To France we go! :: A Lovely Workshop :: Long post!

Posted on | Friday, May 7, 2010 | 8 Comments

Twigs & Honey is going to France!
I am SO excited. You know that business trip I've been talking about, well yep, it's to France. The amazingly talented lady, Elizabeth Messina, invited me several months ago and I've been busy, busy since.
First off, THANK YOU, Elizabeth Messina!
Elizabeth has been such a great supporter and I am very much looking forward to working with her in person (so much has been over the phone and internet... always great to meet face-to-face!).
It will be for A Lovely Workshop and will take place at this amazing chateau:

There is an amazing roster of talent involved and not previously listed, but the uber talented Erin Skipley will be doing make-up! There will be dresses from all over, including a favorite, Lovely Bridal Shop.
So obviously, I'm providing head pieces, but OMG... I'm so nervous, but I'll be modeling as well. Not my first rodeo, but somehow, I'm really nervous about this one... Elizabeth Messina! I might be doing some light styling and hair styling too.
The grounds are lovely and include a cemetery:

I know it sounds very romantic and blissful, but it will be a ton of work. For a solid week, there will be many separate photo shoots each day from morning well into the evening, presentations, and late night business discussions. It is still work!
So for the first week, I'll be at the workshop and Matt's riding over in the plane with me and he'll be doing some major sightseeing around the French countryside and specifically, Normandy. Afterwards, we'll have a few days and are planning to head to the coast and then to Paris. This is not a "vacation", but we are traveling and it will be exhausting, but very memorable and rewarding.

Matt and I will probably split one suitcase for clothes and necessities and I'm bringing one huge piece of luggage for all the head pieces. I cannot wait for you to see all my latest work!

Since I won't be able to fulfill new orders for the next week while I prepare and also while I'm over there, I do apologize for all those interested in custom orders. PLEASE DO get in touch with me through email after I get back at the end of this month. Email is best. I really, really want to work with each and every one of you and I also want to make sure each of you gets the time you deserve, so again, get in touch after I get back when things settle down a bit and we can get the ball rolling!

For all orders placed before April 29th, I will have your lovely pieces shipping before I leave next week. I have a few more photo shoots I've committed to and those pieces are coming as well, promise! I have a few very lovely and patient brides with outstanding custom orders. I am going to try my very hardest to get those finished before I leave as well or very soon after I return... I haven't forgotten you (shortlist including: Tina, ErikaB, AlisonP, arosecra, ckubler, and more!)

So I know, I know there are so many questions! I get several hundred emails and convos every week and at the moment it is really tough for me to handle them, BUT I will be getting a new assistant or two after I get back and for everyone waiting patiently, resend your email/convo after May 27th so we can get everything organized. I will try to answer emails while I'm away, but it will be very busy, so it may take a few days for urgent questions.

Whew! if you have hung in there through this long and dirty post, thank you!

IF you have any great recommendations of must-see places in France, write me a comment. I'd love to hear about accommodations, dining, museums, fabric shops, boutiques, everything!

THANK YOU everyone!!! I know I haven't been the best with my emails this year, but I am utterly grateful for all the individuals interested in working with me!!!! I am amazed each day by all the wonderful people I get to work with and those who want to work with me. I want to work with all of you and I'm going to take the appropriate business steps over the next couple months to make it happen. If you have a wedding in the second half of June through the end of this year, I'd love to work with you!!

Real Bride :: Emie

Posted on | Thursday, May 6, 2010 | 4 Comments

Emie and her now husband were married this past October and I just got to see a couple photos and the bride looks radiant! Doesn't she look so lovely in her Twigs & Honey custom belt?

I really like how the gray, turquoise and green match the accents around the wedding and the necktie. The little things. :) Congrats!!!
Photo credits: Karyn Iserman

Giveaway for Liam :: Amazing!

Posted on | Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | No Comments

I am sure you have read about Liam's story by now, but if you haven't please stop by HERE to read more. Liam is the son of Lynn Russell, the designer of Satsuma Press. Liam has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 and could very much use a bathroom remodel this summer. If you are able to give a donation I am sure that Liam and his family would be so grateful. If that weren't reason enough, anyone who donates will be entered into an amazing raffle:

The giveaway ends this Sunday, so there's still time to donate. :)
Go HERE to donate.

Cinco de Mayo! :: Carla Ten Eyck Photography

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I LOVE Carla Ten Eyck's phototography.... something so beautiful about the way she captures the world. Carla recently had a Cinco de Mayo themed shoot and I feel so lucky to have provided a head piece for her to use. Check it out...

These hands have worked...

Posted on | Tuesday, May 4, 2010 | 5 Comments

I was never very fond of my hands... I didn't think they were very ladylike. I have tiny fingers that I feel are disproportionate to the rest of me (my ring finger is size 4.5). I have working hands (and blocky feet, but that's another story). I used to make little clay figurines when I was little and it wasn't until recently that I have been thinking this might be advantageous. Back in the fall, I bought a ring at Oktoberfest and when the hubby and I were talking to the vendor, he goes, "you have small fingers... do you play music or are you an artist?" I hadn't really considered it, but yeah... I play instruments and yeah, I make things with my hands for a living. Could it be that you're born with certain attributes, skills and qualities that make you better at some things than others? I guess there's no way to know, but my small hands combined with a short attention span and anal retentive tendencies probably lend themselves well to making things... for me at least. ;) I used to say that I was so "anal" about everything and my mentor professor at grad school would always say, "you say that as if it were a bad thing when it isn't." I think I drive my hubby nuts at times with my self prescribed Type-A idiosyncrasies and quirkiness.

