Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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. :)  

Monday, August 23, 2010

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/

Saturday, August 21, 2010

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

Friday, August 20, 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.
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!!!!

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

THE SHOP JUST EXPANDED!!!


Yesterday I got a gianormous  box in the mail  addressed to me.  No, it was not a present or a box of furniture. It was like the holy grail of sewing machines.  :)  This thing is amazing!!!  Either my life is boring and a sewing machine is the only amazing thing in my life.... or I am just plain excited about the creative possibilities with this machine.   This machine has an LCD screen, computerized stuff and can basically do EVERYTHING!!!  I can now embroider with different types of fonts, sew thread designs on my clothes, sew on crazy, intricate embellishments and more.  Did I mention it self threads???  Maybe I can train it to go to the store for me and do laundry!!  lol  Just think...I found it on HSN.  Half the price, so they said, of what it will cost in stores with all the bells and whistles.  This means my clothing line has just expanded to numerous possibilities.  Below are some pictures of the holy grail of sewing machines and my old, but never- let- me- down, basic Kenmore.  Yes, you may laugh at me and think....a sewing machine????  This girl needs a life!!  But, when I am on Project Runway someday or designing for Gap Kids/Baby....you will remember this moment!!!  HAHAH  Naw...just happy doing what I am doing and being creative!

          Introducing the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960:




The older retiring Kenmore....thank you for your service!!!  You have been a great coworker.



I think this thing does about 600 different kinds of stitches!!



Monday, August 16, 2010

What is new?

Have you been creative this week????  I hope to inspire you to do that.  If you have...leave a comment as to what you have done, maybe a picture, if it will let you or you can email me the picture at lillollipops@gmail.com and I will post it here on the blog.

I have been busy at putting my new fall line together.  I am in the process of making some kimono dresses and shirts both with long sleeves and short.  So cute...here is a preview pix...understand the dress in the picture is not done yet...in process.  Now the cool thing about these dresses/shirts..is that I am only making one or two in each material pattern.  So each one should be unique and you can guarantee that no one in the neighbor hood will have one like your daughter will!  They will come in sizes 1 year to 8/10 Girls.  Hopefully that will satisfy some of you who want me to make more older girl clothes and baby clothes.  :)


Thursday, August 12, 2010

New GIVEAWAY riddle

I  keep you warm, but can quickly cool you off.
If you don't like me that way, you can have me this way.
I am Victorian and Edwardian and Kings LOVE me!

Can you guess what the giveaway is yet????

Some Of My Favorite Kid Designers

I am a member of Etsy Kids Team.  There are so many quality designers on the team!  I thought I would share a few of my favorites with you!  Enjoy!  Next time I will list some boys clothes. :)

Don't forget---I am having free shipping through the month of August in my shop!!  AND there are only 20 more days until the Fall Giveaway, so if you are not a follower and want a chance to win a new item valued at $40+from my new fall line (not yet out)...become a follower and your name will be added in the drawing!

Little girls dress - black and white damask - girls dress - kids clothes

Dippity Dot Peasant Dress w/ Sash






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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

I just made a treasury on Etsy about organization...thought I would share some of it with you since we all could use more organization in our lives.  Some items are vintage, some are handmade, some are upcycled.  Enjoy!  You can view the treasury at: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c61a564f3bd6d917694e243/organize-your-life?index=0  BTW
DON'T FORGET I AM OFFERING FREE SHIPPING THE WHOLE MONTH OF AUGUST ON MY ETSY SHOP!!!

Crisp Weathered Apple Green Vintage Magazine Rack
Magazine rack that is oh so shabby chic and vintage.

Enchanted Wall Blossom - Jewelry/Multipurpose Rack

     Vintage doorknobs upcycled into a jewelry holder or purse holder or scarf holder...so cute!

Bohemian Poppies Fabric Bins in Linen Choose Two
handmade organization buckets...so fresh!
retro breadbox / cannisters
probably hard to see in this pix...but a vintage bread, coffee, tea, etc...holder.

3 Shabby Chic Glass Canisters, Wood Lids and Pretty Scalloped Display Rack, OOAK
Cool Shabby Chic way to organize your lil stuff....especially if you craft or scrapbook.

Giveaway new hint!!!

So we know it is going to be wool...Did I tell you it is also corduroy?  I think we have settled on the red wool and owl print...but if you win and want the off white with apple...I am making some of those too.

Here is a riddle along with a picture....

Christmas trees love when I hug them.
                          Mexico is very fond of me.
                                           Superman and Wonderwoman used me, but Spiderman didn't even think of me.
 Feel free to post what you think it is in the comments.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

OHHHH ANOTHER HINT

k...here is another hint for the giveaway item.....  Oh and yes...that is ric rack and ribbon on wool.

What is close to your heart?

