September 1, 2009

Get to Know + Giveaway: LeiLiLaLoo


From the sounds of it, Dana over at LeiLiLaLoo is a very busy lady, but manages to spin out such beautiful designs. I've been an admirer of her Etsy shop for quite a long time, so it was so nice to get to know a little about this artist and her crafty life. Pour a cup of tea and have a read, and at the end, don't miss details to add some of Dana's crafty work to your supply stash! 

Where are you from, in which city do you currently live? 
I am from the Netherlands and I live in Amsterdam for over 10 years now. 

How did you become interested in your craft? 
When it happened I don’t know there were always Picasso and Chagall books lying around at home, so I got interested in arts & crafting when I was very young. I must have been 5 or 6 years old when I painted my first oil painting on canvas. It was a still life with a nude , which was inspired by Picasso. So there is no exact how or when…it was always there. 

Where did your shop name come from?
My son came up with that when he was 1,5 years old. He could not pronounce his own name for a long time, so he said his name like ‘Leililaloo’. I chose it as my brand name because I very much like the sound of it & the fact my son came up with it. 

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job? 
I am sad that I don’t sell at Etsy full time YET, although it does fill up my time full time when I am at home. I still have to work part-time (as a nurse), I do that 20 hours per week, the other 60 I work on Etsy :) 
Where do you get your inspiration? 
Besides my greatest source of inspiration, my two children, the internet is a great place to be when you need a fill of inspiration. On the net I feel I can find incredible amounts of inspiration from fellow crafters and artists.  

Where do you do your crafty work? 
I work from our living room. It’s looks more like a studio then a living room. But we have no other space where I can do my thing. We are a family of 4 and live in a one bedroom apartment on the 6th floor. Although we would love to move to a bigger place I found out one can get used to situations that are not perfect. The children are used to my materials being around everywhere, and I am used to having to clean up my workstation all the time from leftover crackers and puzzle pieces. On top of that my husband also has an Etsy shop, so he uses the whole living space we have as his wood workshop as well. And he works with piles of wood and two big sawing machines, so just imagine the way our apartment looks most of the time! 

I just love her story of how her shop came to be named, super cute! Dana has very generously offered 3 meters of her beautiful hand printed ribbon to one lucky winner! So, have a look at her very lovely shop here, and come back and let us know your favorite piece, or what you would use her ribbons for? A winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, Sept 10. Extra entries will be given for blogger followers and tweeters!  
**This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Nancy McKay, and thanks to all who participated!

59 comments:

  1. I love the way she come up with the name!

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  2. I love her Picnic linen/ blanket/ cloth

    heatherdemke(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. Unfortunately, it is simply NOT possible for me to select one ribbon, because I LOVE THEM ALL. I also am seriously coveting that Barbie triptych.

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  4. Also, I am a follower! Love your blog~!

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  5. I just love all of her ribbons, I can not choose. I would love to detail a tank top or clutch with them!

    mclayl@uwstout.edu

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  6. I am also a follower of your blog! I love it, I wish I had enough money for everything you feature!

    mclayl@uwstout.edu

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  7. Oh I do love the one with blue flowers...

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  8. I follow you, you do beautiful things!!

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  9. Oh beautiful colors! How to choose??
    I love pink ribbon with coral flowers on it. Or the brown one with white/red/yellow flowers on it. Or.... I could keep going hahaha

    theothersampsons@gmail.com

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  10. I'm a follower, and I lOVe your blog!
    I can't wait to start making things again.. For now I enjoy the great things others do. I love to be inspired! Thank you

    theothersampsons@gmail.com

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  11. OH gosh I love love love her ribbons and could not pick just one that I love! Any of them are amazing!! I HOPE I WIN!!

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  12. dana's work is so pretty! i especially love her machine embroidery pillows! ;)

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  13. ...i am a HUGE fan of Dana's...i own a few of her LOVELY pieces...they add beauty to my home & my life...IF...i were to ~win~ a ribbon...i would enjoy working it into my art(s)...photography & collage... blend ~OUR~ two visions from across the world into one collective creation...not to toot my own horn here...but PLEASE see for yourself how LeiLiLaLoo fits into my life so beautifully!
    http://nancymckay.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-am-peace-light-love.html

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  14. Dana and her shop are favorites of mine. One of the nicest people I've met on etsy. I really love this ribbon: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27428141.

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  15. I love Dana's work! I would happily have everything in her shop!
    I think I choose her ribbon first though, this one is a great design:
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28710349

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  16. I love Dana's work, too. I have a painting that she did, and I always peruse her shop looking at her new ideas. There is something so reminiscent of childhood to her work, and also of whimsy. I have not yet purchased her ribbons, but if I were to win them, I would surely incorporate them into either an article of clothing, or a bag. Keep my fingers crossed!

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  17. I too love everything she does and if I could would buy everything. Great work. Regards Rachel

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  18. the ribbons are amazing!
    would love to use them on a bag ore a curtain.hope i win!
    Ingrid

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  19. My favorite items currently in Dana's shop are the Coney Island inspired house pillows. They are just perfect! If I were to win the ribbon I would use the it to trim an embroidered picture or maybe I'd use it to trim a new tote for me! I love Dana's work!

    xoxoxo
    Cindy

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  20. I love the "my lovely clothes line" pillow.

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  21. What a lovely giveaway my fingers are crossed im very crafty and love ribbon. I can't resist the house pillows they are soooo cute.Helen

    helenmillicent@yahoo.com

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  22. I love the ribbon with red and blue flowers, I think I can use it as hairband or to keep my book together..

