Busy summer!

Posted on | Saturday, July 23, 2011 | 2 Comments

This summer has been amazingly busy and I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to blog more frequently. I promise I have lots of exciting things in the works and sometime, when I have more time, I'll blog all about it. Although, some of the "things" are very top secret projects so those might be blogged about later. I hope everything is having a wonderful summer! -Myra

Etsy Featured Seller!

Posted on | Monday, July 4, 2011 | 13 Comments

I am so excited to announce that I'm an Etsy Featured Seller! Click HERE.

I started selling in my Etsy shop back in January of 2008 and was able to create a full fledged business shortly after. At that time, I was working a full-time job for the government and after 2-3 months of selling on Etsy, was able to put my notice in with my employer, left my job and started selling my handmade pieces full-time by May of 2008. I had often hoped (daydreamed?) to be a Featured Seller and was absolutely thrilled when I was contacted by the Etsy team.

Etsy has been an amazing venue for launching small handmade businesses. It's wonderful and inspiring to watch new businesses quickly take off and grow. I even encouraged my big sis to start an etsy shop of her own, and now that is basically what she's doing everyday. :)

After a short time, I launched my own off etsy online store and started getting a flood of wholesale requests. I curate my wholesalers to a manageable select list currently, until I have a few more workers, but it's been very exciting to build up a business from literally zero.

I currently have two contract workers (including my own mom!) and I think I've wrangled help from just about every relative I have at one point or another, but I have the most thanks going to my husband who has helped and supported me on my crazy venture these past few years.

I'm very excited for the future of Twigs & Honey as we've got lots in store for the future! I have so many secret projects that I promise to share once I can. Thank you so much to all the supporters and friends of Twigs & Honey AND thank you, Etsy!

View the whole Etsy Featured Seller on Twigs & Honey HERE.

A beautiful film by bliss* video productions

Posted on | Wednesday, June 15, 2011 | 6 Comments

I love Kristen*'s style and vision. She creates the dreamiest films through her company, bliss* video productions. She recently made this stunning video about Twigs & Honey. It was filmed back in May of 2010 in France during Elizabeth Messina's A Lovely Workshop. My bits were spontaneous, single takes and unscripted... :D

I hope you enjoy!

Hey look! Shiny new logo:

Posted on | Thursday, June 9, 2011 | 5 Comments

Thank you, to everyone, for your wonderful comments on a previous post! I was so pleasantly surprised. I had not realized it would have generated such great dialogue. I was also happy to see fellow designer (amazing!) and wonderful friend, Elizabeth, speaking out on the subject as well. :)

As part of the re-brand I was talking about previously, I decided to give my logo a face lift. I'd been tossing the idea around in my head for the better part of over a year and finally took the plunge! I really wanted the logo to "fit" the Twigs & Honey aesthetic. I was scared at first because I had been using the old logo for so long! I think I had become very attached to it. I am a creature of habit and like the familiar but also like to try new things so overall, I feel like it was the a step in the right direction. After multiple revisions (thank you to the amazing calligrapher for her patience with me), the logo is finished and I LOVE it. I think it is the perfect amount of whimsy mixed with sophistication and style. Loveliness, class, and just a little pizazz. More re-branding to come!

Our Double band golden tiara is now available in silver

Posted on | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 | 8 Comments

(pictured in gold above; photo credits: Elizabeth Messina)

Our bestselling Double band golden tiara, Style #147 is now available in silver by popular request! This style is fast becoming one of the most beloved pieces in our collection, but we've had so many requests for a silver version that we finally decided to add it. You can purchase HERE.

The halo headband worn as a belt

Posted on | Wednesday, May 25, 2011 | 3 Comments

The flower halo I was working on previously as a belt with a pretty Kate Towers dress I've had for a few years. :)

Made this

Posted on | Thursday, May 19, 2011 | 9 Comments

Still working on it, but almost done...

Yipee!

Posted on | Tuesday, May 17, 2011 | 4 Comments

Behold... all sorts of goodies from Benefit!!

photo coming!

I'm in girly heaven. These things make a plain girl very happy. :)
Thank you to a special bride, Emily!! Love it all!

Custom work

Posted on | Monday, May 16, 2011 | 4 Comments

I haven't had very much time to take on custom orders, but here are the last two custom requests for some very special brides. :)

These feathers were each hand dyed (remember these?) to create a colorful custom Flourish feather flower.

Custom silk flower made with hand dyed and stiched silk for a soft ivory finish.

Dress love...

2 Comments

blogger's been acting up...

Posted on | Friday, May 13, 2011 | No Comments

Blogger's has been having issues... some posts and comments are having disappearing and reappearing acts. :P Hopefully, it will be fixed soon!

Thank you!

Posted on | Thursday, May 12, 2011 | 20 Comments

Thank you to all the great Twigs & Honey blog readers and fans out there. I truly appreciate all your support these last 3 years!

I really do love what I do. It is a ton of work and it means the world to me to hear all the sweet comments and read all your wonderful emails. :)

We're continuing to grow and evolve and it's been a great learning experience. We've added a couple production workers and have lots of new endeavors on the horizon.

I have one awkward thing to say in the midst of all this.
As a designer, I think it's common to find that imitation does not feel like flattery. Sometimes it is a few instances and other times, repeated offenses, but it can be frustrating when you feel like you're putting your heart and soul into your brand only to see it continually copied and emulated. Many times, it's minor and no big deal (you have to grow a pretty thick skin), but lately (the last year or two), there has been one other designer that continually replicates not only designs but branding, marketing, descriptors, logos, etc. I've had several other designers/individuals point it out to me so I know I'm not going nutty, but it is definitely disheartening. I think it is one thing to copy someones designs, but it takes it to a whole new level when all the branding is nearly identical. I could point out a plethora of examples, but I don't want to be too obvious. It is actually kind of creepy and makes me uncomfortable - that is, the extent of how far it has gone (common responses from moi - "WTF?" "Really?"). I personally find it very odd to try so hard to be exactly like another company. Why would you want to do that? I really don't know what one could achieve besides short term monetary gain. Ethically & personally - I think it is just wrong and unfruitful. That's just my opinion.

Long story short, the best I can do is always look forward and continue doing what I have been doing. As part of a continual effort toward making Twigs & Honey a unique and innovative brand, I've decided to do some revamping of the branding. I think it's time for a lovely facelift. A huge motivator is the aformentioned offending designer, but another big factor is to keep Twigs & Honey fresh and refined. I can't wait to unveil what we have in the works! Keep checking back for updates. Some new things in the next few months... bigger things over the next year and beyond!

Keep on keeping on! :)

Kate Middleton's bridal day look

Posted on | Friday, April 29, 2011 | 2 Comments

Kate Middleton's bridal day look is stunning and timeless. Her Sarah Burton dress, lace embellished veil and tiara are a perfect ensemble.

Photo credits: Getty via CBS

Complete your own bridal look fit for a princess with a Twigs & Honey Silk tulle with lace trim veil Style 053:

Photo credits: Lisa Warninger

Double band golden tiara Style 147

Photo credits: Elizabeth Messina

Congrats to Prince William and Kate!

Experiments with color

Posted on | Friday, April 22, 2011 | 11 Comments

NYC recap and Ann Taylor windows

16 Comments

Matt and I went on a last, last minute trip to NYC earlier in the week/weekend and had a great time. We've both never been so everything was new. :) It was mostly meetings and business, but we did get to squeeze in some great meals and sightseeing.