Turkey says, "hello!"

Posted on | Friday, July 20, 2012 | 2 Comments

This is Turkey.

He's a Green Cheek Conure that the hubby and I got at the Newberg Critter Cabana

He likes to whistle things that I whistle. He likes to take baths - everyday or multiple times a day. He likes strawberries and making a huge mess of them. He likes his head scratched. He likes to watch every move you make while hanging on the bars of his cage.

He sleeps in a little felt lined, triangular house with his buddy, Kiwi.

He is generally quiet until I'm on the phone - then he squawks with jealousy. He's also jealous of Kiwi's internet fame on blogs and pinterest.

So now you know Turkey. :)

New projects!

Posted on | Monday, June 18, 2012 | 3 Comments

If you love Twigs & Honey, I think you'll be the type to fall head over heels over our next line! Coming soon! I cannot wait for the big reveal. It's been a huge undertaking that began last summer and I'm very excited! All these great big ideas in my head are finally materializing. I really get to flex my muscles. Here are some sneak peeks from today...

Checking all the details!

It's all about the fit!

This is only the beginning. Proudly made in the U.S.A.

Small business grant :: Would love your help!

Posted on | Wednesday, June 13, 2012 | 2 Comments

I normally cringe at the thought of self-promotion anything, but would LOVE your help on this one! If you're a fan of Twigs & Honey, we're applying for a small business grant from Chase & LivingSocial. We need 250 votes by June 30th to be considered.

To vote, please go to: https://www.missionsmallbusiness.com/

From there, scroll to the bottom right and click "log in & support". Once logged in with a facebook account, type "twigs & honey" into the business name and hit "search". Then click the "vote" button and that's it!

Please spread the word through Facebook and Twitter! THANK YOU soooo much for all your support and help!!! We are so excited about this opportunity and all the help it would provide us in growing Twigs & Honey! Since we started in January of 2008, we've been completely self-funded - no loans or lines of credit - just pure hard work and reinvesting into the business. We have big plans in the future and know we'll get there eventually... but every little OR big bit helps!

Happy 2012 Wedding Season!

Posted on | Friday, May 25, 2012 | 8 Comments

I apologize for the minimal posts this year. We've been growing at a remarkable pace and have had so many exciting projects and opportunities, all of which I am very excited to share with you! Just a teaser - but some of the things are related to Hollywood, tutorials, and a weddings expansion - too cryptic? Well, I can't reveal everything all at once, can I?

I did create this lovely for an equally lovely favorite local lady. Here are some photos:

I hope to post more updates in the coming weeks and months! Thank you so much for all the Twigs & Honey blog readers!!! :)

Giveaway Winner!

Posted on | Tuesday, March 27, 2012 | No Comments

The random winner for the Junghwa by Amy Stewart double pair of heart earrings Giveaway is:

Mrs_Faz

She said in her comment entry:
"simply loveeee them! I wear my cute puffy heart necklace EVERYDAY!"

Congratulations! Mrs_Faz: Please email my sister at amystewart619@gmail.com or convo her on Etsy to arrange shipment of your prize!

Watercolor blooms

4 Comments

Freshly handmade from scratch:

Twigs & Honey Watercolor Blooms.
These ones are always slightly different from piece to piece. I love that. :) I hear more people saying they hand paint their flowers even though it doesn't look like it. I think some people use "hand painted" in the way they describe their work when it actually isn't. I use in my descriptions when I actually paint them so it might be that others use the language because they don't know better? Not sure. Anyhow, I started hand painting them a few years ago to achieve gorgeous depth and dimension and it's the real deal - literally hand painted petals. Not just saying it. In 2008, I got a crazy/cool project for a major perfume label where I had to hand paint flowers - that was really fun! I used to paint quite a bit when I was young and it's so fun to actually use that skill for my work. I never would have guessed it 20-25 years ago! I'm not a "painter" - I just enjoy it. Would love to get better in the coming years. I really admire great painters. It takes a ton of skill and dedication - and time. :)

Giveaway! Junghwa by Amy Stewart jewelry

Posted on | Tuesday, March 20, 2012 | 88 Comments

Many of you know I have one sister, Amy, and she makes the sweetest and prettiest handmade jewelry: Junghwa by Amy Stewart. She has generously offered a giveaway for one of our readers.

