Every test sharpens the vision
a bi-weekly round up of learnings & intrigue as a shop owner from yours truly
Field Notes is a bi-weekly love letter from the shop desk where I dish on what I’ve learned, what’s inspiring me, what’s mildly enraged me (hehe), and everything between. It’s part behind-the-scenes, part vintage rabbit hole, and part “can you believe?!”
After nearly two and a half years of owning a brick and mortar, a lot of faces have come through the doors of 1105 North Ashland Avenue. And I’ve met some seriously cool people along the way- creatives within the community, first-time customers who become regulars, and kind strangers who remind me why I built Petals & Jackets in the first place.
Of course, with foot traffic and different energy exchanges, not every interaction is easy, and not every opportunity is a fit. That’s where redefining boundaries has become an essential tool in running my business. Not in a rigid or defensive emotional way, but as operational guardrails that allow the business to run smoother by making expectations clear and keeping the chaos in check. When I can manage them like mental levers of standards, it makes me feel so much more in control of what I can and can’t afford, rather than feel guilty.
Being a business owner, even in its hardest moments, is still the most thrilling thing I’ve ever done. There’s the freedom to build something that feels like yours, the pride in your ideas taking shape and seeing people enjoy them. And then, of course, the obstacles no one warns you about. Some days are smooth. Other days feel like a pop quiz you didn’t study for.
You start to realize that the tests come in all forms: people who ask for more than they should, collaborations that sound great on paper but fall flat, or moments where you're forced to choose between protecting your peace or pleasing someone else. They’re not always dramatic, but they’re constant. And they tell you a lot about what you’re building, who it’s for, and who it’s not.
The longer I do this, the less reactive I’ve become and the less anxious I get about someone not liking my space. You have to really let that shit go to move things forward. And you have to pay attention to the people who come into your home and either make it feel warmer, or cast a shadow over it. Lean into all of the things that test you because it’s all good information you can quietly take in, clock, and move forward on.
“People only see what you allow them to see.” -Jennifer Melfi, The Sopranos