Emily's Pick of the Week

Happy 2009! This week's pick is a custom DREA designed by Mary S.

Mary chose to go with a black and white theme for her custom DREA. The whimsical fabric, Round About covers the exterior. Black Basketweave makes up the external stripe and strap. The interior has the black and white, Ink Swirls. The interior pocket has a pop of color with Key Lime Twill. The fabric combinations on this DREA will look great with any outfit! Emily R.

January's LILL Team Member of the Month!

The award goes to....Lilli S.! No, not me - but that would be great! There is another Lilli S. in the office. She has been working with LILL since April of 2008 in the LILL on Location Department as well as dabbling in our super-great Facebook page!

The best way to describe Lilli and her work here at LILL is ready, willing and able! Lilli works primarily in the LILL on Location department. She has recently extended herself to assist Store Operations and Marketing. Along with assisting in the Production departments of Cutting, Quality Assurance and Shipping during the holiday season and Web store when needed.

With all of her flexibility and diversity of job tasks, Lilli never fails to shine through with her warm energy and smiling face. She is known for being kind, very creative, a sharp thinker, outgoing and always has a lot of great ideas of ways to improve her work and the work of others around her.

Now, let's get to know Lilli:

Where are you originally from? "I was born in Peoria, IL, but my family shortly moved to Decatur, Alabama. We lived there for 10 years, moved to Columbia, SC for 3, and Evansville, IN for 4. I went to Earlham College in Richmond, IN. After graduating, I lived in Winter Haven, FL for over a year, and then moved to Chicago in February of 2008."

Favorite LILL style? "I just ordered an AUDREY in Chocolatier, which I’m pretty excited about."

Top 3 fabric picks:

"Chocolatier-Love it. Can’t get enough of it."

"Lilac Plaid-I, very much, enjoy purple."

"Fall in Love"

What do you love most about working for LILL? "Everyone is extremely nice and friendly. In many ways, it is more like hanging out with friends than work. Plus, watching As the World Turns during lunch is awesome!"

Nickname? "Not really, although, sometimes Lilli Pad, which I do not encourage."

Favorite music genre: "I have to admit that I’ve been listening to a lot of Top 40 music recently, particularly Womanizer. But, I also am into Rilo Kiley, Ryan Adams, and Spoon. I also really like Elliot Smith, but I have to be in the right mood."

Where did you last go on vacation? "I went to Alabama to visit my parents and sister for the holidays. Although, I did end up sleeping in the Detroit airport from missing my connecting flight due to bad weather. It was totally worth it to be with my family for a while and to be warm. I got to wear shorts…outside…in December."

Fun Extras: "I love playing cards and board games, especially Euchre and Scrabble. Love the smell of vanilla. If I could have one superior talent, it would be to always be funny. I hate unloading the dishwasher, putting clothes away and cleaning the bathroom. And, I have a secret desire to be seen through the Chicago Reader’s, I Saw You posts."

Thanks so much, Lilli! You are truly a joy to work with and we thank you for all your hard work, dedication, flexibility and especially, your shining smile!

- Lilly S.

Meet DENISE!

We are excited to introduce our latest style to the LILL line, DENISE! DENISE is our sleek zip-around wallet with lots of organization for your credit cards and cash. She's also equipped with a handy zipper pocket for your change. Cute and organized, just like her namesake!

Now meet the name behind the bag, Nathalie Denise M. - LILL's Quality Assurance and Shipping Manager.

Let's get to know Nathalie (Denise) by learning of her favorite things!

(From left to right, Nathalie's friend Sandra, her sister Adriana and Nathalie)

Favorite style: ANDI
One unique or funny thing you carry in your bag: GPS system: Since I have a horrible sense of direction
Pets: 1 Dog Princess- Pomeranian
Favorite Movie or TV show: A Clockwork Orange, The Usual Suspects, and The Bridget Jones Diary
Favorite Celebrity: Johnny Depp
Last great book you read:
Books written by: Gabriel García Márquez - Love in the Time of Cholera, Memories of My Melancholy Whores. Books written by: Isabel Allende - The House of the Spirits, Daughter of Fortune. Books written by: Dan Brown - The Da Vinci Code
Hero or Mentor: Mom
Favorite Food: Sushi and Pizza
Hobbies or Activities important to you: Shopping, Reading and going out with Friends

Thanks Nathalie! You are a joy to work with everyday!

