After returning home to Carrollton following about a decade away, Leana Rivera Shoemaker decided it was time for a new chapter. That decision led to Tinsel and Twyne, her holiday decorating business specializing in custom seasonal installations for homes and businesses.
Leana had spent years working in insurance sales, but over time she realized she wanted a career that allowed her to be more creative. “I was thinking, if I could do anything in this world, wake up every day and do something that I absolutely loved and was passionate about, what would I do?” she said. “I was like, I would be a holiday decorator.”
Creativity had always been an important part of Leana’s life. She had long enjoyed decorating her own home, especially for the holidays, and often received compliments on her work. When she moved back to Carrollton, she began researching decorators, businesses and seasonal services in the area and saw an opportunity to create something different.
Her business, Tinsel and Twyne, offers everything from wreaths and bows to porch displays and larger installations for businesses. Leana said much of what she creates is made by hand and customized to fit each space. One of her favorite materials is surprisingly simple: vines gathered from local backyards, which she uses to build the framework for decorative arches.
She also uses artificial flowers, greenery and foliage, but she aims for a realistic, high-end look. “I want somebody to look at a display and question whether or not the flowers are real,” she said. In one case, a vendor who supplied her artificial roses saw photos of an installation and asked if the flowers were real.
Leana told us that she avoids a cookie-cutter approach and instead focuses on creating displays that feel natural to the space. “I love going into a space and just visualizing and transforming it into something very magical,” she said.
Fall is one of the busiest seasons for Tinsel and Twyne, with custom pumpkin displays for homes and businesses. While Leana offers different packages, she adjusts each one depending on the size and layout of the property. A small porch may require a completely different design than a large staircase or commercial storefront. Displays can include specialty pumpkins, hay and cornstalks, with some of the largest pumpkins weighing between 60 and 100 pounds.
There is also more planning involved than customers may realize. Leana considers Georgia’s heat, rain and direct sunlight when deciding where to place pumpkins so the displays will last as long as possible.
She has also found a way to make the end of the season more sustainable. Leana works with a local farmer who can collect pumpkins, hay and cornstalks after displays are removed. The pumpkins can then be used as feed for animals such as pigs and chickens, reducing waste while also helping customers avoid the hassle of disposal.
When Leana first launched Tinsel and Twyne, she needed photographs to show potential customers what she could do. She reached out to family friends and offered to decorate their homes at no charge in exchange for taking photos. After she posted images from one of those first homes on Rome Street, two people contacted her the very next day.
From there, referrals began to grow. Her first commercial project was with Little Hawaiian, followed by work with 1881 Wine and Sweet Peas Boutique, which Leana said helped challenge her creatively. When she was asked to create a fall arch for the business, she had never built one before, but she agreed to take it on. “I’m not going to say no,” she said. “I’m very innovative. I’m going to figure it out.”
For Leana, working with local businesses is also about supporting the community. Her installations can provide eye-catching backdrops, marketing opportunities and memorable experiences for customers.
Ultimately, that is what she hopes people take away from her work. She wants someone walking downtown with friends, family or a date to see one of her displays, stop and take a photo.
“You’re capturing a moment in time with the people that you love and that you spend your time with,” Leana said.
Contact Tinsel and Twyne
To learn more about Tinsel and Twyne or inquire about a custom seasonal installation, call or text 770-585-7035 or email [email protected].
Follow Tinsel and Twyne on social media:
- Instagram: @tinselandtwyne
- Facebook: @tinselandtwyne
- TikTok: @tinsel.twyne
Photos: Justin Burley
