This was a long thought about decision. After all, Jillian Lyons Designs came from a sentimental place for me. My business was found out of a hobby I was able to do from bed while going through treatment for Cancer. The hobby became a way for me to make a little extra money while on a forced hiatus from work. Eventually the little extra money became regular money and an actual business. But it's been a few years since my JLD little engine that could got started. The time had come to go bigger.

Doing work with PopUp55 last year in New Haven was a big jumping off point. It instilled in me a dream for something more. I went through 2 weeks of running my own pop up shop that I had to staff, run, plan events for and promote. It was like small biz boot camp. When I signed on with Mad Hatter and Co., it felt like the perfect place to experiment further with what owning a business could be like. What I learned from this is that I am not yet healthy enough to work in my own shop for the amount of hours I would need to to properly run my own boutique. The past few months have proven this again and again as I get my health back on track. And frankly, I just don't have the capital to keep up with how much I would have to pay out to staff my sick days alone.

So while I had more down time then usual, I started thinking about the future. What do I want. What seeds do I have to plant in order to make those future plans grow. If I had to be home in bed, I might as well put the time to good use! It started becoming more and more obvious. The answer was an online brand. One of the things I love about Mad Hatter is all of the interesting brands Joan Tarby and Angie Chernovetz manage to find and bring in. But my style is a tad different from them. The online brand idea expanded. Why not include some retail brands that I love. Not big brands. But the little guys. Indie businesses, other artists, small and local, USA made clothing in small batches. Cool. Unique. My kind of fashion.

The name The Red Queen is partially inspired by the Mad Hatter & Co. It's a name that folds neatly into the Wonderland aesthetic I love. Alice in Wonderland, it was always one of my favorites. But it also means something more. It's a sassy lady. A boss bitch. A queen that doesn't take shit. It seemed like the perfect name. It also eludes to my personal style which is inspired by all the fringe elements of culture. I consider myself to be a little bit of all of those things. Sassy. Daring. Punk rock. Goth chick. Alternative. Drag Queen (in my heart of hearts. I am a biological woman!) Costume lover. Artist. Experimental. Cosplay enthusiast. Nerdy girl. Naughty girl. Hippie chick. Opinionated bitch. Fashion diva. Alllll of it. The Red Queen is everything.


I am still slowly building the website and brand, as I continue to talk to more brands and sign contracts with the people I heart. So far we have Hemet clothing, Sacred Threads, Banned clothing, Kennedy London earrings, Roma Hollywood, some curations from Valley Vintage and more to come. It's an exciting time to see this come to fruition. You can view and shop the website now as we build. Please know we are still stocking inventory, so this is just a sneaky peek for the people who have been following me for all these years. Cause I heart you so much! <3 But the official launch will be in Spring or early Summer. Peek HERE. I'd love some feedback in the comments below. And if there is a brand you think we should be looking at, please also comment with links!

Coming Soon! The Frida Kahlo Maxi Dress! Taking pre-orders now!

Have you ever just met someone and instantly liked them? Marissa Balletti-Lavoie was that person for me. I met her about a year ago at an event and her personality really made an impression. Her business name, Sassy Mouth Photography was THE most fitting name I've seen in a long time.

So naturally when she contacted me and asked if she could borrow some of my Jillian Lyons Designs angel wings for a Victoria Secret style budoir session, I had to say yes! In return, she gave me my own photo session! I had been wanting to take some promtional and person shots. Marissa's plan, that we had to make me up like the kitty in my JLD logo. She had a little tiara, I snagged some items from my various collections. I literally practiced being a cat in the mirror for a few days.

My boyfriend and partner in Valley Vintage, Matt was game to do some shots together. I always think Matt is the most fun to take pictures of. He makes good faces, and he's a funny guy. I love to point my camera in his direction. I couldn't wait to see what she would do. The result? She made some magic. Here's a little sampling of a few of my favorites.










I also used my awesome powers of graphic design to make this flyer for our upcoming two week long pop up shop! I totally love it. This picture... priceless! I knew I needed some shots to promote with but this was just too good! I giggle every time I look at this flyer. I keep telling Matt he's famous. ;)

As promised a Part 2 of our favorite moments from New York Comic Con. We saw so many awesome costumes I was literally falling all over myself to get some of these shots. All the images below were taken by me on a little point and shoot Nikon.

I am convinced, if Andy Warhol were alive today he would have not only loved, but like INVENTED Instagram. It's the ultimate most self serving form of Pop Art. Instantaneous gratification. Play by plays of the Factory. Constant modern art uploads by Warhol. Andygram could have been amazing.

I recently went through a creative rut. I started focusing on my newly formed Valley Vintage business and spending time building it. But in that time my little personal bank of ideas was just empty. With Halloween on it's way, one of my very favorite times of year, I felt like I needed to do something to motivate myself. Jillian Lyons Designs was kind of depending on it. So I decided to challenge myself to use the awesome power of Instagram and post a picture a day, every day, no exception. It's been 9 days so far. Doing a picture a day has forced me to get off my ass and make art in some way. I'll tell you, the flood gate of ideas is open and flowing.

It's been amazing so far! No matter where I am, if it pops in my head I pull items together and make it happen. It's also forced me to use things around me to make these things happen. Things I've made. Stuff around the house. Random things around me. It's forced me to get out more into the world when I want to do something more nature involved. Creative on the quick! I highly recommend it.

