Update 5/17/12: I have decided to go in a new direction and this is no longer open for submissions. Thanks so much!

First off, I’d like to say that I had a great weekend in Washington DC with our BWI Workshop! I will have more photos and details to come later this week. I’m also taking today off as I have mentioned. But I wanted to drop by MML quickly and share a breakthrough I’ve had… just a few hours ago.

The Thing I’m Afraid to Tell You About Jess LC

As the Things I’m Afraid to Tell You movement continues to grow (Meg is doing a new wave of the series today), I’m taking this truth-telling to let go of something I’ve been ashamed of over at Jess LC.

Since last year I’ve been designing and creating iPad 2 and 3 covers. The color combinations and the overall design have been very popular, and I am so thankful for the success that it has been. As you all know I am a completely self-taught designer and I have only recently begun working with local manufacturers to create these new cases.

It has honestly been one of the most challenging projects of my thirteen year run in business. Designing accessories is not extremely challenging. But applying an accessory mindset to a decidedly tech product, is a balance that is extremely hard to reach – especially as a 27-year-old with no background or major resources like most out there producing most portfolio style iPad covers.

Our cases themselves have met every expectation that I personally had for my “dream iPad 2 case,” but they have not been everyone’s cup of tea. While we have had hundreds of satisfied, excited, and happy iPad case customers, we have also had more issues with this style than any other product we have ever designed combined. About 9% of people who purchase this case are not satisfied.

While that number still is pretty small considering the circumstances, it has been very hard on me personally. You see, I desperately want each and every case to be as perfect as possible for everyone. But reality is not perfect. And what’s more, even if it is perfect for most people, it is not perfect for all people.

So now that we’ve blown through our inventory of gold iPad case styles, I am now faced with a decision: Do I continue to make more for all those who are so excited about them? Or do I stop making them and avoid the disappointed customers?

It’s been a tough battle in my mind, let me tell you.

I would rather have a 1% customer service request rate which is consistent with our other products than the 9% that occurs with iPad cases.

But I also know that if I drop the cases, I am going to get tons of emails from people who really, really, really want us to keep making them.

So this morning I came to a conclusion: unlike the industry standard of sharing bullet point lists of the product details on the product page for this item, I am coming clean with the pros and cons of these cases right up front so customers can make a decision.

That’s right, all the good and bad points about the case are now front and center on each product page.

My hope is that by being this honest about the cases, customers who might be disappointed by certain aspects will know this ahead of time and not buy the case in the first place. Thereby lowering our overall customer service rate for the product.

And, for those who fully understand the case’s features, they will still be able to order and enjoy the colors and features they are so excited about.

While I realize that this much information might be a little to “TMI,” I think the peace of mind that I will feel about them is priceless.

My hope is that we have more informed customers who appreciate our efforts to provide the best case we possibly can, while still understanding the limitations of the product.

Phew. It’s now out there. It feels peaceful, freeing, and real.

Thank you all so very much for your support.

photo by

- shop our Jess LC mother’s day sale today and tomorrow only -

This week I’m thankful for a lot, but the launch of our Wells intentional prints has to be at the top! The response to the prints has been overwhelmingly positive and I’m so thankful that so many people are picking these up for their homes here in Chicago, across the country, and in Australia (one of our most popular customer bases)!

In case you are wondering, I have my own Wells print in my living room too. Though it didn’t make the cut for the lookbook, I think it looks pretty dapper in my living room.

Also, I’m loving how my friend Kim, of Yellow Brick Home, styled her Just Keep Going print in her hallway over chalkboard paint.

Tomorrow Kim and I are going thrifting to find and spray paint ceramic animals neon colors. I can’t wait.

Thanks for reading MML this week. I hope you have a great weekend!

Once upon a time there was a collection named Franklin at Jess LC. This braille necklace series had intentions that were loved by many people. Eventually the cost for these pieces rose too high and needed to be retired. But all was not lost.

Meet Wells.

Over the several months I have been reinterpreting Franklin in a new and exciting way. By collaborating with the amazingly talented Morgan and Carrie of Ampersand Design Studio, we have brought back the spirit of Franklin, and now have Jess LC for the home.

It was a treat to do this project with Morgan and Carrie. Not only do our design styles work well together (we all have a love of gold, graphics, and neon pink), but they are simply delightful people as well. I’m also proud to say that the prints are produced in Kansas City on poster-weight paper with gold, neon, and one-of-a-kind inks.

Below you’ll see Franklin’s most popular intentions taken in a whole new direction.

And thanks to the my recent motto battle cry, we have a newcomer as well.

Meet Just Keep Going.

