Roxane: First off, tell me a bit about your background!
Caroline: I finished high school in 2010 and bounced around between the workforce and college, never really sure what I wanted to do. Eventually, I worked full-time from age 18 to 28 as a waitress in restaurants. In 2018, I landed a job as a barista in a small café, and I absolutely loved it. Then, in March 2020, the pandemic hit and, like the rest of the world, I went into lockdown.
I found out I was pregnant in May 2020, and that changed everything. I went back to waitressing, but deep down, I knew that wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to feel truly passionate, to feel like I was doing what I was meant to do, and to love what I did.
I was diagnosed with postpartum depression in 2020, along with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). That’s when I started looking for ways to calm my anxiety. I needed to put my phone down for a while. That’s how I stumbled upon embroidery. And little by little (thread by thread—pun intended!), it became my job. I’m now a full-time embroidery artist!
Par Caroline is the name I gave my business because it left me a lot of room to grow. My biggest dream has always been to open my own shop. I’d been talking about it with my partner since 2019. I finally made the leap last month. I still do embroidery on the side, but I’ve officially launched my online store, filled with beautiful products from local businesses. Supporting Quebec and Canadian products is really important to me—especially Quebec-made!
And so here I am with my online shop. More motivated than ever, inspired, happy, fulfilled—and I can officially say I’ve found my calling, at 32.
Oh—and maybe one day you’ll get to see Par Caroline – La boutique in real life, with a storefront and all. Just putting it out into the universe!
R: What does a typical day look like for a creator and online shop owner?
C: I’d say my days start with a good coffee and some cartoons with my little girl. After daycare drop-off (often with a second coffee in hand), I settle in, answer emails, pay bills, and/or finish up orders. I also look for new local brands to bring into the shop.
I still do a bit of embroidery. I complete custom orders that I already committed to.
I take product photos, manage my Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, respond to DMs, and pack orders—pretty much daily!
Every day looks different, but it’s so exciting—I actually look forward to Mondays!
R: While you’re embroidering, what do you like to listen to—music, audiobooks, reality TV?
C: Ooooh, great question! Crime series are totally my jam. True crime all the way—I love it! I’m also a big fan of Quebec TV shows, and I listen to a ton of podcasts too! ☺️
R: What’s your current favorite product?
C: Ahhh, that’s a tough one! I’ll start with the peach and ginger candle from Flambette—omg, it’s magical! The cappuccino mugs from Monokiini (!!), the iced tea from Camellia Sinensis, and I’d say the gingham bags from Dans le sac! I can’t pick just one—this is such a hard question!!
All the products in the shop are things I genuinely love and use in my daily life. :)
R: What are you manifesting for the future of Par Caroline?
C: Ahhh… success, great connections, and a storefront 👀
R: And finally, I have to ask: what’s your favorite Flambette scent
C: I mentioned it earlier, but peach + ginger! Anything peach-scented is always my favorite! 😍
Thank you, Caroline! All the best with Par Caroline. Your product selection is impeccable!
