Studio Makeover

For those of you who scrapbook, craft, paint, whatever artistic endeavor you may have...I hope this inspires you.  I am in the process of redoing my studio.  I already pulled out the HUGE guest bed that was in here taking up much of my space.  Guess if you visit, you will be on my daughter's bed.  lol  I still have a way to go...paint....more pictures...some more shabby chic elements.  That is what I am going for...Shabby Chic with a touch of girly romance.  Hope you get inspired to redo, reorganize, jazz up your creative space!  The desk set that my sewing station is on I got from Michael's.  It is supposed to be for scrapbooking...but I love the organization of it.  I loved that I could pick how many drawers I wanted, shelves, etc.  You can totally customize it.  Wait for a sale or a good coupon.    Each cube can be like 25-50 bucks otherwise.  I will post more pictures as the redo goes along.  I know the paint will make a GREAT difference!

My inspiration corner.  A basket full of completed projects...a dress ready to sell on the dress form...a picture of my first daughter at one...candle and flowers for mood.  :)

Computer work area, fabrics, canvases,
some of my designs in the closet, and yes I have an Apple!  :)

Color and prints inspire me, so I want them organized...but to be able to see them.

My work center.  Two dresses ready to sell hanging on the wall add to my inspiration.   There is my serger and sewing machine.  I love seeing all my options for ribbon in front of me.  The baskets to the right are in process designs or ones cut...ready to be sewn.  

My computer work station up close and personal...
and this is on a good day!!!

This is the greatest machine!!!  I had to lift the lid
so you could see
all the stitch possibilities I can do.
What can't it do?

Some of you may have noticed...I have moved my Refinement Jewelry shop into my Lil Lollipops Shop.  It is under Jewelry with a Soul.  I added some items a while ago, but realized I didn't share them on my blog...so here they are!  I have also gotten into upcycling great vintage bags that are in good shape to bring them forward a bit or just add to their personality!   

EXCLUSIVE DEAL FOR FOLLOWERS!!!

From now until Christmas day, I am going to give the followers of my blog and exclusive deal!! 

15% off all purchases!!!!!

You must be a follower of my blog to receive the discount.  Once you have the items in your cart that you would like to purchase and are ready to check out, you will see a coupon code on your subtotal.  You should see it before you  pay with PayPal.  In the coupon code section, simply enter : follower15 and continue checking out.  It will automatically be deducted from your total amount before you pay.  If you have any problems with this new Etsy feature, please don't hesitate to notify me.  Now, see the perks of being a follower of Lil Lollipops Designs??  Yay!

Just a heads up...you may want to wait a week or so to use the coupon when I have some of my winter items up in my shop...but up to you!  I do have some FAB capelets ready to ship right now.  OK, off to work...sew sew sew!!

AND THE WINNER IS!!!!!!!

I had such a hard time deciding on who would get this necklace!!!  All of you have people in your life who are so special too you and deserve this sooooo much!!!  No story is better or worse than the other.  I gave you all a number and went on random.org and it choose the winner.    The winner is RACHEL who nominated Katie Sharp!!!!  So I guess KATIE IS THE WINNER!!!!  


All of your stories touched me so much...this is what I am going to do:  Those of you who didn't win, each of you will get a custom necklace, based on each person's story.    I will create the piece and send to you to give your loved one.  It may take a while...so hang in there.   If you guys could please take a picture of you giving the necklace to your loved one and share it with us on this blog...that would be awesome!!!!

Now, in order for me to give you these prizes, I must have your address to send the item too.  Rachel, you will get yours ASAP since the necklace is done and ready to go.  The rest of you may have to wait a bit for me to design and make yours.  Please be patient!!  So all of you shoot me an email at lillollipops@gmail.com.  I need your address so I can send it to you.  THANKS!!!

I pray that this small gesture will bring the smallest bit of happiness to your loved one.  They are NOT ALONE!

