Saturday, November 20, 2010

BIG DISCOUNTS for Willie and Lu Fans!


Thank you for visiting our blog!  We're soooo glad you did, we'd like to offer you 10% off your next order!  Considering that EVERYTHING in the shop is already 20% off, and your whole order SHIPS FREE between Thanksgiving and New Years, this is a terrific offer, available ONLY to visitors to our blog (but please share it with your friends!).  Use the code blogspotrock at checkout. ~>>> When you become a FOLLOWER of our blog, we'll send you a coupon code for 15% off ~ and you'll be eligible for special gifts & prizes!

Check back with us frequently for updates, new photos, contests, and all kinds of fun stuff.  Please let us know what you think of our shop and our blog ~ what you'd like to see more of, and less of!

THANK YOU for checking us out!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

jools, jeremy, aidan, and lucy

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

It's been a long time since we rock-and-rolled

WILLIE and LU HOLIDAY SALE:  EVERYTHING is AT LEAST 20% off, and SHIPPING IS FREE!!!  We LOVE to wrap gifts, and will include your message on a handmade card -- all free of charge.  Please convo us early for special orders -- We want to make a present that is JUST RIGHT for your loved one!

Things have been a little chaotic here at Willie & Lu headquarters (aka our home).  The patriarch of our cat clan, 18 year-old Cleophus passed away this past weekend -- in my arms (where he'd been for 36+ hours) and completely peacefully, but he did so in the midst of Lucy's 11th birthday slumber party (how guilty did I feel, cordoned off with the cat, NOT helping with the makeovers, spa treatments, and runway challenges the girls had goin' on. Good thing Jeremy has a strong feminine side...).  BIG thanks to Cousin Kathleen, who jumped right in and raised the roof with her stellar dance moves.

We're hoping to show at some local holiday bazaars, so if you know of any schools, churches/temples, or other organizations that are looking for vendors, please drop us a line.  Tell your friends and family about Willie and Lu ~ Ask about our referral bonus!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Handmade Spark - Willie and Lu - earrings and beaded

We've just joined Handmade Spark, a really cool site that showcases lots of groovy handcrafts and such. Please visit, and tell me what you think. You'll get 20% off your TOTAL next order, plus FREE SHIPPING, plus hugs O & kisses X from ME!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Red and Black and Silver All Over

See what's new at Willie and Lu:

Monday, August 9, 2010

TREASURES of the TREASURY

Forest Green-Gold Earrings -- Dew and Grass, Rain and Glass -- Our Summer SALE Benefits Sierra Club's Efforts in the Gulf  I love FALL!  Isn't it the BEST?  When we left Kansas last week, I could only fantasize about it, with summer still scorching earth and skin.  Now, here in LA, fall is something that is as fleeting as our rainy season, so I decided I'd make my own autumn.  It's definitely the best Treasury I've made, and one of the nicest I've been a part of.  PLEASE check it out, and leave comments!!!


Go to:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c5eec9ad2856d91f0141daa/autumns-gold-on-the-horizon?index=0


Hoping your autumn rocks!


xo xo xo xo xo

Saturday, August 7, 2010

The Wires Make the Earrings!


The Wires Make the Earrings























Lately I've expanded my selection of ear wires, and in so doing, lifted my earrings to another level of prettitude.  







Etsy's Betty Brite (bettybrite.etsy.com) hand-crafts most of these truly lovely sterling silver wires (many of which are available in gold as well).  Here are some of these fabulous wires at play, clockwise from top left:
1) Bent Loop Wires on Jade with a Cherry on Top Earrings; 2)Fleur de Lis Headpins (decorative beading wires, w/standard sheppard hook ear wires) in Sunflower Sparkle Earrings;  3) "Super Cute Spiral Wires" with Venetian Lantern Earrings;  4) Bent Leaf Wires on Aidan's Atherium Earrings (these wires, named for the tiny "leaf" detail at the bottom, start out straight, and I bend them once their beads are in place. Very modern, very chic); and 5) Small Leaf Wires,with Urban Jungle Earrings.  ~  Above right, French Hoops highlight the Purple Majesty Earrings (not yet listed, but available for order).