I decided to make the prints large, 16″ wide x 20″ tall, so their scale can make a statement alone or on a gallery wall. But they are also a standard size which will work with most high and low end frames (aka: you can get a frame custom made or you can find frames that work at most craft stores).

For the lookbook, I knew that I wanted to let the prints speak for themselves in the lives and homes of other people. Though I could have styled a shoot all by myself, I thought it was much more dynamic and interesting to let other interior design fanatics like myself share their visions for these prints.

And I couldn’t be more blown away by the results. These are just a few of the photos from the lookbook (hop over to see the full lookbook).

I’d like to thank the following ladies for participating in the lookbook and styling process, they are incredible women with ambition and style that inspires me everyday.

(In order of lookbook appearance)

Erika Brechtel, Small Shop Studio

Danielle Moss, The Everygirl and Breakfast at Toast

Carrie Kiefer, Ampersand Design Studio

Liz Schneider, Sequins and Stripes

Alaina Kaczmarksi, The Everygirl and Live Creating Yourself

Bryn Dunn, Bryn Alexandra

Mackenzie Horan, Design Darling

Morgan Georgie, Ampersand Design Studio

And last but certainly not least, I would like to thank Zoe, our Jess LC intern and lookbook coordinator for making this all possible!

Hop over to check out the lookbook and Wells prints.

photos via Erika, Morgan, Carrie, Alaina, and Bryn 

Today I thought I’d switch things up and share a glimpse into what’s going on in my life. In the video I share what it’s like to have three companies now (Jess LC, MML, and BWI), how I’m managing it all, and what is still a challenge.

I also share a little inside scoop about our upcoming Jess LC collection launching next week (a new product is in store!).

Jess LC is bursting with color due to a new installment of FLEA pieces.

Pops of pool blue, flamingo pink, and lemon drop mix with leopard, stripes, and bamboo.

See them all here.

For the start of 2012 we are looking back in time for inspiration for our new Jess LC FLEA collection. We have gone treasure hunting for vintage items to re-work into our signature Jess LC style. It was incredibly fun to experiment with new colors, textures, and materials that you just can’t find these days.

Here is a little sample of what we’ve got in store for the first FLEA batch.

Each of these styles are made in limited quantities of 10 or less. You can see the batch quantity on the product pages.

If something you love sells out, have no fear! We will be regularly updating the FLEA collection with new styles.

Hop on over to shop the FLEA.

My career is building momentum quickly now that I’ve declared my new intention. Lots of projects are in the works with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. I’m so excited to share the newness as things get completed.

In the meantime, there is one intention that needs to be addressed: a new Jess LC intern.

If you’ve been reading MML for any length of time, you know that I refer to my girls pretty frequently when it comes to the shop. I have Susie who is our amazing Jewelry Making Queen, and we have an incredible intern/manager/wonder woman named Melissa who has been with us for years who is graduating and will be leaving us shortly.

Which leaves us with an opening for a new lady to enter our studio.

We are looking for someone who is smart, outgoing, creative, and wants to learn how to run a business. Jess LC internships are unpaid, but the experience gained as an intern/manager a great way to learn how to grow a successful and intentional business. The intern/manager will work side by side me as we develop new projects, organize lookbooks, execute new product launches, and craft marketing campaigns.

On a regular basis the intern/manager will also be running the day to day operations of jesslc.com. She will fulfill orders, interact with customers, and manage inventory. There may also be times where she can work with us at trunk shows or pop up shops as well.

In addition to the aspects mentioned above, I am very interested in finding out what unique talents and gifts she has to contribute to Jess LC as well. Fantastic photoshop skills, photography, writing, graphic design, or baking (we love to bake) are all valued and appreciated.

Plus, she must also like to watch You Tube videos, be open to watching terrible scary movies at Jess LC parties, and have a positive personality.

Internship Details

Intern/manager must be able to commute to Chicago’s Lakeview/Lincoln Park area to work in the studio. This can, but does not need to be for school credit.

Hours are flexible but will fall on weekdays between 11a-5p. On average, 12-18 hours per week.

A laptop is required.

We are looking to begin as soon as possible.

To Apply

If you think you fit the bill and want to work with us, please email me at jess@jesslc.com and let me know why you’d like to work with us!

photo by Danielle Moss with Liz Schneider and Alaina Kaczmarski 

Before the holidays I did a little straw poll on MML about color combinations for the new release of iPad cases (which are back in stock!). The vote was between gold with a gray interior or gold with an aqua interior.

The result was about 60 to 1. Aqua was the clear winner.