WIN THIS FOR SOMEONE WHO DESERVES IT!!!

Do you have someone in your life who is fighting a battle or struggling.  Win this necklace...for free...for them!!!  (See prior post.)

NEW GIVEAWAY!!! Strong Hearts Necklace

Wasn't that a great giveaway from Midnight Boudoir a few weeks ago???  I know Erin is so excited that she won.  As promised, this giveaway is a one of a kind (OOAK) necklace.  The necklace was created by me and inspired by my daughter who fights Spina Bifida everyday.  She is not a very severe case, her kind is very rare and if you wanted SB you would want her kind, but she overcomes struggles with it everyday. Even things as simple as walking, she has to struggle with as her one leg is fine and the other is different and uses different muscles and nerves to walk.  Think of the coordination she had to learn!!  This necklace I call Strong Hearts.  My daughter has gone through so much in such a short time (5 years).  She is my hero...a "Strong Heart".

Let me tell you the meanings behind the construction of this OOAK necklace:  The pendents hang off a 17 inch chain.  The large crystal like pendant hanging down is from a vintage piece.  It represents the fact that a person struggling is not alone.  There were many before.  It hangs off of the lightest pink and clear swarovski crystal beads, these represent the beauty within.


The heart pendant with the pearl in the middle represents the strength of the heart, the pearl being the stronghold.
The small outline of a gold heart is hanging from a vintage gold chain.  The openness of the heart represents a person's transparent heart in their fight or struggle.
 All of the hearts hang from a gold colored teardrop.  This represents the struggle itself...the pain...the sorrow...the many days and nights crying "why me?" All the hearts hanging from the teardrop represents what comes out of the pain...the strength...the beauty...the love.  Because I am Christian, the three items hanging together represent the Trinity...another reminder that we are not alone in our pain or struggle.



Now because this piece was made with such thought and meaning.... this giveaway will have meaning and thought.
Here is how it will work:

1. Those entering must be a follower of this blog.  
2. I want to know...OUT OF EVERYONE IN YOUR LIFE, who deserves  this necklace based on their circumstances and why.  Please write it in the comments of this post.
3. I am asking that the person who wins the giveaway, please give this necklace to that person to whom you wrote about that deserves this.  The winner will be chosen based on the story and they will receive the necklace along with the description of the meaning behind the piece. 
4. OPTIONAL: If possible, please take a picture of you giving it to that person or them opening it or them with it on and post it on the blog.   It would be great for us all to see and rejoice in their joy with this little item of encouragement.   

GOOD LUCK!!!  I pray the person who truly deserves this or needs this to give them a boost of encouragement...will win.

AND THE WINNER IS......

The winner for the adorable feather vintage clutch from Midnight Boudoir is..... can I have a drum roll please???......

ERIN!!!!!!!!!! 

Erin posted a great post about the item in Glenda's Midnight Boudoir shop on Etsy that reminded her of her son.  Glenda chose this post as children are very dear to her (by day she is a peds nurse).  If you didn't read it, here is the post,

"I picked the .Silver Angel Winged Dragonfly French Barrette the dragon fly to me,has always reminded me of my son axel,when he was born,he was a premie and very sick with jondus and we were in the hospital for a week trying to get my sweet new born well.

for some reason,the dragon fly always came to mind when i would pray for my angel, axel,i think because,all the dragon flys i saw before i had him always were the color of his eyes,a soft sky blue and dragon flies always seems to be so joyful the way they seem to dance as they fly.Axel,even as a new born would always make my heart fly so high with joy,even threw all his sickness,he would always smile at me and just be soo strong for such a tiny baby,he is my dragon fly,tiny but filled with so much joy and spirit!"

Erin you can email me at lillollipops@gmail.com so you can give me your address and I will get it to Glenda ASAP so she can get the beauty to you in the mail!

Thank you so much Glenda for the generous giveaway item!!! 

