Tag Archives: greenville

two sisters: new tween & teen boutique (in greenville!)

This weekend, Kara Hebert will be officially opening the doors to her new tween & teen clothing boutique, Two Sisters in Powder Mill Square in Greenville, DE. Kara kindly showed me around her new space to get a sneak peek at her gorgeous shop. Kara and her interior designer/photographer sister, Penny Ashford, designed the store together. They did a beautiful job combining a creative and playful mix of Quadrille and China Seas fabrics and wallpapers, combined with furnishings and lighting from Ikea. Kara also incorporated custom-made accessories and Moroccan poufs by John Robshaw into the mix, which add great texture to the space. Two Sisters‘ fun, colorful interiors will certainly draw any mother and daughter in to shop around. Kara has selected many fun & unique clothing and accessory lines that will be sure to suit any young girl’s budding style!

Q&A with Kara Hebert, Owner of Two Sisters:

How did you come up with the idea to start a teen/tween shop?
When we moved to Wilmington several years ago, I started volunteering as an assistant coach with Girls on the Run, initially because I love running and wanted a few hours to do something by myself each week! That was my first introduction to tween girls (GOTR is for girls in 3^rd and 4^th grades) and I just fell in love with that age group. I think the tween/teen age is a really important one; it’s when girls start becoming independent, but they still need guidance from their parents and other trusted adults. After coaching and spending time with these incredible girls, I knew I wanted to focus on this age group somehow.

When looking around Wilmington, I noticed we didn’t have a store that focused exclusively on the teen/tween market (considered sizes 7-16 or for most 1^st – 8^th graders). The only shopping alternatives were online stores and the local malls, which don’t have a wide selection of appropriate clothes for teen/tweens. I feel that a lot of styles out there right now are too mature for young girls’ figures, and don’t send the right message or fit them correctly. As an alternative, my hope is to provide a tween store that offers fun, trendy clothes that the girls love but appropriate, affordable and well-made clothes that their moms can get excited about too. Our mission is for every girl who walks into our store finds something that makes her feel confident and beautiful about herself. Sometimes it can be difficult to shop with your tween, and by providing fun yet appropriate styles, my hope is to make it a fun, bonding experience for mothers and daughters!

I’ve always loved retail and have a background in retail finance (I worked in corporate finance at The Gap and as a consumer M&A investment banker at Bank of America). I thought opening a teen/tween store would be perfect blend of my passion for retail and my excitement for that tween/teen age group. When the space in Powder Mill Square became available next to Peter Kate, it just seemed like perfect timing!

Where does the name Two Sisters come from?
The store name was inspired by my two daughters, Lilly, 5 and Margot, 3. I also have 2 sisters of my own; one lives in San Francisco and the other lives right here in Wilmington and we are incredibly close friends.

Since I love having sisters and really love watching the amazing sisterly bond that’s developing between my 2 little girls, I thought it would be a fun idea to celebrate that special relationship by naming the store Two Sisters!

How did you and your sister (interior designer, Penny Ashford) come up with the design for the store?
My sister has worked in interior design ever since I can remember, and is just so talented. This was the first project we’ve worked on together and it was truly a labor of love for us both!

We chose orange and pink as the store colors since they’re bright and happy and we thought would appeal to tweens and teens. Once we knew our color scheme, we searched for bold and bright fabrics for our lounge chairs and the dressing room curtains. We also thought it would be fun and playful to wallpaper the dressing rooms and gift wrapping corner to give the store a unique, whimsical feel. For tired moms or friends and little sisters, we found these great Moroccan poufs from John Robshaw and cool hot pink chairs from Ikea!

In keeping with the young theme, we had all of our shelving and cash wrap custom-built using clean, white beadboard that we accented with orange paint and pink glass.

After the colorful Candy Wall Art from Alessandra Manziotti was installed, we added final details like candy installations and cowhide rugs to complete the playful, teen/tween look.

