My Gifting Story
My journey into gifting didn’t begin with a business plan.
It started with childhood crafts, homemade gifts for family members, and the simple joy of making someone feel thought of.
Over time, creativity, hospitality, and business experience all came together to shape what Lavender + Pine is today.
Hi, I’m Alexandra.
I'm the Founder and Gift Designer behind Lavender + Pine.
Long before this business was even a thought, I was the kid who always had a craft project going. From making soap balls for Mother’s Day in Pre-K, to painting ceramics at birthday parties, to asking for every art kit available at Toys “R” Us.
Some of you might remember Black Magic paper, sand art, candle making, rock tumblers, and Easy-Bake Ovens...just to name a few!
Creativity came naturally to me, but so did service. As I grew up, I found myself drawn to work that involved taking care of people, whether that meant cooking in a busy kitchen, helping guests feel welcome, or eventually working with clients in corporate settings.
Looking back now, I can clearly see how every chapter of my life happened because I was meant to build Lavender + Pine.
And like most good stories, it started a long time ago....
Where It All Began | Early 90s
I’ve always loved creating things.
Creating or finding something thoughtful for someone else made me happy because what mattered most wasn’t the object itself, it was how it made someone feel.
One of my favorite memories is buying my dad a travel mug at the Scholastic Book Fair in third grade.
We still call it his “Daddy Mug.”
And to this day, he refuses to drink his coffee from anything else when he's on the road.
Hospitality Chapter | 2000–2006
From ages 13 to 19, I worked multiple service jobs...sometimes all at once.
At Westchester Skating Academy I worked as a rink guard, party hostess and short order cook. During a few Summers I also cooked and managed the outside kitchen at Bailiwick Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Those early jobs taught me more than how to wrangle kids or run a kitchen line. They taught me the heart of hospitality: anticipating needs, creating welcoming experiences, and making sure every guest felt taken care of.
In the kitchen, I learned the rhythm and discipline of service, even under pressure. I loved cooking and baking, and when I was the cook on duty, customers knew their food would come with extra care.
In fact, I once got in trouble for doubling up ingredients in my chopped salad orders. (What can I say? every bite should be a good one.)
Looking back, hospitality became the thread connecting every chapter of my career.
The Truffle Chapter | 2010-2012
In true “adult life trajectory” fashion, I left my service jobs after college to find a traditional 9–5 career.
I was lucky enough to land a job in marketing at that time but about ten months into my new corporate career, I was summoned for six months of grand jury duty.
It was an emotionally heavy experience, so during the holidays I decided to lift everyone’s spirits by bringing in homemade chocolate truffles. Soon people started asking if they could buy them.
In true entrepreneur fashion, I said yes… even though I didn’t technically have a business. So I went home, created my first order form in Microsoft Word, and suddenly I was making thousands of truffles while still working full-time in corporate.
Eventually I reached a crossroads:
Continue building the truffle business… or continue building my corporate career.
At the time, I chose corporate.
The Corporate Foundation | 2010–2020
I spent the next decade working in media and advertising in client and account services for global brands and agencies.
Those years became the foundation for the business skills I rely on today: managing complex projects, negotiating, communicating with clients, hiring and training teams, true collaboration and building operational systems that support great service.
Even my experience buying media inventory shaped how I think about sourcing and purchasing products for Lavender + Pine.
Corporate wasn’t a detour.
It was the training ground that allowed this business to grow.
THE GIFT BASKET ERA | 2016–2019
Around 2016, everyone in my life seemed to be hitting major milestones; engagements, weddings, babies, and new homes.
Naturally, I started creating gift baskets for friends and family.
Because, well… that’s just what I do.
Then someone asked the same question I had heard years earlier during my truffle chapter:
“Do you sell these?”
And I think we all know what happened next...
Taking the Leap | 2020
By 2020, I had built a steady stream of gifting orders on the side while still working full-time in corporate.
Even during the pandemic, online orders continued to grow and people were looking for ways to stay connected, even from a distance.
That year I made the decision to bet on myself and turn my lifelong love of thoughtful gifting into Lavender + Pine.
Today our studio designs curated gifts for weddings, events, and corporate clients across the country.
But the heart behind every gift remains the same: We make people feel seen, appreciated, and remembered.