WE ALL love it!

Visit Midnightboudoir.etsy.com for more unique, affordable and posh gifts for Chrsistmas.  They are one of a kind!

Inspiration in a Break

So...took a pause from sewing...you have to do that from time to time when your brain is full of creativity and when you have Carpal Tunnel in both hands, as I do!  I got an idea that was inspired by our recent giveaway from my friend Glenda from Midnight Boudoir.  I am by no means as talented as she is with feathers...I won't tell you my secret of how I made this, but Glenda I will tell you some time.  You will see that I am not even close to your caliber of feather talent. lol  Which reminds me...Glenda have you chosen a winner for our giveaway????!!  Stay tune for that ladies!!  Anyhow, I bought a very nice vintage clutch/handbag and glamoured it up a bit.

TA DA!!!! 

 Listed on my shop under purses and pigtails.
Small little white things are glitter that has fallen from the butterflies.  The purse is in perfect black satin shape!  One of a kind (OOAK)...get it before someone else does!

Thank you Glenda for your creative inspiration.

Oh and I must give credit where credit is due...I need to thank my husband.  He helped me decide on the position of the butterflies.  :)  Love you hun!

Reorganizing the Shop

In the next few days I will be closing my Refinement jewelry shop.  Between being a mom, rehearsing, singing, and filling my orders (sewing)....I am in transition of moving the jewelry shop to my Lil Lollipops Designs Boutique under the section Jewelry With a Soul.  Check it out if you get a chance.  Here are some new items I listed today that I have had made for a while, but just now took a break and listed them.  

Lil Lollipops in the Winter Issue!!!

Lil Lollipops can be seen on page 10 of the New Modern handmade Child Winter Issue.  You will love this online magazine!!!  Tons of projects, DYI, stuff about your kiddos, and unique shops.  Check it out at   check it out !  http://www.modernhandmadechild.com

WOW...Giveaway is heating up!! What is next?

Check out all those who want to win the clutch from Midnight Boudoir!!!  Remember spread the word to your friends.  Giveaway ends Monday, Nov. 1.  Crossing my fingers for all of you!!  Just to tickle your fancy...I will give you a hint about the next giveaway: it is a custom, one of a kind, jewelry design that is being custom made for one lucky follower of my blog.  ONE OF A KIND!!!  Could be a great gift or keep it for yourself to admire.  COMING SOON!!!

POSH GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Don't miss this one!!!  The designer for Midnight Boudoir (see my very first interview on my blog about her here: http://lillollipopsdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/08/interview-with-artist-behind-midnight.html) is hosting this next giveaway.  Glenda is VERY talented and her New Orleans roots show in her designs.   She is offering a VERY generous free gift to the winner of this giveaway: one of her beautiful clutches!!  It is called The Little Peacock and it is from her "That Bird Ate My Vintage Purse" Collection.  It is valued at over $35.00!!!  So Generous...thank you Glenda!

One Of A Kind and a totally chic piece of wearable art! Perfect for that night out on the town! 

This is how she describes this purse:  "I LOVE vintage purses! In fact, I have a giant collection of them. Unfortunately, I left them in the aviary the other day... Why? I don’t know... I am a little absentminded from time to time. Well, they ate them... ALL of them. And this is what happened when I returned to the aviary...

The Little Peacock- An Upcycled Vintage Black Clutch

-The focal component is a repurposed shiny faceted white button framed in a gold toned Victorian setting. The purse also comes with a hideaway chain. It comes with feather Care-taking guidelines, and a gift box designed by Glenda.

So, now that you are in love are you wondering....

HOW DO I WIN THIS???!!!!

