What's new

It seems that an old and very unpopular notion about women who stay at home is still floating around; that being - that they "don't work". Personally, I don't know of any stay-at-home woman who doesn't work. Whether she's a wife, mother, or a single woman who's done her time in corporate America, I don't know of a single woman who stays home all day swilling champagne and popping bon-bons into her mouth. Not that I might not consider it if someone would kindly do all my shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, organizing and driving people wherever they need to be. And of course, they'll need to work my home-based business.

Being self-employed isn't being unemployed. In fact, I'd argue that as the owner of a home-based business, I probably spend more time working than I did when I commuted 45 minutes to an office where I typically put in 10 hrs a day. On any given evening I'm in front of my laptop working on new designs, improving existing designs, improving my understanding of Photoshop Elements (that's a biggie), blogging, social networking (including tweeting and reading business tweets), researching avenues for greater business exposure, and networking. Anyone who thinks all of that doesn't take time, well, come spend a day with me and see.

So just how have I been spending the past several weeks when I'm not actually making t-shirts and/or onesies? Funny you asked. Just take a look for yourself. And if you happen to see something you like, email me or comment in this blog and let me know. I'm always happy to welcome a new customer to the business.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and check out what's new with La Petite Pilot. Come back soon!

Off to a good start

We've been busy! Busy creating new designs and products. Busy working with new customers. Busy getting ready for the 2011 season of Fly-In's. If you love aviation like our family does, you probably plan at least a few of your family calendars around Fly-In's.

In our house, that means we check www.flyincalendar.com on a regular basis. This well organized website lists events state by state, month by month. We especially look forward to local Fly-In's like the Cactus Fly-In at Casa Grande Airport (http://cactusflyin.org) at which La Petite Pilot baby bodysuits and tee's for all ages will be available.

So what's your favorite pilot wearing this year? La Petite Pilot aviation-themed apparel has introduced several new designs for children and adults. Here are just a few;













You've just seen a few of our new designs, available on baby bodysuits (onezies), and t-shirts (childrens & adults), and NEW for 2011 - BABY BIBS!!! And we've got so many more colorful designs to offer you and your favorite Flyguy or Skygirl. See us at the Cactus Fly-In March 4 and 5 at the Casa Grande Airport in Casa Grande Arizona.

Dress your pilot in style with La Petite Pilot!

Promises, promises, promises

Okay I'm busted. I promised to post at least once a week. Well what I actually said was that I'd try. But you know how it is, life happens ... and the best laid plans seldom work out as planned.

Take last week for example; I'd wrapped up my last order of the year, and even printed up a couple of Christmas gifts for family friends. My husband had surprised me with an overnight visit to a local resort/spa to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary and I'd managed to enjoy a relatively quiet celebration of my birthday (no, I'm not tellin what number, you can forget that). It was finally time to close my office door and shut down for the Christmas/New Year holiday, it was time to relax and ease out of 2010.

I was even looking forward to a little hit -n- run trip to Texas to visit my BFF when our world got turned upside down by a health crisis for my much loved mother-in-law. After a brief hospital stay she's back on her feet, and is staying at our house for a few days while husband Keith travels to Hong Kong. Ya know, there's just nothing like a family health crisis to make you appreciate your own health, not to mention whatever time you may be blessed to spend with those you love.

It's now 5 days before Christmas. The gifts are wrapped, the stockings are hung, the tree is lit, the manger scene is in place on the mantle, and all the ingredients for the dozens of Christmas cookies I'd planned to bake are sitting in the kitchen. If only I could muster up the energy to actually mix it all up and bake those cookies! It's not as if I haven't tried, I've even managed to put out a couple dozen cookies. Just not the dozens I'd envisioned when I shopped for the mountain of "essentials" two weeks ago. Ah well, there's still time, right?