Here are a few more pictures of Betty Brite's Wires.  We're happy to replace the wires in any of our existing earrings for any of these (a small charge -- usually around $4 -- may apply), and welcome custom orders integrating these styles:
                                             

            il_fullxfull.156708987.jpg "Cute Bent Spirals"

il_fullxfull.160228743.jpg 
Simple Spirals -- Must special-order; allow an additional week for delivery
                            
                                 il_fullxfull.164162466.jpg 
                                                                                    
                          "Flattened Sterling Wires" - Must special-order; add an additional week for delivery

Friday, August 6, 2010

New at Williea & Lu : Red Hot LAVA and Glowing Lanterns -- Red & Black Earrings

A couple of things I've been working on:  The first include little cubes of lava rock topped with super-shiny, opaque, blood-red Chinese Crystals...MMMMM...I'm burning up...



Now cool down in the breezy evening, when only stars and streetlights light the sky.  Oh yes, and these romantic lanterns, crafted from Venetian Glass, sparkkkkkly crystals, and  gorgeous, handmade sterling silver wires...

Oh So Pretty...Luz Designs

Up to the MInute with Willie & Lu



SALE - Entire Shop - Buy 2 Get 1 Free - Blue Belles and Unripe Berries
SALE - Entire Shop - Buy 2 Get 1 Free - FuschiaLuz designs is so popular, they certainly don't need a boost here, but these designs are so day-brightening and unique,  I had to share with you . . . And they're having a BUY 2, GET 1 FREE sale, so before I even got out of bed this morning I had 3 pairs of earrings coming my way!  Here's what I got:SALE - Entire Shop - Buy 2 Get 1 Free - Jollies (Yellow/Blue)                                     www.luzdesigns.etsy.com     


Monday, August 2, 2010

We're Leaving Home...

Tomorrow we return to LA, with heavy hearts.  This has been a memorable summer, though, and I can't remember a time when I've been more in love with this town.  Lawrence Kansas will surprise you!  I will miss the sound of the cicadas, the smell of grass and rain, the taste of fresh peaches and blueberries.  I will not miss the heat, and I think it's a good thing that today it's 104 in Lawrence and 74 in Los Angeles, to make the transition more hopeful.

I am anxious to get to the studio, to play with the treasures I picked up here, and to create whatever I can that reflects the colors and feels of the heartland and the Jersey Shore.  Home IS where the heart is!


Up to the MInute with Willie & Lu

Friday, July 23, 2010

Willie & Lu and the Gulf

We contribute at least 20% of our profits to environmental, humanitarian, and other charitable orginaizations.  Until further notice, we'll be donating to agencies involved in the oil spill off the southern coast.* 

=> Our June Recipient was The Tri-State Bird Rescue and Rehab: https://www.tristatebird.org is doing did extraordinary work with oil-soaked birds(who literally "cook" in the summer heat -- not a pretty image, but it's not a pretty situation), as well as birds whose habitats and food sources have been decimated.  We're thrilled to be contributing $50 to this wonderful group, with many thanks to Diane, Julie, Betty, Kelsey, Cathryn, Alison, Stephanie, and Leigh! We're proud to announce the "adoption" of peregrine falcon Ishta Tanka.

The Huffington Post has an excellent page focusing on the disaster that is updated regularly; it includes ways that we can ALL get involved, and lists the remarkable organizations working to protect and rehabilitate wildlife, salvage wetlands, provide support to the residents of the affected areas, and all other aspects of disaster relief. Please visit :
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/30/deepwater-horizon-oil-spi_n_558736.html

  /adopt-a-bird/peregrine ~ As always, please visit our BLOG for more info!

=>Upon the suggestion of our customer & friend, Diane Turner, we've chosen The AUDUBON SOCIETY as our JULY Recipient.  Please check out the myriad ways this pivotal organization is working in and around the disaster area--and how you can help: http://www.audubonaction.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aa_HowtoHelp


=> Because of our pledge to the Gulf, we've been included in three truly BEAUTIFUL Treasuries.  Please visit each of these curated lists and click on each selection; they are full of beautiful goodies, lovingly chosen, and your purchase helps the many agencies involved in cleanup, wildlife rehab, and humanitiarian aid.  PLEASE visit:

   --:> "Give to the Gulf Coast": http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c23f9e836a46d9123fe9e3c/give-to-the-gulf-coast

and
   --:> "The Gulf Coast Blues": 
   http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c17d8a14a9f8eefdfa06f82/the-gulf-coast-blues

and
 
     --:> "SAVE THE GULF": 
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c16f54717146d91d359971c/save-the-gulf

=> And last but certainly not least:  Shop HELP THE GULF!   "HelpTheGulf is a collective Etsy shop to help the gulf coast recover from the massive BP oil spill. Etsy sellers (including Willie & Lu) have donated their items so that 100% of the proceeds can be given to charity.  We've set up a separate paypal account for this shop. 100% of the proceeds (after etsy & paypal fees) will be donated to charities helping with the Gulf Coast recovery effort. To shop For the Gulf, visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/HelpTheGulfCoast "

! ! ! THANK YOU for your support!  The more you buy, the more we can give ;-} !