This is how:

1. You must be a  follower of my blog....I will check!! :)
2. Go to Midnight boudoir http://www.etsy.com/shop/midnightboudoir
3. Pick one of her items in her shop that reminds you of something that is most cherished in your life- like the day that you were proposed to, your favorite holiday, your favorite toy, your favorite childhood memory- anything of that nature.
4. Come back to this post and post the item you chose and what it reminds you of in your life.  Glenda will pick the one she likes best and they will win!!!  Simple...no gimmicks...just want to hear from your heart.  Be honest...no made up stuff please!  Only you and God will know for sure.  :) lol

GOOD LUCK!!! CAN'T WAIT TO READ YOUR RESPONSES.  SPREAD THE WORD AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS TO GET IN ON THE ACTION!!! This giveaway begins today and will run through Nov. 1.  The winner will be announced sometime that week!!

NEW AMAZING GIVEAWAY coming soon!!!

OOOOHHHH I am sooo excited about this!!!!!  I have an absolutely amazing giveaway coming up in a few days from a friend of mine on Etsy.  Her shop is Midnight Boudoir.  She was my first interview here on my blog if you look back to old posts.  I can not wait to tell you what the giveaway is!!!   It is so posh....so stylish....so beautiful....so amazing!!!  I wish I could participate in my own giveaway!!!  Check out here shop and guess what item it maybe.  Check back in a few days to enter the giveaway.  YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!!!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/midnightboudoir

CONGRATULATIONS MELONIE!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER OF THE INDIE TOT GIVEAWAY MELONIE FROM ILLINOIS!!!!! 


Melonie follows Indie Tot and participated in the recent $15.00 gift certificate giveaway I did for Indie Tot.    Many entered...but she won!!!  She has decided to put her certificate towards a custom capelet.  YAY!!!!

FEATURED

A classmate of mine from boarding school...yes I attended boarding school (coed) :).... has a great inspirational shop called The Blessed Sparrow.  She has just featured me on her blog.  I may be doing a giveaway for her blog soon, hopefully.  Check out the feature @ http://theblessedsparrow.blogspot.com/  and take a look at her beautiful shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlessedSparrow   She makes beautiful bags, Bible covers, wallets, purses...all kinds of things,  Check her out! 

NEW GIVEAWAY!!!

Check out the giveaway I am offering on The Indie Tot.  http://www.theindietot.com/giveaways-sales/lil-lollipops-designs-giveaway/   You will have a chance to win a $15.00 gift certificate to my shop!  Great opprotunity to win something for free!!!  Check it out and let your friends know!  In the next few weeks, I am hoping to add more to my shop like a kimono dress and some more capelets with hoods and coats and corduroy dresses. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANGIE FOR WINNING THE MARIA ROGUE ROMANCE NECKLACE.  Nanci should be sending it out to you shortly!  It pays to follow our blog...lots of freebies!

Weekly Giveaway: Maria Rogue Accessories

Some people come into your life and then out.  Some of these people you forget, some you remember, and some you feel there was some sort of strange bond that goes beyond this world.  You may never see that person again...but they stay in your mind...in your thoughts.  Facebook is amazing for finding these people.  I reconnected, through facebook, with a friend I have not seen in 20+ years.  She was my partner in crime, my muse, and  my creative collaborator.  I knew her my Sophomore year of High School.  She was a year ahead of me, but we were great friends because of our desire to dare to be different, to think out of the box, to press the boundaries and our shared goals for creative futures.  We would write books, poems. articles, listen to music, ditch school...the usual creative kid things!  :)  I really admired her creativity and talent.  I had not met many people up until that point who were as creative as I was.  Her name?  Nanci.  She was a punk rock girl with sass and creativity that was a blessing from God.  


Nanci Schmidt-Behseresht is now a mom of three boys, a wife, a writer, and a fellow etsian artist.  I decided to interview a few weeks ago and she is graciously going to sponsor this week's giveaway with an item from her shop:  Maria Rogue
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mariarogue.  She sells jewelry and accessories.  She has goals of the shop becoming more of a haberdashery for girls only as it continues to grow.  I hope she inspires you...especially you moms, as much as she has inspired me in the past.  Info on the giveaway is at the end of the interview.  


