We recently connected with Elisabeth Russell and have shared our conversation below.

Elisabeth, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Preserving flowers is now my full-time job, but it wasn’t like that from day one. It took a lot of careful planning, tough decisions, and major life pivots to get here. My entire life I have had my eyes set on being an engineer. After graduating from Georgia Tech and working in environmental consulting, I realized the career path I had been chasing was not fulfilling me in the way I thought it would. I began preserving flowers as a creative side hobby, and that side hobby eventually grew into a business – Peachy Petals. For over a year, I balanced Peachy Petals alongside a demanding career as an environmental engineer. I worked nights and weekends pressing flowers, designing layouts, managing client communications, and marketing my business—all while holding a full-time job. It was not uncommon to find me awake and working in the studio until 4 am. It was exhausting, but I loved my creative work. The passion I have for creative work and the growth our business expereinced kept me going.

Making the leap to full-time didn’t happen overnight, and it wasn’t without fear. I spent months building a steady stream of bookings and building relationships with other vendors in the wedding community before I felt comfortable walking away from the security of a corporate job. The turning point came when I realized that my business wasn’t just a side project anymore—it had grown to the point that I couldn’t give it the attention it deserved unless I went all in. I felt like I was unable to grow the business in all the ways I wanted because I didn’t have a single extra hour in my day to give.

Walking away from a stable paycheck was scary. But I knew that if I didn’t take the leap, I’d always regret not giving Peachy Petals the chance it truly deserved. To make the transition feel more intentional and less daunting, I focused on strengthening the foundation of my business. I refined our processes to handle a higher volume of orders, built a professional website to elevate the client experience, and streamlined our systems for tracking orders and managing payments. These behind-the-scenes improvements gave me the confidence that Peachy Petals wasn’t just a passion project — it was a business ready to grow.

Was there a way to speed up the process? Maybe. But I also believe every part of my journey was necessary. Working a traditional job for years taught me how to manage projects, communicate with clients, and solve problems under pressure—all of which I now apply to my business.

If there’s one thing I wish I had done sooner, it’s trusting my gut and seeking out a community of fellow creatives. For a long time, I held myself back because I thought I had to hit a specific number of clients or income before I could call myself a “real” business owner. But the truth is, you’re ready when you’re ready—and you know it when you feel it. Surrounding myself with fellow creatives and business owners made me realize my dream was realistic, and made what can often feel like the lonely journey of entrepreneurship a little less isolating.

Today, Peachy Petals Flower Preservation is growing faster than ever, and I’m learning to embrace both the creative side of my work and the business side of running a small company. It’s been a wild, beautiful ride, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Elisabeth, the owner and artist behind Peachy Petals, a flower preservation studio based in Atlanta, Georgia. We specialize in transforming wedding bouquets, memorial flowers, and other special blooms into timeless, handcrafted keepsakes.

Our mission is simple: to help people hold onto life’s most meaningful moments. Flowers mark some of our biggest milestones — joyful celebrations, bittersweet farewells, and everything in between. Preserving those blooms lets you keep a piece of that moment forever, and it’s such an honor to be part of that process for my clients.

At Peachy Petals, every piece is carefully crafted with a personalized, detail-oriented approach. I work closely with each client to understand their vision and ensure their keepsake reflects the beauty and sentiment of their flowers. We have spent years perfecting the technique of preserving flowers, ensuring that no matter what variety of flower comes through our door, we are prepared to preserve it. This combination of customized service, thoughtful attention to detail, and experience is at the heart of what we do — and it’s what makes each piece feel truly one-of-a-kind.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the hardest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that to have a successful business, I needed to be working and available 24/7. When I was balancing my engineering job with building Peachy Petals, I fell into the mindset of constantly grinding – believing that if I wasn’t always working, I wouldn’t make progress or succeed. This mindset stuck with me when I transitioned to running Peachy Petals full-time. Even though my focus was now solely on my business, I kept pushing myself to work nonstop, convinced that the more I worked, the more successful I’d be.

However, it didn’t take long before I started feeling completely burnt out. I realized that this approach wasn’t sustainable, and it wasn’t helping me or my business in the way I had imagined. To give my best to my clients and my work, I needed to create a work/life separation, which is tough for any entrepreneur.

Breaking this habit wasn’t easy, but over time I came to understand that rest and intentional downtime aren’t signs of weakness. Instead, they’re essential for both my well-being and my creativity. Now, I make it a priority to set clear boundaries and give myself the time I need to recharge. This shift has been a game-changer, not only for my mental health but for the quality of work I produce. By allowing myself space to rest, I can return to my craft with fresh eyes and renewed passion, which ultimately benefits both me and my clients.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One thing I think non-creatives might struggle to understand is that the creative process takes time. When it comes to preserving flowers and turning them into a one-of-a-kind keepsake, it’s not an overnight process. It’s a delicate and detailed craft that requires patience, precision, and many hours of careful work. Each step, from preserving the blooms to reconstructing them into a beautiful piece, takes time and focus to get it just right.

I think a lot of people are used to the convenience of fast service, like an Amazon delivery, but creating something truly special takes time. For me, it’s not about rushing through the steps — it’s about giving each bouquet the time it deserves to be preserved, ensuring there are no mistakes and that every detail is just right.

The best thing you can do for a creative is give them the time they need to bring your vision to life. When you allow a creative person to take the time to craft something by hand, they can deliver a piece that’s truly meaningful, thoughtful, and unique — far beyond something that’s mass-produced or rushed. Trusting the process and being patient is one of the best ways to ensure you get a truly special piece made with love and care.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peachypetalsco.com
• Instagram: @peachy.petals.co
• Facebook: Peachy Petals Flower Preservation

Image Credits

Abby Byrd Photography