Now that the cases are done, it’s easy to see why. Thank you so much for your help in making this new case a reality! Though it’s not yet on the site like all of the other color combinations, it can be ordered now by emailing me at jess@jesslc.com.

Hop over to the Jess LC FB page to post your pic!

I have also found a renewed energy for Jess LC. While we are still working on traditional collections coming up this spring (including some new products and collaborations), I also have a special new project that Susie and I are working on which will debut in the next few weeks. I can’t wait to share the results when the project is ready to launch!

And in other news, Susie discovered four Division Chevron Necklaces in our inventory which we overlooked and thought were completely sold out. This was a beloved style for many MML readers, so I thought I’d share the good news in case someone still had their eye on it!

We got a few things back from our photographer which happen to be sold out. These puppies are the last of their kind. So feel free to snatch ‘em up before they are gone for good!

And in other news…

Have you seen the new Rue Mag out today? I spotted our Merci note cards on page 15! Also, on page 68 you’ll find Danielle’s gorgeously tranquil apartment as well.

Discount codes and winner will be announced January 19th on the Jess LC FB wall.

First of all, I’m excited to share that I stumbled upon our Quincy iPad 2 case in the new Rue Holiday issue on page 65! It’s also been featured in Lonny’s Gift Guide as well as several other places among the interwebs. I am so thankful for all of the support for the cases and our new product lines!

While this press is exciting, it is also making it hard to keep the cases in stock.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am in the process of working with a new, bigger facility in Chicago to produce our cases and bags. And as we make this transition, there are faced with a few changes: our labor and material costs for the cases have risen significantly. The labor alone has risen 38% from our previous contractor on these cases. As you can imagine, we are not raising the cost of the case by the full increase, but we do need to raise it from $80 to $86 to make sure we cover some of our increased unit expenses. The price increase will be official on January 1, 2012.

But for the holiday season we are allowing people to continue ordering cases still left in inventory at the regular $80 rate, as well as pre-order cases that are now sold out at the $80 rate through December, 31st.

We estimate that the new batch of cases will be ready at some point in January, but to be safe we are officially estimating February 1st as the ship date.

If you would like to pre-order a case at the grandfathered rate in December, please email me at jess@jesslc.com. Currently the gray/canary and cocoa/coral options are sold out completely and we only have one gold/fuchsia left. As the other colors sell out, you can also reach out to me to pre-order those as well. Plus, as an added bonus for MML readers, I am allowing pre-orders of the new gold/aqua color option that will be available also – since you all helped me make the color choice.

Thank you so much for your support!

Happy December! In keeping with the holidays, we are singing a new tune at Jess LC. More specifically, we are singing The Twelve Days of Discounts. Though we have no use for “Lords a-leaping,” we thought you might like the chance to grab some of our jewelry styles at a discount.

Each day now through December 12th we will be marking a specific style down by 20%. No need to worry about discount codes, the price drop will be already adjusted on the product page directly (discount does not apply to any past or future purchases). You will find each day’s jewelry deal on the homepage.

What products will be in the sale? Well, that’s our little secret. Check Jess LC daily or join our Facebook page for updates.

Today’s sale item is…

The Ainslie Single Pearl Drop Necklace.

As I get ready to run a new order of iPad cases, I realized yesterday that I have the option of running the color combinations as usual, or add a new option and drop an old option.

And I would love your help to decide what to do.

Right now our gold/fuchsia, cocoa/coral, gray/canary, and eggplant/fuchsia options are incredibly popular and are selling at about the same pace. But the gold/graphite combo happens to sell a bit slower than the rest. So… I’m considering the option to swap out the gray lining in the gold/graphite case for aqua lining instead.

You can get an idea for what it would look like with my little photoshopped image above. And below, you can see the lining options in more detail.

Which would you order? The gold/graphite or gold/aqua?

If you’ve been following MML for any measure of time, you have seen Jess LC undergo a bunch of new changes in 2011. In January, I had the bolt of inspiration that led to growing Jess LC from a jewelry company to a lifestyle brand. It has been a string of challenges, one after another (and sometimes multiple challenges at once).

In the summer I almost had a break down.

In the process, I figured stuff out as I went and learned to create new products and work with contractors, business owners, and tanneries in Italy. Some things have been really easy, some things have been a challenge, and some have been nearly impossible. I had to drop a style I really wanted to launch, I had leather that was defective and caused a color story redesign, and I had a custom leather job get totally messed up.

That said, there was also some amazing high points like the popularity of our Lake Shore and Quincy collections. I am thankful that these new collections are so loved, as they are a personal favorite as well.

