As Seen In...

Hi all –
Robin here to give you a quick update on some of the fun press we’ve seen lately here at 1154 LILL Studio! So much to share:

As seen IN:
As you may have seen on our website – we were chosen for InStyle Magazine’s Best of the Web guide and couldn’t be more thrilled! (Pick up the November issue – on stands now with the amazing Rachel McAdams on the cover J) Our ERINN clutch in flocked houndstooth was featured alongside our write-up. Snap one up while we still have this luxe fabric in stock!

As seen ON:
Access Hollywood’s Laura Saltman devoted her “Dish of Salt” segment to all things Baby over the weekend of October 30th and 31st! She announced her own pregnancy on-air (Congrats, Laura!) and ran video of the “Design a Bag for a Cause” party that reality star Tenley Molzhan hosted the other week. Tenley helped Laura design a SUSAN diaper bag for baby-to-be. Bags designed at the party are being sold on our site with $10 of each going to the Young Survival Coalition. Check them out here!

Soon to be seen…
We sent bags to New York and LA for Editorial preview events last week and had a great reaction from Editors and Stylists alike! Us Weekly, InTouch, Martha Stewart Weddings, Self, Brides, Real Simple, E!, and many more grabbed samples for stories. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that 1154 LILL will make the cuts. Think good thoughts for us!

We hope to have more to share with you soon! Thanks for being such amazing fans.

-Robin Newberry

p.s. – we have been loving Twitter lately! If you’re on twitter as well, tag us or follow us! We’re at @1154_LILLStudio and would love to keep in touch with you this way. :)

Falling For Flocking

As the fall season gets fully under way, I find myself gravitating towards all things textural. Fall has always been my favorite season for dressing - I love the look of layers and the possibilities of combining colors, patterns and textures in a new way. At LILL, it is also my favorite time of year as our fall fabrics always include an aray of rich colors and textures - my favorite of which is flocking. Flocking is a process of creating texture by applying small particles of fabric to create a pattern with a velvety feel. The raised flocked texture creates a striking visual appeal and adds an extra dimension to the design and the tactile experience of the fabric. I am loving our flocked offerings this year. Check out the photo of some of my favorites - Clockwise - Flocked Houndstooth, Dottie, Whippany Paisley, Flocked Tiger and Red Sea. The patterns really pop when you add a colorful accent. If initial Fall orders are any indication, I'm not the only one falling for flocking. Happy Designing!

-Jen Velarde

Jillian Harris shown sporting LILL bag!

Jillian Harris was featured in the March 15th edition of OK! Magazine carrying our stylish Erinn clutch! Jillian looked gorgeous at Molly & Jason's Bachelor Wedding! We couldn't be more thrilled to have her as such a loyal customer! If you'd like to design your very own Erinn bag, just like Jillian's just go to our website http://www.1154lill.com/ and start designing! The Erinn is the perfect accessory for the upcoming wedding season!

Winner # 4

Our fourth party host winner is Alex Brown. We had a little email mix up, so it took a little longer to get her notified and get her responses to our questions... But, she was thrilled to hear that she had won our drawing after hosting a party with our San Francisco rep, Jenn. The bags ordered at her party were just received by her guests and were met with rave reviews! One of the attendees at her party loved it so much she just hosted her own this past Thursday. Here are Alex's responses to our questions:

How did you first hear about 1154 LILL?
"I cannot remember how I first heard about 1154 LILL. I believe it was through a friend who lived in Chicago. I was there visiting in 2005 and my friend and went to the store there. I believed we designed about 6 bags for our friends and family. We were having such a great time with all the fabrics and the different styles. Throughout the years, I have continued to visit the Chicago and Boston stores and always find time to create a bag."

What is the best party about hosting an 1154 LILL party?
"The best part about hosting was having 1154 LILL come to you. It was nice to have a group of friends around chatting and catching up while being creative and designing bags. Having Jenn come to my house really made things easy, and it was a stress free way of getting the ladies together for something different than just cocktails. We actually talked about doing one of these parties back in August while on a bachelorette trip but finally got around to doing it in January. Better late than never."

What is your favorite 1154 LILL style?
"My favorite style bag the Andi. I think it is the perfect size to be able to put everything in your purse. My mother and sister designed one in Boston a couple years back, and I was so jealous of the end result that I ended up having to borrow the bag long term. Another great one is Christie. I take it on every vacation I have. I just love how great everything fits in there and how easy it is to clean especially the inside."