My father just passed away 3 months ago.  He was fighting a rare form of cancer for three years.   He never drank or smoked...was a bit overweight, but other than that quite healthy until the big C word came.  My father in law died 6 months before that of cancer too.  He also never drank or smoked...ran everyday.  Yet, my dad's mom and dad both drank and smoked from age 12 and my grandma eventually died of emphysema in her 70s.  My dad died at 63 and my father in law at 59.  Does not seem fair.  My grandpa who smoked and drank quite drinking a few years before my Grandma passed and quite smoking when she passed...all done cold turkey.  He lived into his 80s.  Between my two dad's deaths, a friend of ours in her early 40s died of colon cancer leaving three young kids behind and her husband.  Cancer sucks!! So for this reason I give part of my proceeds to the Cancer Society.  I don't know if we will ever find a cure...but I need to at least try to help. 

I know in these economical times it is so hard to give, but just think what would happen if everyone in US just gave 5 dollars a month to a charity.  It adds up.  I know the Cancer Society is really suffering in these times.  I have had friends who have worked there FOREVER now being laid off because funding is down.  You know how hard it must be for a person who gives their life to children fighting cancer to have to walk away from that??  So sad.   http://www.cancer.org/

My daughter was born with a rare form of Spina Bifida.  She is 1% of the SB cases.  Spina Bifida is the most common birth defect in the world.  Many people can have a minor form and don't even know they have it.  Many of these kids don't walk or need leg braces.  Some have brain issues from water being on their brain and they require brain shunts.  When my daughter was getting her surgery at 5 months a little girl of 10 was in there with screws going through her head and a huge saucer thing around her head.  It was her 11th surgery.  My daughter, so far has been blessed enough to only have had 2 surgeries at 5 months.  She walks and runs without assistance, but they do give her leg braces to support her ankles and keep them from developing bad habits.  She does not have all the nerves working in her left foot.  She does not have the push down reflex on her left foot, which baffles the doctors as to how she is walking.  My lil miracle!  They say that Folic Acid helps prevent Spina Bifida (which is where the spinal chord is basically hanging out of the back).  I took tons of Folic acid and my daughter still come out with a rare form.  It was a closed one, however, which is much better than open.  It looked like she had a tumor on her back and her chord was in there with fat and fluid.  She never had any water on her brain because it was closed.  Who knows...maybe the folic acid prevented it from being open.  I can tell you that for some odd reason it is very common in Irish decent.  So because of Spina Bifida being a part of our life...I also give part of my proceeds from my shop to SB Association.  http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org

What is close to your heart?  Is there an illness or disease or disorder that has affected you or someone close to you?   I think most of us can afford to give  a dollar a week.  If you saved a dollar a week for a year you would be able to give  52.00 dollars and change to give to the charity of your choice each year.  Can you imagine the things we could do to help others if ALL USA citizens gave 52.00 a year to a cause????  I hope this will inspire you to start thinking out of the box.  I challenge you, this week, start to save 1.00 or more a week for the rest of the year.  Send it off before Jan.1, 2011 so you can write it off.

If you have a charity that is close to your heart...please comment about it.  I would love to hear about it!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Need your opinion....

Ok...here is where you can add your 2 cents into the Fall Giveaway!!!  I am posting two pictures below.  One is an off white wool with a apple print corduroy and the other is a red wool with a owl print corduroy. Those are my two choices of material combos to use for the free fall giveaway.  Please pick one and tell me in the comments which you like best.  I think I know which one will win...lets see if I am right. Which ever one gets the most votes in a few days will be the combo I use for the FALL Giveaway.  I will give you another hint tomorrow as to how they will be used!  Thanks for your feedback!  

First Hint for Giveaway!!

Ok...so here is the first hint for the upcoming giveaway at the end of this month.  Make sure you spread the word to your friends who have lil girls so they can get a chance to win too!  There will be a solid red with a red print or a solid offwhite with a print with offwhite accents.    I will post pictures of the material tmw.  :)  Come back to see!!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

FEELING GENEROUS!!!

August is my brithday month...heck it is about 7 people's birthday month in my family!!!  So being my generous Leo self...I thought I would give a merry unbirthday gift to all of you!  FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING for the whole month of August on anything in my store!!!  WoooHOOOOO!!!!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

An Interview with the artist behind Midnight Boudoir

If you have ever taken time to really explore Etsy...you will find many talented artists.  You may find a skillful painter, a phtographer with an eye that evokes emotion, a  designer with whimsy for the child in you, or an artist that takes you back to a certain time or place.  I have met the later.  Her name is Glenda Weitz and her art will take you to good ol New Orleans to a time when women were flapppers, men wore tailored suits with their hair parted in the middle and cabarat was the talk of the town.  Glenda designs, produces, owns and runs Midnight Boudoir out of the state of Massachucetts, but will tell you her heart is still in New Orleans where she once lived. Her shop is full of sensuality, romance, and class.  I have had the great privilege to get to know her and interview her.

Glenda can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
"I have had the great and wonderful fortune of traveling the world, living internationally (I grew up in Taiwan and Hong Kong), living in several different states, and have been exposed to all types of cultures, food, and art. I am also obsessed with creating things, from silly little sand castle forts (it’s what I still do on beaches, and I am in my 30’s), architectural designing (I once created and participated in the construction and interior design of a New Orleans mansion), interior decorating, painting large canvasses, to making hair accessories. It is quite an expansive love of creating.


