Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Easterly.
Hi Renee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It all began in March 2020 when I found myself needing to find my purpose for getting out of bed every day. I had been a stay-at-home mom for all of my daughter’s life, homeschooled her for the last five years and haven’t held a full-time job in 15 years. When we decided it was time for her to go to high school and enter back into the public school system, I lost my “job.” I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life (in my 40’s), so I began to think about what do I love doing. I love paper crafts and specifically scrapbooking. I had a ton of paper, so off to Pinterest I went trying to find my passion. I stumbled across paper flowers, which I had never seen before. I made my first flower soon after and I was hooked. I told my mom (who lives with us now) about it and she said she wanted to join me on this new adventure.
Our first project was a 7′ x 8′ paper flower wall. Then, we began making nursery sets, then shadow boxes, then canvas projects, then small flowers, then bouquets, and now creating SVG’s and teaching classes. We also have a backdrop rental portion of our business which includes pipe and drape, hedge walls, flower columns and newborn nests. We look forward to the future and to see what we come up with next. We are not sure what it will be, but we do know it will use paper flowers!!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have never been the entrepreneurial type. I have always said that I never want to own my own business, yet here I am. Life is funny! I have absolutely no idea how to run a business, but every day I study and take classes to learn as much as I can. So far, the challenge has been welcoming and I am enjoying the process.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I like to call myself a paper flower artist. I take a simple piece of paper and try to replicate existing flowers in the world or create large, fun abstract flowers. I have created 3′ wide flowers used for newborn photo shoots, 1″ flowers placed inside shadow boxes and every size in between. I have created complete flower walls that are 7′ tall by 8′ wide, stemmed bouquets for gifts, nursery decor, teacher appreciation gifts, mother’s day shadow boxes, canvas art and even teach classes. My last class had 20 students all learning to make a paper flower canvas art for their home. I have so many ideas for upcoming projects that makes me smile to see our future at Lakeside Petals.
How do you define success?
Success to me in not in the form of money. I see success as leaving a mark on the world. My goal is to be known as “the” paper flower company in central Florida. I would love to prove to myself that this stay-at-home mom can achieve greatness.
Contact Info:
- Email: LakesidePetals@gmail.com
- Website: www.LakesidePetals.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/LakesidePetals
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LakesidePetals
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8O1vNeIGN6CK6cWokOiSw
- Other: www.etsy.com/shop/LakesidePetals?ref=shop_sugg
Image Credits
Starry Skye Photography LLC