Well in between cookie recipe's I've been thinking about new products for 2011, and I'm thinking bibs. Baby bibs go with onezies like peanut butter goes with jelly ... they're made for each other. I've found a manufacturer here in the US that produces a nice quality white cotton/terry bib trimmed in colorful fabric piping. They stand up well to color and heat setting, and they wash up really well, something that's probably most important to busy parents.

In addition to the bibs, La Petite Pilot will introduce new t-shirts for toddlers, teens and adults. Our new designs are fun, colorful, sometimes a little irreverant, maybe even border-line suggestive. They get people talking, that's all I know for sure.

And in January, Keith and I will attend both the 2011 Gift Mart, where I hope to meet gift shop buyers from all over the world, as well as ISS, the International Sportswear Show. ISS is the biggest tradeshow out there for our kind of business. We're both so excited to be able to attend this important tradeshow where we look forward to meeting vendors and other decorated apparel producers alike.

The future looks bright and exciting, and La Petite Pilot is poised for even greater success. Stay tuned for more design and product news, as well as new photos! Until then, may your holidays be filled with the laughter and love of friends and family.

From our house to yours,

A Very Merry Christmas!

Back in the saddle again

Okay yes I admit, it's been a long time since I've posted to the blog, I'm either just busy or perhaps it's been a bit of laziness, I can't decide which. I'm going to try and post at least once a week, I'm one of those people who needs a deadline to motivate me.

It's been crazy busy here at La Petite Pilot as we wrap up our year. We've added more designs, more clients, and more outlets where our items are sold this year, (including our first International pilot shop in Madrid Spain). We've also upgraded our printing process thanks to a September purchase of an AnaJet Sprint direct-to-garment printer which you can see in action here; (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltqgLsWHR0s&feature=related). While the AnaJet's a big investment, it's also a BIG improvement in our production process and the amount of time needed to process an order. An order that once took me 6 days to process can now be completed in 6 hours - or less!

Of course with new technology came learning a new computer program; for me that is Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, and while I'm not ready to proclaim myself an expert just yet, I'm comfortable saying I'm headed in the right direction.

Continuing to change with the needs of our clients, we've also decided to make a change in our choice of fabric used for the baby bodysuits or creepers we use. From day one we've been printing to a 65% poly/35% cotton blend using inks specifically for polyester, but that's not without its challenges. Thanks to a last minute client's request for T-shirts in addition to baby creepers, we're pleased to say we're making the move to an all cotton inventory. Starting in 2011, our baby creepers will be 100% pre-shrunk cotton! Not only do these garments have a soft feel to them, but cotton tends to be more breathable.

As the year draws to a close, it's important to recognize and give thanks to those who've contributed to our success;

A very special thank you to the most supportive spouse a woman could ever ask for; my husband Keith. For his long hours of helping set up the new printer, to helping me keep my cool when frustration set in, Keith's not just my partner, he's my biggest cheerleader and we just happen to be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary later this week. I couldn't have married a better man!

To my National Distributor, Tom Rubin and the team at AeroPhoenix for their continued support of our products; Thank you for believing in La Petite Pilot and for getting the word out.

To our independent clients in Colorado and Arizona; your support makes the long hours worthwhile. We will continue to endeavor to earn your respect and keep your business.

It's been an amazing year for Chez Lamb LLC and La Petite Pilot. We've met some incredible people along our journey, and we've learned a lot. Here's to even greater successes and blessings in the coming year.

From all of us here at La Petite Pilot,

We wish you every blessing and happiness. Merry Christmas!

Lori

Off my feet with time on my hands

Late last month I had occasion to spend a big block of time just sitting around. I had some long anticipated foot surgery that kept me off my feet just long enough for me to get bored ... which lead to a creative spurt. When you're sitting at home and your darling husband's waiting on you hand and foot (no pun intended) and daytime tv is leaving a lot to be desired, what's a girl to do but come up with some new designs for baby bodysuits and toddler t's?