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  23. Lovely interview!!! How incredible it is to grow up surrounded with art books and now living surrounded with your own kids and craft! Inspiring!
    From her shop I love most the Big House Pillow "my lovely chair of joy". because of the colors and because of that bird :)
    eva
    myappleandeve@yahoo.com

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  24. dana's store is scrumptious! a piece of her work hangs on my wall (oops, my coffee) & i enjoy it each day. oops is the name of my rowboat and spilling coffee is a special talent of mine : ) thanks for featuring her in your interview. my favorite painted ribbons are 27428141 and 28712034. they both have bits that look like shoes - one with grape colored seaweed perhaps and one with flowers.

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  25. I have loved Dana's work for the longest time. I so want a set of her paintings, or a house pillow, or ribbon. I LOVE it all! Plus Dana is a lovely person and a giving artist that I really admire.

    She told me about your blog - which is darling!

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  26. I've been a fan of Dana's work since I first saw it on Etsy. I happily own four custom chair cards that she made that I framed together to represent our family.

    All of her pieces make me smile, but the chair cards are my favorite. I would be thrilled to win the giveaway and would find the prefect use for some lovely handpainted ribbon!

    - Marnie
    http://www.crafterall.etsy.com

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  27. I love her Hand printed cotton ribbon
    I would use the ribbon if I won to make this:
    http://lilblueboo.blogspot.com/2009/08/scrap-ribbon-belt-tutorial.html

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  28. I have been a longtime fan of LeiLiLaLoo's shop, and I adore her style. I would use any of her hand printed cotton ribbon to edge a skirt for my 6yr old daughter. Wouldn't that be cute?

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  29. Oooh they would look lovely as straps for my new handsewn bags! :)

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  30. The ribbons are all lovely. I like this one right now. I'm like a girl in the candy store :),
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28709345

    I would sew the ribbon into a pillow for my daughter, or maybe just for me :)

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  31. oooh, I've been admiring Dana's work for a long time!!!

    difficult to chose among all those beauties!
    this is one of my favs!
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25262428

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  32. It is so sweet of Dana to do this giveaway! I like this ribbon a lot, the dark leaves and blue flowers are so nice. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28709345 And I think I would use it to as an inspiration board line, so I could see it all the time. If I were a sewer I would incorporate it into a special pillow.

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  33. I'm following too, lovely blog, and what a wonderful choice of person, Dana is just the sweetest!xx

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  34. Oh she has such a lovely shop! I would us her ribbons to wrap special presents! ;)

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  35. I love her art, so would be happy with any of it...!

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  36. I love her linen pillow, 'drinking tea in my lovely flower garden'...so cute and very original!!

    Lisa
    lisabradford101@gmail.com

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  37. Beautiful. I had the honor to meet the designer in person. wonderful. great design and i hope she breaks trhough...sells a lot of things. beauty makes this world even more beautiful.
    i love the pink ribbon....

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  38. Very good the interview. I like
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28712034
    for his originality, but I like all your work, the cushions are also beautiful and the paintings.

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  39. Such a lovely interview and gorgeous photos:)

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  40. I love the ribbons she prints! I would definitely use this on the nursing covers I make!

    Sarah @ www.comeandseetheseitz.com

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  41. I love Dana's use of colours - bright with neutrals. Great work and interview!

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  42. Wow, i feel so overwhelmed by all your heartwarming response. I really had no idea people expirience my work in such a positive way. This knowledge strenghtens me so much, AND makes me feel very happy. THANK YOU!!!!!!!

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  43. I have loved leilalou's work for a long time. I particularly love the house cushions and the ribbon with the pink shoe print is one of my favourites.

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  44. I love all the ribbons! They're beautiful! I think my favorite is the ribbon with the Blue flowers with red centers and little red flowers! I am into all things girly right now with my 13 week old so I would use the ribbon for detailing on a dress and a hair ribbon to match! :)

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  45. I love her embroidery! I just started embroidering, so I'm very much in awe of anyone accomplished at it.

    The ribbons are gorgeous and would make a lovely embellishment on any sewing project.

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  46. All the ribbons are beautiful.
    I would coil them and stitch them in my fabric flowers.xx

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  47. Dana's shop is gorgeous and obviously reflects her cheerful personality. My fave things in the shop are the house pillows.

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  48. I have been a fan of Dana's shop for such a long time. I would use her ribbon in my fiber art pieces: www.sarahsmiles.no. I collect pieces of fabric, ribbon and paper to create fun pieces of art. My favorite pieces in Dana's shop are many, but I especially love the table runner, this would be perfect for the dinner party my 6 year old and I are planning for her friends!

    - sarah hannevik

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  49. i love all the printed cotton ribbons and i would use them for all of my jewelry gift boxes and all of my gifts

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  50. The paintings and drawings are beautyfull,i love the colours. I hope she still find the time to go through with her shop.

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  51. cannot choose one ribbon they are all beautiful!

    i also love the
    Handprinted HEMP Coasters!

    fsarah09 at gmail dot com

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  53. I am officially a follower! Yay!

    I like the handpainted cotton ribbon with the blues and the purples. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28709345

    It would be great to use for wrapping gifts!

    Joanna
    jmeyer814@yahoo.com

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  54. i love the things that dana makes. especially this tape: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28709345
    such pretty colours!
    great interview. :)

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  55. I like this ribon http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28709083

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  56. I LOVE these adorable picnic blankets! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24852948
    I'm a picnic-y kind of gal, haha! Thanks for this great giveaway! If I won the ribbons I'd use them to wrap creative gifts for mes amis et famille- presentation is everything! xox

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  57. I love her shop! I would use her ribbons in my daughter's hair.

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  58. As long as I know Dana, she is creating beautiful things. I admire her way of living her dream. For me she is an example in that way. I wish her al the luck in the world,

    Yvonne

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