What would you like to see 1154 LILL do in the future?
"As for 1154 LILL in the future, I think keep up what you are doing. I think people have been spreading the word and you make good quality products that was is not to love about it. I did enjoy that you have added new products i.e. the Pillows. I think that is definitely a good idea. Overall, I think if you were to try to open another store perhaps somewhere out on the west coast you would have great success with it."

Thank you for hosting and enjoy your new Maddie Jane Design A Bag Kit!

Best,
Jen

Our New LINKS Collection!

This month we launched the first pieces in our new LINKS Collection. What is LINKS, you may ask? Well, its a new twist on designing with our products. From LILL's beginnings, we have focused on designing our handbags by choosing from one of our set silhouettes and selecting fabrics for various parts of the bag. Ten years in, we are ready to offer something new - a way to build your own silhouette by choosing components that "link" together to create unique looks - thus our new "LINKS Collection." Our first few pieces include a large tote body (LILLI), a medium rectangular pouch (ISABEL), a small wallet sized pouch (NANCY), and 2 strap choices (2 short straps, or one long adjustable strap). With these 5 pieces you can do so many things. And, what's great about it is that the individual pieces all work together. So, you can start with one bag and as you add more pieces, you'll be adding to your design possibilities. The more pieces you have the more looks you can create! And, there are more on the horizon... we are currently working on the next body piece that will be introduced later this spring. Its a look you'll love now and for seasons to come!

I attached a few of my favorite looks here, but check out our website to see more and peak at a video! The LINKS collection is currently available in stores and at parties through our LILL On Location program - be the first to start your "collection" by hosting a party or visiting one of our stores!

LILLI with short straps worn full....LILLI with short straps worn cinched...LILLI with an ISABEL or NANCY as accent...LILLI with long adjustable strap....ISABEL with long adjustable strap....ISABEL with NANCY and long adjustable strap.... just to name a few combinations....

We can't wait to see what you all create!

-Jen Velarde

2010 - Off and Running!

Where did the month go? Its been a month since I posted - shame on me! And, I thought 2010 would be different....

I look forward to January each year for a fresh start, for a time of reflection after the holidays and for the optimism that comes from a new year full of possibilities. Its a month of planning at LILL - we're talking new styles, new fabrics, new sales strategies. We're taking what we learned in 2009 and applying it to our plans for 2010 and beyond. We're reaching out to other businesses and our customers for ideas and inspiration. And, we're coming up with some good stuff....

I'm excited about a few new bag styles coming out the beginning of February - the LILLI, the ISABEL and the NANCY. The LILLI is a versatile tote bag that can be worn large and boxy or clipped together to make a smaller trapezoid silhouette. It has removable straps so you can interchange them with various bag bodies or clip on an accessory piece like the NANCY wallet and add another pattern to your look. The ISABEL is a mini messenger bag with an adjustable strap that can be worn long or short. It can also be combined by clipping on the NANCY wallet to create a two tiered bag. Order them up in some of our new spring fabrics like Tazo, Malibu Rays and Lagoon Faux Suede and create a stylish new look for a new year! We are loving all the possibilities with these bags and can't wait to see what our customers will do with them. These bags will be launching first in stores and through our LILL on Location Parties at the beginning of February - so be the first to see and order these by planning a home party or a trip to one of our stores in February. Expect to see these styles on-line later in February. You won't be disappointed!

I am also very excited about a focus group we conducted a week ago at our Chicago Store with a group of college students. I was extremely impressed with the ideas that were generated by talking with this group. They had several new ideas on how to reach the college market and offered us valuable insight on what is important to them, why they buy and what they are looking for in a brand. I really enjoyed listening to their thoughts and hearing first hand what they would do to create more brand awareness for 1154 LILL. I expect we will utilize many of their ideas this year. We also plan to do more focus groups with various groups of our customer base. Look for information on our facebook page and in our email communication about upcoming focus group sessions!

Lastly, I want to mention some of the current "good stuff" we have going on in January. Our January promos are wrapping up on the 31st - so you still have a couple weeks left to take advantage and pick up that bag or accessory you didn't get for the holidays now AND at a great price to boot! Here are the current deals: 10% off all month online, 15% off at all home parties, and the add it up sale in stores (buy 1, get 10% off, buy 2 - get 15% off, buy 3 - get 20% off). More info available on our website. http://www.1154lill.com/

So, we are off and running with 2010. I hope you are as well and that the year of possibilities ahead brings you everything you're planning for!

Jen Velarde

Pay it Forward - Everyone Loves a Compliment!