*Please note that when donating to agencies in the Gulf, it is important to donate to the organization at large, and generally NOT to its work on the spill.  BP has promised to pay ALL costs incurred by the spill, and has contracted many of these organizations (such as our June recipient, the Tri-State Bird Rescue & Rehab) to do the very necessary cleanup and rehab work.  Any money we give them specifically for the cleanup can ONLY be used for the cleanup, so it simply reduces the amount that BP has to pay, without assisting these agencies.  INSTEAD, just give to the organization, or choose a fund within the organization (e.g. educational programs, outreach, etc.) and direct your money that way.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Two New Treasuries!!!

The same earrings (yup, they're that pretty) are featured in two new Etsy treasuries. Puh-lease check the treasuries out, and click click click on each interesting item!  THANKS!

This is a cool collection of some of the great item on SALE at various Etsy stores:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c449e463f476d915d473628/the-best-sales-on-etsy

and 

This treasury features the purples and pinks of a perfect twilight: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c44a602c9fe8eef4289ce18/twilight-colors-just-before-dark

Don't forget to leave a comment!


xo j

The Gypsy Mama

Up to the MInute with Willie & Lu
Camping - Original Art - Print I


This looks just like the trailer my mother-in-law adopted around 5 years ago.  Michele is an amazing person, truly extraordinary, and she merits way more than a few lines, so I'll write about her later.  In the mean time, you can learn a lot about her from her trailer, which she refurbished and named "Gypsy Mama," after her own incredible mother.  Grams was a single mother, a self-trained artist, and an adventurous traveller, which earned her this nickname.  Michele's trailer (turquoise where the above is red) is parked behind a huge pittosporum tree in her perfect Santa Barbara cottage, and it's the best place in the world to take naps, read books, or settle in with tea and cookies.


I discovered this lovely picture on Etsy.  It's by an artist named Teresa Sheeley, an is a print of an original watercolor.  It made me think of Mickey (that's what the kids call Michele), and that's always a good thing.  

Check out Teresa's art: http://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyteresasheeley
zoom

Sunday, July 18, 2010

If I Were a Tiny Girl...

Vintage Pink and Peach Maxi Dress, Size XS/SOh I wish I could be a size 6.  Or 8.  In fact, I would really settle for a nice solid 12.  And if I were, I'd shop at my fine (petite) sister-in-law Amy's sweet Etsy vintage clothing shop.  This is what I would wear every day during this nasty hot summer:
Vintage Pink and Peach Maxi Dress, Size XS/SVintage Pink and Peach Maxi Dress, Size XS/SVintage Pink and Peach Maxi Dress, Size XS/SVintage Pink and Peach Maxi Dress, Size XS/S

zoom


Visit Amy's shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/TennysonVintage

A New Etsy Treasury by ME!

We're in Stone Harbor NJ right now.  You know, probably, that it is my favorite place on earth.  This year, I've touched the shore once only, as I'm happily tethered to my 99 year-old grandmother and my beloved auntie, Barby.  Life is good here.

I made a new Treasury late last night; I was thinking that I wanted to drink a lot of coffee and see if I could stay up longer, and here's what happened:
 ~>>>> Please check out our brand new Treasury, "Jamaica Blue":
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c426f8f57e06d91699a8071/jamaica-blue

PLEASE visit it, check out all the other artists, and let us know what you think!

Since I have no sea or sand pictures, please enjoy some of my bug pictures from recent days.  Reprints available!!!

xo jools

Up to the MInute with Willie & Lu

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Seashore Dreams

Our annual pilgrimage to the Jersey Shore (the REAL, unfettered, non-Snookified Jersey Shore) is half over.  It always seems to be almost time to go as soon as we get here.  My grandmother is my heart of hearts; she is 99, and I don't want to leave her side.  This is the best spot I know for meditation and creativity and naps, not to mention good eats.  Pictures to follow soon...Up to the MInute with Willie & Lu

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Rocket Ship to Venice?