In fact, these new bags styles have been selling so well that the small batch orders we were placing were quickly pre-selling out before they even arrived. Due to the limited capacity at our first Chicago manufacturer, we have decided to find larger production in a new facility right here in Chicago.

The thing is, rather than ordering 10′s at a time of each style, we are now working with minimums of 200 units. 200 UNITS! It is hard to imagine, even as I type this post. I know that this is the best move for us, but at the same time, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. The sheer amount of material and labor that this new scale of production will require is at an unprecedented level. I am in unfamiliar waters in a field I’m still new to. I’ve managed to go from big-ish fish in a small pond to a tiny minnow in a large ocean.

But knowing how much better these new inventory levels will be for our customers (less delays or quick sell outs), I’m forging ahead despite the fear. I don’t have any guarantee that this will work out, but I am taking the steps any ways.

It feels kind of like walking in a straight line in a completely dark room, hoping that I am going the right direction. And I’m hoping that I don’t hurt myself in the process.

So with this in mind, I think this is a great time to fill in those interested in ordering Jess LC items during the holiday season. Because of the manufacturing transition, we are restructuring a few of our collections and some designs will no longer be available once remaining inventory sells out.

Quincy Collection – iPad 2 Cases and Coin Purses

The iPad 2 cases will continue to be carried. Our inventory of cases is limited right now (so order quickly for the holidays), but we will be restocking once our first order is completed by the new facility. We don’t have a specific due date thus far, but I expect it to be ready in January. I will keep everyone updated on this, and once we have a clearer idea of the turnaround time, I will open up pre-orders for any sold color combinations at that point.

The coin purses we have are no longer going to be carried forward with the new production. The inventory we have left is all that there will be. So snatch up these puppies quickly if you have your eye on one!

Lake Shore Collection – Handbags

Because of the large minimum orders we have now, we are not planning on carrying these styles into 2012. We will be releasing new bag styles this winter and spring however, so stay tuned!

And at the moment we do have a limited number of natural colored Lake Shore bags (the navy stock is sold out).

Jewelry, Scarves, and Stationery

These products and collections are still going to be available as usual. Our next batch of Webster Cheers and Merci cards will ship out to customers early next week and pre-orders are available now.

Our Classic jewelry is still available as usual. The Diversey, Franklin, and Division collections are selling out quickly and are still slated to retire when they are gone (as mentioned before, the costs of these collections have tripled, and we are therefore retiring them, rather than hiking up the prices).

And last but not least, our limited edition Belmont scarves are still available. But as styles sell out they will be retired as well.

What’s Coming Up in 2012

Looking ahead into next year I am busy planning several spring collections that are bright, bold, fun, and very Jess LC. I’m excited to share them with you as we go! But for now, I will just say that we are continuing to release new bag styles, jewelry, scarves, and stationery. And who knows, there may be some surprises in there as well!

Here in the Jess LC studio we are gearing up for the holidays. Since we are expecting a pretty big turnout in the weeks to come, we are offering a special discount a bit early to those who are planning on some gift shopping for themselves or others during this holiday season.

The 20% discount on orders of $150+ is good through this Friday online only. Enter code BOXESANDBOWS at checkout for the savings.

I’m on the lookout for help with Jess LC!

This Friday (the 18th), I need an assistant to help with the set up and running of an evening event for the Junior League in the Chicago Cultural Center. It will just be myself and the assistant for the evening trunk show. The event runs 7:30p to 11:00p. But we will need to meet at my studio beforehand to set up and transport items to the event at 4:45p.

If you are interested in helping, please email me at jess(at)jesslc.com. The assistance is unpaid, but there will be Jess LC credit!

Today I’d like to share a lesson that I’ve learned the past few weeks over at Jess LC. I usually wait a bit longer to share things that I learn there, but this one is at the top of my mind and I think it might be helpful for other business owners now or in the future.

Since the launch of our new iPad cases and coin purses we have had unprecedented success with them and have sold through our inventory much sooner than expected.

This is good (great, even) news, yet the newer, larger, orders we’ve placed are taking a while to create. We order in small batches yet when every item is practically sold out, that means small batches of lots of products = a large order.

The craftsman that we work with on our bags and cases are local, small, and make each item by hand. At this point in time, this is great for Jess LC because I can be in the workshop working with them directly on details and there is no shipping costs or lag time. They are also competitively priced for the small quantities we order, which means that we pass those low costs onto the customers in the overall price as well. If one day I decide to try manufacturing overseas in order to serve thousands of customers I have that option. But for now, I really like having great prices for high quality materials and local craftsmanship. It makes for a more personal product and much more of my own perspective in the design.