To enter for a chance to win 2 pairs of these lovely handmade heart stud earrings (1 - 14k gold fill; 1 - sterling silver), go to her facebook fanpage and like the page HERE. And then leave a comment on this post. :)
I'll pick 1 random winner.
Enter one comment only and the giveaway ends next week on March 27th at noon, Pacific time. I'll announce a winner later that day.
Good luck!

Don't want to wait to win a pair? Buy these cute earrings right now by going HERE.

Original artwork

Posted on | Friday, March 16, 2012 | 13 Comments

I feel silly to have to even bring this up and so sad that it happened, but after less than one month of going live, the artwork on my website has already been copied by another designer for their own commercial website! I mean, c'mon!!

I didn't think I had to point this out so explicitly but the floral print on my website's background, which is the same as on my signature boxes, is my original, hand painted artwork. It is copyrighted by Twigs & Honey, LLC. I've loved the feedback I've received so far and I think many people didn't realize that it was painted by moi - thank you everyone! But - even if you don't know that it's painted my myself, you shouldn't just copy it off my website. There are so many copyright laws out there for artwork. Educate yourself! You don't just go and right click and copy and use freely. Someone had to work hard to produce that art. I decided to paint my own art for my branding just so I could have exclusive rights to use it and to create exactly what I wanted! Even if you purchase a clipart membership somewhere, the fine print will usually say you can't use for commercial purposes... even though you had to pay for personal use. Long story short - please don't copy off my website or my branding.

Original copyright protected hand painted flowers from twigsandhoney.com

Original watercolour painting by Myra Callan. Do not reproduce!

Cover of Smitten Magazine!

Posted on | Tuesday, March 6, 2012 | 4 Comments

Twigs & Honey is on the cover of the current issue of Smitten Magazine! Yeah! Be sure to check out the issue HERE. There's also more Twigs & Honey inside the issue including an interview. :) :) Thank you, Smitten Magazine! The issue is gorgeous!

Photography: Elizabeth Messina
Hair/Makeup: Erin Skipley
Dress: Claire Pettibone
Headpiece: Twigs & Honey
Model: Dominique

Wonderful post on Wedding Chicks blog!

Posted on | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | 3 Comments

Be sure to check out the Q&A I did with The Wedding Chicks for their awesome wedding blog! I adore Amy & Jocey and had the privilege of meeting them a couple weeks ago in Portland. They are soooo sweet and the moment you start talking with them, you feel like you've known them forever. I love women that are hard working, passionate about what they do, and totally down-to-earth. Thank you soooo much, Amy & Jocey!!! Expect some more things with the Wedding Chicks and Twigs & Honey in the future! :) Check out the Q&A HERE.

Amazing last year

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photo credits: Elizabeth Messina

This past year was ridiculously amazing and I feel like the best has yet to come. There have been several large projects that I've been keeping mum about for a variety for reasons (strategic and legal), but some I've committed to for almost a year and others for at least several months. In the last few months, I had that crazy back pain issue and the 1.5 month long bronchitis and feel like amidst all the amazing projects, I have to make sure that I'm taking care of myself as well. So right at the moment, if you're interested in a very custom order, I might not be able to get to it, unfortunately. If it is a simple or large request, feel free to email me still and I might be able to fit it in. Simple customizations to current designs are a lot easier for me to accommodate than custom requests that are for items not currently available. My schedule is highly variable from day-to-day so I don't want to have a blanket policy, as I sometimes find a sliver of time for special order requests. I would LOVE to work with everyone, but have to make sure to finish previous commitments first and keep a good balance for sanity sake.

So whatelse rounds out the typical day at Twigs & Honey lately?
1. We're still remodeling the back half of the house (so our home is a wreck and we don't have a working kitchen yet)
2. Constant order fulfillment - everyday (which could be a full-time+ job by itself)
3. Transitioning for new workers
4. Working with retailers
5. Press projects
6. All those huge projects I was talking about
7. Preparing for The Cream in LA (yeah!)
8. All the backend for that little new collection we just launched ;)
9. Answering the flood of emails we get daily
10. Trying to hold onto a snippet of time to stay healthy and happy with the family. :)

I have some business-y posts planned soon. I've been getting a flood of inquiries for business tips and advice and think it would be great to just do a nice post about commonly asked questions.

