it's the wine!

My apologies on the first image (Sophia's nursery hanger) doesn't show up properly...ugh. I love technology, but I love wine more, so forgive me...I'm opting to figure the error out later & indulge in another glass of WELL-deserved wine!



By the way, please mark your calendars for some very important dates....

• Sunday, November 16th (2-4pm), Woodland Creek neighborhood - Lollipop Designs will be participating in a home-grown "Christmas Open House"...other great items will be present from Initials, Inc. (monogrammed purses, totes & more!), Maeflower Designs (customized print invitations, stationary, etc.), & BeautiControl (at-home spa treatments). I'll be painting on-site, taking orders, & selling. This would be a GREAT opportunity to order Christmas gifts...and to take a gander at some 'show specials'!


• December 11 & 12 - I'm still working out the details, but Lollipop Designs will be featured in an artshow to benefit 2 ministries that are near & dear to some friends' of mines hearts...

Don't forget to check out the Lopez family blog at http://livinglavidalopez.blogspot.com!

Do you see what I see?

Several Christmas orders hung on the wall with care! I'm so excited that I was able to finish many Christmas orders in the past week or so...being sick really wiped me out! I had good intentions of forging ahead, but "no can do"! I'm really pleased with how they all turned out...the "Rejoice" flat canvas is propped up on a table-top easel...perfect in powder rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, etc. I'm still looking for a good 'source' for easels...until I find one, this will be display only at shows & on my blog. I'd imagine almost any 'craft'/'hobby' store would carry these....just depends on your taste of easel & where it's going to 'reside' in your home. I've put together some catalog pages & I'm calling the series that 'rejoice' falls under, "Simply Blessings"...pick a design + a phrase = Simply Blessings! I'll be busy adding more phrases to this...it's meant to be more of a 'religious' lollipop design...perfect for the holiday season. I'm also working on designs that you can switch out throughout the year...a little canvas for every season/holiday. I'm still in the proto-type stage....

You'll also notice I added "Come Spa with Us"...this was a door hanger that I designed & painted for my dear friend, Jessica Azar. She is a BeautiControl consultant who does 'at-home' spa parties (can we deeee-viiiine?!). I just went one last night - what a FANTASTIC girls night! Thanks Jess! Like Monica (Squeal Appeal, door hanger), Jessica was looking to hang on the hostess' front door to get the guests excited about the spa treatments in-store for them. I've yet to add the white gros-grain ribbon, but figured I'd post a photo without.

I've also added Sophia's nursery door hanger (see my 1st post)...as this was the very FIRST design I'd ever painted. I still love it & can't wait to paint another one down the road for her sibling (whenever that may be!). So far, the sky's the limit on what I'll paint, so I'll keep plugging along...

'Tis the season...

...for sniffles, sore throats, congestion & more! I sit here today after not blogging (for far too long) to 'catch up'. I blame it on my full time job as Marketing Director at Southern Homes & Gardens...we are in full swing of the holidays at the store. I've been busy prepping the store & pushing our annual Christmas Open House (this next wkd, Nov. 1-2...come see us!)...the store's look amazing (however, I do say that because I'm also a buyer, so am partial to all the new merchandise!). I've been a very busy lady, but cherish my time at home...although this past week has brought more sickness than fun -poor Sophia (now almost 19mos!) caught the seasonal bug & ever so graciously passed it on to her mommy! Nonetheless, I must forge ahead as I have several Christmas orders to fulfill & there is no time to waste...so with paints, canvases, Tylenol Cold & Sinus, & kleenex box in hand, I am armed & ready to finish them this week! They are REALLY cute & I PROMISE I'll post photos after they are made. I also need to post a photo of another nursery hanger I completed for my friend Laura - proud new mommy to baby Dillon. His nursery colors were a teal-ish blue paired with black...so cute, so Dillon had to have a very 'manly' canvas...I hope he's enjoying it! I'm sure poor Laura stares at it during those late-night feedings...God Bless her. On a different note, I'm adding a link to a friend of mines blog, http://rosemarygulledge.blogspot.com she is a stay at home mom to 3 beautiful kids & has her own monogramming/applique biz!! She's done several pieces of Sophia's clothing & it's ADORABLE! She's got great designs & fonts to choose from & she's great to work with...there's no doubt your kids will look super cute after she's thru with their clothes! She also does monogramming for some items we carry at SH&G...we love Rosemary! I can't remember if I added in the link for Monica's Initials-Inc. biz or not, but I'll do that too. I recently hosted a 'Fall/Winter' show for Monica & it was SO fun. I got some great new items...a new 'bowler' style bag, luxurious towel wrap that I use at the gym among other goodies! Check out the newest catalog on her site....it's a fun way to spoil yourself or friends! I'm also working on starting a family blog too...I'll certainly add the link when it's launched. As my friend Nancy exclaimed today, "Julie, you work full-time, you are a mother, you have Lollipop Designs, & now you want to start a family blog?! When do you have time for all of this?!"....gosh Nancy, I never really thought about it...but now that you mention it...I'm POOPED!!