The issue that’s coming up is that our orders are pre-selling quickly and sometimes can take longer to make than anticipated.

For someone like me who is pretty Type-A (I decorate my closets just as much as my bookshelves), this is really upsetting. After all, I am the head of the company and even though I am doing everything in my power to get these orders completed on schedule, it still reflects on me if we are delayed.

For example, I was told our most recent order would be ready by Monday, October 24th. Then I found out that there was more work to be done and they would be ready by Thursday, the 27th. But in the meantime, a close family friend of a craftsman died and he flew out to New York go to the funeral. This left just one craftsman to work on the order over the weekend. By the time that the first craftsman got back from the funeral, there was still more to do and I’m now told that they will be completed by this Wednesday.

As you can imagine, this delay was completely unforeseen.

While I was processing this whole situation over the weekend, I had an epiphany when waiting for a table at the amazing burger joint, Kuma’s Corner. Kuma’s burgers are famous all over Chicago and with a tiny kitchen and small seating area, the lines here can be easily over two hours.

Right before we got seated my friend Alex made a comment that caught my attention. He mentioned that the hostess was one of the best he’d ever had at a restaurant. Knowing that I myself felt much like a hostess in the iPad case and coin purse situation, I asked him what made her so extraordinary. His response was simple, “She just seems like she really wants to get us a table as soon as she can. I know that there are a ton of people here waiting, and that she doesn’t need to keep us in mind that much, but she keeps coming up to us and letting us know how long it will be.”

And that’s when it clicked for me: the best thing to do when there is a wait is keep everyone as up to date on information as possible, in a personal way.

This course of action also validated why my customers waiting on cases were being so understanding and supportive over the past week. I, like the Kuma’s hostess, was doing my best to keep everyone updated. On the Monday that everyone expected to get their case, I emailed each person individually and let them know that their order would be ready to ship on Friday instead of Monday, just as the craftsman told me. Then, when I found out that the cases were not ready by that Friday, I again, let each person know in a personal email. I told them that once I had an update this week I would be in touch. I kept the emails short, honest, and apologetic, after all I have been so excited to get everyone their cases as soon as I possibly can!

Once I found out this morning about the funeral situation, I again, emailed everyone with an update. The honest and open communication with each customer has gone a long way. I am so thankful and blessed to have such understanding and supportive customers who are kindly and patiently waiting for their pre-orders to ship.

Once the packages do ship out, I have also arranged a little surprise; I have handwritten little notes to each customer, thanking them for being so “sweet” and patient – and I’ve included a little chocolate treat in the order to match my sentiment.

Overall, I think that what I’ve taken out of this whole order delay and hostess analogy is that honest, friendly, personal communication with customers is the best course of action. And in order to prepare for any future delays with these small batches, I’m now estimating the ship dates on the site for pre-orders right above the add to cart button, to keep people in the loop.

So while I am learning that I do not have complete control over production; I can do my very best, and be the most excellent hostess that I can be.

Fact #1: Over the summer I really, really, really wanted to buy an expensive pair of Tory Burch boots which were only available via Tory Burch stores. By the time that I made my decision to plunk down the $500 for the boots, they were all sold out. They had only had a limited quantity of the style and I had no idea they were that popular. I was incredibly bummed.

Fact #2: Our new Jess LC collections are made by a few local craftsman here in Chicago and often we order in small batches to keep things manageable for the craftsman. And we have also done small runs of products which are limited edition and can sell out quickly.

Fact #3: I knocked off another company.

These three facts give you a pretty clear picture of what I have to share. Given Fact #1, I have been aware that my lack of information on how rare those boots were caused me to miss out on owning them. Had I known that they were so limited, I could have hurried my decision to purchase them rather than get my hopes up and then be disappointed.

Likewise, this same situation is also happening over at Jess LC with our new collections. Since our jewelry is made in-house, we often can make items quickly and easily as long as we can re-order the supplies used to make the styles. But our new bag, scarf, stationery, and iPad cases are all made by local craftsman in small batches. And even the materials we use are sometimes not meant to be re-ordered, but are just available for one season.

What I love about this method is that it keeps things local, intimate, and special for our shop and our customers. It feels great to keep things small at this time to grow intentionally.

And in this process, I’ve decided to knock off another company…

Yep. It’s true. I’m getting my inspiration for production from non other than the amazing and incredible Three Floyds Brewery of Munster, Indiana.

I first got introduced to the company on a beer tour with my friends Cathy and John. Mr. Lively and I drove out with Cathy and her husband to go on a brewery tour and then eat some incredibly amazing bar food (like truffle fries). And believe it or not, the whole experience pushed me to improve Jess LC.

