My husband and I moved to Indian Lakes from Houston 11 years ago with three small sons.  We wanted to find a smaller community with nature where our boys could safely explore.  As a former teacher, my husband and I prioritized a community with strong schools focused on child development.  We can say with confidence that we found the community we were looking for, and our family has thrived here.  Our oldest, Sean, is a senior at Brazos Christian School; our middle son, Michael, is a sophomore at College Station High School, and our youngest, Andrew, is a sixth-grader at Pecan Trail.

The love of community is a key factor in my small business. I create Homecoming mums and garters.  Our schools are bright because of the students; their unique interests and personalities create a vibrant community.  That is why I love making Homecoming mums and garters: they are handcrafted items that celebrate the student and his/her contribution to their community.  

For individuals who are new to Texas, Homecoming is a special high school football game that celebrates a school’s community and brings together students and alumni.  Homecoming often features a local parade and a Homecoming dance for students.  A Texas Homecoming tradition is for students to wear a mum or a garter to the football game. Mums are floral necklaces for girls; they are larger, ranging from 24"-36" in length.  Garters are floral armbands for boys.

The mum and garter are tailored for the student, featuring cutouts, trinkets, and specialized ribbons to showcase his/her interests.  One of my clients is an excellent ballerina; her mum featured ballet shoes, nutcrackers, and her favorite Bible verse.  Another client’s mum featured her favorite K-pop band; her sister requested a Spider-Man-themed mum.   I have made cutouts that celebrate students’ sports teams, robotics club, chess club, 4H, baking, pre-vet, cellos & flutes, and school plays.  Our students are diverse, creative, and interesting individuals; we are a blessed community!

My journey to becoming a mum maker was simple: I made one for my son’s date his freshman year.  Realizing I had 12 years of Homecoming ahead of me, I decided it was worth purchasing the tools needed to create multiple mums.  I enjoyed the project; the braids, colors, cutouts, and beautiful ribbon were a wonderful creative outlet for me.  As my clients expanded beyond my family, it became apparent that it was a great business venture for me that fit my talents and our family’s schedule.  

Creating mums and garters is an artistic craft; creating a well-made mum requires creativity, precision, specialized tools, and most of all, time!  When purchasing a mum or garter, you are not paying for the material; you are paying for hours of labor.  My basic package requires 4 hours of labor, and the extravagant package requires 30 hours.  I craft durable, high-quality items; the skirts are full, and the details are customized.  All my products are made in-house; the vinyl letters and cutouts are designed and crafted with my Silhouette machine. I heat-press every cutout and create every braid and bow.  I prepare throughout the year; these beautiful works of art do not come together at the last minute.  

Many clients ask me, “How do I order a mum?”  I have a new website this year, www.mumsbylillian.com, that details products and features online ordering.  My goal is to make the ordering process easy.

The next question I often get is: “What is the most important thing when ordering?”   The most important thing to keep in mind when ordering a mum or garter is to prioritize what matters most: students having fun creating lifelong memories.  I frequently tell students, I do not remember my Homecoming dresses or mums, but I do remember having a great time with my friends!  The mums, garters, embroidered ribbons, overalls, and plans can quickly squash the fun when the details become overwhelming.  The craft I make is a unique way to celebrate students; it's a neat memory capsule, but it is designed to be a part of the memory, not the main event. I encourage students and parents to purchase the item that fits their budget and goals for a one-time event.  The classic package is my best and most popular product.  If you want an elevated look, the deluxe and extravagant packages feature beautifully appointed imprint ribbon and detailed cutouts; they are truly showstoppers.  

Homecoming Season is early this year. College Station High School’s Homecoming is September 11, which means the time to order is sooner rather than later. As an individual, like all of our local mum makers in BCS, I have a finite number of orders I can accept.  I create mums for all of our local schools: College Station High School, Brazos Christian School, A&M Consolidated High School, Bryan High School, Rudder High School, I.L. Texas, and my alma mater, Taylor High School in Katy, Texas.

This year I am excited to partner with Adam’s Army, a local foundation that provides hope, encouragement, and financial support to children battling cancer and their families.  Gold is the color for Childhood Cancer Awareness in September; a portion of the proceeds from all mums and garters featuring gold as a metallic accent will be donated to Adam’s Army to support families affected by childhood cancer.  To learn more about Adam’s Army, visit https://adamsarmy.org/