This week I received a lovely letter from a customer in Indianapolis. Her experience with LILL began when a friend, sporting a LILL bag, told her about my business. She loved the bag and checked out our website. She found that we offered home parties in her area and contacted our Indianapolis rep, Amy, to set up a party. She had a wonderful party experience (I'll share her words later in this post) and then attended a second event Amy hosted at a local salon. She has quickly become a LILL lover. I personally love the story of how she came to find out about LILL - through a friend with a bag she loved - and, how she came to get a few of her own - through a rep who loves what she does. It speaks directly to the essence of LILL and thus I truly appreciated that this customer wrote in about her experience. Receiving letters like this really make my day.

While I obviously loved the letter, the point of my blogging about it is that it reminded me how important it is to compliment others for things that you appreciate. I often find myself pleasantly surprised by service or products and think to myself "what a great experience" or "I love this product." I don't, however, take the time to tell the person behind that experience or product how much I appreciate their help or their product. For example - just yesterday, I was going through my favorite drive thru. (Yes, I am a fast food junky)! It is my favorite drive thru, not because of the food or speed of service, but because every time I go there the staff is just really friendly and nice. Working in fast food is difficult - but this staff is always so pleasant and happy. I think about this every time I go there, but I never compliment the service. I will next time.

And, as I think about it there are several other services and products that I love and this letter has inspired me to speak up about it. I plan to shoot off a few emails to other businesses that I love and hopefully make someone else's day. My little way of paying it forward...

Here is an excerpt from the letter I am writing about:

"The primary point of writing this letter is to tell you what an amazing team member you have in Amy (our Indy rep). She was wonderful to work with and helped me set up my party for about ten of my friends. When she came to my house she was professional and fun. She was wonderful in assisting all of the girls in finding what they truly wanted. The thing I liked most about Amy, was that she was the "anti" saleswoman. Never once did she try to force a bag on someone. She consistently said she wanted all of us to love what we designed and never forced anyone into a decision or a purchase. You could also tell that she loved what she was selling. She was able to show us so many examples of items that she had designed and used on a regular basis. My LILL purse party was one of the most fun things I have done with my friends and everyone was thrilled with their purchase. All in all, I want to thank you for creating LILL. I can not tell you enough how much I love your product and your staff. Not only have you created a wonderful product, but also a fun opportunity for people to get together and do something different. I have been to jewelry parties, Pampered Chef parties, Mary Kay parties and none of them come close to comparing with the fun my friends and I have had at the LILL parties."

Jen Velarde

How do you use today's technology?

I went to a holiday party this weekend where the conversation turned to how long we have been out of college and how much technology has changed how we live today. When I graduated in 1995, I had never sent an email, the internet was no where on my radar screen and all of my training for work in the world of interior design had been done with pencil in hand vs. on a CAD system. We have been talking about this at LILL lately as well and while I have since emersed myself into technology and it runs most of our operations today - I didn't "grow up" with it like those 10-15 years or so younger than me.

Technology for me is something I have to think about versus something that is ingrained in my daily routine. I have dabbled in blogging, lightly use facebook and have yet to personally twitter. I keep my blackberry close at hand most of the time, primarily for email. I just started to understand the purpose of texting - and actually really like it. All this is great, but it is December, 2009. And, so, you might say I am pretty far behind the times in terms of keeping pace with some of my more technologically savvy customers. I feel the technology gap each time we discuss ways to reach this portion of our demographic. With all of the options that social media provides it can be a bit overwhelming to decipher which methods are the best tools to stay in touch. I find myself probing anyone who seems "totally connected" for their ideas and what they are doing now to communicate to friends, find out about events, promotions and products etc.

One idea we recently tried that was successful for us was working with Groupon - a collective buying program - where we adverstised a special purchase opportunity to their mailing list. It generated a huge amount of buzz for us in the first two markets we tried - Chicago and KC. Since we participated, I am on the daily deal email list and it is one of my new favorite ways to find out about different businesses and specials around my city. (We are the deal of the day in the Boston market tomorrow - 12/15 - so if you missed an opportunity to get in on the deal earlier, you can join in the Boston deal as coupons are valid at any of our stores www.groupon.com/boston )

That is one example of a great new tool - there are many more out there that I am looking to learn about. So I am asking - where do you go to find out about new concepts, cool experiences, great sales, etc? Send me your ideas. Leave your comments here - for each one I get, I'll put your name in a drawing for one of my favorite bags of the season - Grace in Chateau de Lill.

