Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Hughes.
Hi Heather, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Crafting has always been a passion of mine, a creative outlet that brings me joy and comfort. In 2018, after my youngest child started kindergarten and as I continued to heal from the loss of my last baby, I felt a deep need to do something meaningful for myself and others. That’s when the idea of turning my love for crafting into a business was born.
With the support of GROW of Highland County, an organization that helps people like me start businesses, I was able to transform my dream into reality. In July of 2019, Twisted Violet Homestead opened its doors.
My vision for Twisted Violet Homestead was not only to share my creations but to provide a platform for other local artisans to showcase their talents. Today, our store features a variety of handcrafted items, including my all-natural bath and body products, alongside the unique creations of eight other talented artisans, including two young entrepreneurs.
My products are crafted with a passion for all-natural, chemical-free ingredients. I offer a range of items, including bath bombs, lotions, sugar scrubs, lip balms, salves, and other natural remedies.
In 2020, I deepened my commitment to this mission by enrolling in Herbalism classes, where I learned how to create chemical-free products and help people feel better naturally, without relying on traditional medicine.
In 2022, it was time to go big or go home; so I went big! I purchased a historic building in Uptown Hillsboro and moved the store off my property and into the city!
Twisted Violet Homestead is more than just a business—it’s my happy place, a space where creativity and community come together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, the best roads are never smooth.
Less than a year after we opened Covid 19 happened and we like so many other small businesses were asked to close our doors. We were one of the lucky ones and were able to continue with porch pick up and shipping options.
In 2022 we went through a rebranding and name change. The original store name was Mother Cluckers Farmhouse; which I thought was hysterical but we found out that some people did find it as funny as we did. So after a lot of thought and consideration I decided to change the name to Twisted Violet Homestead.
When we purchased the building uptown in 2022; it was located next to a very busy coffee shop which was one of the reasons that I purchased the building; only to have that coffee shop close just a few months after we opened. Luckily for us we had already established a loyal client base so were ok; we did end up cutting back our days open from Tuesday to Saturday to Thursday to Saturday. We did this due to the lost of foot traffic after the coffee shop was closed. 2 coffee shops later and we now have another new coffee shop next to us that is thriving and we are excited for the possibilities that will bring to our business as well as the rest of the businesses Uptown.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the creator, packager, greeter—truly the one behind every aspect of the store. If it has our store brand on it, you can bet I’m the one who made it. I take great pride in crafting our body care line as clean as possible, using little to no chemicals in any of the products. It’s a standard I hold myself to and something I’m always excited to share with customers when they visit. Creating high-quality, mindful products and connecting with people about them is at the heart of everything I do.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is creating something with my own hands that helps others live healthier, more intentional lives. I find joy in crafting clean, chemical-free products and sharing that knowledge with my community. Being involved in every part of the process—from making and packaging to greeting customers—gives me a deep sense of purpose. It’s incredibly rewarding to see people feel good about what they’re putting on their bodies and to know that I played a part in that. Building something meaningful and personal in my store is what truly lights me up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.twistedviolethomestead.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twistedviolethomestead/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twistedviolethomestead
