours who share our vision!

Our Huge 1 Year Old Puppy, Bubs, Often Assists Me…

Bubs is a husky-mix rescue who is deaf in one ear.

I Am Still Living On Our Small Farm!

In the spring, I midwife for my goats.

My Son Is Now A Sophomore In High School!

We continue to homeschool, as that is how he thrives.

Juliana, A Lifelong Family Friend, Is Once Again My Web Designer!

She has also signed on to be my wholesale liaison, supporting the retail journey of our brand and vision.

Thank you to all who have supported me these past years. I could not do this without you!

-Mara

Sisterhood

It seems only appropriate that I write today, on the one year anniversary of us moving into our new home.

You see on October 22nd, 2018, our next door neighbor’s home caught fire. As we were trying to help put it out, the propane tanks she had stored in her home started to explode, blowing through our neighborhood, and ultimately catching my home on fire. Within minutes, we lost everything; our home, our possessions, our heirlooms, 12 farm animals and 3 pets. It was a nightmare.

Why do I bring up such a devastating story? Well, because everything, even a horrific experience, has a silver lining. And Bohemian Butterfly Sisterhood is mine.   

Originally, I wanted to call this business the “Bohemian Phoenix Bazaar”. However, I was so tired of having to relive such a traumatic event that I felt “Butterfly” was lighter, and properly echoed my own transformation. Then I met all of these amazing women. My skirt sisters…. This is our Sisterhood. We all rally for each other. We are friends. We are confidants. We empower each other. We are a sisterhood, and I wanted to acknowledge, honor and celebrate this.

So Bohemian Butterfly Sisterhood was born. August 18th, 2019. Just a little over 6 months ago.

I have owned many small businesses over 30 years. I have designed wedding gowns, home accessories, costumes, fiber arts, and children’s clothing. I have specialized in retail, wholesale, and custom design. I have had shops, participated in festivals, fashion shows, big events, and small events.

This one is magic. It took root, has sprouted, and has grown organically into an amazingly beautiful gift very quickly.

We all have the wings to fly… we just need the courage to take flight. And often a little help from our friends.

Starting up small businesses is not easy. I have done this many times. Some successful, some not. But I have learned different lessons from each. I was reminded yesterday of just how “lucky” I am with Bohemian Butterfly Sisterhood.

A friend of mine recently told me that she had received a large custom order, but that it would not be paid for until she had completed it. Unless she had the funds to source the ingredients needed, she would have to refer her customer to someone else. After we talked through details, I was thrilled to be able to offer our very first micro loan, through Bohemian Butterfly Sisterhood, to fund her ingredients. Which will, in turn, allow her to grow her business.

This is just one example of what “Sisterhood” is all about.

Stepping up, when you can, to help elevate the success of another Sister in business.

Yesterday was a good day.

-Mara