During our brewery tour, the guide mentioned that 3 Floyds does year-round, seasonal, and collaboration batches. This way of operating a small, local business was brilliant. And I set out to do the same with my own shop.

Collaboration Collections

While 3 Floyds collaborates with breweries like Dogfish Head, I did my recent collaboration with Claudia if Fig. 2 Design Studio which resulted in our Webster note card collection. These cards are available in small quantities. And I’ve also done a collaboration item over the summer with Elizabeth Dehn as well.

So far these partnerships have been incredibly fun and successful, so I’m excited to continue adding new collaborative collections in 2012.

Year-Round, Small Batch Collections

And when it comes to 3 Floyds year-round brews, like the insanely good Gumball Head (my favorite beer of all time), we over at Jess LC make our Quincy collection in small batches as well. Due to the high demand for this collection, we also allow people to pre-order from the next batch that is to come in once the previous batch sells out.

Seasonal Collections

Then of course there are the limited edition runs of styles which are not re-order-able. Once these styles sell out, they are gone for good. Our Belmont scarves and Lake Shore bags fall under these categories.

(Lake Shore however, will return in the spring.)

How I’m Getting the Info Out to Customers

To let customers know about these details we added small arrows below, to each product page that falls under these three categories.

And each of these buttons are linked to the Collection Definitions page, which explains everything in more detail.

Which of course kinda looks like the beer list over on 3 Floyds’ site.

So there you have it. I can finally come clean and shout it out far and wide, I love and admire 3 Floyds so much that I have knocked off their production cycle.

Of course the idea of knocking off 3 Floyds is all in jest, but the truth is that this was a great example of how looking outside your own industry can give you creative solutions to your own issues or even allow you to think about your company in a fresh and unique way.

 3 Floyds image credit

After the success of the first Jess LC Pop Up Shop earlier this summer we are doing another this Saturday in Chicago’s Millennium Park! It will be a part of the Style Chicago event in the huge tent on Chase Promenade North (the south side of the silver Bean) from 10a – 6p.

And… as a little extra bonus, if you come in and mention this post we’ll give you five dollars off your purchase!

Well, hello there! I have been in such a rush launching the recent collections, growing Business in the City, prepping for our next collection (due out in November), and so forth that I feel like it would be great to fill you in on my life lately and my current intentions.

First, I will say that I had a fantastic time celebrating my 27th birthday over the weekend with my dear “sister” (we aren’t really sisters, but almost as close), Carol Beth and her husband in Rochester, Michigan. Mr. Lively and I had a great time and I got to show him my childhood hometown.

As far as my birthday goes, I am taking this as a great opportunity to sit back and make a mission statement for myself. It is something heavily stressed in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, but oddly something I only did in college. Recently I have been a bit intimidated by the prospect of distilling my overall life purpose, values, and goals into just a few paragraphs. I think that I’ve honestly been worried that if I really write them down that I will then be held accountable to fulfill them at every moment of my life.

To help myself shake off this perfectionism, I’m now re-framing the activity in my mind to be my “Intention Statement.” This way I intend to let the thoughts guide me, keeping in mind that I may not always be 100% perfect all of the time. When it’s ready I’ll be sure to share here on MML.

As far as Jess LC goes, things have been going well! There are times when I definitely feel over my head, lost, frustrated, and confused. But then there are also moments of clarity, excitement, and awe at how much the company has evolved this year. So in general I kind of feel like a new mom must feel. The challenges are there, but so are the moments of bliss.

I’m looking forward to January to look back and reflect on all that has happened and craft the vision for 2012. At so many points this year I have questioned what I’ve been doing and whether I should have held back, done less, or been safer. But each time I face those fears and push forward. I am using this year as a (calculated) experiment. And when the dust settles after the holiday season I’ll be able to see what is really possible when you give a company like this all that you have to give.

As for this week, things are already picking up! I have an exciting photo shoot of my apartment on Thursday. And on Saturday we are having a Jess LC Pop Up Shop in Millennium Park.

So there you have it! I am so happy to have the opportunity to fill you in and share this journey with you. It’s meant so much to me and I am so thankful for MML and this amazing group of people who are also designing their lives with intention.

I have big news! I’ve been working over the past few months with Claudia Smith, the amazingly talented stationery designer behind Fig. 2 Design Studio to create a collaborative limited edition line of note cards for Jess LC!

The two metallic foil card styles, Cheers and Merci, come in single flat cards ($3) and eight card sets ($14) along with coral envelopes in keeping with our signature color.