Many moms and especially stay at home moms tend to lose who they really are.  When the kids finally move out of the house they are left wondering..."what do I do now? Who am I?" They become everything to everyone else, and lose themselves. How do you manage to not "lose yourself" so to speak? Or do you feel that this is a battle you are losing at?
"I did lose myself in the past… In a period of less than twelve hours, I became both a mother and a wife and my life was forever changed. Physically, I wasn’t the old me anymore, and so mentally, I couldn’t be the old me anymore. It took me years to snap out of it. In my mind, I knew that I wanted to still be independent, but I didn’t want to be selfish and put my needs and wants first.  I ultimately paid a steep price for it. Now, I’m learning balance. There is enough time in the day for the kids, the husband, and myself… I just have to make the time. The kids will always be my number one priority and my husband will always follow closely behind. The housework can wait if I want to paint my nails. The dishes can sit in the sink for a few more hours if I feel like writing instead. Even the boys can entertain themselves for a couple of hours if I’m in the mood to make jewelry."  I couldn't have said it better myself.  Let the dishes sit LADIES!!!


Being a mom of three boys, what do you do to stay calm??? I'm sure it can be chaos sometimes.
"Chaos indeed! When the boys are home, the house is never quiet. I’ve gotten to the point where I can tune out most of the noise, unless there is fighting and screaming going on and I have to intervene. Staying calm is a huge challenge for me. It’s funny, because I can stay extremely calm in a moment of crisis, and be efficient and productive, but I find it much harder to stay calm when the boys are acting up. But after they go to bed, I unwind by doing something I want to do, or having a glass of wine or two." 


Growing up I know you started an underground magazine, which I still have copies of, and  we used to write "books". What have you done with all that writing talent as an adult?
"I can’t believe you kept copies of the ‘magazine’. That’s too funny! I actually didn’t write anything for a long time… I was too wrapped up in my own shit to actually realize that writing could be my outlet. I let everything that I felt was wrong with my life consume me for way too long. I didn’t know who I was, what I wanted, or where I was going. Instead of jotting my feelings and fears down in a journal, I let about fifteen years of my life slip by me in a blur. The only thing that saved me from myself were my three boys. In the last couple of years, however, I’ve begun writing again and it has definitely become the outlet I needed and I can only see it improving from here on out."  I am so glad you did.  You have to much talent to hide it away.


As a writer, do you feel you have an obligation to "educate" your audience on certain topics or do you do it more free form...whatever is on your mind?

What inspires you?
"Life inspires me, movies, books, cultures, subcultures, music, nature, emotions, people, virtues, time, words, thoughts, etc."


I know you and I used to love all the old 80s music, the Smiths, the Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, do you feel music inspires you and if so in what way?
"Definitely. Music is very cathartic to me. A lot of times I write while I’m listening to music. Or even a simple lyric can inspire a thought and I’ll write about it. It always amazes me how someone else can put something into words, it can penetrate the very core of you, and have you thinking that it couldn’t have been said any better than that."  That is exactly why I like writing music.  I find that many times I am not writing for myself...but for someone else.  I think at least half of my album I recorded a few years ago were about other's experiences and growth.  

If you were a car what would you be and why?
"A VW Bug. An older one, like from the early sixties. Even though they are notorious for breaking down and catching fire, they can be repaired in a pinch with a bobby pin and duct tape.  They are timeless. People still buy them, restore them, and show them off. You can hear one coming down the street and there is no mistaking it for another car in appearance.  It’s the only car that can pull of having a flower vase on the dash."  HAHA that is so funny!!!  That is all I drove until I had kids.  I had a 74 red bug I crashed, a beautiful 66 mint green bug that I just sold, and a red 2004 bug that I miss so much.  I am still trying to talk my husband into letting me buy one now that the kids are big enough to climb into their own car seats.  