I totally understand that! I always say creativity consumes me.  I am either writing music, singing, acting, painting, designing or constructing clothes. Now I know you are passionate about something else too...
"I am also an avid believer in health care reform on a preventative level, changes in health care education, and above all, pediatrics. In my other non-etsy life I am a nurse with big goals of furthering my health care career and education into one where I can make a large impact for those who desperately lack access to proper health care."

How did you get started on making these beautiful feathered hair pieces or accessories rather?

"Well, first off I should say that I’ve always loved making crafts, drawing, and painting. I was that girl in school that would doodle on all of her school notes, and come up with all kinds of ideas for a new project. I believe that my love for making hair accessories came from my family. My father taught me to draw flowers and how to work with colors. One of his first jobs was working in the millinery business way back when wearing a hat was a social ‘must’. He then went on to become one of the founders of the silk flower industry. He had even changed the fabric by which the silk flowers were made of. Once upon a time, the dye from silk flowers would run each time it rained; not a good thing for a woman caught suddenly in the rain!

One day, while shopping in New York City, I came across a gorgeous peacock fascinator. It was simple really, a peacock feather pad with a little jewel at the bottom. I just had to buy it. I really loved the fascinator, it was gorgeous, elegant, reminiscent of an older time, and actually looked good on me (I look a little silly in most hats- kind of like a smurf). I figured out how to make one. And as they say, the rest is history."

Wow...sounds like the arts are in your blood.  What inspires you?
"I have several inspirations. My love of color and things that sparkle, my father, and my mother’s incredible ability to make phenomenal flower arrangements. Truly, I have never seen flower arrangements quite like hers. I also love theater and burlesque. I always found that cabarets were so much fun, beautiful, and a celebration of the female form in a sensual and whimsical way. I love the huge feather fans that they dance with and the giant headdresses that you see in both shows and in costumery. In New Orleans, during Fat Tuesday, the Tuesday after the Mardi Gras weekend (when most of the raunchy debauchery was gone), we would walk around the french quarter in many of the parades, and I was astounded by some of the most creative costumes you see in the streets. In fact, it is said that a true New Orleanian will always have a closet specifically designated for costumes. I was no exception. I wanted to go beyond the realm of costumery; I decided to make fascinators that any woman could wear, day or night.

I think ever woman is looking for a little pizazz to dress up that date night dress or night out at the club.  No matter how old you are or whether you are single or married, I think we women love a little bit of sparkle or wow factor.  I understand you are a nurse by day, is that why you give to charity through your shop? How does that work?
"I am a nurse by day, however, it is not my reason for giving to charity with each and every sale that I make. I have always been a volunteer for different causes. I feel that it is important to give to the community at large. I have also devoted over a year and a half of my life to service in Nicaragua and South Africa (public health education, and providing health care services). I continue to volunteer when I am able to based on my schedule.
"With each sale, I donate 10% of my proceeds to a selection of different charities. I add up the totals for each charity that the seller chooses, and when it reaches $10 dollars, I send a check to the charity. I am so thrilled about this part of my store because I feel that everyone wins out in the end. The buyer knows that they are helping a worthwhile cause (as do I), and the charity makes good use of the donation. Everyone is happy."

That is so awesome!  We need more people in this world to give back. My passion is Cancer and Spina Bifida so those are the charities I give to through my shop...but when I saw what you are doing with the idea of letting the customer choose the charity of their choice, I thought ,"why didn't I think of that???" lol



Switching gears so we can see a bit about who you are...If you were a color what color would you be and why?
"I am a huge color person, so this is a hard question for me to answer. But if I did only have one choice, it would be green. I love nature, especially spring, when the first grasses and leaves awake from the long cold sleep. It is also the time where many animals give birth to their babies. It is a joyful time and a true celebration of life."

When I asked Glenda to share with us her favorite pieces from her collection she responded,
"Some of my very favorite pieces are the ones that I give to my family and friends. I say that because I specifically tailor the pieces to that person’s personality and tastes. It’s a lot of fun. My favorite pieces that I have posted online are my portrait of a butterfly (it is a homage to victorian avant garde), my peacock feather hair comb, and the Chinese brocade flower fascinator (so Edwardian!)."

Glenda is looking forward to expanding her creative horizons into a variety of feather pieces for masquerades, pet costumes, and feather adornment on other accessories and items.  She is in the process of planning a blog with bi-weekly giveaways, monthly specials, DIY projects and lots more information and fun.  So look out for all that. 
You can find Midnight Boudoir on etsy.com  at this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/midnightboudoir

One can see in the pictures how much artistic workmanship, love, and passion she puts into each original and one of a kind item.  Midnight Boudoir offers a wide range of prices too, anywhere from  nine dollars up to seventy five dollars.  This makes it so that anyone can afford to to have a little midnight in their boudoir.  :)






Add a little Mardi Gras to your life!!!


Sunday, August 1, 2010

changes to giveaway

I made some changes to the giveaway...i am new at all this and I think I made it a bit too much. So...new rules: The first 40 people to sign up to be a follower on my blog are eligible for the giveaway!!! YAY!!!!

Coming soon....interview with a very talented seller on Etsy.