Petals | Small Business Feature

It’s time to feature Decatur’s number one location for custom-personalized EVERYTHING! Petals is a full-service gift shop and they specialize in personalization (especially birthday t-shirts!). Monograms, team spirit, you name it they can do it!

The Details: Kari Calhoun, Owner of Petals | In Business: 8 years

Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm & Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm | Location: 1351 Hickory Point Dr Suite C Forsyth, IL

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

Tell us about your business… What do you do? We are a full service gift shop. We not only sell fun women’s clothing and accessories, gifts for men, school spirit wear and gifts for all ages we personalize these gifts for you. Monogram your items, create fun tshirts for baby to adult, embroider most items or let us design rhinestone shirts for fun or your school. Birthday shirts are our specialty.

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

What makes your business unique/special?  We create custom personalized items. Infant, toddler, youth and adult. From special 1st birthday outfits to a funny tshirt for grandpa.

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

What item/service on your menu or in your shop do you just LOVE and think everyone needs? We love our custom birthday items. Tutus, diaper covers, bow ties, hats, banners, t shirts and onesies. Another fun item is our custom t-shirts. Funny sayings to business logos. We love helping you design something unique, fun and just what you want.

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

Tell us about YOU… WHY did you choose to do what you do? I decided 8 years ago to open a gift shop after leaving the medical field. It has evolved into a gift shop with personalization over the years.  We grow each year and are very thankful for our repeat customers and organizations. I am married to a wonderful man that shares my passion for Petals and creating new products.

When did you know you wanted to go into this business? It was just the time for me. I had always wanted my own business and I was in a position to change jobs or create my own. I chose the latter.

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photosIn what way have you gone above/beyond in the past for a customer? We help them get exactly what they want. Sometimes you have an idea and we can make it become a reality. Taking a gift and making it personal sets it apart from everything else.

 

 

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever had a client do for you? Become a friend. After 8 years in business some of my customers have become very close friends.

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photosWhat tool/equipment/or other vendor could you not imagine doing business without? I could not do what I do without my embroidery machines, vinyl cutter, rhinestone software and sewing machine. All these tools help me create customer orders

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

What other local business do you just LOVE? Why? I would have to say Dels and Giggles. I love knowing I can go to either one of these and find exactly what I am looking for. As a small business owner, I have no time and hate shopping online. It’s great to know I can get great gifts local with wonderful businesses.

What are you passionate about outside of your business? My family and friends. Owning your own business is 24/7 job and when you create and make 80% or more of the items you carry, it really becomes your life. My friends and family understand this and will even come and work with me to spend time with me. It very important to have a support system.

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

Describe your PERFECT day… I think my perfect day happens very often. Honestly not all days are great, things go wrong, stress happens and it is hard wearing so many hats in a business, but I love what I do. Opening my shop every morning and sometimes looking around and seeing how far I have come makes a perfect day.

 

Introduce us to your STAFF

Morgan Ground. High School Senior Maroa-Forsyth

Jessica Eastwood. Our newest employee who is skilled on creating embroidered items for our customer.

 

petals, gift shop, small business feature, sjp, sarah jane, forsyth il, forsyth, gift ideas, business photos

See the latest news at:

http://www.petalsgiftshop.com/

See our other past small business features to connect with more businesses in our area:

See more on our Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter @sjanephotog, Instagram @sjanephotograhy, and Snapchat @sjanephotog.

| Kylie + Ryan | Decatur, IL Wedding | Sarah Jane Photography |

Working with Kylie and Ryan (and Kylie’s momma, Pam) was a blast! Kylie is the absolute sweetest and I was so happy when she decided to invite us to share her big day with her and I was even more excited to see some familiar faces at her wedding day with past clients being guests and even in the bridal party.