Venetian Glass, Bone Rings, Rocket Ship = Infinite Beauty!

We've sold out of almost all of our Galactic Chic jewelry, so that will be the first thing replenished when we get back to the studio.  In the mean time, we have a few new ones ~
This pair I love!

Happy 4th of July, y'all.

A couple of new pairs of earrings...

We're having trouble with our new camera: It's the updated version of our old camera, but for some reason every close-up shot i've taken is "too large" to upload to etsy.  While we try to trouble-shoot, I'm posting a couple of views of new earrings for you to view.  Like everything else in the shop, their sale price will be $20 through September 1, when all prices return to normal.  Email me @ willieandlu@yahoo.com OR convo me through Etsy if you have questions or are interested in buying.  Here's the first pair:

Coming soon:  Funny cat pix and pictures from Lucy's 5th gr. graduation...

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Saving Birds Ravaged by Oil Spill . . . and the rest of the pictures

We've chosen the organization that will receive our humble donations in June:  The Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research (tristatebird.org).  FYI:


20%+ of our June proceeds will be sent to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research: http://www.tristatebird.org/ *** "Experts from Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research are leading the wildlife rescue efforts following the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico. Tri-State's oil spill response team has been on the Gulf Coast since the last week in April and is working with their West Coast colleagues, International Bird Rescue Research Center, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to manage the rehabilitation of oiled wildlife. These response leaders are receiving additional support from other rehabilitators and wildlife and environmental organizations."

Re: The pictures ~ Email me if you're interested in these earrings (all earrings are $20 [or less] for the rest of the summer -- even these, which are reg. $28-30) . . . and stay tuned for more Venetian Glass beauties and additions to our Galactic Chic collection!  Don't forget that a large part of your purchase goes to help animals affected by the Spill. Up to the MInute with Willie & Lu


New Earrings Coming Soon to Willie and Lu...

I am going to try to post pics of the new earrings I'm yearning to put in my Etsy shop; we have a new camera, and the images are too large to post there.  Alas...




Up to the MInute with Willie & Lu

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Reasons to Live in Los Angeles

Up to the MInute with Willie & Lu

Trying to think positively, I will add to this list periodically.  Let me know if you have any entries...

WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT L.A. ANYWAY?
    trying to work it out, after 13 years...


1.  fuschia    and
2.  passion flowers -- There was nothing half as beautiful as these on Pandora
3.  Trader Joe's    -- I know, I know, it's obvious.  But STILL...
4.  Food Trucks     -- Evolving from the Roach-Coach taco stand; I'm so anxious to 
                       make the rounds from sushi stands and tapas trucks.  
5.  Open Windows    -- Where are the bugs?  There is much to be said about leaving 
                       the doors open all day long, with no screens.  It lets in 
                       that crisp, clean L.A. air


That's all I've got for now.       

Friday, June 4, 2010

A Few Views from the Back Yard



Monkey caught a lizard -- a biggish one -- and it played dead for a while, then skedaddled away. I caught a nice image of a tiger swallowtail -- and thought of Wilmama and Aunt Ruth.  Lucy and Eva caught some rays -- and relished being 10 years old and in love with themselves.  In random order...

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Willie & Lu Contributions: The Nitty Gritty

Up to the MInute with Willie & Lu

The BP Oil Catastrophe is out of our hands.  That much is clear. But there are dozens of non-profit (and, I suppose, for-profit) agencies doing everything within their power to limit and repair the devastation.  The Huffinton Post has a great article (that's being updated continually) that includes details about The Disaster, the organizations mentioned above, and ways that we can help: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/30/deepwater-horizon-oil-spi_n_558736.html

Check it out.

To make room for more moans and groans like these, we're relocating our current Donations statement here, just so it has someplace to stay.  A previous post has more details about the first quarter donations.