Or - come tell us your thoughts in person - if you are currently attending a large midwestern university and will be in Chicago over the holidays, we will be hosting a focus group on Thursday, Jan 7th from 1pm to 4pm at our Chicago boutique at 904 W. Armitage in Lincoln Park. If you are interested in participating, please complete this questionnaire below no later than Wednesday, Dec 16th. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/survey/27318/16426/0f8892001a/

(If you are selected, you will be notified by Monday, Dec. 21st. Focus group participants will receive an 1154 LILL Design a Bag Kit in return for their participation in the focus group session).

Jen Velarde

Designing with Jillian Harris

Jillian Harris of The Bachelorette fame visited our Chicago Store last night with several girlfriends. She recently relocated to Chicago to be with her fiance, Ed Swiderski, and has been finding her way around the city. She was introduced to 1154 LILL by a friend and was excited to come in and try her hand at designing.

She was a natural! With her innate sense of style and interior design background, she quickly chose three styles to design. She then selected classic textiles for the exteriors of each of the 3 bags so she could "wear them as much as possible." She chose bolder prints - our fresh green and white Southern Charm pattern for her Hadley interior and our graphic black and white Moroccan Tiles for her Erinn interior. She kept her Carolina wallet smart and classic by combining our Black Ink Linen and Charcoal woven grid - the perfect every day wallet to compliment any bag she carries.

Her girlfriends jumped in and designed as well - each one helping the other find something that suited them. After a couple hours of laughter and designing, they left the store and headed to dinner... They'll be back in a few weeks to pick up their bags were all too excited to start carrying them!

They were a really sweet group of friends. As they left, I thought about my own group of girlfriends and how nice it is to get together, have a little wine, a little design and a little dinner. Laughter inevitably fills the space and you relax into your best self every time. I'm looking forward to some good girlfriend time myself this fall..... right after trick or treating tomorrow!

-Jen Velarde

Boutique Parties!

We recently particpated in an event called the Indie Collection at Oakbrook Center here in Chicago. It was a really fun event for us as we saw so many of our suburban customers, made some new connections and were joined by several other local designers. I personally loved getting to see other designer lines amongst the traditional retailers at Oakbrook. I bought a dress from a new designer, whom I loved - Kate Boggiano, http://www.kateboggiano.com/ Some of her work was also just featured in In Style. I love her unique twist on classic such as button downs and shirt dresses. Check out the collar on the picture attached.

I know I'm not the only one who loves to shop at these kind of events. And, lately we've had an influx of opportunities to showcase our line at area boutiques. We're excited to bring 1154 LILL to customers while shopping at some of their favorite boutiques.

Here are some upcoming dates -We'll be at Holly G Boutique in Baltimore on 10/17, Urban Belly in Des Moines on 10/20, Avant Garden in Milwaukee on 10/22, Splendor in Milwaukee on 10/31 and Poeme in Cincinnati on 11/5. Check out the line and get some of your holiday shopping done - custom ordering available at all events! No appointment necessary.

You can find more info about all of these events on our facebook page or on our calendar of events page:

http://www.facebook.com/1154LillStudio
http://www.1154lill.com/events/default.asp#ongoing

We'd love to bring our line to one of your favorite boutiques as well. If you have suggestions, we're all ears! You can email your ideas to locallill@1154lill.com

Hope to see you at a boutique near you soon!
Best,
Jen Velarde

May's Team Member of the Month!

And the award goes to....Candice G.! Our LILL on Location Assistant Manager. Outgoing, fun, friendly and hard-working are a few words to describe Candice. She's always willing to help out wherever needed and has a funny story to brighten your day. Her bold, bright hair matches her bold, bright personality. Some of you out in the Yelping World may already be familiar with her.

Candice, you're always giving 110% and your peers appreciate the additional work you’ve taken on, especially recently. Candice was noted for having amazing potluck organization and planning skills as head of the social committee, as well as being creative, personable and willing to take charge and take on additional tasks. She's always looking for ways to lower costs and has creative ideas to improve sales and LILL overall. Candice was also voted the person you'd most want to be your sibling, Best Dressed, and Funniest at Lill's annual award ceremony. All this and she's just fun to be around!

Here's a little more about Candice...

How long have you been at LILL: Coming up on 4 years this July

Fave Fabrics:
G is for Giraffe, Lemon Zebra, Snow Leopard… I am “Where the Wild Things Are”

Favorite Styles: JANE with a DENISE attached. Currently snow leopard JANE with Red Rocks DENISE… though I wish the DENISE came with a lock where my credit card lives that made me answer the question “Do you really need this, Candice?” through voice activation before I bought anything.

Last Vacation: How about future trips? I'm going to Croatia for 2 weeks in July and August this Summer with LILL cutting associate, Katie L. and her sister, LILL Design Director, Mandy L. We'll be living the high life on a "yacht" (house boat) on the Adriatic!