These guys braved the snow for their engagement session with two of their three gorgeous dogs (you all know I LOVE LOVE LOVE when clients bring their fur babies!!). And these two beautiful pups got their model faces on for session day.

engagement, engagement photos, couple photos, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, sarah jane, outside engagement photos, outdoor engagement, dog engagement photos, pics, professional photography, engagement, engagement photos, couple photos, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, sarah jane, outside engagement photos, outdoor engagement,  engagement photos, pics, professional photography, engagement, engagement photos, couple photos, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, sarah jane, outside engagement photos, outdoor engagement, barn engagement photos, pics, professional photography, barn pictures, barn, engagement, engagement photos, couple photos, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, sarah jane, outside engagement photos, outdoor engagement, barn engagement photos, pics, professional photography, outdoor pictures, love couples, engagement, engagement photos, couple photos, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, sarah jane, outside engagement photos, outdoor engagement, barn engagement photos, pics, professional photography, barn pictures, barn, straw photos,engagement, engagement photos, couple photos, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, sarah jane, outside engagement photos, outdoor engagement, barn engagement photos, pics, professional photography, barn pictures, barn, straw pictures,engagement, engagement photos, couple photos, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, sarah jane, outside engagement photos, outdoor engagement, barn engagement photos, pics, professional photography, outdoor photos, couples outdoor photos, snow couple photos, snow engagement photos,

Their wedding day was perfect starting at GT Church for a ceremony that had everything you dream of including beautiful music, great laughs and a few happy tears too. Pastor Matt Samuels did a fantastic job and his personal happiness for these two was absolutely infectiouwedding, photos, pics, bride, bridesmaids, pink bridesmaid gowns, wedding day prep, wedding photographer, decatur il,  professional photographer, wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day,wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, outdoor wedding, wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, outdoor wedding, black and white photography, wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, wedding ideas, inside wedding, flowers, wedding invitations, wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, outdoor wedding, wedding kiss, wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, outdoor wedding, couple pics, decatur il, wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, outdoor wedding,  first kiss picture, gt chruch,wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, outdoor wedding, wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, outdoor wedding, wedding cake picture, wedding decor, wedding decor photos, wedding decor ideas,

wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, outdoor wedding, wedding dinner, reception, wedding reception photos,

wedding day, wedding, photos, pics, professional photographer, couples, love, sjp, Sarah Jane Photography, bride, groom, wedding day, GT church, bridal party, outdoor wedding, wedding party, reception, wedding reception pics,

And we finished their day at the always beautiful Hickory Point Golf course with some images outside and then a beautiful country-chic reception inside.

Check us out on Facebook!

| Winholtz Family | Decatur Illinois Family Portraits at Imboden Gardens |

I was so excited when Sharon called me to talk about creating portraits for her WHOLE family! All three of her kids came in to visit (the farthest one from Colorado!) for Easter weekend which gave us the perfect opportunity to schedule their family session and to make things easier on Grandma we came to her at Imboden Gardens which gave us a beautiful background for photos and a quick easy stop for her. As I work on finishing up their order I wanted to share a few of our favorites with you.

decatur il family portraits imboden creek sarah jane photography, imboden creek, decatur il, outdoor family portraits, poses teen boys, sibling portraits, extended family photos, nursing home photos, whole family pictures, family photographer, central illinois photographer, sjp, best decatur photographer

decatur il family portraits imboden creek sarah jane photography, imboden creek, decatur il, outdoor family portraits, poses teen boys, sibling portraits, extended family photos, nursing home photos, whole family pictures, family photographer, central illinois photographer, sjp, best decatur photographerdecatur il family portraits imboden creek sarah jane photography, imboden creek, decatur il, outdoor family portraits, poses teen boys, sibling portraits, extended family photos, nursing home photos, whole family pictures, family photographer, central illinois photographer, sjp, best decatur photographerdecatur il family portraits imboden creek sarah jane photography, imboden creek, decatur il, outdoor family portraits, poses teen boys, sibling portraits, extended family photos, nursing home photos, whole family pictures, family photographer, central illinois photographer, sjp, best decatur photographer

You’ll be able to see even more portraits from the Winhotz session on our Facebook Page soon!