>> Willie & Lu is committed to contributing at least 20% of our proceeds to humanitarian and environmental charities. For the first quarter of this year, we donated to agencies providing disaster relief in Haiti, Chile, and China: The Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and Habitat for Humanity. For information about these organizations and details of our donations, please visit our blog: www.willieandlu.blogspot Because every day SHOULD be Earth Day, our donations in the second quarter of the year will be given to environmental/animal groups. April's recipient of $20 is the Nobel Prize winning Nature Conservancy, "the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people." Go to www.nature.org for more information. Here's a bit about our May recipient, Conservation International: (www.conservation.org): "Through science, policy and field work, we're applying smart solutions to protect the resources that we all depend on. We help communities, countries and societies protect tropical forests, lush grasslands, rivers, wetlands, abundant lakes and the sea. Only through properly valuing the essential services these ecosystems provide can we create a sustainable development path that will benefit all people for generations to come." < (*) \|/ < (*) /|\

Thursday, May 20, 2010

It's a Good Time for Nature Conservation

We've been contributing 20%+ of our Etsy $ to humanitarian, educational, environmental (etc) organizations since we opened our li'l shop (details of our donations are in a recent post), and while it just happens that our 2nd quarter donations are earmarked for environmental groups, the devastating (and growing) oil disaster demands that we continue in this manner at least into the next quarter.  In April, we gave $20 to Nobel Prize Winner, the Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org), and May's funds are earmarked for Conservation International (www.conservation.org).  What about June?  We'd really like your feedback about where our little money could be best used, and found a great article in the Huffington Post to help us along.  Tell us who should get our money, and SHARE this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/30/deepwater-horizon-oil-spi_n_558736.html

THANK YOU!!!


Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Impact: Get Involved
First Posted: 04-30-10 02:06 PM   |   Updated: 05- 7-10 01:52 PM
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?
 
1,422
2,931views
Oil Spill Birds
Now that the oil spill in the gulf coast has reached land, the effects are being felt in towns and cities across the area -- this is in addition the local wildlife in both the land and sea that are dying by the thousands.
HuffPost Impact has compiled a list of ways you can help contribute to the cleanup and save local wildlife. Thanks to CrisisWiki for compiling this information.
Volunteer and Cleanup Actions
•Oxfam America is working to help affected communities with financial assistance, as well as protect local wetlands and marshes. Make a tax-deductible donation to Oxfam America.
•You can register through OilSpillVolunteers.comto volunteer or join a cleanup organization.
•The BP Volunteer Hotline has set up numbers if you need to report injured wildlife or damage related to the spill. You can also request volunteer information at 866-448-5816.
•The Oiled Wildlife Care Network is providing volunteer information, though help from private citizens is not being requested at this time.
Story continues below
Global Green plans to spend the coming months working to protect injured wildlife and to lobby Congress to enforce tougher regulations on the oil and coal industries. Volunteer with Global Green or donate to support these efforts.
The National Audubon Society is asking concerned citizens to donate or volunteer. Sign up to get trained and volunteer to help local birds.
CrisisCamp set up a conference call for Friday afternoon -- follow the notes of this meeting, containing volunteer information with nonprofits and information from government organizations. You can also follow the CrisisCamp oil spill Twitter list for updates.
•The National Wildlife Federation has a message you can send to President Obama to urge restoration of Louisiana's Coastal Wetlands. They're also asking for residents to upload photos to flickr and tag them SPILL_NW10.
Matter of Trust is organizing a collection of human hair and other materials used to soak up oil spills. You can mail in your donation of hair, furs and nylons to aid clean-up missions in the Gulf Coast.
Mobile Baykeeper, and affiliate of Waterkeeper Alliance, is dedicating resources to educate potential volunteers on how to help and address the long term environmental change needed in the Gulf region. Make a donation to these efforts.
•The International Bird Rescue Research Center is coordinating a professional rescue team to help birds covered in oil. You can help by reporting wildlife affected by the oil spill to the organization by calling 866-557-1401. You can also make a donation to support their work.
•The Sierra Club is gathering volunteers to help with the cleanup efforts on the Gulf Coast. Sign up online to volunteer and the Sierra Club will help you find the right opportunities for you.
•The Coalition To Restore Coastal Louisiana is also helping to coordinate volunteers. You canregister online to volunteer or make a donation.
Political Actions
•Petition sites are already packed with letters to politicians that you can sign on to. This one fromCare2's The Petition Site aims to encourage President Obama to reconsider his plan to expand offshore drilling and invest in clean energy resources. A similar petition can be found onTrueMajority.org.
•Join the Facebook group 1 Million Strong Against Offshore Drilling. Check out the action page for more suggestions of how to lend your voice to the anti-drilling movement.
•If you want to do more after writing to your representatives, you can always boycott BP products. The main ones you use? Arco and ampm. If Americans stopped buying gas and products from these places, they'd feel it. Currently, BP has seen very little economic backlash from the spill.