Akiyo Henna

Connecting dots?

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:20:02 +0000

This past week was an exciting week I have to say, I feel like things are coming together slowly and meeting a right kind of people ( getting hired.. even better!! ). I had a client who just sold her novel on Monday and the casual conversation came up about my photo book project with my photographer Timothi( few images so far ) and she was very eager to share the information about publishing a book! I wasn’t even thinking to look into publisher but she mentioned that if it’s a non fiction book you can sell the idea!

here is Rebecca’s celebration henna

Then I got a call from Julie who is a wedding/event photographer. she has a love of henna and just came back from India shooting a wedding. She was having her birthday on Sunday and she loves my work and very excited to have me for her birthday party where she is inviting many of her friends who work in wedding/event industry! Julie was warm and lovely person (who was taking cake of everyone at her own birthday :)) and all her friends were just pleasure to be around. they all were happy with my work and I was able to connect with some people. I couldn’t ask more.. it was just an amazing afternoon. To top it off, I came home of more than 2 dozens roses Julie had at her party (as well as yummy leftovers.)! One of her lovely friend sent over at least 15-20 dozens of roses for her birthday and she was generously sharing with all the guests.

Julie’s birthday henna

These roses will keep me smiling for another couples of more days :))) thank you so much Julie!

Testimonial- Rebecca

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:46:58 +0000

Akiyo is an artist extrordinaire. After pointing out which of her designs I was most drawn to, I had the pleasure of sitting back and watching her create. And for me, the experience continues as the pigment changes over time.
This was the perfect way to celebrate and acknowledge the the birth (and sale) of my first novel– which among other things involves a woman’s quest for her artist self.

Rebecca Land Soodak

Luxe Glow New Look!?

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:58:00 +0000

I got a call from a client the other day while I was on the phone talking to a real person after holding for about 10-15 minutes. so she left a message and I called her right back when I was done. She was really excited to hear from me and told me that I was the first henna artist to call her back after she called a few people in the past few days. Since it was for her birthday outing I suggested to Luxe Glow and she was even more excited and made an appointment to come by later that day. When she came by, she told me that as soon as she hung up the phone everyone else started to calling her back.. well people, don’t wait too long… it’s too late now. After we talked about her outfit and her inspiration ( which was Alicia Key’s Video “try sleeping with a broken heart” ) I did a butterfly with other motifs to compliment around it. She also asked me if I could do it both with gold and silver, I’ve never really mixed colors before and I always feel like it could get messy but, if I draw designs separately it comes out fine (it takes a bit longer since I had to let the gold part dry first then do the silver.) but the result is this.. Ta Da!!

Valentine’s surprise henna!

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:33:00 +0000

Every year around Valentine’s day, I get a few clients who wants their BF’s or GF’s name hennaed to surprise them.. being a bit playful and have fun with it. I guess my email newsletter is starting to work in someway.. I’m trying not to send it too often that they get irritated. One of the client who is on the list looked at the email and made and appointment and wanting to get something on her side of lower back. Usually anywhere on the torso is a hard place to get good color so I explain that they need to keep the paste one for at least 10 hours for the best result. I also wrap the area with Hypafix (dressing retention tape used in hospitals) to secure it. she sent me a email with the photo to show me how the color came out and also how much she loved it and her BF liked it ahh.. another girl who was touched by Akiyo’s henna magic..

Anyways, here are the photos:

Before.

After.

Another Gorgeous Pregnant Belly ( hennaed of course ;))

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:51:54 +0000

I met Goussy at a pool party “Agua” I often go to since I know the organizer. I have offered Luxe Glow at the party couple of times but it didn’t have a consistent business for me and also I wanted enjoy the party so I stopped offering and just enjoyed the party for the pat few month. Months later, I got a call from Goussy who held on to my card for her maternity shoot and she wanted to get her belly henna :) I met her at a beautiful space Metropolitan Building in LIC for her shoot last Sat. It’s an old building with antiques.. such a wonderful space to do a shoot. I don’t have any photos from the shoot but I’ll share my henna work..

and the space looks like this, it has different sections and also have smaller intimate rooms.

Don’t mind my henna mess on the table.. stay turned for her photographer’s real work

My first henna wedding invitation design!

