Luca Cusolito of Lollibomb Beauty
June 28, 2009 | By desertmaidenbathworks
I was one of Luca's very first customers when she started on Etsy in May 2006. I ordered a sample pack of her body frosting. They came in this awesome leopard print package and a handwritten note from Luca herself. We've kept in contact all of these years, albeit casually, and my 2 year old has a crush on her.
She's become very popular amongst us bath and body mavens, and has been featured several times on Etsy, once as a Featured Seller, and in Wickedly Chic and Bust. She hangs with a crew of awesome people in the Jersey City Craft Mafia, of which she is the President.
Always edgy and forever a sweetheart, I present to you, Luca of Lollibomb!
Hi Luca! Tell me about yourself?
My name is Luca Cusolito of Lollibomb Beauty and I currently reside in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Do you have any interesting personal factoids?
I grew up on Archie comic books, Camp Candy, and avocados as a kid in Hollywood, Florida. I have a cat named Jack who weighs 24 pounds. I secretly want to be a flight attendant, but maybe I just like the little outfit. I like my whiskey neat, my music loud, and my pasta with pesto. Or Desira Pesta (http://www.desirapesta.com).
Why do you love your particular mediums?
I love making stuff that people are proud to display on their bathroom shelf and have handy in their purses and manbags. When you smell pretty, you feel pretty. When you feel pretty, you're confident. Fragrances are more versatile than switching out your wardrobe style every day and more affordable than switching up your hair color or haircut.
Who are your influences?
My influences are so far displaced from what I make that it's almost comical. Usually what will get me 
feeling creatively frisky is Nylon Magazine, Cansei de Ser Sexy, and the movie "Marie Antoinette". Yeah, I know. Sometimes I'll stumble upon a gourmet fruit juice or come up with a cocktail and be like, "Hmmm...I bet that would smell good as a body product" That's what happened recently when I whipped up a batch of Mandarin & Lavender soap.
Tell me about your most enjoyable experience with a customer
I love custom orders. I've had requests for fragrances ranging from marshmallow to garden dirt to whiskey. Hey, whatever's clever! If I can duplicate it and make a lotion with the scent, I will.
Where can we find your body yummies?
You can score some choice vegan bath and body treats on my website at www.smellpretty.com.
I've been fortunate to vend at a number of great events in Brooklyn and NYC, like the Bust Magazine Spring Fling and Holiday Craftacular. I'm hoping to start vending weekly at Coney Island's Festival by the Sea, the Brooklyn Indie Market, and Artists & Fleas.
Any advice to new or young sellers just getting their feet wet?
Know what you want and go get it. Believe in yourself and your creation, and the rest will follow. And impromptu dance parties in your kitchen will take the edge off better than beer, I promise.
What do you do outside of your business?
I recently started the Jersey City Craft Mafia as a way to unite local artists and crafters for networking and selling events. I'm a big fan of throwing themed dinner parties; Who can forget the "Dirty As You Want It To Be: Taco & Cocktail Night" that I recently hosted? I've also been working with several area photographers on various joint collaborations, and that's been a lot of fun.
What does the "handmade movement" mean to you?
Consumers taking back control of where their merchandise comes from and getting to know the people behind their products. It's a step in the right direction. People are very disconnected, and the handmade movement puts a face on artisans and crafters. It's encouraging.
If you could have lunch with and pick the brain of any artist living or dead, who would you choose and why?
I've been very fortunate to meet and speak with a number of people who are inspiring to me, such as Debbie Stoller of Bust Magazine and the Stitch & Bitch book series, Jennifer Perkins of the Naughty Secretary Club and the Austin Craft Mafia (Her sister Hope is equally awesome, and makes fabulous hand-painted purses with her company Hot Pink Pistol!), and Dawn Mauberret who has organized so, so many wonderful NYC craft events. Even every day artisans and crafters I meet who overcome various obstacles to keep creating make me feel fortunate to be where I am at this very moment in the handmade movement. Everyone's frickin' amazing.
Photos are courtesy of Luca Cusolito
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