Hobbies: I have a personal Time Lapse Photography study… that’s fancy talk for me taking a photo of myself everyday, in pretty much the same spot in my room, since January 1st, 2008. I post all my pics online and when I’m bored I like to revisit my past year and a half… it’s amazing the things you remember from just seeing what you wore each day.

Interests: Cryptozoology and serial killers. I am sooo fascinated with animals… especially ones that aren’t recognized by conventional science, are thought to be extinct, or are found waaayyy outside of their normal geographic range. Seriously awesome stuff… Wikipedia “Bloop”, it’ll blow your mind. And the serial killer thing has always been an interest of mine. At the very least, it helps to know what’s out there lurking… I don't worry though, I won 3rd place for Tang Su Do and Hapkido in the Midwestern karate regionals in 1997 sooo attackers beware. Ps- I was totally cheated out of second place.

Friends & Fam: My sons (cats)! My main babe is Homer X-Ray Cat Spiderman Gatlin-Kelly and my other two loves are Razz Berry Gatlin & Leon Spinx Gatlin. I also love my Dad… he’s pretty rockin’. I want to go on the Amazing Race with him, BIG TIME! Between my day-glo orange hair and his knack for planning and travel, we’d be a shoe in for winners. For a little romance I have my BF of 5 years, Smelly… long story but it’s been his name for well over a decade, I’ve never called him anything but, and it’s not gonna change anytime soon. And I just want to drop a quick shout out to some LILL gals... see photo on right of Jess A., Kristina L., and myself at a colorful Yelp.com Elite event sporting our Audey custom dresses made by Jess A. (Jess has on a dress in LILL fabric Toucan Leaves and mine has bats on it!).

Fave Celebs: My celebrity loves are still Bill Murray and David Letterman… call me! And my personal idols are Dolly Parton and Harvey Milk because Dolly is a stone cold fox and hides a whole lotta brains behind a whole lotta, well, you know. And Harvey because he’s a rock star and advocate for the people. I like to think that we’re alike because we both love getting up on our soapbox and no one can get a coup together like me and Milk.

When I’m not at LILL I’m: Yelping! Anyone at LILL can tell you that I just LOVE putting my 2 cents in. I love giving my opinions on everything and anything and especially love writing reviews. Yelp.com allows me to write reviews for restaurants, stores, gas stations, doctors, etc and post my detailed reviews to their online website. I’m considered an “Elite” member of the yelp family with over 200 (and counting) reviews to my name. For accurate opinions visit here: candiceadeline.yelp.com

Interesting Fact: Okay, maybe this is more a declaration but I can’t afford to have a living will drawn up at this point… I love, LOVE, L.O.V.E. animals and after seeing that Disney movie ‘Earth,’ I decided that when I die I want my body to be fed to starving polar bears in Antarctica. Save the animals.

Candice with her animal friends: (tigers left to right) Leon Spinx Gatlin, Homer X-Ray Cat Spiderman Gatlin-Kelly, and Razz Berry Gatlin.

Meet Brianna!

We are excited to introduce the latest edition to our line, BRIANNA! A darling, over-sized slouchy hand-held with a sneaky hidden side zipper pocket and black wooden handles. BRIANNA is great for toting all your essentials and is reversible for two looks in one. Carry her to your next lunch date with your girlfriends or around town, BRIANNA is sure to add that right touch of class to any outfit.

Now let's get to know the name behind the bag!

Meet the real Brianna, granddaughter to Donna LILL's Parts and Pieces Manager.

Brianna is sweet and sassy, just like her grandma and the bag named after her.

Let's get to know Brianna by learning of some of her favorite things:

Favorite style: DONNA, because it’s named after my Grandma!
One unique or funny thing you carry in your bag: Barbie
Favorite Movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks
Favorite Colors: Yellow and Pink
Favorite Celebrity: Carlos Zambrano – Go Cubs!
Last great book you read: Queen of the Class by Mary Engelbreit
Hero or Mentor: My Grandma
Favorite Food: Pizza
Hobbies or Activities important to you: Reading

Thanks, Brianna! It was fun getting to know you and your favorite things.

-Lilly S.

LILL's "Team Member of the Month"

Congrats to Kate G.! LILL's HQ Team Member of the Month for March.



