Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The Best of Times is NOW!






This is the BEST time in history to be alive! It's our time. I know today is getting bad press but we are part of a revolution. Change is not always comfortable.
I believe we are going from a time when materialism was king, to the time of the Queen of Hearts. It takes heart to let go of old ideas and look inside for what really matters.
What would you do if you didn't care how much it paid? What is it that makes you dance a little when you think about it?
My bliss is creating beautiful things to wear, to eat, to dress up my home, without being limited by social norms or media dictation.

I have a friend who calls me the Mistress of Found Treasures. I get a real kick out of making something old and forgotten useful again. Not just useful but more exciting than before.
 

Our landfills are full. Discarding things that still have life left in them just seems so wrong to me. I am doing my part to recycle. I love the new word "upcycle" which means "turning found objects into art". You know taking that old black jacket and dressing it up! You love the fit but it needs a little somethin'somethin'.

My new adventure is called The Velvet Princess.....Vintage and previously enjoyed fashion with passion.
Sisters of the trash to treasure revolution unite! Get out your glue guns and find the joy of creating something from what ever you already have in your closet, dresser drawer, or kitchen cabinet. Hand made is back and the new black ......well it is still black but with a little sparkle added!

Check out my new etsy store www.thevelvetprincees.etsy.com. New things are being added all the time. Thank you for stopping by. Leave a comment and let me know what you working on. If you make something contact me I'd enjoy including you in a post! See you soon.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Monday Monday so good to me.

It seems on Monday morning taking care of business is the first thing on the plate. Sunday is a day of rest and spiritual contemplation. I attend The Center for Spiritual Living Los Angeles. I get my mind going in the right direction and my heart filled by the wonderful music. You may always count on a   great talk by the eloquent Rev. John Mc Lean. It's the best way for me to start the week.

When Monday morning rolls in I'm ready to start the week fresh and inspired. I celebrate the art of dressing. One of the things I enjoy the most is a fresh white blouse. Nothing like a crisp white cotton to get you ready for a day of getting things done .  Check out my shop for a great selection of affordable white blouses. www.thevelvetprincess.etsy.com. have a wonderful Monday may it be good to you too!
www.thevelvetprincess.etsy.com

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Saturday Night

Tom Waits is singing in my head....the heart of Saturday night. Put on some heels and go dancing. It's a new year and a fresh first Saturday night.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheVelvetPrincess?ref=si_shop
What are you doing on this Saturday night? NCIS can wait. LOL Move to the music in your soul, get out and embrace the city.

Los Angeles has so much to offer. Find a free concert or stop by the Edison down town for some history. Hit the third Street Promenade and enjoy the street performers.

I love to wander the Grove and people watch. Leave a comment and let me know your favorite thing to do on Saturday night!

Wishing you the magic of the first Saturday in 2014!





Friday, January 3, 2014

Simply the best New Year Brings New Friends.

It's a New Year! Last year had it's challenges. They are behind me now and I am facing the future with excitement and inspiration.







I started a new venture last year, I opened a shop on etsy. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheVelvetPrincess?ref=si_shop  This has given me the boost I needed to start blogging again. Nothing makes me more inspired to write than seeing the amazing work that is being done all over the world by artists and curators near and far.

People are busy creating art and restoring collectibles in their garages, kitchens and where ever space is found. Sewing machines are buzzing, clay is being tossed, buckets are filled with vintage linens soaking to perfection to be shared in etsy stores . Being a part of this community has connected me to people from all parts of the world.


I have found a kindred  spirit in Ashley of Antique Alchemy. Ashley has been a collector from childhood. Her passion for vintage collectibles has now turned into a full time job. The thrill of the hunt, the history of each piece, and the amazing connections she has made provide her a rewarding fun filled life. This is Ashley.






Living in Toronto Ontario Canada and area rich with history gives her an esty shop filled by her eclectic tastes and provides delicious finds in every category.




As a team captain she leads others shop owners to success, sharing her knowledge and keys to success. Simply the Best is the name of the team and it is a great fit because this is a group of sellers who work hard and are dedicated to providing the best etsy has to offer.



Stop by her shop and take a look for yourself. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AntiqueAlchemyShop  If you hear Tina Turner singing in your head you will know your in the right shop! LOL. That is our theme song! Simply the best,better than all the rest because the members of this team are dedicated to great customer service and quality products you will always be able to trust.



Happy New Year wishing you all Simply the best life has to offer! See you soon. Lilli

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

So you think you want to sell on line?

I read an article about another selling site by a large corporation that is coming soon.It seems everyone is getting into the web mall business. Cool... there is room for everyone. My problem with the big companies getting into to the scene is that it will lose the personal touch where real relationships are built.



The office of Joyce Lucas at Pink Inc.

My first on line store was at Make Mine Pink. I read an article about women in business who were being honored for their excellence and found Joyce Lucas the owner of Make Mine Pink. She was receiving a special award for her web mall and contribution to helping women get started in business on line.

I went to check out the web mall (I didn't even know what a web mall was at the time) . I found this sweet mall of lady shop owners selling vintage, handmade, and some well selected mass produced items in mini web sites called Little Pink Boutiques.So darling and filled with eye candy.
Front page Shops at Make Mine Pink
Then I found the forums and met the other women. It was full of shop owners and customers chatting away like girl friends over coffee. The subjects ranged from what art project they were working on, recipe exchanges to spiritual beliefs and the power of our intentions. The lost art of conversation was going on in these forums. The women generously shared what they had learned with only the expectation of you doing the same.

The women in the forums are from all over the world. Most from the US but one of my best friends on the site lives in China and makes miniatures.(Mind blowing amazing ones I might add.)

