LULILY Designs: A Staten Island Business Celebrating Their Daughters’ Creativity
While browsing the 18th Annual Westerleigh Folk Festival, I stumbled across a business that drew me in and touched my heart. “LULILY Designs” caught my eye with their adorable products, and I knew I had to learn more about this lovely family-oriented business. I had the pleasure of interviewing the amazing mother behind this company and hearing their incredible story.
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Q: Introduce yourself, family, and business name!
A: My name is Claudette “Minnie” Brown, and alongside my husband, Ryan Brown, we’re raising our three amazing daughters—Lily, Luna, and Lyla. They’re the heart behind my business, LULILY Designs, which I launched as a way to celebrate their creativity and bring joy to families through fun, meaningful products. The name LULILY is actually a blend of my daughters’ names—Luna, Lily, and Lyla. I designed the logo based on their Spanish celestial names. Luna Mollie is the moon, Lily Estrella is the star, and Lyla Sol is the sun. Highlighting my sun, moon, and star.
Each of them brings their own personality and creativity into everything I do, so it felt only right that the brand carry a piece of all three of them. The name itself symbolizes unity, imagination, and the love that inspires every product we create.
Q: Tell us about your girls! We would love to hear about their personalities, creativity, etc!
A: Lily is my imaginative dreamer—always coming up with new ideas and designs. Constantly drawing and creating on a daily basis.
Luna is my little hot pepper—bold, confident, and full of personality. She is definitely a force to be reckoned with. lol
Lyla is my gentle soul—thoughtful, caring, and incredibly artistic for her age. She is a special girl that everyone falls in love with.
Q: What inspired this business? How did the process start, and when did it begin?
A: LULILY really started with simple nighttime drawings in my bedroom before bedtime. It was our way of calming down, doing a little art, and spending time together. I began this ritual with Lily when she was just 1 year old—she would sit and watch me draw until she felt confident enough to create on her own.
When Luna came along, she wasn’t into drawing right away—she was more about creating chaos (lol). But by the time she turned 2, we were all drawing together as a family. Then Lyla joined us, and she took to drawing almost instantly. She’s ambidextrous, so some days she’ll use her left hand, other days her right—it just depends on her mood.
For us, drawing and coloring became the best tools for relaxation and connection. In September 2024, I decided to take that special family tradition and turn it into something bigger. That’s when LULILY was born—with the hope that it can grow into something my daughters will share and cherish together.
Q: What do you find has been the most rewarding part of this business thus far?
A: Connecting with people and sharing our story. Also, seeing Lily, Luna, and Lyla’s faces light up when they see their artwork in a sticker form or on stationery items. They get so excited. There is another story that I will discuss later, which involves our youngest, Lyla.
Q: What products do you sell, where, etc?
A: I’ve always been obsessed with paper and stickers—I’m a true 80s baby, lol! Growing up, nothing made me happier than getting a new sticker sheet or fresh stationery, and that love has never left me. At LULILY, we’ve turned that nostalgia into something fun for today: stationery, stickers, bookmarks, apparel, room décor, and gifts. And now, we’re adding activity books for toddlers, so the next generation can experience that same simple joy of creating, collecting, and expressing themselves. Our products are available on our website, LulilyDesigns.com, and at local vendor events. I list the local events on my website.
Q: What advice do you have for parents in Staten Island with creative or artistic children?
A: My advice is to embrace your child’s creativity—and, whenever possible, embrace it with them. For example, Lily and Luna take art classes at the Art Lab at least once a year, and it’s always such a rewarding experience for all of us. Art isn’t just about making something pretty; it builds confidence, patience, and problem-solving skills. When parents get involved too, it becomes a bonding experience that can really empower kids. You’ll be amazed at how much they can surprise and inspire you.
So here’s that story I wanted to tell you. I want to share something very close to my heart. My youngest, Lyla, has a rare condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Type 5—more commonly known as brittle bone disease. Part of the reason I was drawn even more deeply to art was to create a safe outlet for her as she grows. It’s incredibly hard to tell a toddler, “No, you can’t do that,” because the risk of a broken bone is always there. But with art, she has the freedom to be herself, to explore, and to bring her fun and creative ideas to life without limitations.
Her sisters, Lily and Luna, have been such a tremendous support for her, encouraging her and helping to build her confidence every step of the way. Watching the three of them create together has been one of the greatest joys and inspirations for me.
That’s it. That’s our family. Thank you so much for taking the time to know a little more about our business and why we do what we do. We’ll be forever grateful.
Where to Find LULILY Designs
Be sure to check out Lulily Designs at lulilydesigns.com & Instagram to shop their amazing and adorable products!
