Kelsey|@lovekelseyrae

In this inspiring interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Kelsey Rae, the creative force behind lovekelseyrae, a flourishing business specializing in resin art and flower preservation. Based in Southern California, Kelsey has dedicated over seven years to perfecting her craft, transforming her lifelong passion for art into a meaningful career. Her journey into flower preservation began when a client reached out for help, leading her to navigate the challenges of drying flowers and ultimately discover the quality of Wisedry silica gel. Kelsey’s work goes beyond mere aesthetics; she captures the essence of special moments for her clients, turning their cherished flowers into lasting memories. From preserving wedding bouquets to creating heartfelt memorial pieces, Kelsey honors the significance of each flower, recognizing the emotional connections they hold. Join us as we delve into Kelsey’s artistic journey, her experiences in preserving memories, and the profound impact her work has on the lives of those she serves.

Kelsey’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovekelseyrae/

Interview

Kelsey, can you do a little bit of an introduction of yourself first?

Sure! So my name is Kelsey and my business is lovekelseyrae. I’ve been doing art for my entire life really but I’ve been specializing in resin for over 7 years now! I’m also based in Southern California.

Nice to meet you, Kelsey! How did you start the flower preservation journey? Is there a special moment?

I had someone reach out asking about it and I decided I would try to learn how to do it! It was actually a really long process for me because I had a lot of fails in the beginning And especially when choosing silica gel! I had the hardest time getting the flowers to dry out nicely until I started using Wisedry. (believe it or not) So once I made the switch to that, I’ve had the best time drying flowers and preserving special memories for people.

Kelsey’s Art

Awww. That’s so great! Glad that we can help you preserve better flowers! Do you remember the first flowers you made? Why did the client want to keep the flowers?

Yeah it was for a wedding and I remember it meant a big deal to me because I had never done anything like it before! I was extremely nervous but the bride was soo happy and it really made her think about the wedding day and how special it was for her.

That’s so sweet. Could you tell me what the bride’s name is?

Omg it was so long ago but I think her name was Cindy? I tried to look back really quick to see if I could find it but she was a complete stranger to me at the time. That’s also why it meant so much because she followed me on Instagram and saw all of my work and there and that’s when she decided to reach out!

It’s good enough for me. Thank you so much. As you mentioned, you switched to our brand and since that, you’ve had the best time drying flowers. Which brands have you tried and which parts of their crystals don’t meet your needs?

I’ve tried some brands that were given to me by friends and that wasn’t a good idea because they didn’t say what brands they were on the package but they didn’t dry the flowers well at all! I’ve also tried Activa and Ashland. I had better results with those but still it felt like it wasn’t drying out all the moisture from the flowers. And then lastly I tried your gel beads on accident when I was first starting and since the texture wasn’t like sand it left indents in the flowers.

Hahaha, thank you so much for your trust love. Glad we meet you at the end. During the career, you must have preserved memories for many people. Is there a story that leaves you with a strong impression?

Yes! So recently a boss of mine at a previous job I had passed away suddenly. It was devastating to me because we were really close when I was working with him. He was my manager. Sadly he had some health complications and everyone was pretty shocked. His wife reached out to me to preserve flowers from his memorial service so I was able to make a bunch of items for gifts for some family members. It’s moments like these that really make me remember how important and powerful it is to preserve flowers. Becauze you’re not just preserving those flowers, you’re also preserving memories.

That feeling always stays with me now after that happened because it hit me hard with how much of an impact I can make on people during their healing journey. And even for happier moments like weddings, I am a really special part of their process in celebrating and remembering all the wonderful things from that day!

Memorial Flowers Kelsey created for her boss

Oh my god, I am so sorry for the loss. It’s such a meaningful story. You have done a great job!

Thank you!! Yeah I was really proud of these especially because I had that emotional connection to them as well.

If you could sum it up in one sentence, what does this job, flower preservation mean to you?

The word that just keeps coming to mind is honor. I’m just beyond honored to be able to do this job and to get to be involved in people’s lives by preserving flowers for them!

It’s amazing. Thank you so much!

writer Mingzhu Wu

29.08.2024