Kate has done a fantastic job at running our LILL on Location Department since 2007. She actually began her run with LILL as a LILL on Location rep herself in 2005. She is best known for her witty sense of humor and outgoing yet relaxed personality. She is a great asset to the LILL team, always friendly, fun to be around, upbeat and organized. Kate is always coming up with creative ideas, like the Mommy bags for Mother’s Day! Constantly LILL minded you can count on Kate to bring up the most interesting statistics or articles about what’s going on in the world and how it can be used to advance and/or prepare us as a company. Relentless in her dedication to LILL, Kate is always going above and beyond for LILL on Location reps and customers. Kate not only does well in her own department but is continuously available to assistance other departments, offering whatever insight and direction she can.

Fun Fact: The above photo features Kate with her 2 pups, Olive and Grace. She occasionally brings them to the HQ office. We love their company and they make great office companions.

Let's get to know Kate a little more:

Where are you originally from? "I can claim to be from Nashville, TN since I was born there. My family moved up to IL when I was about 3 so I really grew up in Rockford, IL, but I migrated back down to the land of shorter - and warmer - winters for college and returned to Nashville after graduating. I’d been living happily in Music City (Viva NashVegas!) for almost a decade when LILL convinced me to make the move back up to IL."


How long have you been with LILL? "I started at LILL in the spring of 2005 as one of the LILL On Location Reps. I think my training group was maybe the third group to get started in the program. I moved up to Chicago in 2007 to work at HQ to oversee the further development of LILL’s rep program."


What’s your favorite LILL style? "Oh, it’s always so hard to pick just one! I love my DONNA for when I need to carry a bunch of stuff with me, my SOPHIE is fantastic for running around town on the weekends, and I have totally embraced the AUDREY/JANE concept. I now have 2 JANEs to interchange amongst my four AUDREYs. But... I think right now I am most excited about the BRIANNA. It officially debuts in May and is such a cute, perfect summer bag! I’ve already ordered one and have only 21 days left until it should be ready. Not that I’m counting or anything."


Top 3 fabric picks: "LILL has a ton of great spring and summer options right now so it may be tricky to narrow down to just three, but I’ll try.










Flower Press G is For Giraffe, Flower Press, Lemon Zebra (my BRIANNA is in this!)Lime Leaves and I like Tucan Leaves so much I may have to have the fabulous Jess Audey make me one of her dresses or a skirt out of it."


What do you love most about working for LILL? "Well, I get to play with handbags and fabrics all day so coming to work here full-time was somewhat like having the mother ship call me home. But, really, I think what makes working here so great is the people with whom I get to work. LILL is very lucky to have attracted some seriously cool people to work here. The three girls in my department are amazing – they make my job easier, better, and more entertaining every single day. My team of LILL reps are some of the most fun people I’ve ever had the chance to work with. I’m certain that if we all lived in the same city we’d all get together for drinks constantly. Actually, when I put it like that, it’s probably better for our health that we don’t all live in the same city!



Jen V., our founder and fearless leader, makes running a business seem largely effortless and like it’s the most fun she’s ever had. When you have that kind of attitude and outlook in charge of the whole show, it’s hard not to be happy where you are working.

In the end though I think it’s the general atmosphere of creativity and enthusiasm here that makes working at LILL the treat that it is. Because, when it comes down to it, making purses is fun. It’s not like we’re in the business of root canals or brain surgery. People come to our stores and our parties to have a good time and it’s nice to be able to be a part of that. I remember how thrilled I was when I received the first LILL bag I had designed (props to Becky F. for introducing me to LILL!) and I know our customers feel the same way when they get their bags in the mail."


Favorite musician, band or music genre: "Can I just rattle off a string of names here? Lloyd Cole, Dido, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Belle & Sebastian, Kings of Leon, Johnny Cash, Dave Brubeck (few things better than a Sunday morning with some coffee and Dave Brubeck), Old 97s, Robbie Williams, Allison Krauss (have you heard the Allison Krauss and Robert Plant album? It’s so good.), REM, The Beautiful South, and I’ll round out the list with Elvis Costello."



If you were a mix of any 2 fictional characters, who would you be and why? "Elizabeth Bennett and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Elizabeth because she is possibly the cleverest and best of all romantic heroines ever and Buffy because she is the cleverest and best of all vampire slayers. When combined, I would not only get to be clever, I’d also get to be stylish, have quality time with Mr. Darcy and Spike and there would be my seriously impressive kick-boxing skills (helpful for slaying vampires or caddish Lieutenants)."



Where did you last go on vacation? "Vacation? Huh? Well, I did take a week off over Labor Day last August and drove down to Kentucky and Tennessee to visit family and friends. I made the trip to visit a dear friend whom I hadn’t seen in far too long and have the chance to meet her new baby. The visits were great and the drive was fantastic, too. It was nice to take a leisurely route across those two states and see some green hills and mountains again. Chicago is great, but IL is too flat."