Did you start with a certain fabric you loved or a piece of furniture that you knew you wanted for the store?
We both love Quadrille and China Seas fabrics and wallpaper because they’re clean as well as boldly modern and fun. Before choosing anything else, we visited their showroom and unanimously choose their orange / pink fabric for our lounge chairs and selected the orange and white geometric dressing room wallpaper. After those were chosen, designing everything else around them was easy!

You mentioned that you had Alessandra Manziotti (Bunch) take photos for wall art? Where did you come up with the concept for photographing candy?
If you know me (or my sister Penny), you’ll know that we love candy and are big candy enthusiasts. When visiting New York, we always manage to swing by Dylan’s Candy Bar, which is the mecca for candy lovers. I was inspired by the fun and colorful candy décor at Dylan’s, and by the photos in her beautiful book, “Dylan’s Candy Bar- Unwrap Your Sweet Life by Dylan Lauren”. Alessandra did a fantastic job of using Dylan’s for inspiration but created her own whimsical images that highlight the bright colors and fun textures of her candy subjects. They really look amazing (and delicious)!

You mentioned that you are partnering with some different groups to promote healthy living and education for girls.  Can you tell me a little about those groups and how you plan to work with them?
Sure – we hope to emphasize our Mission of empowering young women, not only in how they choose to dress, but also by encouraging them to make other healthy, strong choices in their lives. In light of that goal, we’ve created our own 2 Sisters Rewards Programs and partnered with other local groups who are also committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle for girls.

Currently, we support Girls on the Run and will be carrying some of their adorable merchandise for sale, of which 100% of the proceeds will go back to the GOTR program.  We have also partnered with the Delaware Running Company by offering a discount to young athletes who have completed any one of their sponsored races (they just need to provide their race bib). We’re also working on a similar partnership with Empowered Yoga, who is equally committed to empowering and strengthening young women.

In store, we just announced our 2Sister of the Month Program that recognizes a new girl, each month, whom we admire for her kindness, personal accomplishment or community contributions. We will feature each 2Sister in our store and in our monthly emails. Lastly, we have a Report Card Reward program in place, which rewards girls with various discounts for achieving academic success at school.

What kinds of lines will you be carrying?
Since our goal is to create a fun and playful shopping atmosphere for both the Moms and Girls, we’re carrying a great range of lines that vary in both style and price point. I really want everyone who comes into our store to leave with something they feel good about wearing and mom feels great about buying. I’ve also made a point to carry lines that aren’t sold anywhere locally, to keep the shopping experience here special.

Our lines range from the classics that never go out of style, including Lilly Pulitzer and Jack Rogers, to the more trendy (but appropriate) such as Ella Moss Girl, Splendid Girl, Vintage Havana, Kiddo by Kate and Pinc Premium, to name a few. I’ve also found some really great new up and coming lines that I love such as Pick Chicken Tween, Miss B (the tween line by Busy Bees), Tractor, Sally Miller Teen Couture and Stella M’Lia, for dressier occasions.  From the West Coast, we’ve brought over some LA favorites including: Joe’s Jeans, LA Made, Malibu Sugar and Sugar Lips tanks. I really just love it all!

For boys, at this point, we’re just carrying the softest, striped polos by Miss B as well as a few bathing suits by Stella Cove. I’m definitely considering adding a larger boy selection for the Fall if we discover that the demand is there.

‘Lisa’s Gone Nuts’

While visiting Twin Lakes Brewery, I noticed there was a newly built structure – what looked to be a little carriage house on the property. Sam Hobbs told me that it is his wife, Lisa’s new professional kitchen — nicknamed ‘Lisa’s Nut House’. I reached out to Lisa to see if she would be interested in telling me more about her business, Lisa’s Gone Nuts. When I visited to take photos of her space, I was inspired by the modern, yet minimalistic approach she took with designing her kitchen – truly a reflection of Lisa’s style. Her business concept is simple, but her product is extremely versatile. I enjoyed learning about Lisa’s inspiration to start her business and her true love for food that she shares with us through her delicious nuts!