Long story short, expect some wonderful things in the next year and keep checking back for all sorts of updates. Thank you, everyone!!!!!!!!!

Our new boxes

Posted on | Tuesday, February 14, 2012 | 9 Comments

I'm so excited to have our new boxes... finally! I've wanted our own boxes for a long time now, but finally decided it was time last spring. I'm a bit maniacal about details and I wanted these to be perfect. Everything from the size, box lid dimensions, artwork, feel - was all calculated. I wanted them to be as pretty as they were functional. I tend to be a very tactile person too, so they had to feel just right on the fingertips. They are super rigid and won't collapse so your piece will be safe inside. Oh! And they match the new website. :) In addition, you'll be able to display proudly if desired or you could even store precious mementos and jewelry inside. Either way, I hope everyone enjoys these boxes with their purchases! I am sooo pleased with how they turned out! Made in the U.S.A.

The New 2012 Collection :: Twigs & Honey

7 Comments

Our new collection took over a year - yes - over a year to complete and we couldn't be happier with the results. I personally wanted to slow some things down this year... specifically, I wanted the designs to be nurtured and created with time as opposed to being rushed together. Most of the new styles began as a concept, then a sketch. After I made a sample, I would tweak for weeks or months until it was perfect. I'll admit that some styles didn't make the cut. But after an absolutely crazy year for the business on many levels, I really wanted the core of what Twigs & Honey has been built on, to truly shine.

Some of the pieces in the latest collection feature brand new techniques for us that we've been learning over the last year or more. In addition, we revamped our entire website to help showcase the new designs AND because we wanted a site that reflected the direction we're heading and which was different than others out there. To view the new collection, click HERE.

Some favorites:

I truly have to thank an amazing team of women that helped make the shoot come together.

Elizabeth Messina: Elizabeth and I have been working together for several years now and I couldn't be more grateful to be friends with such an inspirational and kind individual. Her photography captures the most beautiful moments in life. Elizabeth and I have been working on another huge project for the past year and there will be more on that later.

Erin Skipley: Erin is one of the most talented makeup and hair experts I know. I met her in France a couple years ago and feel so lucky to know her. She is not only amazing at what she does, she is an absolute delight to be around.

Claire Pettibone: Claire Pettibone's designs are simply put, out of this world. They are the prettiest creations a bride will ever put on. Her designs ooze femininity and romance. I feel so lucky to have been able to dress our model in her ultra pretty designs.

Leanne Marshall: Leanne is one of the most innovative designers I know. Her designs are matched by her pure and raw talent in the art of dressmaking and draping. She is the real deal. I've adored her work since before her Project Runway win and will continue to fawn over her designs for years to come.

Dominique: Our gorgeous model. Dominique is sooo endearing. She's a ball full of sweet energy. Just love this girl. Everyone loves her after they meet her. I'm sure that you will be seeing much more from this emerging talent in the years to come!

Amy Stewart: Amy, my big sis, made gorgeous jewelry for us to use in styling the shoots. She is quite the talent so be sure to check out her shop HERE.

I also want to thank, Nora, who was the nicest woman ever on the day of the shoot. She helped with so much! I want to thank the better half, Matt, for helping during the shoot (but before and after as well!).

photo credits: Elizabeth Messina
Hair/Makeup: Erin Skipley
Dresses: Leanne Marshall and Claire Pettibone
Veils, headpieces: Twigs & Honey
Model: Dominique

$400 Giveaway on Green Wedding Shoes Blog :: Now through Friday

6 Comments

Be sure to visit Green Wedding Shoes blog for a wonderful post on the new Twigs & Honey collection! See it HERE. While you're there, leave a comment on their site describing your favorite new Twigs & Honey piece and you'll be entered for a $400 gift certificate giveaway at twigsandhoney.com !

Beautiful and simple jewelry by my sister

Posted on | Monday, February 13, 2012 | 5 Comments

The lovely jewelry featured in the new collection photos was made by my awesome sister, Amy. Visit her Etsy shop for more pretty pieces and her facebook page.
photo credits: Elizabeth Messina
Dresses: Claire Pettibone
Hair/makeup: Erin Skipley

The Cream :: Giveaway winner

No Comments

The winner of 2 tickets to The Cream is Katie H!
Thank you to everyone who left a comment!

Katie H: email us for details: info@twigsandhoney.com