Bloom + Beyond

Meet Josie, an 11-year-old Shaker entrepreneur bringing felt flowers to life.

Eleven-year-old Josie is the creative force behind Bloom + Beyond, a small business that makes and sells handmade felt flowers. A Shaker Heights resident and rising entrepreneur, she found inspiration after a family trip to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh. “They had these really pretty flowers in the gift shop,” she recalls, “and when I got home, I wanted to see if I could make something like that myself.”

She turned to Pinterest for ideas and began experimenting with designs, gradually building her skills through trial and error. After practicing for about a year, she officially launched her business in January 2025. Her bouquets range from realistic roses and sunflowers to more imaginative creations, and they’re made from felt she buys at Michaels, cut by hand, and assembled with hot glue into full, vibrant arrangements. Her favorite? Sunflowers! Bold, cheerful, and best sold solo.

Each arrangement is a collaboration. Josie leads on color selection and assembly, while her mom cuts felt and preps materials. “She’s the assistant,” Josie said with a smile. “I do the designing.” Her mom added, “She’s the one with the vision. If I try to make a bouquet, she usually ends up redoing it.”

Josie got her start selling flowers at The Corner in the Van Aken District, where she had a chance to meet customers and share her work. She now stocks them at Funktini Land in Lakewood, which gives her more flexibility during the school year. Managing orders can be a lot, but she finds motivation in how much people enjoy her work, and once she gets started, she usually finds her rhythm. She especially loves hearing what customers plan to do with the flowers, whether they’re gifts, souvenirs, or something for a child to play with. “They never die,” she said. “They’re just, like, forever there— because they’re felt.”

Creativity runs deep in her family. Josie’s mom has worked in art museums, and her grandmother keeps a well-stocked craft bin that’s fueled many past projects. “She’s always been around art,” her mom said. Over the years, Josie has made everything from drawings and handmade gifts to a halter top she recently sewed out of an old Halloween costume. She also has a growing interest in interior design, and her Pinterest board is full of room makeover ideas. “I love fashion and interior design,” she said. “When I grow up, I want to have my own store.”

Josie has also been exploring ideas for new felt items, like hair clips, pins, and accessories, and has talked with her mom about expanding her product line as interest grows.

Bloom + Beyond now has an Instagram page, so friends, family, and new customers can see what Josie’s making and get in touch. When her flowers stopped being readily available at The Corner, someone shared a photo of them on Facebook asking who made them. “They were trying to find her,” her mom said. For now, managing inventory for online sales is a bit too much—but with so much enthusiasm, who knows? One day you just might be able to shop Bloom + Beyond online.

Along the way, she’s learning how to manage money. Josie splits her profits—half to spend, half to save. “She’s learning how to make choices,” her mom said. “If she wants something that’s not in our budget, she decides if it’s worth using her own money.”

Her advice for other kids who want to start a business? “You always have to be passionate about it,” Josie said. “If you're not, then it’s hard to keep going.” She also recommends asking for help—especially with the repetitive parts like cutting felt. “That part’s boring,” she admitted.

You can find Bloom + Beyond flowers at FunktiniLand in Lakewood and (soon) at local craft fairs and school events around Shaker Heights.