EDITION #04
TITLE: One Year Later…

Hello,

or Bonjour if you will.

THE POINT IS-

On March 20th, I got a call from my job that I started three weeks before that I was furloughed for a month. Which, just like every other deadline in the pandemic, became two months, three months, six months and later almost a year. So I did what everyone else did, I started one of those projects I’ve dreamed about doing. 

My dream project? A collection of furniture and lighting. But let me clarify—my initial thought after my 7pm phone call on Saturday night that was basically “You’ve been furloughed. That’s all we know!” was not “okay let's dive into this collection.” It was “oh fuck”. (sorry for the language Grandma)  

But after I googled “furlough,” I began to calm down.

In reality, it was the perfect time to launch this collection. I could design during a time with literally no distractions and concentrate on what really brings me joy.

I reached out to craftsmen in LA and was thrilled to hear that they were still open. They were eager to take on jobs because so many of their other projects had been put on hold. Since there’s usually just a couple people in their shop anyways, it was safe to keep working. So I picked up the sketches that were getting dusty and got to work. 

Between March 20th, 2020 to October 20th, 2020 the Joie De Vivre collection was designed, made, photographed, and released. And then I’ll fill you in with what's been cooking since then.

March- May

While I had been thinking about the designs for months prior to the pandemic they really came into their final forms during the first few months of quarantine. Literally all I was doing was gardening, researching, sketching, and drinking gin and tonics out of those glasses with the happy faces. The sun was shining and it was early in my relationship with Covid-19 where I convinced myself that the time off was like the vacation the French get at the end of every summer. I spent my mornings watching my little green pumpkin sprouts break through the dirt instead of getting in the car to sit in traffic. Simpler times I’d say. After this strenuous morning routine, I’d sit down to sketch the final forms. Which I quickly changed two more times before I got the actual final forms.

May - July

Deposits were made. Items went in production. There was no going back. I emailed, called, and texted the vendors to make sure everything was going smoothly. With little to no in person meetings, having multiple lines of communication was super important in case anything came up. I was constantly stressed about spending my savings on furniture while my furlough timeline was getting longer and longer. But in my typical Lulu fashion, I pushed this messy negativity away and kept moving forward because ultimately, this project gave me so much joy. At this point, I was also thinking: What have I gotten myself into? Pumpkins grow really fast. (Is this turning into a gardening newsletter? It’s possible)

August

Suddenly, it was August. We all wondered “how was it already the end of summer? How are we all still inside?” I began finalizing my color and fabric selections. The items in production are ready for powder coating, finishing, or upholstery. This was the moment of truth. Choosing colors was a constant battle between myself and I. However, I learned you really have to go with your gut and send it. I also reached out to Ashley Romasko to see if she wanted to collaborate on an outfit for my photoshoot and by golly she said yes! This was going to be fun. 

Also in August, I googled “how many pumpkins grow on a single vine” the answer: 5. How many vines did I have? 10.

September 

All the items were close to their final form. I started planning the photoshoot scheduled for October 10th with the incredible photographer, Angie Stong. I was officially furloughed for 6 months, officially 1000% in it with my collection and officially ready to launch. That meant I had to learn the reality of what it means to launch. Like pricing an item for retail, wholesale, and with a trade account discount. I was researching methods of shipping, pricing out crates and figuring out how to integrate all this onto a website. I was as ready as I could be and I was happier than I had been in a very long time- I was growing 50 pumpkins for crying out loud! Who wouldn't be happy! 

October

Then came October...October was tough. The Cameron Peak Fire that had been burning since August in Northern Colorado had reached the family cabin. My family was calling each other daily to discuss the wind direction and MPH expected for each hour of the day ahead. So while the physical form of my entire childhood was holding on by a thread, I was sewing the outfit that Ashely had designed and gathering all the photo shoot props to communicate the “Joy of Living.” Talk about mixed emotions. The night before the photoshoot was also the night we thought the cabin burned down. I used my tears to steam my outfit.

In the end, the photoshoot was amazing, the cabin did not burn down, and I harvested 6 pumpkins.

October 20th 2020 is a day I will not forget. When the collection went live online it was one of the most rewarding moments I have ever felt. The months of hard work and the several breakdowns were worth it because these ideas that had just been floating around in my head were now physical items that could sit on your nightstand! The joy I felt could be shared with you.

March 2021, a year later. The Joie De Vivre collection is hitting the newsstands and making it’s way in the world. So here’s the sentimental part of my pandemic review. This collection proved that this is what I love to do. Designing furniture and lighting kept me going through this extremely difficult and uncertain year. The collection continues to spark joy and remind me of the importance of following your dreams. Cheesy, yes. True, absolutely.

Sending love to you all!
Lulu

P.S.
I will not be growing pumpkins again this year. I will however, be launching a second collection.

This email was made in collaboration with Claire O’neill

LOOKING FOR MORE?

I’ve started an Instagram Live series where I chat with a designer, artist, or any creative every week. It has been amazing to get to know people better, learn about their process and really just, well, chat.

If you missed them, here is the recap:

LULU x TAYLER
We talked all the details and spilled all the tea about starting and running our own businesses. Tayler is an artist specializing in black and white work featuring commentary and inspiration. He’s had several successful drops of clothing and art work as he is connects with his buyers by making one of a kind pieces that are only available for a certain amount of time. Running a business is a lot of work, and Tayler will be the first to tell you that- but we have both seen the amazing results of working hard and seeing ideas come to reality. Tayler is a great source of inspiration if you need any. Check in our live for more of the details.

LULU x ANNA
Me and my new BFF talked about so many things I can’t even fit it in a paragraph. Having only met once when we happened to sit next to each other at a mutual friends wedding, Anna and I have since connected on Instagram and discovered we are the same person. So I convinced Anna to join my IG Live series and I promise you won’t be disappointed. We talked about the best places to source vintage rugs, the benefits of shopping at Industry West and why you shouldn’t paint your front door blue. Anna is an interior styling pro and an incredible textile designer. You can read more about her in Domino, Marie Claire or on her website. She also has a fantastic newsletter that I urge you to subscribe to.

Huge shout out to the both of them for taking the time to talk!

As always, thanks for reading this newsletter! Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

SHOP JOIE DE VIVRE