Thanks, Kate! You are a joy to work with and truly bring a fun dynamic to our company.

-Lilly S.

St. Paddy's Day Potluck!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

The Chicago weather has graced us with a pleasant 70 degrees today and it's potluck day here at LILL. What a wonderful day.
















The theme for this month's potluck was "Go Green". LILL team members donned green attire and contributed vegetarian food to complete the theme. The spread consisted of delicious and healthy foods such as breaded eggplant, veggie wraps, Dal (a spicy Indian lentil dish), Smart Dogs, Edamame Salad and much more! Not to forget the many delicious desserts like Laurie's famous oatmeal cookies.

We also hosted our 2nd annual St. Patrick's Day Bingo! Prizes were give to the top 3 winners, 3 of our Simply Chic bags. The competition was heavy as everyone had their eyes on the well sought after prizes.

First round was a basic round of straight Bingo, won by Amy F. - Web Store Manager
Second round was Four Corners, a bit of a tougher feat, won by Bob V. - Photographer
Third round was Full Card, quite a challenge and marathon of a game, won by Sarah R. - Store Operations.





Wish wish you all a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day with a bit of luck of the Irish!

-Lilly S.

February Team HQ Team Member of the Month!

February's HQ Team Member of the Month is.....Donna C. from LILL' Parts and Pieces Department.

Donna is originally from Dayton, OH and has been with LILL almost 5 years now. She is a genuine person and is always willing to help. Her contagious laugh echoes throughout production and she brings a smile to everyone she meets.



Donna is always warm and welcoming! She is very helpful in finding easy solutions to sometimes challenging tasks and voluntarily makes herself available to help out whenever someone needs it. Kind, resourceful, giving, willing helper and friendly are good words to describe this month’s LILL person of the month, Donna!









Let's get to know more about Donna by learning of her favorite things!

Favorite LILL style? "MOLLY, SOPHIE, DENISE - so many to choose from!"

Top 3 fabric picks:
"Watercolor Pond, Hula Girl, Black Basketweave and all our new spring fabrics!"














What do you love most about working for LILL? "Oh my, working with all the great people at Lill everyday."

Do you have a nickname? "Doona Jane, LOL, BUT TRUE!"

Where did you last go on vacation? "Spent a week with me family in Ohio, Indiana."

Anything else fun you’d like to share? "I just love life :)"

Thanks Donna for being a bright spot in our days, you are truly a joy to work with.


-Lilly S.

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.

Featured LILL Girls!

We've had many LILL Girls come to us with great enthusiasm about our concept and brand who enjoy spreading the word about their LILL experience. And that's really what's unique about LILL, more than the fun and fashionable styles and fabrics, it's the experience you get when you gather your group of girls and design fun and unique creations.


There is a particular group of girls who love the LILL experience so much they've hosted 5 parties between the 8 of them in the past 1 and 1/2 years! What a fun way to make sure you spend quality time with your girlfriends.

Let's get to know these LILL enthusiasts from Ann Arbor, MI a little more!

How did you all become friends?
"Through work. Some of us have since moved on to different companies, but we met originally at the same company. LILL parties are one of the ways we spend time together. We also celebrate holidays and each other's birthdays by getting together for fun activities (birthday girl's choice!)."


What began your love for LILL?
"One of our friends, Colleen (not pictured, though her bags are!), had designed a LILL purse at a home party a couple of years ago. Every time we saw her carrying her LILL bag, we complimented her on it and asked her where she got it. About a year later, after finding out Colleen's sister, Jenna, had recently become a LILL demonstrator in the Ann Arbor area, we booked our own home party right away. After one party, we were all smitten! We had so much fun designing our bags, but getting them in the mail 3 weeks later was even better! We love the endless design possibilities and look forward to the new fabrics and styles each season, as well as sharing our love of LILL with others."


4. How long have you all been LILL girls?
"With Colleen's first bag in 2006, but the love for LILL pictured in the photograph truly began in July 2007."


How many bags do you own?
"Collectively amongst the 8 of us, we have designed 57 LILL products, most of them bags, but also accessories, including Lulu, Connor, Anne, and Joey.
We've given several designed items as gifts as well."


What is your favorite LILL style?
"I'd have to say we're most fond of BRIDGET, MOLLY/LUCY, and ANDI. Several of us own these styles, with some of us having designed more than one bag for ourselves in the same style."


