Behind the Scenes ((Latte Da Preview))

Latte Da is coming ya'll!!! In just a few short days!! Snaps if you're excited to add some fall lillypie to your wardrobe!!

I thought I'd share a little bit into the process of coming up and designing Latte Da.  I'm a small business but it's a lot of BIG work to create new designs and products each season.  I'm not a professional. I didn't go to school for this. This is what inspires and works for me---so I'm sharin'.

I always start with sketches. I grabbed a sharpie and just started. I'll tell ya that not all my sketches made it into the collection. I'm saving a few for later because whoooo lordy I don't have goobles of time here.

After the initial sketches I started picking out fabrics and a color scheme. I've found the best way for me to decide on colors is to pick two or three BOLD colors and then two or three NEUTRALS.  My bolds this collection are vintage amber, persimmon, and plum. My neutrals are ash, neutral, and dusty aqua.  When I go shopping---I always go COLOR when picking out accessories---ESPECIALLY if it's expensive. If I'm going to buy something that is more than 20 bucks I want it to stand out. If I'm being transparent here---I want it to get compliments ( do you do that too?).  So---next time you see me? Compliment me on my rust red scarf?! hehe.

However, not everyone has that same idea when it comes to shopping for accessories. Lots of ladies love the neutrals--if you're going to spend money on you or your daughter you want LOTS AND LOTS of use out of it. You want to get your money's worth annnnnd get compliments on your style and taste. Two thumbs up there too.

I've got both types of ladies covered. I split the collection down the middle and made sure to have equal bold and neutral pieces.  YAY!

Latte Da also has a lot more baubled beauties. I don't want to stray from my roots of headbands that are meant to be shared but good golly I loooooooove making necklaces ((and now bracelets!!!)). I wanted more necklaces in this collection because selfishly they are lots of fun to make!

Being a new mother again I've got this lovely extra LOVE hanging around my mid section. Thanks, Noah.  Someone once told me that a big statement necklace is the best way to draw the eye UPWARD and I agree. So I make lots of them. and I wear lots of them. Lattteeeee da.

So after sketching, scooping up pretty fabrics, piecing together new headbands and necklaces, I come up with a name for the collection of designs--because it's fun. Fall 2012 is boring. Latte Da is fun.

Sipping hot chocolate with your littles on a crisp fall day is fun. Gathering for some girl time in local coffee shop sharing your heart and life is necessary. Soaking up a moment for YOURSELF with a cup before the crazy begins is important. Enjoying the spontaneous fun moments in life is glorious. Latte Da!

via

HAVE YOU ENTERED THE GIVEAWAY YET?! Scootch back a post!! Free manicure and two free lillypies to a lucky lady!!! GO....GO now!! :)

behind the scenes of my new collection ((lolliPOP))

This week is an exciting week! I'm hanging up my teacher hat for a week and enjoying my toddler. It's hard to believe that in just a few short months there will be a newborn around again. I'm also launching my biggest and *brightest* collection ever. My spring collection has 30 new pieces and is full of eye catching, bold, delicious colors. In anticipation of this collection that will launch !!Tuesday!!,  I thought I'd share a little behind the scenes of how  my creative process evolved into lolliPOP!

Back in January I started thinking about what I wanted to do for spring. Last year I launched Pocket Full of Posies and it was a big success for lillypie. I knew I wanted to do another collection for  spring but didn't really know where to start.  My ideas started flowing after placing lilly's large lollipop from christmas in a mason jar on a shelf in our kitchen. Scott poked fun that I was using my daughter's present as a decoration in our home. When I think something is pretty--I display it. I don't think that's tooooo weird.

Around the same time I also started hearing about the big trends  for spring. Thank you fashion week!  COLOR is IN this season. On every page and every fashion blog the term COLOR POP was being mentioned. Another huge trend for spring that I admired was the pastel and sherbet colors. I've always been inspired by color and the spring/summer palette fits my design eye. 

Magazine features from InStyle Magazine

Then came PANTONE---ahhhhhh.

Then came the target ads ----swwoooonnnnnn

I was hooked  and drooling. I *knew* I needed to stray from my muted and soft colors and GO BOLD or GO HOME. :)

The concept of lolliPOP was born after marrying my love of the seasons trendiest colors with my increased fascination with the stocking stuffer turned home accessory.   LolliPOP is a collection of accessories that women of all ages can enjoy. It's a way to experiment with the trends without the FULL commitment of colored denim and neon chevrons. :)

I'm a visual girl so sketches were drawn, lists were made,  and prototypes were constructed.

a lillypie lollipop. :)

When coming up with  a set of new designs I like to think of a story. Who is my customer? What are they looking for? How can I make them happy? I want this collection to be an extension of my personality and full of products that I not only love but so does my customer.  Lots of thinking. Lots of planning. and a lot of conversations with husband and friends about my ideas.

True story, girlfriend. Print in my studio from YellowHeartArt

I wanted this collection to be full of EVERYDAY pieces.  I want items to be loved and worn often --lillypies aren't just fun photography props for family photoshoot or newborn photos---they are designed to be  everyday. 

In March--I began production. I narrowed down my 45 item list to a more manageable 30. I eliminated several designs that were not cohesive with my vision. I  also added 3 last minute designs ((as in --I made them 2 hours before my product photoshoot)) that are currently my FAVORITE of the entire collection.

Last week I brought my entire collection and a gaggle of fun lollipop props and met Sarah of Sarah-Beth Photography at her downtown studio for a styled shoot. We were joined by four darling little girls and their mothers for one of the most fun dress up sessions ever! The little models enjoyed licking *rather* large lollipops while their mothers dressed them up in fun dresses. I plopped my collection on the babes and the mommas while Sarah snapped away. I was BLOWN away by the entire afternoon.  I LOVE THIS JOB.  I met some darling women from Indianapolis who are gorgeous inside and out. Their little ones were happy, energetic, and full of life. I couldn't of asked for a better group to model this collection. My heart was full that day.

This collection is fun, bright, and cheerful.  It's trendy. It's classic. Lillypie is about making women feel put together and adorable.

Lillypie is loving your daughter and yourself.

I can't wait to share the entire collection with you! I hope you enjoyed the story of how it came to be!

Tuesday is going to be a fun day!! I hope you'll come back to see all the pretty things I have in store!