Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Cruz.
Vanessa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story begins in 2008 when I fell in love with the art of paper folding, Origami. I was working for a retirement services company and a coworker of mine challenged me to create an origami rose out of an eight-inch square piece of paper.
I watched YouTube video and was instantly mesmerized by the idea that I was able to create a rose from this one sheet of paper. I immediately began creating small origami Roses, lilies, cranes, and stars and began selling them as a hobby. With two small children and a full-time job I would work late at night while they slept, it was therapeutic for me. I would sell items to coworkers, give them as gifts to family members and it was really just something I loved doing.
Fast forward to 2015 I had continued to create paper art every so often but while in school obtaining my degree in early childhood education the paper flower bug hit me once again and I began to create oversized large paper flowers. I decided to quit my job at the bank and pursue school full-time meanwhile I decided to see where the large paper flower craze would take me. I participated in a huge event here in San Antonio TX called Muertos Fest in the fall of 2015.
It was this event that changed the course of my journey and leads me to where I am today. Muertos fest is a weekend celebration in downtown San Antonio where we gather to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos and the lives of the ones that we have lost. During this event, I created an altar in honor of my grandparents Jose and Anita Gonzales, and I used large paper flowers to decorate my set up, it was here that I saw the amount of appreciation my art and alter received.
A few days after this event I decided to pursue my business with Forever Petals by Vee. Going into 2016, I was a mother, a full-time student at Texas A&M San Antonio and a business owner. I wasn’t sure if the business was going to be something that I continued after I obtained my degree but I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to see where it went. With the help of my spouse Isaac, the support of my parents Danny and Debbie, and the love of my children Jayden and Jaydra, I was able to achieve my dream of getting my bachelor’s degree in 2017 all while running and growing my small business.
I had no idea that my love and passion for paper art, origami would lead me to where I am today, but I am thankful for the journey that I have taken and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The idea of owning my own small business was never a life goal growing up or even when I started getting into paper folding, origami, and paper crafting. When I decided to pursue Forever Petals by Vee it was scary to think that I would be responsible for running and maintaining a business. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be successful or if I was going to fail but I knew my love for paper crafting for teaching as well as creating was what I had and I was going to take full advantage of the opportunity in front of me to do my best and to make sure that I tried my hardest in running this business.
My first official year, 2016 was not rainbows and unicorns at all, it was a struggle. I wasn’t getting the orders or requests that I thought I would but I also knew that I was still trying to build my online Etsy shop and build my customers as well as my social media on Instagram and Facebook. I listened to you a lot of podcasts to help me stay motivated but also as guidance and reminders that nothing comes easy, that hard work is needed in order to be successful. I was starting from the ground up on my own and I knew I was going to have to work extra hard to achieve and reach my goals.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Forever Petals by Vee is a paper flower company, specializing in creating large oversized flowers made of cardstock paper, teaching others to create paper flowers and bringing that wow factor to your wedding or corporate event with floral backdrops. I think most people know me as the paper florist who gives away all her secrets. I had no intent of teaching my processes and steps in making paper flowers when I first started the business in 2016, but at the beginning of 2017 is when I began teaching in-person workshops here in San Antonio and by the summertime, I was doing for step-by-step video tutorials on my Instagram and Facebook page.
I think the one thing that I’m most proud of is staying true to myself, and being Authentic. I think with social media it’s easy to be someone that we’re not or give this false idea of what our life is like. I do my best to show the hard work, the dedication and the motivation that it takes in order to be a small business owner. If you told me 12 years ago that I would have my own paper flower business I would’ve thought you’re crazy, but here I am living my passion through my work. I want to be able to inspire other moms out there, other creative’s that you can turn your hobby into a business it just takes patience and hard work to get where you want to be.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Does anyone have a tissue? Haha. I get emotional when I think of the amount of support that I have had, not just from the past four years but from the past 11 years. I first want to recognize the ones from the very beginning, my parents Danny and Debbie they may not have always agreed with the decision that I made to pursue the business after obtaining my degree, but they have supported me through and through and I don’t know where I would be without them, Thank you Mom and Dad for loving me and supporting me through it all.
I would also like to give credit to my children Jayden and Jaydra. I work so hard for them to be able to provide and show them that they can make their dreams come true. That pursuing and reaching your goals may not always be easy, but it can be done. I would also like to give credit to my spouse Isaac. He has played such a big role in my successes. He has believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, he has been encouraging and supportive through school, starting my business and just overall life in general.
I can’t say that I would be where I am without his support and encouragement. My family support has been the drive behind my business, to be able to reach my goals and have them cheering me on means the world. And last but not least I want to give credit to all of my viewers on my Instagram and my Facebook pages, I tell them time and time again, each time I end a live tutorial that I am so appreciative and grateful for them and I truly mean that. They are so amazing so, supportive and loving and I wouldn’t be able to do what I love without them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.foreverpetalsbyvee.com
- Email: vee@foreverpetalsbyvee.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/foreverpetalsbyvee
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/foreverpetalsbyvee
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