Two of my newest designs "Crawl, Walk, Fly" and "I'm All About Airplanes" have recently been added to the La Petite Pilot family. In fact, one dozen baby bodysuits and two dozen toddler t's were delivered earlier this week to The Bamboo Airstrip, the delightful pilot shop located at Centennial Airport (KAPA) in Colorado.

Both designs are pictured below and are available in baby bodysuits (sizes 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months) or toddler t's (sizes 2T, 3T, 4T and 5T by special order). In addition to these two designs, La Petite Pilot continues to offer both baby bodysuits and toddler t's in "Just Plane Cute", "Daddy's Little Co-Pilot", and "When I grow up I'm gonna fly Helicopters just like my daddy".

Even though I promote La Petite Pilot as a purveyor of aviation-themed decorated apparel, aviation isn't all I do.

I recently made a baby body suit as a baby shower gift for an expectant mom in our family that said; "I didn't do it. No one saw me do it. I wanna talk to my grandma."

If you're looking for something special for a special someone in your life, drop me a line and lets talk about what La Petite Pilot can do for you.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lori

It's quiet on the western front

I must apologise for the past few months of La Petite Pilot's blog being so quiet. Maybe it's winter doldrums, maybe it's the family obligations I've been innundated with of late, but I've not had much time for blogging since the new year started. What I have been doing is working on some new designs, especially some for girls, and looking for new opportunities to sell my T-shirts and onesies.

This year I hope to offer my work at a couple of airshows as well as through two new online sources. Additionally, in the coming months, my darling husband and I plan to introduce our online pilot shop under Wings Over The Rockies.

It's a new year and a new opportunity for growth. Check back with us often to see what's news with La Petite Pilot!

Celebrating the holidays and going international

La Petite Pilot received very good news from our national distributor AeroPhoenix last week;

Our baby bodysuits (onesies) are now available in Madrid Spain ... Ole!

In just the few short months that La Petite Pilot has been in business, we've seen our business double thanks to word-of-mouth advertising and handing out the occasional business card here and there. Looking forward, we'll be establishing a website and webstore where existing customers and hopefully future customers will be able to see examples of my work and place special orders.

Recently I was asked if all I do are aviation-themed baby bodysuits (onesies)? The answer is a loud and clear "NO" ... I'd be delighted to do items for infants, toddlers, school-age children all the way up to and including your great grandpa's Happy 100th Birthday t-shirt!

Looking for t-shirts to mark a Family Reunion? I can do that. T-shirts for your daughter's Sweet 16 birthday party? I can do that? Just adopted a St Bernard named Rosie and you wanna wear her picture on your t-shirt? I can do that too! And I can do it all the way up to a size 4X!!

I've been fortunate to do a good bit of traveling with my airline pilot husband. And I'll admit it, I'm one of those travelers who loves to dawdle in the airport gift shops before my flight. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the day I walk into an airport in say London or Paris or Tokyo and see my work being sold there! I honestly believe that day is just around the corner!


With just 22 days till Christmas, I'm getting the last of my shopping finished and plan to have everything wrapped and the gifts I need to ship out the door by the 15th. That brings me to what I hope you dear readers will find helpful; some gift suggestions for those "hard to buy for" gift recipients;

Gourmet dipping oils ... a favorite of mine to give and receive, these beautiful to look at and delish to dip into oils are easy to find in most gourmet or high-end grocery stores, or at stores like Home Goods. Add a loaf of fresh baked French bread and you've just turned a simple meal into a regal repast!

Personal journals ... as a writer, I like nothing better than starting a new journal, and I wouldn't dream of using a plain spiral bound notebook! Journals come in all sizes with covers of velvet, felt, even wood! Personally, I like soft covers and single ruled lines, but there's something for everyone if you just take a little time to look around.