It was so much fun to work with Claudia on this project. When I came upon her shop earlier this summer I was immediately struck by her talent and amazing products and I knew that I wanted to pair with her to create our cards. Our individual styles are unique but also overlap in that we both love fresh, clean, bright design. Working with her to make cards in my all time favorite color combo, white and gold, was a dream come true. And to mix it with our coral from Jess LC made the blend of Fig. 2 Design Studio and our shop seamless.

As for the intention behind the designs, I wanted to make sure that the phrases we chose would work for a variety of occasions. In fact, we designed our lookbook around this theme to show the many ways these cute cards can be used again and again.

Here are a few pics from the lookbook,

And as with the Quincy and Belmont lookbooks, I went straight to Danielle Moss of Breakfast at Toast to shoot the lookbook photos for Webster. She did such a fantastic job (I can’t say enough about her work for others looking for a photographer for business, home, or family). And I adored getting her little Buddy into the shoot as well.

To see the full lookbook, scroll the images below.

Thanks so much for following me along on this journey over the summer, I know that I haven’t revealed much, but hopefully the wait has been worth it!

Sorry for the delay on the post. This morning Danielle and I were shooting the next lookbook for the new Jess LC collection debuting next week. The shoot is a bit different this time compared to past lookbooks due to the nature of the products, so I can’t wait to reveal the collection!

Now it’s time to talk about my new little inspirational guru. Though there are many ideas out there on ways to give thanks from blessing books to grace at mealtime, Jessica’s methods (shown below) have far and away been most joyful and gratitude inducing for me.

I first revisited this video as Mr. Lively started mimicking her gratitude for things in our own lives and over the past week or so (including the fist pumps) and it’s become a running joke as well as a positive way to talk about good things in our lives.

Today on my morning run, I started to (silently) use her singsong style to give thanks for things in my own life. And you know what? It actually got me smiling grinning. I found this little tactic actually helped brighten my mood more than any other gratitude method before. And I wasn’t in a negative mood when I started, but the silent singing took me from happy to practically ecstatic.

Try it. It is certainly silly, but I think that’s half the magic.

And… Thanks to Adore Magazine!

Also, one of my things to be thankful for is a recent feature in Adore Magazine’s new issue! Thank you so much Rebecca for the wonderful shout out for our new Quincy Coin Purses.

PS – We got the gold/fuchsia and eggplant/fuchsia back in stock!

Yesterday Oh Joy shared coin purses on her amazing blog. I’ve been a huge fan of her for years and to see her get excited about our coin purses is truly amazing.

And earlier this week I was interviewed for a Psych Central article on 12 Ways Successful Bloggers, Entrepreneurs Stay Productive. The article is great and shares my viewpoints along with the likes of Tara Gentile. It was great to see how differently we all approach our workdays and life balance.

As many of you know, one of the best ways for me to stay productive during the weekdays is to avoid email on nights and weekends. I still highly recommend the practice for those who haven’t tried it yet. It has changed my life and helped me truly appreciate what I do in and outside of work.

Thank you so much for the amazing feedback from the initial launch of Quincy and Belmont! I am thrilled to hear how many of you love the styles and colors we designed. And from the initial sales, it’s clear that gold and fuchsia is a big winner (not that we are surprised).

It’s also funny to hear how many people have been on the fence about buying an iPad. I know that my own decision to buy one was driven in large part by the case I’d be using. Which as you know, became the catalyst for designing one for Jess LC that had all the bells and whistles that I wanted – protection, leather, brass zipper, pockets, and gorgeous lining. And though it may not be the best buy for everyone, I have loved having mine and use it daily. I use mine to sketch ideas with my stylus, take notes, read The New York Times, do short yoga videos in the morning, play Words with Friends, and it makes one heck of a blog reader. So while I definitely don’t recommend buying one if the finances aren’t right, I do think it is worth the money for me personally.

Now, on to the lookbooks. I honestly don’t even want to share them until I give proper credit where credit is due, so without further ado,

Danielle Moss – Photographer

Blog – Breakfast at Toast
Site – Danielle Moss
Twitter -@DanielleMoss_

Danielle shot all of the incredible photos for the Belmont and Quincy lookbooks and I couldn’t be more blown away. She captured the essence of what we were doing in the blink of an eye, works extremely hard, and is so reliable. I cannot recommend her enough for people in need of a photographer.

It was a pleasure having her as a photographer for Jess LC and I feel honored to have her as a friend as well. Her hard work with her blog, photography, and booming blog design business make her a great person to follow online as well.

