Twisted Limb keeps it green

Nestled in the wooded countryside of Bloomington is Twisted Limb Paperworks, LLC. January 2008 marked the 10th anniversary of the company, which has been devoted to producing 100 percent recycled, handmade paper invitations for those who wish to have an eco-friendly celebration. 

Educated only from library books and personal mistakes and having a talent and passion for art, Sheryl Woodhouse-Keese set out to develop her dream job. 

“I just knew I wanted to work for myself and create the perfect job for me, which was blending art and my environmental values,” said Woodhouse-Keese, president of Twisted Limb. 

Woodhouse-Keese was an individual show artist for one year before founding Twisted Limb. Paper-making was too labor-intensive for her – someone who, she said, highly values vacation time – to handle alone. Only 20 sheets of paper can be produced in an hour. 

Woodhouse-Keese and her team of seven strive to run a completely green business. 

Not only does Twisted Limb create 100-percent-recycled paper from junk mail and office paper, but everything in the studio from envelopes to toilet paper to coffee is recycled or organic.

Generally, companies must pay the county to pick up their recycling, but Twisted Limb enters into partnerships with various corporations to remove the materials from their property. This enables Twisted Limb to get its recycled junk paper for free, so everybody wins, Woodhouse-Keese explained. 

“Eventually I would like there to be almost nothing leaving this building unless it’s in the form of a piece of paper,” she said.

In addition to all of these earth-friendly measures, the water used in the paper-making process is recycled from the studio’s dehumidifiers and air conditioner whenever possible. 

Twenty-two percent of profits are donated as cash and in-kind contributions to environmental conservation efforts and community groups each year as well. 

Designer Dana Teel, an IU graduate with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts – like most Twisted Limb employees – said the eco-friendly factor influenced her decision to apply at Twisted Limb. She also said it felt good to work for a local company that was working for a cause.

Variety and first-rate products are what truly sets Twisted Limb apart from other recycled-paper companies, according to their Web site. They offer 26 different colors as well as countless font choices, graphics, etc. 

“I did the math one time. I calculated the possible combinations that we can offer – it’s over 4 trillion,” Woodhouse-Keese proclaimed. 

Because of the options, it is almost impossible to find two people with invitations that look the same.

“The hardest thing probably would be getting used to the standards of quality control,” said Allison Day, studio manager.

It is her business and product, but everyone has a voice when it comes to merchandise, and everyone teaches each other at Twisted Limb, Day and her colleagues said.

With customers raving about their one-of-a-kind invitations as well as organizations promoting Twisted Limb on their Web sites, the company has burst onto the national scene.

Ninety to 95 percent of the customers are not local, said Woodhouse-Keese, but they can get in touch with Office Manager Rowenna Hamper or use the company’s Web site to create the exact style of invitation they want.

Over the next year Woodhouse-Keese will be building up a store on Morton Street and Grimes Lane where people can make appointments and look at samples.

People often associate custom-made products with pretension but at Twisted Limb down-to-earth, professionalism is expected, Woodhouse-Keese said.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re getting married while you’re camping or at the metropolitan opera at a black tie event. We’re going to be friendly and we’re going to give you stupendous, superior customer service,” Woodhouse-Keese said.