Coffee's, tea's and cocoa's ... it's hard to beat a good cup of coffee, tea or cocoa (along with a good book or a favorite magazine) and today, there is no shortage of gourmet coffee's, tea's and cocoa's available at very attractive prices at stores such as Cost Plus or even your local Starbuck's. Pick out a pretty cup and saucer, or a mug and slip in your selected coffee, tea or cocoa and you've got a gift that's sure to please!

Travel charging valet ... are there 3 electronic devices your favorite traveling man can't live without on any given day? Keep 'em charged and ready to go with the Portable Charging Valet from the good folks at The Sharper Image.

There are some wonderful companies, both on-line and brick & mortar with goodies both big and small that would be appreciated and adored by even the pickiest person ... and you don't have to break into your childrens' piggy banks to afford any of the items I've suggested here.

I hope your Christmas is merry and bright, I hope your Christmas wishes all come true, and above all, may you keep the spirit of Christmas alive in your heart all the year through!

Merry Christmas!

Lori

It's a fabulous Friday and business is good

It's looks like it's going to be a fabulous Friday, and it begins with a new order from my national supplier AeroPhoenix for another half gross of my aviation themed baby bodysuits (think onesie).

I'm pleased my baby items are selling, but I'm surprised that the one I thought would sell the best (I Belive I Can Fly ... nope, just gas) really hasn't been the best seller. That slot is held, and firmly at that, by a little block airplane, and the words - Just Plane Cute - a unisex design top seller!

On top of this second order from AeroPhoenix, I've also been commissioned by two friends to make baby bodysuits and toddler t's for them to give as gifts. Little by little La Petite Pilot is growing, and no one's more surprised or pleased than me.

If you have a new baby joining your family, or if you know of someone who does, my designs are not limited to aviation themes, and I'm always honored to fill special orders.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lori

134 Days and counting

It may only be the middle of August, but stores here in the Phoenix area are already filled with Halloween decor, costumes and candy ... and the Christmas things are beginning to trickle in as well. The great countdown has begun, and savvy shoppers know that the best bargains aren't what you'll find come December when you need to finish off your gift list. The time to shop is now!

La Petite Pilot offers a wide array of t-shirts (all sizes, long sleeve or short, as well as kid friendly items) plus our fabulous baby body suits (think onesies). And just because the word "pilot" is in the name, don't for a minute think you're limited to airplanes and the like.

Favorite pet? Favorite quote? Favorite landmark? Favorite hobby? There's nothing that can't be used to decorate t-shirts, baby body suits, even bibs. If you're looking for a gift for the hard-to-please, let me help. Contact me through this blog with any special requests.

Just 134 days ... and counting!

Lori

Welcome!

Welcome to La Petite Pilot, the home of aviation themed decorated apparel including baby bodysuits (think onesies) and t-shirts (adult/children/infant).

La Petite Pilot began as a kitchen-table hobby with the single intention of making t-shirts for my airline pilot husband. Well you know how it goes, first a friend sees as wants one, then another friend sees and wants one, then the nice man who owned the pilot shop at Deer Valley Airport (DVT) here in Phoenix saw them and thought they might sell in his shop. That lead to me making a couple dozen t's for adults plus a few kid-friendly ones and a half dozen onesies (Gerber's) all with aviation-themed verbiage and graphics.

I admit it was a shock to learn Mike Hosa over at DVT even wanted to see my designs, after all, it wasn't meant to be a business ... just a time filler for a sometimes lonely pilots wife. Now here I was agonizing over designs and colors and wondering if anyone would really buy them.

A year later, here I sit, having been picked up by a leading national distributor of aviation-related goods; AeroPhoenix, who supplies pilot shops at more than 200 airports across the United States. Yesterday, I delivered my first order for AeroPhoenix; a gross of baby bodysuits (think onesies) under my label; La Petite Pilot.

This blog is my lead in to what I hope will eventually become my website. Check back often for photos of my work, news on where my baby bodysuits are available for purchase, and news in general.

I hope you enjoy my work as much as I've enjoyed producing it! - Lori