-Lilly S.

LILL Bridal Contest!

2008 was an exciting year for many of our LILL Girls because they had a very special day to celebrate, their wedding! We received a great response to our Bridal Contest and are so excited to share their stories with you.

Here are the top picks from our contest entry submissions, vote for your favorite! The lucky winner will receive a LILL gift certificate for $100! 2nd and 3rd place winners win a prize too!

Enjoy the entries and have a great time voting for your favorite! You have until January 16th to vote! The winners will be announced on January 19th!

Entry #1
Laura S.

Mary" was a perfect way for me and my maids to match the big day's color scheme, while offering room for our own creativity on the reverse side. Cute and functional, our "Marys" held all our party-primping necessities!

Entry #2

Angie W.

I designed handbags for all four of my bridesmaids. I visited LILL the previous year when I was visiting a friend in Boston. I fell in love with all of the bags! So, the following year when I got married, I knew that a purse for my bridesmaids was the perfect gift. The purses were made in my wedding colors, which were pink and green. Attached is a photo with the girls and their bags. Thanks!!

Entry #3
Lindsey M.

I just loved my LILL bag that my husband had made for me. He gave it to me the week before our June 21st wedding and I was so surprised. I had made 6 of them for each one of my bridesmaids, and was bummed that I had not got myself one as well. Unfortunately we did not get a picture of us all with our bags! But they all loved them!
Thanks so much for having great choices to choose from!

Entry #4
Carrie O.

LILL bags were the PERFECT gifts for my EIGHT bridesmaids. I surprised them each with a custom bag I designed to compliment their unique personalities. They were all so excited and I continue to get compliments whenever I see them. Thanks, LILL!

Entry #5
Jennifer W.
I had ordered coordinating LILL bags for myself, my mom and my wedding party prior to my Las Vegas wedding. I was getting ready to walk down the aisle and I realized my 30 year old flower girl had left her basket in the room. We dumped out the contents of her brand new LILL bag and filled it with rose petals. In a moment of panic, the LILL bag saved the day!

Entry #6
Rebekah S
For my August 30th wedding, I custom made five Liz style purses for my bridesmaids and groomslady! I also made myself a custom Grace style purse! They made great gifts!

Entry #7
Anne B.

My bridesmaids and I are all obsessed with purses, especially custom-designed purses, so it was an easy decision of what to get them for attendant presents – LILL Bags of course! And they were useful for the day’s festivities and functional and fun for other nights out!

Entry #8
Sara L.
I customized clutches for each of my bridesmaids to wear on my wedding day. Unfortunately, I don't have the photo from my wedding, but we did take a pic the night before when I presented the bags to each of them. Enjoy!

Entry #9
Jamie T.
I wanted something personal yet practical to give my bridesmaids, these bags were perfect! I had a special hand in creating their gift and they have something they'll actually use.

Entry #10
Melissa K.

I am a purse fanatic!! I have a purse for every occasion, season and holiday. When my sister moved to Boston and found 1154 LILL on Newberry street she new it was my dream store. I have 2 Lill purses and they are my favorites by far! So when I became engaged it was a no brainer that the girls in the wedding party would carry purses instead of flowers and LILL was the first place I thought of. It was so much fun picking out all the fabrics for the girls with my sister. When they opened them it made me smile to see how happy they were and how touched they were that I personalized them!
LILL really helped to make my wedding wonderful and memorable.

Entry #11
Nikole J.
For my bachelorette party, I chose Chicago as the destination for all of my bridesmaids to unite from their cross-continental locations. we went to the LILL boutique and designed GRACE Bags for the wedding. They were a HUGE hit! Not only did designing these bags unite my college and high school friends with my family - but they also served as a fabulous accessory piece, and a popular conversation topic the day of the wedding!
Thank you so much for adding to my wedding day festivities. I will always be grateful to 1154 LILL!

Thanks so much for sharing your stories LILL Girls and congrats on your Special Day! Perhaps we will hear from you again when you are ready for a diaper bag?

Best wishes to you all.

-Lilly S.