We were lucky to catch up with Shae Whisler recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shae, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I am fortunate that living creatively was something taught to me at a young age. My Father is the Executive Art Director for Woodsmith Magazine and my Mother is the Owner and Operator of our families 4th Generation Garden Center. I grew up surrounded by flowers and plants seasonally growing and learning, my hands always in the dirt. I’d even get the chance to go hang at dad’s photography studio, shooting the latest carpentry project. I was motivated that life was meant to be surrounded by beauty that we have the ability to provide the world. Humans are so amazing and capable of great things.

I had interests in several artistic endeavors over the years using every medium I could get my hands on. By high school I had landed the responsibility of Art Club President and was heavily involved in theatre. Set design was my first interest but it quickly became so much more than that. I was not only designing costumes and makeup for intricate plays like Mid Summer Nights Dream, but I was taking on the lead roles in our Musicals two years running, Children of Eden and Fiddler on Roof. I couldn’t really imagine an adult life beyond high school without art. I knew I wanted to pursue a life in art or music or both.

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

In pursuing a further education at Iowa State University, I had the opportunity to join the Design College there. I had dreams of majoring in Graphic Design or Interior Design but ultimately chose Event Management. I also continued my love for music and theatre in the Music College and met my husband there performing with Cantamus Women’s Choir. My official degree is in Hotel, Restaurant Management & Culinary Arts that has led me to managing various hotels in our Des Moines Metro throughout my 20s. I also continued my love for singing and acting and performed as a Disney Princess for over a decade with Little Princess Parties.

Life took a major shift when COVID 19 struck and all hospitality industries stood frozen in time. I was furloughed from my dream job leading our sales team for a very long and tragic quarantine nationwide. I looked to my family for work in our garden center and ended up helping along side my sister with the start of our online sales. Because no one could go out shopping, I brought plants to people’s doorstep and that took off in a big way. It grew so rapidly I started my own business growing and shipping houseplants nationwide. I named my business Easy Breezy Botanicals providing easy access to easy care tropicals.

Starting my own business allowed me a huge platform on Etsy to experiment selling my art. Over the years I had only made art recreationally because I knew it was hard for someone to be an artist full time and make a good living. I decided to focus on art that involved plants as this was my current passion and what was bringing customers to my Etsy page. I started with macrame and pots and it’s turned into so so much more.

My Boho inspired interior decor was widely accepted and I now travel to faires and festivals selling my wares. This is probably what I am most proud of with my business so far, as I recently invested in a ‘67 vintage Layton camper trailer to travel with. I bought it as a shell and have completely transformed it into my retail mobile shop. The exterior has been designed to look like a gypsy wagon and it took me thousands of hours to remodel and update. It is also filled to the brim with botanical, whimsical art ranging from macrame for plants to macrame for customers to wear as head pieces and dresses and skirts. Also hand foraged multimedia art I make with epoxy resin including butterflies, flowers, mushrooms, plants, crystals, rocks, bugs, bones, furs and more.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When I decided to take selling my art beyond Etsy and online sales, it wasn’t long with my vending experience that I started getting custom requests. This was really exciting and gave me the opportunity to do some really special projects. I’ve helped transform conservatories adding plants and macramé to a space. I’ve designed Custom headpieces for a bridal party, as well as several macramé cover dresses for brides and their weddings. I even did all of the macramé and design for my own personal wedding and made all of my bouquets out of plants and macramé.

Even with the online shop, my mobile shop and the Custom requests, I knew that if I was going to make a real go at it and pursue making a living with my art that I was going to have to take a job outside of what I was doing. This way I could afford to really stock all of my materials and have financial security. After five years of running my own business, I found out about an amazing opportunity at the greater Des Moines botanical center. I proactively found out through a friend that they were developing a new farm table restaurant in the facility called Flora. With my hospitality degree and management experience, I am now the Proud Assistant Event Manager there for all public and private events for Flora. I also assist managing the cafe during our very busy lunch hours. I didn’t realize that I could both run my own life and be my own boss as well as work my dream job in the most amazing garden.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Although sometimes it feels like I have a lot going on with my career and I find it hard to have a social life, I think everyone hopes to find a career that they love so much it doesn’t feel like work. I typically end my work week having put in 60+ hours with both the botanical center and my business, but it’s all such a great experience and a great life to live.

As I continue growing and learning, I hope to find a better work life balance someday. I’ve also had to take a step back on how often I am able to set up with my gypsy trailer and sell my art because I took on this new role with Flora. But I just remind myself that my trailer and my art is a long-term investment and I can do as much of or as little of that journey as I want to/need to. Right now in my life, I am able bodied to work hard and push through as the pursuit for easier days is not far off.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://easybreezybotanicals.etsy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/easybreezybotanicals/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easybreezybotanicals
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shae-whisler
• Other: TikTok – Art Page

  https://www.tiktok.com/@shaeashlyn?_t=ZT-8xEM08qiWux&_r=1

Image Credits

N/a