Meet Hallie Lewis | Owner & Designer, helen h. press

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hallie Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hallie, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Loyalty. Loyalty is so beautiful to me because it sums up a whole bunch of excellent qualities all at once. Loyal people share a deep connection to that which they are loyal, and they exhibit a multitude of virtues to secure that bond. Loyal people are loving, faithful, brave, protective, smart, empathetic and thoughtful. A loyal friend remembers your birthday. Loyal parents strive to do their best raising their children; loyal sports teammates persevere on behalf of the team, instead of only for self-fulfillment. As a business owner, I’ve learned that I must remain loyal not only to my customers, but also to myself. Sometimes this means I need to say “no” to a project when timing isn’t right, take a design risk for the sake of artistic expression, or simply ensure that day in and day out I remain true to myself with both my designs and interactions.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My designs are a mix of traditional and FUN! I always say to make everyday a fiesta! Why not!? A little color here, a little fun there … these special touches can go a long way. When people ask me what my business is all about, I really have to stop and think! It started out of a love for stationery design, and has evolved into a love of all types of design. I guess you could say I’m a creative addict. I’ll honestly try anything! I always have my watercolors handy, I love cranking up the Cricut, I am constantly making fresh flower arrangements for our home, and don’t get me started on my love for China patterns, tablescapes and re-arranging bookshelves in our living room! Interior design plays a big role inspiring what I make, from colors, to pattern mixing, to trend-spotting. It is not unusual to have a customer reach out to me asking to coordinate her paper with a beautiful textile in her home. Notepads on your kitchen counter just look better if they match your paint colors… am I right?! Something I am very excited about – and it is my first time to truly “announce” – is that I am thrilled to be slowly entering the textile design world with some custom wallpapers and fabrics. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time, and I am excited to give it a whirl!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh, I love this question because I truly love Dallas: my home sweet home. The night you arrive, let’s go to dinner at Il Bracco. You’re going to DIE when you try the Spicy Gemelli. I hate to tell you exactly what to order, but I’m going to have to. The crispy artichokes are a must for your appetizer, and you’d be silly not to order The Bracco to sip while you dine! In the morning, we’ll go down to Stanley Korshak for some shopping – it is THE most beautiful and exclusive luxury retail store with the best employees in the business – you simply won’t find anything like it anywhere else! One day we must take a morning walk through Highland Park to admire the beautiful homes, of course stopping for coffee and a pastry at Bird Bakery, and browsing the shops in Highland Park Village. This is going to sound crazy, but let’s also go out to Ikea. Just trust me on this one. We’ll wind through all of the crazy rows of stuff and hopefully find some treasures! That night, we’ll need to hit-up Javier’s for some Mexican martinis, butter chips and filete cantinflas. Bring your bike, because I am really into riding my bike around Greenway Parks and then up to Trader Joes for some fresh flowers. Biking with a basket full of flowers is honestly such a simple thrill for me! When we’re ready to relax, we’ve got to go to my neighborhood favorite, Mesero. Laid back and delicious, it is our family’s go-to. The staff is beyond generous and treats customers like family. Let’s definitely order-in one night too, because we’ll want to try some face masks and order an at-home Cherry mani/pedi. Oishii sushi delivery for the win!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As cheesy as it may sound, I would love to give a special shoutout to all of my supporters and customers! My family has played a huge role in encouraging me and cheering me on, and I absolutely love connecting with new friends in person or via social media as we work together to perfect their orders!

Website: Etsy.com/shop/helenhpress

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