Rest is crucial for a consistent flow of creativity. My husband and I schedule vacations often to have more opportunities to unwind and connect more with our surroundings. I love to travel and go on as many adventures as possible, specifically in places with mountains, rivers, and other beautiful scenes. The life and freedom of nature I find in different cities or countries inspire me, and I often incorporate these themes into my art. I always bring my flower press with me on weekend vacations to forage for wildflowers on the side of the road! Owning a business, big or small, can be overwhelming at times. It is a constant stride, with ups and downs, so it can be hard to remember to take a breath. While I am still mastering this myself some days, I encourage my small business friends to pursue more opportunities for peace and rest along with the hustle. It is a crucial part of healthy creativity and happiness.

I have loved all mediums of art and all species of flowers since I was little. Growing up, I was constantly drawing, painting, reading, and making my jewelry. Thorn + Thistle is a pleasantly unexpected turn, as this wasn’t necessarily my plan or what I expected to be doing at this point in my life. However, as the seasons of my life passed, I realized I needed to nurture my creative side and make art a more significant part of my life. I wanted a job where I could work with my hands and connect with others daily. So, I reexamined my gifts and passions through the lens of a potential business, and it slowly transformed into something I want to pursue as a career. I preserve flowers and incorporate them into my art. I handcraft each piece with consideration and love, from home decor to jewelry. I also work with brides to preserve their bridal bouquets so they can carry moments of their special day wherever they go or display them lovingly in their homes.

I stay true to the feel of the plant or flower I use in my art, reminding those of the understated beauty of our natural surroundings. I like to say that every flower has a story, and I try to honor its story regardless if it’s “on brand” or not. Therefore, my work consists of contrasting elements: simple and bold, soft and warm, or sharp and crisp.
I am proud of the growth that I and my business have experienced. One thing people need to tell you is that owning a small business will require a lot from you. Not only financially or willpower but emotionally and mentally too. Anything you struggled with before your business seems to amplify, but once you get the hang of it, you will realize you can evolve and grow with your business. For example, I have learned to navigate motivating myself when I have zero motivation or to understand how to be okay with being alone more often.

If there’s anything to take away from who I am and what I want for my business, it’s this: I want my shop to be a place for nature lovers to dwell and for people to feel at home. I have a passion for flowers and the stories they tell. I have always admired their gentle movements and their bold statements. I have always enjoyed using art to express myself and connect with others, and it is my favorite part of what I do. I love the moments like when someone randomly finds my booth at the Palafox Market and tells us that a quote inside my flower frame touched their heart and made them feel seen. I am grateful that God gives me these opportunities to connect and share my art with my community.

It was a side hustle when I started this business, but it has slowly transformed into something more. At the time, I was working in the restaurant industry as a to-go waitress and trying to get through my degree. I craved doing something more creative. I felt wrong for the restaurant industry but needed time to determine other options. I prayed for a change and tried to be patient while figuring out other things I could do on the side while I was still in school. I felt that God led me to the idea of Thorn + Thistle and what it is now. I was terrified of failing, scared of rejection and what-ifs. However, in these moments, my husband encouraged me the most, telling me to follow my dreams. He supported me through the scary moments and is a constant stillness in my chaotic world. He reminded me of something I had mentioned in my resolutions for 2021: to be bolder in my life choices and take more risks. After deciding to walk into this together and knowing I would not be alone, I decided to step out into the deep end.
Then, I practiced for months on my craft, coming up with styles and products and trying to create enough to sell at a market. I bought my first tent from the Facebook marketplace and borrowed my mom’s foldable tables. I slowly found local markets to pop up at and met some incredible people who encouraged me on my journey. I had gotten into a rhythm with scheduling pop-ups, and eventually, I saw profit! I quit my job to focus more on Thorn + Thistle. Yes, there were ups and downs, but that is normal in the first year of business. There was only one time during our first year that I thought maybe Thorn + Thistle wouldn’t work out. The market I started my pop-ups with had closed down, and I no longer had a consistent pop-up to rely on. After a few months of barely getting by, I received a notification that the Palafox Market was accepting Thorn + Thistle as a weekly vendor!
This December, Thorn + Thistle will be open for two years. I am starting to feel like the chaos is subsiding, and finally getting the hang of it. Every day comes with challenges, so take it one day at a time.

With hustle culture being so prevalent right now, it’s easy to get caught up in the fast-paced lifestyle that most business owners have. In my earlier adult years, I made decisions that put me in tough spots often. I adopted this mindset to survive adulthood and everything it threw my way. Just keep going, hustle, work harder, and then one day, life won’t be this way anymore. At the beginning of my business, I put this same pressure on myself to be a “boss babe” and hustle my way to the top. However, I value peace and the slowness of life more right now. I don’t say that hustling is wrong or that being a girl boss is not the way to go, but there is more to life than filling up your whole life with work. I have a business, but I don’t want to be known as just a girl boss, and I don’t want to hustle. I want to live quietly and slowly, taking every opportunity to make sure I am leaving this world better than I found it. I want to make the time to read the books on my TBR, to learn new things, or to create art not just for profit but because it makes me smile. To love others and share what I have learned with those who would like to listen. So, in short, I had to unlearn a lesson I learned in survival mode because I am no longer in that place of fear. I had to let it go so that I may learn how to live life instead of surviving it. I haven’t mastered it yet, but I try my best!