I was immediately engaged. I felt welcome and started learning how I could participate as a shop owner. No one sold me the idea. No one pressured me with a sales pitch. No one made promises about how much business I would do. I was encouraged  to really think about it and jump in when I was ready. I love soft sell when a product sells it's self because of  it's excellence.

I opened a boutique. Lilli Blue's Vintage Rescues. Most businesses take a couple years to break even. I can honestly say I lost no money on my first venture on Make Mine Pink and I was there under a year. I even made a small profit. When the economic crisis hit my day job was greatly affected. I had to go back to working full time for someone else and it was just too hard to honor both projects. Joyce Lucas did everything in her power to help me save my store but I had to close. She encouraged me to take care of my personal situation and said I would be welcome back at anytime.

 While I was at Make Mine Pink I became a business woman. It was the coming of age of my professional life in the ultimate all girl (except Tomas the tech guy) business world. I hit some bumps and had some rugged experiences. Misunderstandings and  trying to do too much all at once. I learned that stuff happens and you talk it out and work through it. It is business and when it is your "baby" keeping your emotions in perspective is important.

The rough spots were minimal. The amount I learned and the way I grew priceless. It was a lesson in business that changed my life in a good way forever. One of the most valuable things I developed were my writing skills. I had written some in the past but  blogging and writing articles for the news letter really helped me find my voice.


As I go back into business with my new venture "The Velvet Princess......Vintage and Previously enjoyed Fashion with Passion", I have been thinking much about my time at Make Mine Pink. I have come to really understand how much they taught me. People say "Where did you learn how to do that?" Make Mine Pink comes up many many times as the answer.

Being a sole proprietor who works on line from home can be hard and lonely. It doesn't have to be when you have a forum of ladies just like you . Women helping women. The encouragement and humor will keep you going.

I have looked at maaaaaaany web malls. Hours and hours of research. I reccomend Make Mine Pink.
Here is why.

1- The site is easy to navigate. If I don't understand something someone gets back to me in a timely fashion. It is not someone hired to do the job , it is another business woman who sincerely wants to help me succeed.

2- I am a visual person and the look of Make Mine Pink is easy to my eye. The actual site is very well laid out. The pictures of the products by the individual owners are framed in a beautiful setting that enhances the product instead of distracting. Not a picture frame that is so ornate that the frame distracts from the picture. The images are clean and composition is excellent.

3-I believe that business is an exchange of energy. The energy exchange gets overwhelmed for me when there is just too much of everything. I have never bought anything at Etsy or Ebay. I just get to overwhelmed looking through all the stuff. That's just me.


Open a store of your own at http://www.makeminepink.com/

4- I have however bought things from Make Mine Pink. I have also had gifts sent from shop owners at Make Mine Pink. The presentation is amazing...really. Everything comes with beautiful tissue and personal touches from the shop owner. I could almost bet in 90% of the cases she packaged it herself. Often I have gotten a sweet little give away included with my purchase. Love this. I want to be a part of a community where excellence is the norm.

5- The friendships. The great women who light the path and lend a hand. A place where I can put out my hand to another. They keep saying in the media that we are hungry for community. Make Mine Pink is a place where I come to commune with other business women.

Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you. Looking forward to may more good times ahead.
If you have interest in selling on line or love to shop (whoo hoo) or just want to have coffee and chat check out http://www.makeminepink.com/
There is much to enjoy! blessings, Lilli.


COMING SOON.........

Monday, August 9, 2010

Check out my new blog.

http://www.mysweetunchoreographedlife.blogspot.com/


Just a note to say I have a new blog and invite you to have a peek.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Buster's Antique Attic


 Recently I met a muse,Tina Millman, owner of Buster's Antique Attic in historic Culver City .
Tina's shop is more an environment than a store. The smell of incense burning and music playing in a space that feels to me like an old theater from days gone by, stirs things deep inside me I have not felt for a long time.

She is a magical delicious merchant of marvels who leads with her heart and thinks in colors, textures and melodic nuance. Tina's the kind of "shop proprietress" who believes that shopping is an exchange of energy. The items in her store are selected with a keen eye for detail and are infused with the mystical . Shopping with Tina is a journey into your own imagination.

Buster's Antique Attic is more than a gift shop. Tina's vintage clothing collection reflects her eclectic taste. It's a place where collectors meet and enjoy sharing knowledge. The largest room doubles as a performance space and is used for fashion shows, poetry readings,classes and workshops of many kinds.

In a time when we need it most Tina is creating community. A place to meet and play. Conversations about life and art. A place where whimsy is sacred and dressing is a history lesson.


Many local artists are represented in her collection of treasures. Events range from Feng Shui workshops and Vintage fashion shows to Japanese Rakgo Storytelling and Oscar Night Parties. A full calendar of events is always underway including my favorite event LADIES NIGHT, late night shopping with just the girls. I love vintage clothing. Nothing is more fun than going through the racks of hard to find one of a kind vintage attire and finding that perfect garment you just can't live without.

You will sip yummy hot libations and munch on sweet treats while eye candy dazzles your senses. All items in the shop are available for purchase. The music will move you and the magic will delight your spirit. Buster greats you in his fetching red sweater, tail wagging and waiting for hugs and kisses.

Join Tina for an event or stop by and have a peek around. Experience the inspiration and excitement I have been blessed with by becoming a part of this community. It's a great way to meet new people and have some fun.
Buster's Antique Attic
3951 B Higuera Street Culver City, Ca. 90323 310-559-3597
 Blessings of every kind to you! Debra ( Lilli Blue)