LisaLoot...Find your collecting or creative bliss!
It all started almost 20 years ago with a mason jar full of beautiful sparkly beads that I picked up at a local vintage shop and saying to myself "some day I'm going to do something with these."
I was busy with three young children and a husband that traveled full time. I tried being a graphic artist, painting designs on children's clothing... it just wasn't quite what I was meant for.
Still in the thick of a busy family life, we moved from my beloved Chicago to the suburbs for a quieter one. BUT, I was struggling with my identity... who am I as an individual? One day I walked into the most wonderful vintage shop. It was only open on weekends and the owner would fashion the most enticing window display for the week so when the weekend came around, people were bursting in.
I talked that shop owner into giving me a job. I worked on Friday and Saturday nights. It was my getaway, chance to be a grown up, have adult conversation and oh yes! Play vintage dress up!
The shop owner saw that I was interested in designing jewelry, and really encouraged me to do so. I had this idea that I only wanted to use vintage components, nothing new. So I began the hunt, and amassed everything and anything I could... beads, buttons, buckles, you name it - to create one of a kind designs, only utilizing vintage materials.
It was a hit! I started Blast From The Past Designs, sold in her shop, took my act to the local French market, started doing shows - eventually supplied boutiques and continued to grow the best I could. But, as we all know, the economy started to digress - I tried utilizing reps, saw that my boutiques were struggling and decided that it was time to take a bit of a break.
But, I was sitting on all these wonderful materials, and my heart sank at the thought of selling any of them off. Eventually I decided that I could really take a good look at what I had and part with the things I absolutely knew I would never design with and had acquired early on in the name of only utilizing vintage.
I opened up LisaLoot with that in mind, and then I just couldn't help myself, I wanted it to be so much more! I'm a huge collector myself - of glass, pottery, artwork, jewelry - you name it. So I expanded my concept to include all things that any girl could love. Hats, purses, compacts, jewelry - the works!
As time has progressed, I've started introducing my original designs to my LisaLoot customers and I have received a warm response. I now offer original vintage items and my designs and it thrills me to know that I'm not giving up on my love for design and at the same time I get to build relationships, making new friends with my customers and colleagues alike, AND hunt for vintage treasure.
