Today we’d like to introduce you to Lacey Barrett.
Hi Lacey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I discovered resin floral preservation in the winter of 2020 when I purchased a piece for my best friend’s wedding.
I thought it was such a beautiful and unique way to preserve the flowers–almost freezing them in time! I had been in the wedding & event industry for the previous 10 years but with a growing family I had been looking for an entrepreneurial path I could go down that would leave me with more time for my family; but, still fulfilling my longing to have a career and contribute financially for my family. Enter Curated Gifts KC!
Next, I spent the better part of 9 months watching videos, doing homework and testing different resins & techniques. After several trial pieces for friends & family members, we finally felt ready to offer services to our first client in October of 2021 and have never looked back!
One year later we have helped over 132 local couples and clients preserve their flowers from weddings, funerals and other special events! It hasn’t always been easy but we strive to learn how to perfect our artform more each week to offer only the best quality work for our clients!
At the core of Curated Gifts KC it is simply a husband and wife team who work from home and are actively chasing their dream to provide a better life for their four kiddos while making timeless keepsakes that clients can cherish forever!!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road!! There is a lot to learn about the different types of resin, how thick it can be poured, how to mix it correctly, how to preserve flowers to save their natural shape & color as best possible, how to limit bubbles & streaks in cured resin, what PPE to wear and that’s just to name a few things! 🙂
There are also so many different mold makers & resin options to choose from, none of which are necessarily cheap!!
It has definitely taken time to narrow down what works best for me!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Curated Gifts KC is a locally owned floral preservation & custom gift business based out of Lee’s Summit, MO.
CGKC offers resin floral preservation artwork that allows their clients to cherish their special flowers, which can become very fragile over time, in a durable & beautiful keepsake!
I am most proud of the fact that I have built this business with my own hands, and the help of my husband, from our own home while also raising three beautiful children!! To chase a career and raise a family is no easy feat! But I am here a year later doing better than I could’ve imagined when starting this venture in 2021.
I think what sets us apart from other resin artists in the area is our commitment to great customer service! Clear and quick communication partnered with a genuine care for each client is a top priority for us! We understand the importance of being in charge of such sentimental and special flowers!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Networking is always a tad uncomfortable but you have to put yourself out there! No matter the status of our society, word of mouth still carries a lot of weight. Get out there! Show people your passion & joy for what you do! If you believe in yourself and your work the networking relationships will come!
I wish I had more to say about finding a Mentor. I could use one 😉 LOL
Pricing:
- Wedding Floral Preservation: Starting at $299
- Memorail/Funeral Floral Preservation: Starting at $250
- Commissioned Artwork: Varies from piece to piece
Contact Info:
- Website: www.curatedgiftskc.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/curatedgiftskc
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/curatedgiftskc
- Twitter: N/A
- Youtube: N/A
- Yelp: N/A
- SoundCloud: N/A
Image Credits
Espy Photography for my headshot. The rest of the photos are done by me.