How did you come up with the concept for Lisa’s Gone Nuts?
Moving countries, two babies, going crazy (nuts), loving to cook, always experimenting with roasting various nuts for salads, rice dishes & pastas. The idea was conceived in the Chinese year of the Monkey and of course I took that to be a good luck omen, as I am a Monkey (born in ’68), hence the Monkey logo on my labels.

Did you test different combinations before you settled on the ingredients for what you now sell?
I was working with the same combination domestically and I would always receive high praise when entertaining (on a regular basis) and therefore stuck with the initial formula.

What stores sell Lisa’s Gone Nuts?
They are currently for sale at Janssen’s Market (Greenville, DE), Back Burner Restaurant (Hockessin, DE) and Twin Lakes Brewing Co. (Greenville, DE).

Are they available for sale online?
Not yet, but I am aiming for them to be sold online.

When did you build your work kitchen?
The project got started in early 2011 and wrapped up towards the end of this past summer.

Your kitchen’s modern and clean style is cheerful and fun. Do you tend to gravitate towards modern interiors at home as well as for work?
I grew up in a modern glass & brick home with sweeping views of the ocean. The area I live in now is steeped in tradition, so i have incorporated modern twists in our beautiful fieldstone home. The Nut House is a complete juxtaposition of our home.

What is one dish/recipe from your hometown of Cape Town, South Africa that you love and are willing to share?
South Africans love to eat lamb. My favorite memory is sitting with friends & family around a very vibrant table filled with good conversation, good South African wine & most importantly good food…eating slow-roasted leg of lamb. This is what we South Africans refer to as a ‘long lunch’.

Roasted Leg of Lamb
1 large leg of lamb (bone-in)
6 peeled garlic cloves, whole
3 large onions, sliced
8 whole carrots, peeled & halved
12 baby potatoes, halved (skin-on)
2 cans pineapple juice
2 cups (good quality) chicken stock
Honey for coating the lamb
Seasoning of choice (living in the U.S., I love Crazy Janes Mixed-Up Salt)

- With a knife, stuff the garlic into the lamb (all around the lamb)
- In a baking dish, place the lamb with all the ingredients
- Use honey to coat the lamb before seasoning
- Cover and roast at 350 degrees for 4-5 hours, basting as necessary.
Lamb should fall of the bone

Enjoy!

Fresh • Local • Delicious: Twin Lakes Brewery

On a warm mid-September day, I had the fun opportunity of visiting Twin Lakes Brewery in Greenville, Delaware. Owner, Sam Hobbs gave me the grand tour of the historic farmhouse where the brewery operates out of daily. They’ve done a fantastic job of staying true to their Brandywine Valley heritage, while utilizing modern sustainable energy to maintain their brewery. I easily could have been convinced to join the crew for a ‘taste test’, but unfortunately a mid-day happy hour just wasn’t in the cards. Please enjoy reading about our local brewery that has made its mark in the area over the last five years.

Twin Lakes Brewing Company produces roughly 2,000 barrels of beer per year. Beers produced by Twin Lakes include Route 52 Pilsner, Greenville Pale Ale, Tweeds Tavern Stout, Winterthur Spring Wheat Ale, Jubilicous Holiday Ale, and Caesar Rodney Golden Ale. The names of these beers come from the rich history of the brewery and its surrounding area.

Q&A with Sam Hobbs, Owner of Twin Lakes Brewery:

What year did you start Twin Lakes Brewing Co.? What was your inspiration?
We started Twin Lakes Brewery in 2006 and our inspiration came from 9/11. That day taught us that you must live life to the fullest, and understand that everyday just might be your last, and believe that no better day exists than today – sitting with family and friends enjoying a fresh-local-delicious beer.

