From Deseret News archives:
Fairy princess dreams
As the creator of her online business Lily Anna for Girls — Fairytale Creations, or lilyannaforgirls.com, Luker handmakes tutus, leotards, crowns, ballet slippers, fairy wands and fairy wings — all the necessary items for the perfect fairy-princess costume.
"I get to be the fairy godmother and make scrumptious creations little girls love," she said.
Luker loved to play dress-up as a child in costumes her mother made. She loves that now she gets to be the means for little girls all over to have dress-up clothes they will love.
Luker designs many of her tutus based on the combination of silk flowers, tulle and ribbon she finds. She loves going into the wholesale floral shop where she buys the silk flowers adorning her tutus and finding flowers she can base her latest creations on.
"(My favorite thing) is creating new things and making new designs," she said. "I like it because then they're not all the same. It keeps a newness in it every day."
When Luker first launched her business it took her a long time to make each tutu, as the tulle fabric is easily caught. However, she now has the process down to an art. It takes around 45 minutes to make a single tutu, but if she does several in a row she can do up to six in three hours.
"I want them to be perfect. I focus on getting each one perfect. I'm careful on every tutu," she said, also noting that the more one does something the easier it gets.
She is also happy to make custom-designed tutus per a customer's request. A few months ago she made two dozen custom white tutus with red sashes for a Boise dance studio's recital, as they were performing Alice in Wonderland. In other instances people want elaborate tutus with rhinestones on them or additional silk flowers.
Luker likes the fact that her business can bring others joy.
"I like knowing that I made others happy," she said. "I especially like hearing back when customers express appreciation."
Over the past three years, Luker's business has come far from its humble beginnings. It all came about from a tutu that Luker made for her oldest daughter, Lily Anna.
Luker was playing the piano for a dance studio and would bring her 2-year-old, Lily Anna, with her. One day she made a tutu for Lily Anna, just for fun. The dance teacher was so impressed by the tutu that she told Luker she should make tutus to sell to others. Luker made tutus for dancers in the studio, and everyone loved them.
