Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Catron
Hi Tiffany, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Whew, where to begin?! Well, at the heart, Lavender Vines is an experience I wanted to create for people, a world full of beauty, romance, elegance, charm, and grace.
Here I want give you permission to take a break from the demands of everyday life – the household chores, and never-ending to-do lists – and simply take a moment to breathe.
At Lavender Vines, we are passionate about slowing down and taking a moment to cherish and celebrate life’s moments, both big and small. We sell greeting cards to help you do that, but our story goes way beyond the cards themselves.
Our cards are rooted in the belief that in this fast-paced and increasingly impersonal world, the intentionality of giving and receiving a heartfelt, tangible card holds immeasurable value. From birthdays to weddings, baby showers to sorrowful condolences, we’ve curated a collection of greeting cards that are designed to capture the essence of life’s treasured moments.
We believe that every card tells a story – a story of love, friendship, resilience, or hope – and we’re honored to be the conveyer of how that story is shared.
This life isn’t always sunshine and roses, and having someone who just gets it and cares can go far. Trust me, I know.
Even though it happened almost a decade ago, I remember it like it was just yesterday. The sting of betrayal, the tears streaming down my face, and the feeling of abandonment when he walked out the door. Never to return.
My heart was broken. My hopes were shattered. From my standpoint, my life felt over.
But what I know now that I didn’t know then, was when life feels over, it’s really just beginning.
In my moment of desperation, I cried out to God for help. And to my surprise, He answered.
From that moment on my life was forever changed. Even though I lost a husband that day, God filled a different void I didn’t even know I had.
During that season I began to realize God’s ability to create beauty from ashes and to work all things for good (Romans 8:28).
That there is beauty in every season of life. Like the Bible says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…for God has made everything beautiful in its time.”
I thought to myself, “What if I could create a card line that was beautifully designed, but spoke to the heart of the human experience – the good and the bad – the moments of celebration, but also the moments of disappointment and grief?”
What if that could be a thing?
And that is how Lavender Vines was born. Beauty from ashes. A source of hope birthed from a place of hopelessness.
One card at a time, that vision has become a reality.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wish I could say everything has been smooth and perfect, but honestly, it’s been far from it. Deciding to step into entrepreneurship is like strapping yourself into a rollercoaster that goes upside down. It’s fun and exhilarating, but terrifying and intimidating all at the same time. One moment you’re laughing and smiling enjoying the ride, the next you’ve had enough and just want it to be over.
For example, COVID definitely hurt my business a lot. I wanted to give up, and even shut down my shop for years, not sure if I’d ever reopen. I felt I had worked so hard to form relationships with retailers and create beautiful products people would love, just for shops to close down and my cards to collect dust.
It felt like for every step forward I took three steps back. But I have learned that perseverance, and trusting in God, is the pathway to success.
Every obstacle is exactly that, an obstacle. It can be overcome. At the end of the day I am thankful for every struggle I have faced, because they have made me stronger.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an artist I am always looking for my art, whether it be a photo, video, graphic design, short story, or poem to convey an element of emotion and connectivity. I want you to feel touched somehow by it’s messaging.
At Lavender Vines I sell greeting cards. But it’s so much more than that. It’s important to me that my designs are beautiful and have a three dimensional element like glitter, rhinestones, pearls, and feathers (because who doesn’t love all of that?!) but at the end of the day I want you to feel connected to it’s messaging.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love a good aesthetic (and I mean LOVE!), but what I love even more are people.
I am the most proud of my work when someone tells me my card is exactly what they needed to hear that day. Or that a friend’s birthday is coming up and my card feels like it was made specifically for them. Those are the moments I love.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Ooo San Diego is paradise. I am so thankful to live here. Where else can you go to the beach in February and experience no sticky humidity or bugs? It’s amazing. We have incredible coffee shops, top-rated restaurants, vibrant neighborhoods, and the most beautiful beaches. I personally love the architectural beauty of Balboa Park and iconic San Diego gems like the Little Italy farmer’s market. But, my biggest complaint about San Diego is everyone’s complaint about San Diego…the cost of living. You definitely pay a premium to live here, but I’d say it’s worth it. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lavendervines.com
- Blog: xotiffanynicole.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lavendervines
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lavendervinesco
