On Confidence and Growth: The Journey to Hosting My First Living Wreath Workshop

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to host my Living Wreath Workshop at CJ’s on Third in Perrysburg, OH. This was the first event I booked when I launched the service, so now being on the other side of it feels like a major milestone.

Booking this workshop was a momentous occasion in and of itself. It represented a new phase of my business that took me from online to in-person. I was motivated by the fact that someone believed in me and in what I was doing enough to let me come into their space and share what I had created.

I spent the entire month of January pouring my time, energy, and heart into this project, and officially completing the first workshop made it all feel real. Since then, I have booked multiple new dates, and I am feeling more confident in myself and in what I am able to achieve.

When I started Terra Cotta Plant Boutique, I was trying to find ways to hide behind the computer. I never wanted a store. I never wanted in-person interactions. I just wanted a small e-commerce site that I could operate without having to leave my home. Back then, I didn’t feel like I had what it took to be the kind of business owner who showed up in front of people.

I started vending at festivals sporadically starting in 2023, which helped ease me into the public sphere. Then, in 2025 I took it a step further by becoming a weekly market vendor. Last summer, I worked the Dundee Farmers Market on Sundays, the Whiteford Farmers Market on Mondays, the Outdoor Sylvania Summer Market on Tuesdays, and local festivals whenever I could book them. Since I am more of an introvert, it surprised me that the more I participated with the public, the more I wanted to be out there talking to people.

That experience prepared me to host workshops long before I believed it was something I could do. On Wednesday, I felt calm and ready.

I taught a private workshop the weekend prior, but hosting at a public venue felt slightly more intimidating. I arrived and saw the tables and chairs all set up and waiting for me; that was the moment I felt the weight of being in charge of the evening completely solo. As I prepared the materials, I was overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment and joy. I carefully laid out each place setting: paper placemat. Workshop kit. Wire cutters. Needle-nose pliers. I set the table as if it were for royalty, making sure each setting was perfectly consistent with the last. I wanted my guests to arrive feeling and knowing that their presence was deeply considered.

I experimented with the lighting to make sure the ambience was just right. Then I turned on the Spotify playlist I chose specifically for the evening. I stood there in the quiet, prepared room and looked around to take it all in. This was finally happening.

In that pause before arrival began, I reflected on how much I’ve grown since I started this business. The person I was five years ago had no idea she could do what I was about to do. I realize now that starting this business was actually a gift of self-discovery. Every hurdle I overcame to build it was really a dismantling of my own limiting beliefs, self-doubt, and fear. The more I grow, the more my business grows. It is the impetus for my personal development. And as a result, I create more authentically. 

Completing my first workshops feels incredible for many reasons. I am proud of myself for not giving up. I feel excited to unlock new possibilities for my business. I know now that I am capable of so much more than I gave myself credit for in the past. This class might be just another event on a social calendar to some, but for me, it is evidence that I can accomplish big goals and dreams.

I documented the entire process of creating the Living Wreath Workshop and will share it with you in this week’s YouTube video. I give an in-depth look at all the planning and details that went into getting this service off the ground. If you enjoy behind-the-scenes content, I invite you to subscribe to the YouTube channel and enable the notification bell to be alerted when new videos are posted.

What new boundaries have you explored lately that pushed you out of your comfort zone? What did you discover about yourself? Let me know in the comments below.

Stay botanically inspired,

Brooklyn