What is in the future for you? A novel? A magazine?
*"I am currently working on my first novel. I find it really hard to work on it when my life is revolving around my boys, so I can’t work on it as much as I’d like to without neglecting them. Even writing an article, or on my blog, can be quite a challenge when I’m constantly interrupted with requests for snacks or help with homework. I do what I can and don’t stress too much about it."  I can't wait to read it!  Maybe you can share a chapter with us here???  Create a buzz??? Until then, you can read Nanci's articles at http://www.examiner.com/la-in-los-angeles/nanci-behseresht  or on her blog http://sourcandysisters.blogspot.com/   And HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND!!!


The giveaway is for a necklace in her shop called the Romantic Necklace.  So pretty.  Pictures don't do it justice!  If you win, she will send it to you FOR FREE!!!.  Here is how you can win....go to her shop on Etsy  http://www.etsy.com/shop/mariarogue and have a look around.  If you are the first to answer this question...you will win....many people in the past asked Nanci why she did not sell her creations.  What was her reply?  Find the answer somewhere in her shop.  The first follower of my blog to answer and post the correct answer here in the comments, WINS!!!!!

AND THE WINNER IS......

The process in which I used to pick a random winner for this giveaway was through http://textmechanic.com/Random-Line-Picker.html


I put in all the names of my followers,  shuffled the list 7 times and then clicked the random pick button.




AND THE WINNER OF THE BLOG GIVEAWAY FOR A WOOL CAPELET IS.......


ANDREA P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I will be contacting you on how to get the wool capelet to you for your lil one.  


Check back later today for an interview with a fellow Etsian Artist who creates jewelry.  She is hosting our weekly giveaway this next week. :)  

Featured

Lil Lollipops Designs was just featured on the very popular blog, Indie Tot!!!  YAY!!!  Take a look:  http://www.theindietot.com/apparel/lil-lollipops-designs/

Here are the latest Fashions for Fall and Winter 2010 based on runways and fashionising.com Go to this web address and check it out! 
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c7004e528256d91e101f346/16-top-runway-trends-for-fall-2010

AND THE GIVEAWAY IS!!!!!

Have you been watching the latest fall fashions?  Do you know that one of the hottest items this fall and on the runways this year is a capelet??  That goes for women and kids.  According to several sites including Suite101.com, style.com, elle.com, and other fashion sites,  it is one of the top ten trends this fall.  Designers such as Stella McCartney, Alexander Mcqueen (God bless his soul), Topshop, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Roberto Cavalli and many more have produced these very popular, high- fashion capelets and capes in their lines for this coming season.

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• Fall Trends We Love (brilliantmagazine.com)

So...like minds think alike and I have created some Capelets for my Fall 20010 Line.


THE GIVEAWAY IS A CAPELET!!!
(page down for pictures!)


This capelet is a $40.00 value and can be reversible...or not, up to you.  It is made out of wool and corduroy with rick rack, ribbon. and button embellishments.  If you want it to be reversible, it will have a hook and eye.  If you don't want it reversible, it will be a snap button.  We will draw names for this on August 31.  If you have friends with lil girls and you think they will love to win one of these...tell them about the blog and tell them to be a follower (note that a follower is different than subscribing) BEFORE AUGUST 31 in order to be in the drawing.  This is an exclusive peak at my fall line.  I want you to know that I have not shown or told anyone until now.  YOU HEARD AND SAW IT FIRST ON THIS BLOG!!!  The items will be up on my etsy shop tonight for purchase.    Please check out the pictures below and leave a comment to let me know what you think!  :)  I have pictured three different styles with sizes ranging from 24 months - 6 years.  I can customize them to make them smaller or larger upon request and different colors.  I will also be making some in faux fur which is also big this coming season.

This can be a reversible Capelet

The cape below is being modeled with one of my skirts called The Flirt (also available in my store)

GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE YOU WIN!!!!