Top 3 fabric picks:



"Stained glass window--we love color combination and the texture of the flocking in this fabric.









Inferno--we love the bright colors.

Marmalade Swirls--great pattern and color."






If I were the owner of LILL for a day, I would...
"Spend some time writing personal notes to put into LILL bags, like little fortune cookies, saying things like "you're a fabulous LILL girl!" :-) I'd also invite some customers in to see LILL bags being made."

Thanks so much for sharing your story and your love for LILL!

-Lilly S.

Featured 'LILL Girl' - Meet Hillary!

Some LILL Fans have just discovered the joy that is creating your own handbag and others have been long time dedicated, die-hard fans who spread the word to anyone and everyone no matter what state you are in. With that, I'd like to introduce you to Hillary, an ER nurse. Her love for LILL began in 2004 when she was a student nurse in Chicago at the Children's Memorial Hospital ER and would walk by Lill everyday on her way to work.

She was one of 30 attendees who attended a LILL on Location party in Seattle. She has a great history with LILL and fun stories to share.

Hillary is originally from Fremont MI, lived in Chicago for a few years, and has since been in Seattle for about two and a half years.

Let's get to know Hillary and share in her fantastic journey of becoming a "LILL Girl".

"I was a student nurse in Chicago at the Children's Memorial Hospital ER and would walk by Lill everyday on my way to work, since I actually lived on Lill Street. I told myself that when I graduated and started working I would buy a "work bag" with my first pay check. I ended up working at the Children's Memorial ER for two more years and carried Pamela with me every day. So total now I've been a "Lill Girl" for close to five years!

The Seattle Children's Hospital Lill madness began the first day I went to work with my new Hadley, which I had just picked up during a trip back to Chicago. Since that day I have found my bag missing with ransom notes left, and other nurses walking around holding onto the bag. Despite work's "no Internet rule", I can usually spot one of the nurses at all times with the Lill website open or minimized at the bottom. When my good friend Sara, hosted the Lill party for our work, over 30 women showed up, and it's still the talk of the ER. "

Let's get to know Hillary by learning of her favorite things!

Hobbies or activities you enjoy doing? "Lately my husband and I have had some serious Monopoly matches, other than that I love to shop, drink coffee, hang out with friends and travel."

How many LILL Bags do you own? "I think 7, but Carolina should be arriving any day now. That doesn't include all of the bags I purchased as gifts though, my bridesmaids loved them!"

Favorite LILL Bag style? "Right now it's probably HADLEY, with my BRIDGET being a close second."

Top 3 fabric picks:

Spring Sprigs, Yellow Stone and Ring Around the Rosie. All different bags of course.

If you were crowned the Queen of LILL for the day, what would you do?

“If I were owner for a day of LILL I would do nothing more than design design design!!! I will always love my Lill bags, but the actual process of designing them is my favorite part!"

Thanks for sharing your great stories with us, Hillary! It was fun getting to know you and we look forward to creating with you again real soon!

-Lilly S.

December LILL Team Memeber of the Month!

December's LILL Team Member of the Month is.....Alexandra A. from LILL's HQ Cutting department! You may also recognize her from an earlier post.

Alexandra is from Mundelein, IL and joined the LILL team in February of 2008. She also works as our Jr. Fabric Associate and works with the Design team. She exudes a feeling of teamwork and positivity. She is known for being a speedy worker and a joy to work with. Alexandra’s hard work ethic, as displayed in her assistance with the new fabric system and dedication during the busy period of the cutting department, influences those around her to push a little harder in all that they do. Whether in cutting or design, Alexandra is always giving her all, learning and implementing as much as she can and always willing to share what she has learned with others.

Let's get to know Alexandra!

Favorite LILL style?
HADLEY…I already have 2!

Top 3 fabric picks:
Tomato Faux Suede, Higan Bloom, Fruity Pebbles (This is my all-time fav!)

What do you love most about working for LILL?
"That all day long I get to look at purses and think about what I’m going to purchase next!"

Nickname: "For the most part I go by Alexandra, but my brother and the girls at the restaurant I work at all just call me Al."

Favorite bands or music genre?
"I am a long time lover of the band Green Day but also hold all genres of Spanish music very close to my heart!"

Where did you last vacation?
T"o Huatulco, Mexico almost two years ago."

Anything else fun you’d like to share?
"I love to sing out loud at work and annoy all the girls by knowing every song that is on the radio no matter what station we are listening to lol!"

Thanks for sharing your fun info with us, Alexandra! It was a pleasure to get to know you better and is truly a joy to work with you.

-Lilly S.