In the vibrant city of Austin, Texas resides a remarkable duo named Kelley & Kris Denby—a loving husband and wife team. Their passion and compassion have been channeled into a flourishing enterprise, Hemlock & Heather. Since 2012, this dynamic couple has been breathing new life into unappreciated and discarded wood, reimagining it into stunning creations. Whether it’s a captivating reclaimed Texas wall hanging or a uniquely crafted custom panel, their artistic endeavors have been truly inspiring.

One remarkable aspect of their work is their unwavering commitment to sustainability. With every hand-crafted wall hanging they create, they infuse an ethos of eco-consciousness, ensuring that their art promotes a greener and more responsible world. Kelley & Kris’ artistic journey embodies both creativity and environmental stewardship, leaving a lasting impact on the world of design and the hearts of those who appreciate their craft.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kelley & Kris while working at a local graphics and signage company, Miller IDS, when they came in looking for a solution to streamline some of their hand-made, and very time-consuming, Texas minis. Through effortless collaboration and countless weeks of troubleshooting in production, my team at Miller and I were able to come up with a manufactured version of the Texas mini that passed their customer’s expectations with flying colors. This process blossomed into a new avenue of revenue for the duo, and a relationship that has lasted past my time at Miller, and to this day. 

Being a local business themselves, Hemlock & Heather is always looking for a way to give back to their community.
Enter: Amplify Austin Day 

Amplify stands as the flagship initiative of I Live Here I Give Here, serving as Central Texas’s grandest giving event. Since its inception in 2013, this momentous occasion has garnered an astounding $103 million for the local community. Each year, during a 24-hour period in early March, residents from a seven-county region unite with a common purpose: to extend a helping hand to over 700 nonprofits through donations made at AmplifyATX.org.

On this momentous day, donors have the power to make a substantial impact on their community by contributing $5 or more. The vast array of 700+ participating local nonprofits is thoughtfully categorized into 19 distinct Cause Categories, making it easier for donors to discover and support new organizations. These categories encompass a wide spectrum of causes, including racial equity, civil rights, animal care, children’s welfare, and veteran support, fostering a sense of collective mission-driven giving that involves and engages everyone.

As a way of giving back to this cause and community, Kelley & Kris reached out to me to come up with a new design after our successful go at 2022’s Amplify Award, donated by H&H and given to the highest donors amongst various categories. ILHIGH sent their brand assets to us, and like in 2022, gave us the “go-ahead” to get creative. My mission was to elevate last year’s design, which included an obvious nod to the traditional Hemlock & Heather wood grain design aesthetic, include more of the brand assets, and still maintain the partnership between I Live Here I Give Here and Hemlock & Heather. Amongst the variety of this year’s variations above, you can see last year’s Amplify Day Award Design, signage for their representation in Tyler’s at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, along with some of the other exciting and colorful designs I’ve had the pleasure of executing for Kelley & Kris.