So in less then 2 weeks. My own Andygram (Jillygram?) has snowballed into the creation of two photo collections I am hoping to create prints from. 1) Dia de los Muertes which feature Dick Dangers & myself modeling masks I made. I am hoping to create a story from these images. And 2) Valley of the Dolls, which will feature me (again!) and hopefully other friends, fam or models, recreating famous images and scenes from my all time favorite book and camp classic flick - Valley of the Dolls!

Some exclusive images just for the blog from my Insta-shoots are below. You can see my actual Instagram feed here. I'm also using #apictureaday as well! Follow me to see my new image each day. My goal is to do it for a month. (Maybe even pushing it further to do it for an entire year!)

I never did post the rest of my photo series with Julia Karen & Abstract Koncepts. We've actually had a second photo shoot since then focusing on my collection of vintage clothing from Valley Vintage. After receiving a rather surprising Anonymous comment, I thought maybe it might be time to post more.

The dress featured has since been sold. The wings however are still available.

There has been a few deaths in affecting my life recently. I guess that is all the more reason to come back to this angel session.

The little girl featured here was playing in the park the day we took the pictures. Her Dad allowed her to join us. I can't credit her, simply because I don't know her name. I just know she is from the area.

The idea behind this is that Wednesday passes her power on to this little angel. When she touches her, the littlest angel comes into color - and into her own.

Here we go.

















Photos by: Abstract Koncepts & Jillian Lyons Designs
Model: Julia Karen
Hair and Make Up: Julia Karen & Jillian Lyons Designs

So I haven't posted in a bit. The catch up for last three months is this. I had some great times working for a small vintage business in 2013 and part of this year, but I hit a point where things were getting worse instead of better. Working for someone else's success is tough and requires you to neglect your own. This culminated with a small financial failure in trying to open a shop / office in the New Haven area, as well as an unexpected raise in rent for my own small maxi-pad.

My boyfriend and I lost a small chunk of change by pulling out of a commercial lease last minute. The best way I can explain this scenario, we looked at a space in a not so great neighborhood that claimed to be trying to "rebuild". This was during the height of mountains of snow here in Connecticut. As the snow began to melt, we started seeing things look worse and worse. Then the space we had secured was damaged by another tenant and no one seemed to want to bother to fix anything. So after a few scary days and consulting with a lawyer, we said goodbye money. And goodbye Money Pit. We both believe going through with this space would have ended very badly and even with losing some money, saved ourselves even more loss in the end.

I'd be lying if I said all of these things didn't take a toll on me personally. I felt like I was having a complete life fail. But being the resilient lady that I am, it only took about a month before I had regrouped with a new plan, and let it go. As a human being and small business entity, I am always willing to talk about my failures. I think there is no shame in it. Successful people fail. In fact they fail a lot. The road to awesome is usually paved with lots and lots of oopsies. How can we learn and grow if we're too busy pretending to be perfect?

Moving on and out put me in a whole new perspective. We moved out of New Haven and found a great townhouse apartment in my hometown of Seymour. Honestly, this was the last place I expected to end up. The Valley and I did not part on good terms the last time around. But the apartment was too good to pass up! I now find myself in love with my town's charm. Located in the adorable All American Valley, Seymour is a small town full of great antiquities, beautiful buildings, small businesses, farms, and all kinds blue to white collar locals.

My love of all things vintage is still a constant. So it seemed logical to open a new online Etsy shop showcasing my own vintage collection that I had been quietly hoarding over the past few years. My newest venture is fittingly called Valley Vintage, LLC.

Things are going pretty well so far! I have lots of new projects in the works. Some beautiful pictures coming up that will showcase a collaboration with an old pal of mine as well as handmade and vintage. We've even started scouting out new locations and trying to put our pennies aside in hopes of finding the perfect place to have our own small biz. My dreams, never stop - even if I am.

If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Well it's been eons since I have posted anything here. But with a New Year comes new goals for myself and for Jillian Lyons Designs. So with 2014 my hope is to be in more shops across the state of Connecticut and maybe even break out into other states. I also want to start doing one in person event a month. I am kicking that off in mere days with LOVE Haven 2014.

This stellar event is brought to you by Haven events. A collaborative group of ladies that includes Melissa Gonzales (Vintanthromodern Vintage, Gathered + Sown) Meg Kazukynas (23rd/1st) Kate Stephen (Kate Stephen Jewelry) Jemma Williams (Jemmanimals) and Sarah Scribe Bratchell (Bella Rev. Jewelry). I hope I didn't miss anyone! But these ladies bring forth an event like no other. Totally hip and taking place in the artful graffiti housed Trolley Square in New Haven. This show will bring you indie vendors, a DiY Craft Table, a fine art exhibit as well local DJ's, rappers, bands and spoken word poets.

Please be sure to stop by and say hello! Besides, after all this snow, you'll be glad you got out of the house!

I met Petra Szilagyi one afternoon inside of the English Building Market in a work related meeting. At the time we both were assisting Melissa Gonzales of Vintanthromodern Vintage. Petra was knee deep in vintage clothing and  accessories while designing a 1920's window display. I instantly liked her when she cheered upon hearing about the drag queen patrons who were buying up some of Vintanthromodern's wares.