The Trend Boutique Reintroduces Heather Gardner & Your Chance to WIN The Shark Tooth Petite Chain Necklace!

The mastermind behind Heather Gardner Jewelry (formerly known as Tiger Lily Jewelry☺) reintroduces the line to the world as her own. Heather Gardner, a native Californian and Malibu resident, started her jewelry business without any formal training in the summer of 2006 and has now garnered fans like Vanessa Hudgens, Guliana Rancic, Christina Applegate and Rose Byrne. The entrepreneur takes the time to interview with The Trend Boutique about herself and her motivations behind the transition of Tiger Lily Jewelry into Heather Gardner. Participate in the giveaway for your chance to win The Petite Chain Shark Tooth Necklace!

Tiger Lily Evolves into Heather Gardner:

Heather Gardner with her son Dakota (She's rocking her Signature Feather Earrings!)

TB: What inspired you to create a jewelry line?

H.G: My passion for jewelry design began in high school and college, as I would find myself lost for hours surrounded by gemstones, designing my own pieces, or adding new elements to the jewelry I already owned.  I ultimately gave up an established career in education to delve into my creative passion, and during the summer of 2006, Tiger Lily was born.

TB: What’s the story about the transformation of Tiger Lily into Heather Gardner?

H.G: The business quickly expanded and I decided to change my company brand to my own name, to add even more of a personal touch to my designs, and really make the brand my own.  On January 1, 2012, Tiger Lily became Heather Gardner.

TB:  The styles of your collection at The Trend Boutique now are very boho and unique. Are you planning on taking the Heather Gardner jewelry line into a different direction?

H.G: I do have a few tricks up my sleeve for 2012, and am currently working on some other projects besides jewelry…  hush hush!  Although I do plan to minimally expand into a few new territories, I know that my unique style reflected in my jewelry designs will continue to be seen in everything that I do.

TB: The Tiger Lily Signature Feather Earrings are a huge hit with celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens (and the gals at The Trend Boutique!) What was your inspiration for this piece?

H.G: I wanted to create something that reflected my love for nature, sunshine, and California style.  Although feathers were not trending when this design came out, and Vanessa didn’t wear them until a few years later, they have always been one of my best sellers.

TB: What is the hardest part about being a jewelry designer?

H.G: I think that coming up with designs on a seasonal timetable is a challenge.  Fortunately, a lot of my designs have stayed popular for many years, and I don’t take them out of the line just because it’s a new season.  I create jewelry that is trend conscious, but will also last beyond the quick trends that come and go.  I want women to be able to wear my jewelry for years to come, and build a collection that works with their changing wardrobe and fashion tastes.

6. What is the one favorite piece of jewelry that you own and what is your favorite piece in your newest collection?

H.G: I absolutely LOVE my Signature Feather Earrings.  I wear them almost everyday.  Most of my friends look confused when they see me wearing another pair of earrings, and I mix it up every once in awhile by wearing my turquoise feather earrings.  I’m addicted. My favorite piece from my latest designs is the Earth Elements Necklace.  I love the rust and animal print feathers hanging with the ivory tusk, shark tooth, and turquoise slice.  It’s by far one of the designs I am most proud of.  It’s sexy, it’s chic, and it’s feminine.

TB: In 3 words, describe the type of girl that would wear the Heather Gardner collection.

H.G: Confident, Vibrant, Chic.

TB: Are you more excited to see your jewelry on a celeb or your jewelry on the girl walking down the street? Why?

H.G: I am always honored when a celeb wears my jewels, but I get a greater sense of excitement when I see it on the girl walking down the street.   This is where grassroots fashion happens.  It’s easy to be fashionable when you have all the money in the world to purchase the latest trends, but it takes a true fashionista to create her own style in the rough world of the ordinary. But my favorite experience as a designer is when I’m shopping or living out my day, and someone looks at my earrings or necklace that I have on and says, “Oh, I have those…” with a smile.   That is what it’s all about.

Here are some just for fun ☺:

TB: If we walked into your home and looked inside your refrigerator, what would we find?

H.G: Trader Joe’s Mediterranean hummus, veggies, turkey, gourmet cheese, figs, blueberries, strawberries, eggs and egg whites, FAGE yogurt, and left over barbequed fish that my husband caught while spear fishing.  AND tons of condiments for any dish you could think of making- my hubby is a chef of sorts.

TB: If you could trade places with anyone famous, living or dead, who would it be?

H.G: I would never want to trade my life with anyone.  I am so blessed with all that I have experienced in this life; from family and friends, global travels, living on the Pacific, and falling in love with my husband and growing little boy.  However, if I HAD to pick, I wouldn’t mind temporarily viewing life through the eyes of Michelangelo as he painted the Sistine Chapel.

TB: If you had to watch one movie for the rest of your life, which would it be and why?

H.G: The English Patient– I would never get bored of the dramatic cinematography, the plot of love gained, lost, and fought for, or the tale of the true struggle of humanity to make something beautiful out of life despite the great challenges we face.

TB: You seem to love adventure and travel (as seen on your FB Heather Gardner page!) What’s the best destination you’ve been to?

H.G: Australia and Florence, Italy are my favorites, but I have to say that living in Uganda for 10 weeks changed my life.

TB: What advice would you give to an aspiring jewelry designer? Something you wish someone would’ve told you.

H.G: Don’t give up… it’s always a lot harder than you think it’s going to be. Don’t get discouraged when someone passes by your designs… someone else won’t.  Be true to yourself, love what you do, and stay inspired.

WIN Heather Gardner’s Petite Chain Shark Tooth Necklace in Gold!

(1) You MUST live in the U.S.

(2) LIKE us on Facebook

(3) SUBSCRIBE to our Blog *This is a 2-step process. After entering your email address & clicking Subscribe Now, you MUST ALSO check your email to CONFIRM the subscription. The process is NOT COMPLETE until you do so & your name will NOT make it onto the list of possible winners!

STEP 1) STEP 2)

(4) Comment on this post by: Visiting ShopTheTrendBoutique.com and telling us which Heather Gardner/Tiger Lily Jewelry item is your favorite! (Hint:Use The Search Tool) Leave a link to your choice in your comment.

(5) Do NOT enter under different aliases: If different aliases are used and numerous comments with the same shipping address are left, those comments will be deleted. As for the winner, if we find out an alias has been used, a new winner will be chosen. Play fair!

We will be accepting entries for this prize until Thursday February 2, 2012 6pm (PST).

Good Luck! And may the most stylish fashionista win!