So I'm working at finger breaking speeds to try to get all the orders finished and out since we'll be on a business trip very shortly. I sew a ton. I break needles everyday and have a callus on my middle finger from repeated needle pushing. I swear I prick myself several times a day and get cut up all the time from work. I step on needles I've dropped all the time as well (ouch!) I keep neosporin and a stack of bandages on my desk. Here's what my hands looked like yesterday:

This shot is perfection.

Posted on | Monday, May 3, 2010 | 2 Comments

I love everything about this screenshot of the Noa Noa catalog:

I just love the swimsuit, the shrug, cap...

Photo credits: noa noa

Crafty Wonderland

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I had to buy some supplies in Portland over the weekend and since the admission was free, of course I had to stop by Crafty Wonderland! I dragged the hubby with me and he ended up having a great time too! It was wonderful to meet so much local talent face-to-face. I picked up a few wonderful items (photos to come) and talked with the talent behind Amy Wing Designs, Abby Try Again Photography, Prost to the Host, Flipside Hats, Piper Ewan, Bella Sisters and many more. Don't you wish you could have gone? I'm thinking of signing up for the Holiday Sale... we shall see!

Amazing shoot coming up...

Posted on | Friday, April 30, 2010 | 3 Comments

I just love the style and colors of an amazing collaboration in the works. Here's one sneak peak photo of a piece I shipped off yesterday (along with a few others). Have I ever told you my favorite colors in the world are peach and mint? Not pink or orange.... not green or blue... both are inbetween, but I love them:

Twigs & Honey veil + Elizabeth Dye dress :: Just like heaven

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It's no secret... I LOVE Elizabeth Dye's work. You know she made my wedding dress SUPER fabulous, yes? With gorgeous lace overlay, details, and detachable floral and chiffon bustle/train... So, I loved seeing this pairing from the amazing photographers, Sweet Little Photographs for their Lovely Bridal Shop shoot. A Twigs & Honey Soft Light Lace veil and Elizabeth Dye dress:

I love this photo... there's a Twigs & Honey mini bridal hat on her shoulder:

Photo credits: Sweet Little Photographs

shabd love

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I LOVE shabd's designs and in particular, I love this new dress for the autumn/winter 2010 collection:

Weekend outfit :: It has been busy!

Posted on | Tuesday, April 27, 2010 | 6 Comments

So sorry for being so completely absent on all fronts. I've been juggling far too many things and it may be a little *quiet* on the blog this week. If you've emailed or convo'd me, please be patient and I'll try to get back to you sooner, or you can resend. I'm so sorry about the delay. I've been working non-stop and it's been a bit nuts.... thankfully, I'll be getting some help soon and more on that later. :)
Here was my outfit from Saturday. We had a touch of sun and that was enough for me to bust out the shorts (new CUTE ones!):

Lovely list...

Posted on | Thursday, April 22, 2010 | 3 Comments

I cannot believe this amazing list of talent. *squeal* I feel SOOOOO lucky to be able to work with these talented women.... very soon! I will share much more in a few weeks!

More pieces for the English Dept.

Posted on | Tuesday, April 20, 2010 | 4 Comments

Aw! Many more lovely pieces for the English Dept. shop in Portland, OR. It took a little longer than I estimated, but I have some lovely new designs! There are more that I haven't photographed here, but if you are in the Portland area and in need of a hair piece, be sure to visit the English Dept.!

Saturday outfit :: day of relaxing

Posted on | Monday, April 19, 2010 | 6 Comments

After one of the most stressful and exhausting weeks ever, I took part of the weekend off. This was one of my first days off work in what has seemed like forever. I'm normally working 7 days a week, but on Saturday, Matt and I went to the Oregon Gardens for Earth Day, went shopping a little bit and on Sunday, we hiked around Silver Falls State Park (I love the whole Silverton, OR area) and then we met with my parents and my sis and her husband to celebrate my mom's birthday at CPK. After that, Matt and I found some good books at Barnes and Noble and headed home. It's nice to have a little break once and a while. Here was my Saturday outfit:

Attn Oregon brides!

Posted on | Friday, April 16, 2010 | 2 Comments

I just dropped off half of a huge order to the English Dept. in Portland, OR. It's the biggest order yet so be sure to stop by to get first pick and give a pretty flower a loving home. Some of the pieces include my brand new handmade super skinny comfort headbands. They are hand wrapped in luxurious silk, finished with grosgrain and light as air. You won't remember you're even wearing it (great for those who get headaches from headbands). More pieces to be delivered later this weekend.

Desert blues

Posted on | Wednesday, April 14, 2010 | 7 Comments

Overnight shipping some pieces to Carla Ten Eyck today. I cannot wait to see the photos. I know they will be amazing. Here is one of the pieces I'm shipping off...