Alaina Kaczmarski – Stylist and Model

Blog – Live Creating Yourself
Site – LYC Graphics, LYC Shop
Twitter – @AlainaKaz

When I first started thinking about these lookbooks I knew that the products lent themselves to a variety of shots and, unlike jewelry, could be shot in vignettes as well as on models. Which is tricky for me. And I knew that having Alaina on board to style the shoot was going to make everything look 100% better.

I was right.

Alaina has an eye for style of all kinds, fashion, product, home, you name it. And since we were dealing with those types of locations for Quincy and Belmont, I wanted her to take the lead when it came to laying out the shots and getting everything placed just right. Heck, she even styled the images above (I saw how well she put them together for her post and begged her to let me use her “styled” photo layout as well). What was even cooler was being able to actually have her model in the shoot as well. As a friend of Alaina, I knew her beauty and amazing laugh would shine in the lookbook. (And I was right again.)

Liz Schnider – Model

Blog – Sequins & Stripes

Twitter – @LizSchneider01

Liz, I am happy to say, is a new friend. I met her via Alaina’s blog design for her awesome style blog, Sequins & Stripes. I started to follow immediately and was hooked to her editorial perspective. I am not personally the best when it comes to clothing and outfits, but this girl knows how to make a freaking adorable outfit. So I started to literally study how she does it. And then it occurred to me to have her model along with Alaina to keep the lookbooks varied and interactive.

I have to say, I pat myself on the back for that decision, because Liz rocked it out of the park with her adorable giggles, smile, and fun attitude. She seems made for this stuff. And I’m excited to see where her fantastic blog takes her from here.

(And again, I’m thrilled to have her as a friend now, too.)

To view the lookbooks in their full size, expand the images below.

After a summer of product development, I’m proud to share two new Jess LC collections, Quincy and Belmont.

Of course, you can straight to the lookbooks to see the entire launch. But for those who are more patient, I’ll fill you in a bit about the collections (details on the lookbook shoot with Danielle (photographer), Alaina (styling and model), and Liz (model) will come later today).

Quincy iPad Cases

Quincy is our iPad2 case and coin purse collection. My intention behind this collection was to make everyday items pretty. And when it comes to iPad cases, I found that there were many “practical” options and just a few beautiful (and extremely expensive) ones. But none had the colors, protection, price, and style that I was looking for. And so, I set out early this year to develop what I consider the best case on the market for under $100 (we came in $20 below the mark).

The colors, you may notice, are from that little color survey I had you all comment on earlier this spring. I think you all did a great job picking. We went with gold/gray, gold/fuchsia, gray/canary, eggplant/fuchsia, and cocoa/coral. Each one is hand made with real leather in Chicago.

Quincy Coin Purses

And since not everyone needs an iPad case, I also wanted to design another style to this collection which used the awesome color story we created in a different way as well. And these coin purses are the perfect choice. The soft, supple leather and pop of lining is the perfect little place to stash cash, credit cards, iPhones (it fits without the case), or lip gloss. The key ring makes carrying keys and cash simple, and the brass zipper is strong and pretty. Like the iPad cases, they are hand made in Chicago.

I have one in gold and gray and I can’t stop using it. The fact that it’s small enough to fit in all the bags I have and also fits easily into Mr. Lively’s pocket (if I decide not to bring a purse on errands) is ideal.

Belmont Scarves

I have also been hard at work developing scarves for Jess LC as well. Belmont scarves are hand silk screened in Chicago on 100% silk. I was inspired by the classic Greek key pattern and how our logo could be used to create a similar look. I think the overall effect is subtle, but is sophisticated and easy to wear. My own personal wardrobe is filled with many basics, and I find using scarves to add color and pattern is a great way to make simple outfits feel more pulled together instantly.

We chose to go with four color ways, graphite and gold, french blue and light gray, navy and kelly green, and khaki and poppy. Each color is in two styles; as a square and a large rectangle. And to show the variety of ways each can be worn, I whipped up a few cheat sheets.

Phew. I feel like making this post is like having my own version of a Fashion Week runway show. I’ve worked so hard on all of these details and you all have been so incredibly encouraging and patient as I got these collections ready. I am so grateful for all that you have shared. Each encouraging comment, tweet, and email along the way has helped me get to this point.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

… next Monday.

But for now I couldn’t help but share a little something from my Saturday with Danielle, Alaina, and Liz. With Danielle shooting, Alaina styling, and Liz and Alaina modeling, the shoot was pretty incredible.

And since there are two collections launching, I figured I better give you a peek at the other products as well. It’s only fair, right?

Yep, Danielle’s pics are bananas. (I don’t even use that word, but it’s really the only way I can describe them.)

I can’t wait to share the full release with you on Monday.