Squeal Appeal

So after a small 'hiatus', I am back & ready to paint! Since I am a full-time working mom, free-time comes at a premium...so between a short vacation to South Dakota to see family, spending time at our family lake house, and a week at market in Atlanta I'm finally ready to tackle some new designs! You'll notice a new photo of my good girlfriend, Monica, who has started an at-home business of monogrammed goodies. Since I LOVE anything 'personalized', I offered to host her first party. It went great & really helped Monica get her business off to a fantastic start! I wanted to do something fun for her too...so I created an 8x10 rectangular canvas that read 'Squeal Appeal inside'...this is phrase the captures everything she sells! So I painted this canvas to hang on my front door the night of the party...it got all of the guests really excited about what they were about to see from Monica too. I gave the sign to Monica to bring to each hostesses home to hang on the front door with a wreath hanger....something so fun & unique you couldn't help but to love it! I was quite flattered the the President of Initials-Inc (Monica's company) emailed her to pay her compliments on the idea - yay for Lollipop Designs receiving national recognition! So, as the dust continues to settle, I'll be back being a busy bee painting fall, holiday & everyday designs!

and we're off!

Hooray for finally adding some images of my 'Lollipop Designs'! To the right you'll see several different door hangers that I've created for friends & family - from dorm hangers to baby girl nursery hangers I've 'been there, painted that'. Each one is uniquely different...there is no 'formal' measurements or format...each is created specifically with the recipient in mind...that's what's so fun about each one - that no two creations will ever be the same. Next up is a couple of designs that I'll be doing for powder rooms & master baths...such as a simple powder room hanger with the couples last initial...simple & chic. Or the "mr." & "mrs." hangers for display above the respective towel bars in a master bath. I can't wait to get started!

Getting Started...

Welcome to Lollipop Designs...my newest baby. I never thought I'd start my own side business, nor did I ever think I'd become a blogger, but here's to trying something new! As I build my business, clientele & catalog, I'll steadily post recently finished projects. I began Lollipop Designs with the determination that I needed another 'creative outlet' for all this couped up energy! I design & paint personalized canvases for baby nurseries, christenings/baptisms, newly-weds, special occasions & more. I started painting my own daughter, Sophia's, the day before she was born...talk about a 'labor of love'...with crunch time approaching to head to the hospital, I thought, "oh, let me start a little project too!" It was surprisingly relaxing & peaceful, & so I continued until it was finished. Now I could say her nursery was complete & ready for her arrival! It's a special little 'welcome' that I get everytime I approach her room to play, soothe or rock her to sleep. Since Sophia's, I've gone on to create a few more nursery 'door hangers' as well as a few monogram 'door hangers' for my college-aged sister-in-law, cousin & more. It's a wonderful sense of accomplishment upon completion...not to mention rewarding when I get to give it away to the recipient! As I get better at this 'blogging' thing, I'll post more photos, pricing & examples. If you are interested in a Lollipop Designs creation, let me know...I'd love to create something perfect for you!