Can you tell me a little about the building Twin Lakes Brewery is based in? What is the history of the building and how did you renovate it to fit the brewery’s needs?
A converted art studio and tractor barn houses our 25 barrel, steam-fired, gravity-fed, five vessel brew house and tasting room at the historic Twin Lakes Farm (est. 1826) in Greenville, Delaware. The tasting room, originally an art studio of George “Frolic” Weymouth, has a wonderful, historical feel and an old world charm and offers a relaxing atmosphere to unwind in while tasting sensational beers. The brewery hosts intimate corporate and private gatherings as well as seasonal festivals and charitable fundraising events.

How have your beers grown and changed over the years?
Twin Lakes Brewing Company is passionate about preserving the art of American brewing. The hallmark of our fresh-local-delicious beer is that the beer is produced exactly the same today, as it was when we first started. Our growth in production has doubled due to the popularity of the Greenville Pale Ale, “our #1 seller!” which is now available in both Delaware and Pennsylvania.

You mentioned how craft beer and microbrews differ. Could you explain the difference?
Craft & microbrew are terms coined by the American Brewers Association meaning a “small, independent and traditional” brewery. The term ‘craft’ signifies ‘handmade’ while ‘microbrew’ refers to a production of less that 15,000 barrels of beer per year.

Can you break down what makes Twin Lakes beer ‘local, fresh and delicious’?
Our devotion to quality and tradition ensures that we use only the finest ingredients: whole flower hops, the best grains, cultured brewer’s yeast, and most exceptionally, water from the deep rock aquifer located on the Twin Lakes Farm. Our pure water, perfectly balanced and rich in minerals, adds a refreshing smoothness and unique quality to our delicious beer. We are not extreme brewers, but we produce extremely drinkable, all natural unfiltered and unpasteurized, what we call ‘Living Beer’. We believe our American farm brewery and its exceptional beer are part of what makes Delaware and the surrounding region so special.

When did you add the solar panels to Twin Lakes? How have they helped reduce your traditional energy use? Who did you use to install the solar system?
Wise Power installed the 2-kilowatt system. Our plans include making the entire brewery completely energy independent in the near future, and we are looking at doubling the solar capacity by the end of the year.

“At its current size, the power generated by the solar panels will be about 7 amps,” says William Rawheiser of Wise Power Systems of Wilmington, DE. However, the cables laid in the ground running to the panels are capable of handling much more, leaving the door open for expansion. The whole system is truly 21st century; power output can be constantly monitored from anyplace on earth via the internet.

Matt Day, Marketing & Sales Director at Twin Lakes, explained “we’re proud that Route 52 is the first scenic byway in the State of Delaware and we want to protect the heritage and environment here,” said Day.

There are many paintings and sculptures throughout the brewery. Who are some of the artists you like to showcase?
Mark Dance: a fantastic local artist who helped produced our logos.
Paul Rominick: a ‘master potter’ who produces our one-of-a-kind ½ gallon growlers.
Scott Lobaido: from “Flags Across America” painted the American Flag on the rooftop and a few other gems in the tasting room.
Jorge Del Fabbro: a very special sculptor.
Just to name a few…

Who designs your labels? Where does the inspiration for your new labels come from?
Mark Dance creates the artwork for our new beers. Twin Lakes Farm has a long and prestigious history dating back to our founding fathers George Washington and Caesar Rodney. At the entrance to the Farm, the Washington Pear Tree stood for 200 years and now its offspring stands in its place. It is said that General George Washington rested here and legend identifies the old Pear Tree as the spot where Washington planned the Battle of the Brandywine. In respect for our heritage, we produce beers and labels that continue that historic tradition. Fig Studio in Baltimore, Maryland was responsible for our initial inspiration.

How often is Twin Lakes open to the public?
Twin Lakes Brewery is open to the public on Wednesdays from 4 – 7 pm and Saturdays from 12 – 4 pm. The brewery tour will guide you through the history of beer, our brewery, and our Brandywine Valley heritage as well as our traditional, all-natural brewing process. Growlers are also available for purchase so you can take some of our Fresh, Local, Delicious beer home with you!