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:26:12 +0000

Well, sort of.. my part was to design the henna motif part. Since I’ve worked in the textile print field, I understand very well that people describe prints in very personal ways. Also if you are looking for a true henna designs not too many graphic designer ( not even a textile/print designer )can really create that design flows nicely. So I get a phone call from a bride with henna inquiry and at the end a request to help with her invitation! I believe she found a right person for this!! so said no problem, she sent me a link to what she liked from my site then based on the that I sent her the design and she LOVE it! Said it was exactly what she was looking for.
Ola at:http://ijorere.com/ is the one who is working on this invitation, so everything else but henna motif is what she worked on.

henna wedding invitation

Testimonial-Rose Anne

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:29:27 +0000

Coming away with a beautiful golden design on my chest was not what I expected from a Christmas party. Akiyo’s beautiful hand painted Luxe Glow lasted throughout the holiday season with everyone believing that I was wearing the most delicate of gold necklaces. I loved it! Thank you, Akiyo.

Rose Anne Thom

Looking back this year..

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:33:02 +0000

Only a couple of days left for this exciting year or 2009.. looking back this year, I’m sure as many people I went through a lot. Until beginning of this year I’ve always had a full time job and henna was a side business for me but I always wondered if it’s possible to have this as a full time business and do it well. it was a unfortunate/fortunate thing for me to get laid off in Jan this year to explore my dream to have my full time own business. Of course it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t the right timing either since it was Jan and it’s cold in NY for henna, and I knew nothing about running a business since I was just a graphic designer working in fashion. After a while I soon realized for me to be able to run this as a full time I need to do things differently than before then I came up with 3 great ideas this year.

1. Blissful Belly

Maternity henna for moms to be to get henna on the belly for a good luck and also for the pampering experience. I was lucky enough to work with an amazing photographer who specializes in maternity portraits. We are now offering henna and portrait package as well as individual service. we also offer gift certificate as this make a wonderful baby shower gift!

2. Luxe Glow

It’s a waterproof glitter that lasts for few days to over a week. This service was developed by the request of Indian bride who was able to use henna for the wedding( personal reason) and I came across this technique and prefected it for her wedding. I’m looking to offer this to a western brides as well as South Asian brides and i have been offering it to parties and special occasions. i have been getting such a great feed backs and everyone loves it.

3. Henna Therapy

Last but not the least, this is slowly taking it’s shape.. I’ve had this idea to offer henna workshop for cancer patients and this year I accomplished to get a site up, formed a group on FB, started talking to few people across the country to somehow do this nation wide. It still needs a lot of work but I’ll make it happen to make many women smile in the near future.

www.hennatherapy.org

Over all, it was a great year for me to grow and looking forward to growing together with wonderful people I connect with this year!

Have a Wonderful New Year everyone!

Luxe Glow for Holidays!

admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 05:26:47 +0000

I was at a Holiday party last Sunday with Luxe Glow. This was a party of one of my client and I’ve been having the pleasure to be invited to this party for the past couple of years. This is more of a family Holiday party with people pf all ages, a lot of older conservative ( they seemed like.) women. I wasn’t quite sure how they would feel about the Luxe Glow but when the first client who saw it she got winkle in her eyes :) and she wanted to have it on the side of her neck, she set the trend for the evening.. so everyone else after her all wanted it on the neck or on the chest and all the women wanted to have it done! One of them emailed me to tell me she got a lot of compliment at another party she went the next day. All the older women looked all beautiful and happy at this party and I was convinced that all of us girls at all ages love glitter for Holidays :))

Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

and New Year’s eve party is another big occasion for Luxe Glow

All year is a season for Henna Belly!

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:43:15 +0000

” Blissful Belly” is what my photographer Timothi came up with, since we are offering the package service for henna and maternity portrait we wanted some groovy name for it. we have a postcard made and just arrived yesterday. Henna on pregnant belly is a new idea but still incorporating the idea of henna as a protection (from evil spirits) and good luck for the healthy labor. I also believe it brings a chance to embrace the pregnancy specially for those who had a difficult pregnancy and weren’t able to enjoy it so much. So I had this client who had a hard time throughout her pregnancy so she decided to do something nice and start fresh to welcome the baby. It always is a touching moment every time I meet a woman who is or has gone through a tough time but still stay to be positive.